Fill a baby bottle for the Strathmore Pregnancy Centre
Jason Glabik
Times Contributor
A baby bottle fundraiser to build a pregnancy centre in Strathmore began on Mother’s Day and will wrap up on Father’s Day. Chairman of the Calgary Pregnancy Centre and lead pastor of the Strathmore Alliance Church (SAC), Darrell Young is spearheading the project.
The SAC is a pick up and drop off point for baby bottles, which will be filled with donations. Some other Christian churches in the community are participating as well.
The Strathmore Pregnancy Centre would be a sister organization of the Calgary Pregnancy Centre and provide guidance and support to people expecting a child. The organization, which is run on Christian principles, does not provide medical services for pregnancy and is pro-life, Young said. Non-Christians and those considering abortion will still be encouraged to use the centre, Young said, adding that the purpose of the centre is to assist people with their pregnancy, not discriminate.
“We want to help. Anybody is welcome,” said Darrell Young.
The basis of the centre will be trained volunteer counsellors who will work with men and/or women who need assistance relating to a pregnancy. Counsellors will listen and provide advice, mentorship, and help clients access other pregnancy-related services.
Young’s daughter Kayla, who saw the need for a centre in Strathmore, suggested the project.
There are mothers who are travelling to Calgary to use a pregnancy centre, which is part of the need for one in Strathmore, said Young.
A steering committee has been formed for the project and money raised from the fundraiser will go toward costs involved with starting up a new centre in Strathmore.
The steering committee expects the project to take about two years to get up and running. The group hopes to build connections with other organizations in the area that provide services related to pregnancy and is not out to compete with anyone, Young said.
Contact Young at the SAC for more information about the project, to pick up a bottle to collect donations or to simply donate directly.
Strathmore Municipal Library seeks summer co-ordinators for reading program
Rebecca Friesen
Times Contributor
The Strathmore Municipal Library is launching its annual summer reading program this June and the library is currently looking for co-ordinators to take on this project.
The Children’s Summer Reading Program runs for two months in the summer and requires two co-ordinators to plan, organize, advertise, and run the program, from June 4 to August 31.
The program is designed to help kids of all ages to keep up their reading skills over the summer by introducing reading in new, fun ways.
“The idea of the summer reading program is it’s a way to keep kids reading,” said Carmen Lefebvre, assistant director of Library Services.
A lot of children will lose some of their reading skills over the summer months, and the library has devised a program to keep kids interested in reading while making it interesting and exciting for them.
While the program isn’t solely based on reading, it is designed to keep children reading throughout the summer through the use of prizes, challenges, games and other activities.
The program’s details aren’t finalized, but Lefebvre says that the children will be split into age groups and assigned time slots in the morning or afternoon.
“We’re looking for someone who is strongly organized,” Lefebvre says. Resumes will be accepted until May 25, and then as soon as the co-ordinators are hired they have to “hit the ground running” because the program starts June 4.
“Within that two weeks they need to start advertising the program, they need to be co-ordinated to go out to the schools,” Lefebvre explains. The co-ordinators have to be open and willing to get donations from the public, as well as present the idea to many schools. Open-minded, outgoing, friendly applicants are always well-received Lefebvre says.
“We like to give [this program] to our co-ordinators and say, this is yours, make it yours.”
Lefebvre said the Library tends to hire people who are going to school for education or library programs, therefore this job will give them a hands-on experience.
“It honestly really brings out a lot in the person’s character,” said Lefebvre, “it’s a very good character building program.”
The position is grant-funded and all applicants must have been in school full-time at some point during the previous 12 months.
“We want anybody who comes into this role, we want them to just make it their own,” Lefebvre says, “there is so much they can do.”
To e-mail your resumes, please contact Jesse Traquair at
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or mail them to the Strathmore Municipal Library at 85 Lakeside Boulevard, Strathmore, AB, T1P 1A1. For more information, please visit www.strathmorelibrary.ca.
New school comes with some headaches for Langdon residents
Carole Dastous
Times Contributor
The Hamlet of Langdon does not have its own supermarket yet but it can boast of a brand new school.
Named after the first person to teach in Langdon, the Sarah Thompson School of Rocky View Schools (formerly the Sarah Thompson Elementary School) is ready to start classes in September 2012.
The Sarah Thompson elementary school will serve grades K to 4 for the region on the east side of Main Street, while Langdon School will continue serve grades K to 9, including the students in grades K to 5 on the west side of the Main Street.
The school will welcome Grade 5 students in the fall of 2013. The school was built to accommodate 450 students, said Angela Spanier, director of communications for Rocky View Schools.
