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Heart’s Desire – a fun night out while raising awareness

BY ERIN FAWCETT Red Deer Express The sixth annual Heart’s Desire fundraiser in support of the Heart and Stroke Foundation is set to take place in Red Deer next month. The event will take place May 7th at the Holiday Inn & Suites on Gasoline Alley. Cocktails are at 6:30 p.m. with appetizers and auctions beginning at 7:30 p.m.

“With the Heart and Stroke Foundation we have a campaign called ‘The Heart Truth’. It is designed to share the truth about heart disease and stroke in women’s heart health,” said Karen Jackman, Red Deer area manager and fund development coordinator for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. “The purpose of the event is to get together with your girlfriends, have a relaxing night out, do some shopping, and take the time to treat yourself.”

This year the organizers have included a purse and shoe auction – the first of its kind at a City fundraiser. There will be between 100 and 150 shoes and purses up for grabs in a ‘rainbow style’ auction where

participants buy raffle tickets and enter for the purse and shoes they would like to win.

There will also be additional prizes to be won and entertainment throughout the evening as well.

“This year we are really excited because being in its sixth year we decided to take a look at the fundraiser and revamp it so we can keep it new and exciting and also hopefully draw in some new people to the event,” said Jackman. “We are so excited about the show and purse auction.”

Jackman added heart disease and stroke is the number one killer among Canadian women, more than any other cancers combined. “With the Heart Truth campaign and with heart health, it’s one of those things that is neglected and women are not aware of the statistics. It used to be considered a man’s disease but that is not the case anymore,” said Jackman. “We want the awareness to get out there and another thing we encourage – especially with this campaign – is for women to take the time for themselves and to realize that it is im-

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portant that we all do things for ourselves first. Sometimes as women we neglect ourselves and everything else comes first and unfortunately that seems to take a toll on our society as women.”

Tickets for the event are $75 each, or $500 for a table of eight. Corporate tables are also available for $2,500.

Tickets are available at ATB Bower Mall Branch, or by calling 403-357-3026 or 403-342-4435. Also check out ‘Hearts Desire gala’ on facebook. efawcett@reddeerexpress.com

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Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Women Today, Red Deer Express

3

Jeri Lynn Ing one of City’s most talented artists Some of her works to be featured at St. Albert’s VASA Gallery that this element doesn’t relate to this other one so well now.”

Eventually, the body of paintRed Deer’s Jeri Lynn Ing has ings will work together seambeen artistically enhancing the lessly. “I’m not a perfectionist by community for many years via any means, though. I can let go. the striking vibrancy of her gift Once they’re gone, I don’t even for painting. think about them.” But as long as You can often find her at Ing they are taking shape – like a seand Woolgar Studios at Gallery ries of flowers she is working on IS, just off of Red Deer’s downnow – she’s continually watchtown at 5123 - 48 St. It’s a space ing to see how they fit together; she shares with fellow artist Suwhere the strengths in each one san Woolgar. spring from, for example. “PaintIng, who was raised in Edings done in a series works great monton, knew from an early for me.” age that art was indeed her pasLooking ahead, Jeri Lynn is sion. “I think most artists are also excited about a solo show born with that desire to draw, at the White Gallery in Suncreate and replicate things – I works which opens June 5th used to make cartoon books for and runs to the end of August. my friends,” she explains with a “It will showcase my latest smile. “I always drew and I alwork - Flower Talk. They are ways painted.” the large flower paintings I have Through her studies at the been working on over the past University of Alberta, she was year.” focusing on anthropology, soAlso, two of her portrait ciology and psychology. “But paintings have been selected to I was taking all of my options be in a show at the VASA Galin the fine arts, and I thought I GIFTED – Red Deer artist Jeri Lynn Ing poses amongst some lery in St Albert. really should do this. I should The show is called ‘Women of her vibrant paintings during a break at Gallery IS. Jenna Swan/Red Deer Express Portraying Women’ and is an exbecome a painter because that’s really all I want to do.” hibition of Alberta female artists premises on her own for about a year beBut after graduating from the and their expressions of women U of A, she landed a job at the Royal Bank fore Woolgar joined her. experiencing everyday life. That exhibit For Jeri Lynn, there is nothing that can runs June 1st through to June 30th. as she also earned a business diploma from Grant MacEwan University. And although compare with what the process of creating These days, folks can find Jeri Lynn at the she worked in mortgage development for works of arts provides. “I think about it ev- studio, taking great joy in what brings her a time, artistic pursuits were always in the eryday – it’s a passion. I ‘can’t not’ do it. It’s such a wonderful sense of fulfillment. Her picture. She later met her husband Gord, just who I am,” she adds. “It’s so integral to work is striking - Jeri Lynn aims to capture and the couple moved to Red Deer as that who you are and how you express yourself. more than just what she’s has seen in a “It becomes part of who you are and given piece – she wants viewers to know was his hometown. She continued to work how you see the world,” she said. “And what she was feeling as well. “I try to keep in banking until they started their family.

