Serving the Heart of Central Alberta for 107 years
VOLUME ONE-HUNDRED EIGHT
PM40011853 R08546
NUMBER EIGHTEEN
STETTLER, ALBERTA
April 30, 2014
PRICE — $1.09 Plus GST
ROBIN TARNOWETZKI/Independent reporter
Points West Living resident Dave Nixon cuts the ribbon and officially opens Points West in Stettler on Monday, April 28.
Points West Living celebrates grand opening ROBIN TARNOWETZKI Independent reporter After opening its doors last July, Points West Living officially opened on Monday, April 28. Points West residents greeted the guests at the door, and juice and snacks were on offer. The celebration was kicked off with a variety of speakers, such as Points West Living CEO Doug Mills, Drumheller-Stettler MLA Rick Strankman, as-
sociate minister of seniors Dave Quest, Cathy McDonald of Alberta Health Services, and general manager Susan Cameron, among others. “Points West is a welcome addition to services for seniors in the community of Stettler,” McDonald said. “It provides the right mix of independence and support.” There are other Points West facilities in Lloydminster, Wainwright, Vegreville, Cold Lake, and Peace River. The organiza-
tion is also in the process of building facilities in Red Deer and Slave Lake. Mills estimates that construction on the building began in the winter of 2012 and finished in June of 2013 for the July opening. Overall, it’s been a very good experience for most people,” he said. “It’s a new facility, their rooms are large, and so there’s lots of space.” The idea behind Points West is to provide multiple levels of support in one building. More independent
seniors have less support, while frailer seniors have more support from staff. Currently, there are 79 residents and 84 staff members at Points West. The staff includes multi-purpose aides, who help cook and clean for the residents. This way, residents don’t have multiple people coming in to the suite – because that’s not what would happen if they were in their homes. “They do the serving of the meal like you would at home,” Cameron said.
“They do the cleaning, like you would at home.” And the main tenet of Points West Living is to make it as home-like for the residents as possible. “I love the philosophy of Points West,” Cameron said. “They embrace the Eden philosophy, where we work in a resident’s home, they don’t live in our workplace. They don’t just talk the talk, they walk the walk as well.” In her speech, Cameron talked about the “plagues” of seniors, which include
boredom and hopelessness. Points West makes it a priority to combat these plagues by reintroducing plants, animals, and children to the residents’ lives. “It’s recognizing what our residents need,” Cameron said. “Of all the times we say ‘someone’s having behaviours,’ well, that’s an unmet need. And it’s our job to find out what that resident needs, because that eliminates the behaviours.” “Assisted living doesn’t look like an institution,” she said. “It’s home.”
Skate park almost ready to break ground STACEY LAVALLIE Independent reporter With the necessary funding almost secure, the Stettler Skate Board Association is hoping to see work on the new skate park underway this year. Mike Lawlor, president of the board, said that with funding in place from the Town of Stettler, funding and in-kind services numbers coming in from the County in early May, and other community groups and businesses making donations to the program, work could begin before summer this year. The new park would replace the makeshift one located adjacent to the Stettler Recreation Centre in the outdoor rink. The outdoor rink serves as the skate park during the summer months before reverting to its original purpose once the temperatures drop, but it never quite loses the feeling of “rink.” The metal ramps and obstacles look unforgiving and unfriendly, but every day attract kids
on bicycles, skate boards, roller blades and other wheeled items as they try to demonstrate tricks and jumps. Lawlor himself used the skate park when he was younger, and now he’s wanting to see an improved structure in place for his family, he said. “The town did the best it could with its original budget,” Lawlor said as he watched kids race over the rusty brown-orange obstacles on the outdoor rink. “The new park will be a whole new experience. It’ll be available for all levels (of skill), from beginner to experienced. A place to go.” He said once the park is complete, he wouldn’t be surprised to see more than kids use it – the triangleshaped concrete structure will offer something for anyone who loves the extreme sport, kids and adults alike. The park was designed and will be built by Calgary’s New Line Skate Parks, which has designed parks all over Canada
including new parks in Lacombe, Sylvan Lake, Red Deer and Calgary. It’s something Lawlor said he’s excited to see. “It’ll bring families out, together, where they can skate and have fun,” he said. The names of the donors will be integrated into the park itself, so while there won’t be a wall of donors, when visitors roll up a ramp or climb up a step, they might see the names of the local businesses, community groups, and individuals whose money helped bring the location into existence. The new park will be located on a triangular outcrop of land adjacent to the ball diamonds rather than where the current outdoor rink is located, which means the rink will be retained for its winter use. As he watched the kids on the current park obstacles, Lawlor couldn’t help but smile. “This is why we’re doing it,” he said. “We enjoyed it as kids and we want to see
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STACEY LAVALLIE/Independent reporter
Mike Lawlor (centre with hat) is joined by patrons of the current skate park for a photo. The kids welcomed Lawlor with enthusiasm, excitedly asking questions about the new skate park, during his brief visit. our kids enjoy it.” He took a moment to praise the dedicated group of volunteers who have been focused and dedicated to the cause during the past
several years. During that time, the group went from a dream to a plan to a project ready to break ground, he said. “Without their hard
work, this wouldn’t be happening,” he concluded. For more information about the Skate Park, or to volunteer, contact Lawlor at Lawlor Jewelry.
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