“I’m so excited we are opening a new school,” said Rocky View Schools trustee Bev LaPeare. “We drastically needed one.”
“My daughter will no longer be in a school with Grade 9’s. It was a big age difference,” said Natacha Brownlee.
In spite of the good news, Langdon parents are concerned about a few things: the absence of a playground, school portables and sidewalks.
“I appreciate the Grade 5’s are coming only in 2013 as my son is already at the Langdon School. But there is a lack of foresight in the planning,” said Chantelle Everett. “It baffles me (that) we don’t have a playground when we know childhood obesity is such a problem.”
LaPeare said the government of Alberta does not provide for playgrounds. The government provides only the school and 10 metres of ground beyond it as well as the sidewalk directly in front of the building.
“The government provides a place to learn but not a place to play and grow,” said parent and volunteer Shelagh Phelps.
When the Langdon School was built it did not have a playground. It was thanks to the efforts of the community that the Langdon School got its playground in June 2010. At the time, local businesses loaned three Bobcats, gravel was obtained at a discount and concrete was donated, said Phelps. Encana Corporation, the Alberta Lottery Fund, Compton Petroleum Corporation, Rocky View Schools and Rocky View County provided the funding.
Thanks to funding by the major donors and the community’s efforts, the playground at Langdon School was built at a cost of about $300,000 instead of about $400,000, said Phelps.
“It’s a lot of cookies at a bake sale if we had to make up the difference,” said Phelps.
To simplify and speed up the process of building playgrounds, LaPeare said Rocky View Schools now use a catalogue of pre-approved playground designs and contractors.
“The community won’t have to worry about liability and insurance. It will just have to worry about the fundraising.”
The pre-approved contractors will do such things as stripping the topsoil, excavating, compacting and pouring the concrete, while donated services will still be allowed for the installation of the playground apparatus.
“There’s a misconception out there that donated services will not be used anymore. They will,” said LaPeare.
Remaining funds will be donated back to the school council’s society.
As for school portables though they were “hot in spring and cold in winter,” said Everett, the portables were nonetheless essential to the Langdon School.
LaPeare said 10 school portables currently in use at Langdon School will be moved to “areas in more crisis” in the school district. LaPeare knows the Langdon area will continue to grow, and in three years it’s expected these school portables will be returned to Langdon.
LaPeare could not comment on the cost of moving school portables.
“It’s a constant juggling act to manage accommodation priorities,” said LaPeare.
Strathmore high performance sure to keep crowd laughing
Shannon LeClair
Times Reporter
When someone dies, or is seriously ill, there can be a two different types of relatives who come out of the woodwork. The caring, supportive family members, and... the vultures.
Strathmore High School (SHS) drama students are currently rehearsing for their upcoming performance, ‘Daddy’s Dyin’…who’s got the will?’
“It was just a play I came across. I always read a lot of plays over summer so that I have sort of a handful to choose from and then I see what the class is like, and that’s how I kind of decide what play we’ll do,” said drama teacher Paula Richardson.
The scene is set in 1986 in Lowake, Texas where a family is preparing for the death of the father. The mother had died a few years earlier, and the children have come because they know dad doesn’t have much time left.
The vultures, who have also come home, heard that the father’s will had recently been changed, and they are trying to find it before he passes away in hopes of changing it if they don’t agree with it.
“It is a hilarious show it really is. Even though it has that other sentimental side to it, it has wonderfully funny moments,” said Richardson.
“It’s funny, one of the comments most of the students made when we first read the play was, ‘I have family members like this’, it had that element to it where they could all relate to some part of it.”
The play is sure to get a lot of laughs, but is not appropriate for children under 12, said Richardson.
Richardson has also had student teacher Debbie Wilson from the University of Calgary doing her practicum at SHS, who she says has been invaluable to her. The actors themselves are full of energy, and excited about the play.
“They are extremely excited about it, they really like it. They like the fact that they get to use accents and the cool thing about this play is it’s written with the accent,” said Richardson.
“The payoff for a teacher, and I say this so often, is just having the kids buy in, having them invest in it, having them take these huge risks.
“They are stepping so far out of their comfort zone, and they’re going through, or creating characters that they never thought they could create so that’s very exciting.”
The show runs nightly June 3 to 5 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the door or can be ordered in advance by calling the school at 403-934-3135.
Daisy Recycling donates to Relay for Life
Manny Everett
Times Contributor
Daisy Recycling out of Standard believes it’s important to give back to the communities that support their business. Relay for Life committee members in Strathmore were presented with a $250 cheque (which is a portion of the proceeds from the first quarter of 2012’s refundable recycling) from Lin and Jamie Walker, owner/operators of Daisy Recycling.