“When my youngest started Kindergar- no matter what I go through – the ups and that freshness there so the viewer can kind ten, I heard about an opportunity about downs of life – it’s a way to express my- of connect on some level.” She once sold a some artists looking to start a co-op,” she self. It’s like breathing. I’m also interested visually-impaired woman a painting based recalls. It didn’t last a long time, but many in other artists, and what they are doing.” on her own explanation of the sensibilities To that end, Jeri Lynn, along with fellow of it. “She said, ‘I can feel the place’. That strong friendships and connections were sparked during that time, including one local artists Woolgar, Larry Reese and Judy was such an honour for me,” she said. “She with City artist Erika Schulz, with whom Sutter formed the Group of Four awhile really got what I had wanted to say.” back. The members spend time together Jeri Lynn eventually established Gallery IS. Colour is also a passion from project “I knew business, and I knew art. So I painting, studying art in general and just to project. “I see the world in colour. The thought let’s do this – so the two of us took learning and growing from the rich times brush marks you can make with paint also on a partnership.” Gallery IS continued spent in each other’s company. really intrigue me. When you put two coJeri Lynn finds she likes to create work in lours together, and then maybe add a third downtown for several years as a successful commercial gallery. They later moved a series-type of format. “I’ve learned over the – to me, that’s what it’s all about. It’s excitto the current location on 48th St. Schulz years not to let them go too soon because ing to me. “The path I’ve been on has been moved to other projects about three years you do have times of growth during any very enriching and fulfilling.” ago, and Jeri Lynn operated out of the period of time. So you’ll go back and see editor@reddeerexpress.com

BY MARK WEBER Red Deer Express

4

Red Deer Express, Women Today

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

It’s time to lighten the shoe mood this spring It’s spring fever, that is what the name of it is. And when you’ve got it, you want, oh you don’t quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so. Would it be too cheeky to suggest Mark Twain was talking about shoes?

As much as we love our boots in Central Alberta, the time has come to lighten the shoe mood. If I could only use one word to define footwear trends for spring 2015, it would be; options. From chic flats, to sky high platforms, classic pumps to lace up oxfords at every heel height, there is a shoe or if you’re like most of us, shoes for every personal style.

Women are refusing to wear uncomfortable shoes, but also demand great style. Fortunately we live in a time where it is possible to have both.

Ladies are not giving up their flats anytime soon. The good news is that the choices are endless. Fashion forward run-

Bev

KRAUSHER ning shoes, man tailored wing tips, classic loafers, ballet, the list is lengthy. Colour abounds along with materials for every taste, buttery soft leathers, suedes, woven textiles, canvas, printed and plain.

