Serving the Heart of Central Alberta for 106 years
VOLUME ONE-HUNDRED EIGHT
PM40011853 R08546
NUMBER EIGHT
STETTLER, ALBERTA
February 19, 2014
PRICE — $1.09 Plus GST
STACEY LAVALLIE/Independent reporter
Gage Bolstad is among the many Heartland Youth Centre members who have formed a bond with youth centre executive-director Winnie Bissett during her long tenure.
Winnie’s World marks milestone Stettler standout in 25th year as Heartland Youth Centre director S TACEY L AVALLIE Independent reporter
For 25 years, children and teenagers bursting through the doors of the Heartland Youth Centre’s doors have seen many different faces, though one has remained the same. This year marks the 25th year for Winnie Bissett as the centre’s executive-director. Bissett, who had grown up in Stettler, said knew that she wanted to be involved with youth when she returned to the area.
“I grew up here, and I was very involved in school sports,” Bissett said. “I was very competitive and athletic, but I also saw a need for other opportunities for youth besides competitive sports. I also really like the aspect of Boys and Girls Club that gives kids the chance to give back to their community (through community service).” She became involved in the Boys and Girls Club in 1989, stepping up as director when the original director moved on after about six months. When the club merged with Big Brothers and Big Sisters in 1995 to
form the Heartland Youth Centre, she became executive-director of the unified group. The centre operates out of the Legion Youth Centre on the corner of 47 Street and 50 Avenue. The office space reserved for Bissett at the Heartland Youth Centre is, at first sight, cluttered with children’s artwork, photographs and letters, but as she goes from one to the other, it becomes apparent that each one has a strong tie to her heart. “This whole office is full of memories,” Bissett said, glancing
around the cluttered room. “Parents come in here and think it’s cluttered, but every picture on this wall has a memory attached to it.” Bissett gestured then at one picture in particular, a marker anime drawing on yellowing paper pinned to the wall close to her desk. “This picture has been here for at least, oh, 10 years, but I have such an emotional attachment to the girl who drew it that I can’t take it down,” she said. Continued on Page A2
STACEY LAVALLIE/Independent reporter
Heartland Youth Centre member McKenna Hansel gives an enthusiastic hug to executive-director Winnie Bissett last week as she marked her 25th year at the centre.
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