The Walkers have been involved with the Relay for Life for many years and this year marks the 10th anniversary of Lin’s survival from ovarian cancer, which makes this a much more personal event for her.
Relay started in Strathmore in 2005. Some of the committee members have been on since its inception, some are brand new and some are returning members. Their goal this year is to have 20 teams registered for the event. Currently there are 15 teams signed up and their financial goal is to raise $100,000. A majority of the funds go directly to the Canadian Cancer Society, as most of the costs incurred are local and are covered through sponsorship and donations.
Those who feel the need to contribute to the cause this year may do so by dropping off their own refundable items at the Strathmore Bottle Depot designated to the “Green Berets” team. For more information or to help sponsor the team contact the group at (403) 542-2733.
Abraca DAZZLE returns to Strathmore
Shannon LeClair
Times Reporter
Are you missing a little magic in your life lately? Well on May 24 that problem can be cured when the Abraca DAZZLE Magic Show starring John Kaplan returns to Strathmore.
After last year’s success, and plenty of positive feedback, the Youth Club of Strathmore has brought back the show, which is used as a fundraiser for the club.
“We hope that it will become a continued annual event for us as it is a great family show,” said Colina Clark, program coordinator for the Youth Club.
There is a full concession available so that families can have still have supper together.
The show is being held at the Hope Community Covenant Church on May 24 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available at Sobey’s, the Strathmore Municipal Library, and the Youth Club of Strathmore. Tickets are $5 per child and $10 per adult.
The Spirit of ‘76
Pat Fule
Fule for Thought
My purposes for these columns were that I wanted people to smile, maybe laugh, and possibly be affected by some of my experiences. I’ve always felt that it’s important to be able to laugh at myself, and to not take myself too seriously. That’s why I’ve been trusting you with some of my most embarrassing moments! That brings me to the Summer of 1976!
That Summer, I had gotten a job with my friend Dave, as a caretaker at the Banff Centre. There were many cleaning jobs, conference set-ups, and heavy furniture moving.
The afternoon of our first day on the job was a scorcher. It was sunny, hot, and Dave and I were given an outside job. We were to take two buckets of hot water mixed with vinegar, a razor blade device, and scrape all the paint spots off the outer window of an Art Studio window. All the way to this studio, Dave and I grumbled about what a crappy job we got stuck with, and how we’d be out in the blistering sun ALL afternoon! We got to the deck outside the studio with our gear and began to scrape. After about two minutes, Dave turned to me and said, “do you see what I see?”
I said I did, and we began to feel grateful to our boss … what a good guy he was … thoughtful.
To our surprise we were scraping paint spots off a window to a studio, with nude female models!! Now, when you’re a 16 year-old-boy, THIS is good news!
We worked hard all afternoon, and thought we were being discreet. However, the head of the Art Faculty did come out a couple of times to ask if we really worked there! At the end of our shift, we cleaned up the supplies and headed back to the caretakers’ office.
Our boss was smiling, and asked if our afternoon went well! We all had a laugh, and I never forgot that first day on the job (I don’t think the Art instructor did either … probably not his models, as well)!
Later that same summer, Dave and I were given the job of getting five large, wooden bulletin boards up to the sixth floor of one of the buildings. Now you know me by now, I was sure there was an easier way to get these monstrosities up to that floor. Then, a flash of brilliance hit me (or it was the cafeteria chili?).
I thought, instead of carrying each and muscling them in the elevator, why not just go on the balcony with a rope, and PULL them up, one by one? It seemed smart, so we got rope and tied our first bulletin board by one its “legs.”
We began the process of pulling it up to the balcony. You know those old Bugs Bunny cartoons, where (again) the coyote does something similar, and of course, the rope frays and unwinds? Funny thing, but that’s what happened to Dave and me! We looked at the unwinding rope, then each other, back to the rope, until it final came undone! We had gotten it to about the fourth floor when it unravelled. We looked down over the balcony railing to see the wooden bulletin board hit the ground. It smashed, and splintered, and one of its legs went through a ground-level window! Again, Dave and I looked at each other, then down, in time to see our boss walking up the road to check on us! He was smoking … it looked like he almost swallowed the cigarette! But, after a pause, we could see that he was laughing and shaking his head. We weren’t going to be fired after all! From then on, we made sure we did things HIS way!
By the end of summer, I had bought my first car, a little two door Toyota. On the Labour Day weekend, I took a date ( yes, she was alive, and no … she WASN’T inflatable!) to the old “Cinema Park Drive-In.”
