Ouija takes top spot
Rebels get back in the ‘W’ column
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‘We stand up for Canada’ BY LANA MICHELIN ADVOCATE STAFF Sadness, outrage and even defiance were expressed as veteran soldiers gathered with other Central Albertans at Red Deer’s Cenotaph Saturday, in memory of the two Canadian soldiers killed on home soil. “We stand up for Canada” by remembering the sacrifices of Corp. Nathan Cirillo and Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent, said Bobbi McCoy, national vice-president of Alberta and Northwest Territories Command of the Royal Canadian Legion. She was among 25 local vets and civilians who stood soberly side-byside as bag pipes played to mark two minutes of silence in memory of the murdered soldiers at 10 a.m. These tragedies have united Canadians, and “it’s very important we stick together now. To be killed on home soil is never acceptable,” added McCoy. Cirillo, 24, was gunned down Wednesday by an Canadian-born Islamic extremist while standing guard at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, while Vincent, 53, was purposely struck and killed last Monday by a car driven by a Muslim convert in Quebec. Indignation about those acts was expressed at the memorial gathering — as well as pride in the role of Canadian soldiers. Vince Martin, a former Canadian Forces serviceman who, like Cirillo,
Photos by ASHLI BARRETT/Advocate staff
hails from Hamilton, Ont., said he has “strong feelings” about extremists threatening Canadian freedoms. “I think that was brought home this week to a lot of other Canadians,” he said. “I think we need to be prepared and vigilant.”
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Above: The 41 Signal Regiment marches past Veterans Park on Ross Street as part of the Freedom of the City Parade on Saturday. The parade is a ceremonial honour for military units who have provided great service to the community. The parade began at noon on Saturday in front of City Hall, and continued west on Ross Street, past Veterans Park. Left: Bob Dale, a veteran of the Canadian Army stands before the Cenotaph in Veterans Park Saturday morning to honour Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, the soldier killed in Ottawa, and Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent, killed Monday in St-Jean-surRichelieu, Quebec. Vigils and memorials were held across the country to honour and pay tribute to the fallen soldiers.
Mom of the Year finds strength in caring Marlene Pannenbecker could not ters, adopted four of the children, who know that a promise she made to her are now 14, 12, eight and six. The two son would end up helping her through older siblings have been adopted by the tragedy of his death. Marlene’s friends in Blackfalds. Damian Pannenbecker died last “They are together in Canada. Yeah, Jan. 6. it was quite the undertaking,” says The 19-year-old and five fellow Marlene. workers were in a van, headed home “Sometimes life works out where from a jobsite. Damian was you’re given something bedriving, just east of Olds, cause something is going when the van crashed headto go away. I don’t know on into an SUV. Two other if that’s true but Damian people lost their lives in the loved these kids. It’s beterrible crash — one was cause of him we ended up Damian’s co-worker, who adopting them.” has never been identified Marlene is a woman who publicly, and the other was clearly finds strength in the SUV driver, Donna Mills caring. She won the Mom from Olds. Of the four inof the Year award — there jured, three were in critical were 12,000 nominees — for condition. many good reasons, all of The roads were slick that which seem to culminate in MARY-ANN day. Alcohol and speed were the person she is. BARR not factors in the crash. “I’ve always been a careSince that day, Marlene giver. That’s who I am. I Pannenbecker — just named love helping people.” the 2014 Walmart Mom of And so, despite her great the Year Community Champion win- personal loss in January, she began ner — has gone back many times to the to regularly visit the severely injured promise she made. young men in hospital in Calgary, and Marlene, 50, and her family, from when they were released months later, Lacombe, travel back and forth doing she helped arrange daily meals for humanitarian work in the Dominican them. Republic. On one of those trips, Da“In some ways it was for selfish reamian had come to love a three-year-old sons — and that is the fact that they boy they were helping. The boy had were the last people who were with my five other siblings. son. “This little boy was just amazing “And then I got to know them beand my son thought he was the coolest. cause I didn’t know them before that, We found out their story when we were and ended up with some amazing leaving (a few years ago). Damian was young friends because all of them were sitting with me on the airplane and he in their 20s and early 30s. It’s turned was looking out the window and said: out to be a very positive thing, which ‘Mom, will you please promise me you makes me happy.” will do something to look after these When Marlene — perhaps best dekids.’ scribed as a bubbly optimist — isn’t “At that time I certainly didn’t busy with her family, working at Bar know we were going to adopt them, W Petroleum and Electric Ltd. in Red that wasn’t our intention ... long story Deer, raising donations or doing hushort, we did, and I couldn’t be hap- manitarian work in the Dominican, pier about it because without them she might be found participating in a now to get me out of bed every day and her “Smiles” group, making a trip to to go to work without feeling sorry for the Hope Mission, a shelter for street myself, they’re a blessing in disguise.” people in Edmonton. Marlene and her husband Denny, who have two older biological daugh- Please see MOM on Page A2
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Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff
Larry Quintilio looks over some of his many family photos he has in his home. Quintilio’s wife June died in June of this year after suffering with Alzheimer’s disease.
Red Deer man pushing for more Alzheimer’s support BY LANA MICHELIN ADVOCATE STAFF More affordable and appropriate care options are needed for the growing number of younger people with Alzheimer disease, says a Red Deer man, whose wife got sick at age 55. Larry Quintilio’s whole world was up-ended when his formerly active and efficient spouse, June, began drifting into confusion. First he had to move his work home to become a caregiver to her. But after just a year, his wife’s deteriorating condition required round-the-clock vigilance, so he sold his electrical contracting business and retired early. It was the start of a long, painful and frustrating journey that ended on June 3, when June died at age 68, after suffering from Alzheimer’s for more than 13 years. Before losing her mental faculties, she had raised two children, hiked the West Coast Trail, and had
been a highly organized perfectionist. The genial June had helped co-ordinate dozens of school tours during the 1986 Canada Olympics in Calgary and later worked as an education co-ordinator at Red Deer hospital, plotting nurse training and other schedules. The first sign of something wrong came in 2001, when June began losing track of whether she had paid household bills. Quintilio knew this wasn’t normal behaviour for his spouse. But it took several more years to get a medical diagnosis because his wife didn’t want to accept what was happening and refused to see a doctor. One of the biggest difficulties, as June’s disease progressed, was she never lost confidence in her own abilities, said Quintilio. This meant her exasperation would mount as various obstacles — such as the supposedly screwed up utility bills — were thrown into her path.
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Ukrainians vote in several pro-Western parties Two exit polls indicate Petro Poroshenko’s party will get a narrow win in the parliamentary election. Story on PAGE B11
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