Heel heights vary and again, something being offered for every personal style. Probably the biggest trend is a chunkier heel which many woman find easier to wear. Spring booties are again popular and work with many clothing styles, from jeans to pencil skirts to maxi dresses. Many of our European companies offer beautiful hand painted florals on soft neutral

backgrounds or leathers offering blended neutrals which pair well with spring clothing colours. Even the more rugged industrial looks become softer when offered in Lucite green.

Speaking of pumps, you do have a pair, right? Christian Louboutin has compared a good pump to a fine wine.

Always a good choice. There is no better way to flatter and lengthen your legs than wearing a pump. It improves your posture which of course makes you look slimmer. If you have larger calves and thighs, bypass the stilettos and opt for a sturdier heel which will be more proportionate with your lower half. Pumps really are the magic shoe and there is a toe style, heel height or shape to suit everyone. Be sure to have a nude pair in the closet as well. They look great with every colour of clothing and they add inches to your legs.

Spring 2015, the colour experts at the Pantone Institute

suggest a move toward a softer and cooler side of the spectrum. Multi-coloured florals and shades of romantic neutrals pair nicely to create an overall soothing effect. Stylists are suggesting we are all too caught up in our busy worlds so we should look to fashion to calm us. If neutrals don’t excite you though, do not despair as bold colours like classic blue, tangerine and marsala appear as well which are offset by the neutrals - the best of both worlds. Colour is a good way to stay current with your wardrobe. That being said, white is very important this season. An outfit in tip to toe white is au courant.

If you’re experiencing spring fever, your local shoe shop would be happy to ease that ache. Remember the average woman falls in love seven times a year, six are with shoes.

Bev Krausher is a local fashionista and the owner of Great Strides Fine Shoes in Red Deer.

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Women Today, Red Deer Express

5

City jeweller spends time honing her craft

BY KALISHA MENDONSA Red Deer Express Candice Meyer had never aspired to design or make jewellery, but that’s what she does now after learning she had an aptitude and interest for metal chain work and creating one-of-a-kind pieces.

Meyer is a Red Deer resident and has been designing and composing her unique jewellery for a number of years now. She happened upon her talent in a roundabout way, and hasn’t looked back since.

“My daughter moved to Calgary some years ago with her husband and was bored one day, so she called me. She lives near a bead store so I told her to go wander in and find out about taking a course or something like that. She said no, and when I got off the phone, I realized I might like to do something like that if I lived in the city,” Meyer said.

“I was 30 miles out of town, so I ordered a magazine instead. I flipped through it and ended up ordering a bunch of beads from eBay. I saw a chainmaille project and thought it was weird but I kept going back to the page. I ended up going out to the barn, grabbing some copper wire, wrapping it around a nail and that was how I got started.”

Meyer laughed as she admitted that she never thought herself to be particularly artistic or patient – two things a jewellery maker must be. However, she and her family learned that she had a lot of tenacity when it came to creating jewellery.

“The kids always say that this is the one thing I have patience for. I will work on something, and re-do it until I get it the way I want it. I think that in doing art, you really find out a lot about yourself. I thought I was one person, but I’m not just that person – I’m something totally different than I thought,” Meyer said.

“I would get so caught up in my work that my husband would come home and ask if I had a plan for supper and I’d say,

DETAILS, DETAILS – Candice Meyer carefully arranges her latest piece, a necklace and matching earrings of chainmaille and corrugated metal, in her home studio Kalisha Mendonsa/Red Deer Express display.

‘Uh, no, not really.’ On the farm, when he was working and I was home by myself, I’d work until late at night. If I couldn’t sleep I’d get up and start doing something. You just obsess. I always say that it’s something that I have to do. I’ve learned that I can walk away when it’s not going how I want it to, but at the same time; it’s hard to stop.”

The kind of pieces that Meyer creates are composed of hand-made metal rings, created by wrapping, cutting and soldering wires together with specified thicknesses and radiuses. She then weaves the circular pieces together, sometimes with thousands of individual rings in a single piece. For one necklace, roughly just under a centimetre in diameter and 16” in length, it took Meyer 25 hours to complete the process.