Now for those of you youngsters out there, a drive-in was where you took your car to an outside theatre, hooked up a crappy speaker to the window, and MAYBE watched the movie. Near the end of the date, we were ready to leave. You know those happy, little cartoons they used to play, about the concession, and rules for the Drive-in? Well, I had watched one about making sure to hang up the speaker on its pole before leaving. As we pulled away, there was a huge “BANG” noise! I looked all around, and then to my horror, realized I had still had the speaker on my window! The window and car were fine, but I had killed that poor, innocent car speaker. Embarrassed, I hung it back up, and drove slowly away … I don’t think we ever had a second date … I’ve always wondered why.
Later that Halloween, Dave and I were in a car accident in that same Toyota. We had minor injuries, but the car was demolished. My parents took me out of school the next day to drive them to Calgary for Christmas shopping. I was so mad, I had just had a frightening accident, and they were making me drive in Calgary? My dad said that I was not going to be scared to drive, and I had to get RIGHT back behind the wheel. It was a tough lesson, and I was mad, but it was a smart thing to do. I got over the fear of the accident, and (knock on wood) haven’t been in one SINCE 1976! Parents DO have a way of teaching us kids, after all. So, 1976 was a strange year, with laughter, embarrassment, and a near-death experience. It was definitely a memorable year!
(“Fule for Thought” is a slice of life humourous column that will appear in the Strathmore Times, written by long-time resident, town councillor, high school teacher, coach, husband and father of two – Pat Fule. If you would like to get in touch with Pat, you can send him an e-mail at
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)
Camping season is almost here, but are you ready?
Rebecca Friesen
Times Contributor
With camping season approaching fast, both veteran and first-time campers are eager to start enjoying all that summer has to offer. But in the excitement people often make simple mistakes that can ruin a vacation.
Jesse Bastain, the owner of the online store Outdoor Pursuits Canada, says there are a few essentials that all campers need to bring, whether you’re in an RV or a tent. Bastain says these are just the basics for a first-time camper, but are required items for the more experienced camper.
Among the list is a sturdy fixed-blade knife, fire starter, a first-aid kid that includes bug repellent and bug bite remedy, an axe and a flashlight. Bastain said a para-cord (parachute cord) is “one of the most essential items when camping” because of its wide variety of uses. From cooking to clothing repair, the cord’s uses are “virtually endless.” All of these items, and more, can be found at www.outdoorpursuitscanada.com.
Preparing to go camping can be a daunting task, especially when taking an RV, and Darcy Ledene, general manager of the Strathmore & District Agricultural Society walks through the steps of setting up an RV for a weekend camping trip.
“I would check my propane levels, check my cupboards... to make sure [everything] is secure for travel,” Ledene says. If water is not available at the campsite, Ledene also says he would make sure he had a sufficient supply and double-check his black and grey tanks to make sure they were empty.
Along with bringing items like screwdrivers, tarps and firewood, Ledene also says it is important to pack a variety of clothes as the weather can really impact a camping trip.
“Camping weather can change in a heartbeat,” Ledene cautions, and says to prepare for the best and worst conditions.
Location can be just as important as the items you bring camping with you, however.
The Strathmore Agricultural Grounds operates 365 days a year and is one of the few campsites to offer year-round service, along with almost all types of camping. There are many different services available, including firewood and water.
However, not all camp sites have these perks included so it is important to do your research before choosing a destination.
Kendra Van Dyk, a team leader of campgrounds with Parks Canada, says it is important for people to “educate themselves about their planned destination.” Often campgrounds have websites that can be visited to learn more about the rules and regulations of their campsite, such as fire bans, services available and other information such as reservations.
“A lot of campgrounds in the mountains are not near stores to buy replacement equipment if something important is forgotten or breaks. The same applies to RV campers. They should ensure that their RV is in good working condition,” said Van Dyk.
Camping in the mountains is beautiful and a nice change of scenery, but with the benefits, campers also have to be aware of sharing the space with wildlife.
“The most important thing that can be recommended for campers concerned about wildlife is to keep a ‘bare’ campsite. So, whenever they are not eating they should have all their food, garbage, toiletries and cooking supplies stored away in a bear proof container such as their vehicle, RV, or in a food storage locker,” Van Dyk said.
Researching the wildlife in the area is beneficial so you can know how to best be prepared with what you will be dealing with.
“The essence of camping is to entertain yourself and to get you out of the camper,” Bastain adds, suggesting a simple deck of cards can provide adequate entertainment.
Ledene agrees, saying the biggest thing with camping is to “come with friends” because “camping is much more enjoyable with a group.”
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