Aldergrove Star, June 07, 2012

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ALDERGROVE STAR ALDERGROVE STAR Your Hometown Community Newspaper for over 54 Years

| Thursday, June 7, 2012

Check our website daily for updates, breaking news and more: www.aldergrovestar.com

Remember our Fallen Soldiers PAGE 6

Page 7: Family gives back to hospital ‘Power for All’ Sets Sail

Festival Days returns to heart of Aldergrove Aldergrove Star

KURT LANGMANN PHOTO

The Power for All Adventure Therapy Society offers instruction and safe social interaction and exercise on kayaks in Fort Langley’s Bedford Channel for disabled persons such as Simon Bunkowski (centre). At left is Fraser Health recreation therapist Lindsay Dean and at right is instructor and executive director Alex Thompson.

Obstacles float away for paddlers By KURT LANGMANN Aldergrove Star

Alex Thompson’s life-long passion for kayaking has turned the dreams of disabled persons into reality. And every summer the numbers of participants grows as Thompson shows them that there are no limits or impediments to anyone’s abilities. There is always a solution to every problem. Three years ago, Thompson started the Power for All Adventure Therapy Society, which offers paddling sessions every Saturday at Fort Langley’s scenic and peaceful Bedford Channel. “The first year we had 36 people, last year we had up to 90,” says Thompson. “They’re mostly adults, but we say it’s for

anyone from age nine to seniors.” There were 10 seniors participating last year, either recovering from injuries or suffering from arthritis or Parkinson’s, and a couple were either deaf or blind. Thompson rents or borrows kayaks and specialized equipment especially suited to a particular client’s needs. For example, she has backboards and two sets of pontoons for the double kayaks, and if a paddler has only one arm she borrows a special kayak fitted with a one-armed paddle from the similar Power to Be society in Deep Cove. “We don’t have our own boats, we rent them from Evergreen Adventure Society, an extension of Fort Camping on Brae Island,” says Thompson.

The COOL place to...

Ph.604-856-2034 27070 Fraser Hwy. Aldergrove

Fort Camping’s proprietor, Stan Duckworth, “mentored me to create a society for disabled paddlers. “For me it’s very important that recreation is accessible to everyone, despite ability. When I started I found that no one would rent kayaks to disabled persons because of the high liability insurance. That needed to change, not say to people that ‘you can’t do that.’” With Duckworth’s guidance and encouragement she followed the examples of Power to Be in Deep Cove and Victoria in creating Power for All, and Duckworth also rents the society up to three double kayaks, eight single kayaks, a voyageur canoe and a number of single canoes. SEE: Page 3

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A unique day of family fun is coming to downtown Aldergrove. The Aldergrove Festival Days Society and the Aldergrove Merchants are putting on a family friendly Mini-Fest in the heart of Aldergrove between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. this Saturday, June 9. Live music, soap box derby, and a return of last year’s surprise hit the “Crazy Wheel Cup” will be just some of the events that will take place in the block between 271 and 272 Streets, immediately north of Fraser Highway. Aldergrove Festival Days president Robin McIntosh is looking forward to bringing fun, families and community together into the business district of Aldergrove. “We feel that hosting the event in the downtown core on a Saturday benefits everyone. The location is easy to find, businesses are open, and families can be assured of a great day of celebration and fun. “We have brought together a fantastic venue of events and entertainment that will generate a festive atmosphere in a safe environment,” said McIntosh. Aldergrove Festival Days is calling for volunteers to help ensure the block party’s success as they build toward Aldergrove Fair Days, which are coming to Aldergrove on July 20-22. McIntosh encourages people to check out their website (www.aldergrovefairdays.com) and get involved. Aldergrove Festival Days Society meets every Wednesday at Coghlan Hall from 7-9 p.m., from now until the end of July. For event details or to help out on the day of the event, call Annette at 604-626-4505 or Robin at 604-539-0149. You can also contact them via email at info@aldergrovefestivaldays.com WANNA RACE? “Now is the time to enter!” according to Fair Days chairman Robin McIntosh. Younger children – the soap box derby is for you. (OK, it’s for dads too). Just put together a soapbox racer by following the rules found on www.AldergroveFairDays.com — basically it requires four wheels, steering and brakes. Organizer Kenny Gemarkis reports that the Aldergrove Soap Box Derby is well known for being the safest, gentlest hill and so is ideal for novices and the very young. He asks anyone with any questions to call him at 778-772-7417. For older children and adults, the objective is to travel down the hill in style, with lots of points for the imagination, and little concern for anything else. Last year Suzanne Robinson received lots of encouragement for her armchair mounted on a pallet jack – and many wanted to try it out. Last year’s winner, Grant Bennet, produced a racer made from four bike wheels and lots of paint and cardboard. SEE: Page 3

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