Community Crisis Society (Wheatland Shelter) holds 20th celebration

Times Contributor      

 

The Community Crisis Society is committed to a vision of a future where their community is free of violence and their citizens are empowered to resolve conflict in peaceful and productive ways.

Saturday night’s (Nov. 2) Gala event held at Strathmore’s Civic Centre was a true celebration of remembrance of helping people rebuild their lives over the last 20 years.

The Honourable Alison Redford, Premier of Alberta has a long standing passion around the subject of stopping family violence. She has developed a personal relationship with the Crisis Shelter in Strathmore and has dropped off donations many a time to the facility. While she was Justice Minister, Redford helped launch over 80 programs to reduce family violence. She was impressed with the turnout and understands the community support in working together to resolve the issues of family violence. 

Sandra Janssen, Associate Minister for Family and Community Safety, accompanied Redford to the Gala. Janssen spoke briefly about the Federal government’s initiative to address social infrastructure, the thought of communities “taking care of their own.” 

She mentioned that Strathmore should be incredibly proud of their community because “you get it.”

Newly elected mayor of Strathmore, Michael Ell encouraged those gathered to bid well, as the monies raised will help the society with offsetting the costs not covered by other agencies and grants. This would help provide hope for a better future.

Karen Pease, executive director of Strathmore’s shelter since its inception, acknowledged the dedication, loyalty, generosity, compassion and passion of the staff and many volunteers who make the shelter run as well as it does. It is “heart work that we do,” said Pease.

The silent auction went well, as did the live auction under the fine auctioneering direction of Grant Klaiber and local MP Kevin Sorenson. This year’s winner of the “cream can” was the staff of Global Training Centre, to the tune of $4,000. The cream can is an old fashioned cream can that has plaques on it. Whoever bids the highest each year will have their name added to the plaques on the can. Last year’s owner of the can, Getz and Associates, brought in a total of $8,210.26, over the year. More importantly, over the last 18 years the cream can has brought in an amazing amount of $74.280.93. Just goes to show how much a small bit of change can build up and aid such a worthy cause.