She said that composing the jewellery is something of a puzzle because she has to reconcile the image in her mind’s eye with the actual metal on her workbench.

“I’ve generally got an idea of what I want in my head, but when you’re thinking

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Red Deer Express, Women Today

about something, everything fits together.

Everything is balanced and everything looks great. Then you lay it out and start to work on it, and sometimes you find that pieces don’t fit, or it’s too heavy in certain spots. So I have all of these pieces and then it’s like a puzzle, because you see how something fits, and move things around to make it work. It just all sort of comes together in balance,” she said.

Meyer uses a variety of techniques in her designs to create necklaces, earrings, bracelets for men and women, brooches and even cufflinks. She said that sometimes she will find pieces of stone or minerals and it can take years to come up with a final concept for construction.

Each portion of every piece of jewellery is handcrafted in Meyer’s home, unless a special clasp or addition is noted. She dedicates hours to forming the metal hoops and arranging them in intricate details to produce her work. kmendonsa@reddeerexpress.com

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Women Today, Red Deer Express

7

Empowering women in the 21st century Someone who once said to me, “Never has it been harder to be a woman than it is today in the 21st century.” For a long time I believed this and perhaps in certain ways it is true.

However, as time progresses I see the scales begin to tip the other way.

Being a woman in 2015 means choosing whether or not you want to have children or pursue a career. It means being bombarded by mainstream media telling you how to look, think and act.

Being a woman in the year 2015 means we must fight for our places in boardrooms and fight to have our views and opinions heard around the world. On the other hand, being a woman in this day and age means we at least have the choice whether or not we want to have children, as opposed to a time where we were simply asked when.

It means most women will have a choice in how we dress, think, act – and most impor-

Jenna

SWAN tantly what we say.

For the first time in history - the 21st century has allowed women the ability to have seats in these boardrooms and we are seeing more women at the head of these tables as well asspringing up at the heads of all major issues from the energy sector to parliament.

From the dawn of humanity women have been dragged back to caves. In the centuries to follow, women were continuously oppressed - only prevailing when hereditarily placed on a throne due to lineage or in the case of Joan of Arc – chosen by God. Women were beaten, broken and born to be submissive

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to men for centuries. They were left without a choice of whether or not she wanted to marry or who she wanted to marry. She would be sent into a loveless, often abusive marriage where she was not given sexual freedom and usually oppressed.

Some women in developing countries still risk being dragged to wherever the man doing the dragging happens to want her to be. The world is still one where women’s genitalia are mutilated at birth – one where all women still do not have the right to vote, drive, or learn to read and write.

Sure, it’s hard to be a 21st century woman living in a first world country. We are plagued with these unrealistic notions of beauty and women are still fighting everyday to be heard, and the battle for global gender equality is far from won.

Feminism has become a derogatory term. It once was used to describe those in the women’s suffrage movement – it has since come to include the en-

tirety of issues women face and tends to carry a negative connotation by those who don’t self describe as a feminist.

Rebecca West, (1892-1983) a British author and journalist once said, “I myself have never been able to find out precisely what a feminist is. I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat.” This is the struggle faced by many women today.

It is the struggle to find our places in an ever-changing world. No longer is there anything a woman is ‘supposed to do’. This is the beauty of the 21st century for those living in liberated nations. For the first time women have the ability to do whatever they please and it doesn’t make her a ‘feminist’ when she chooses to do it.

It wasn’t easy getting to this point in the equal rights movement we are at, and it won’t be easy to obtain global equality. jswan@reddeerexpress.com

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Red Deer Express, Women Today

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Top RDC female athlete thankful for experience

BY JENNA SWAN Red Deer Express It wasn’t until Leah Kootz, star outside hitter for the Red Deer College Queens’ volleyball team, was holding the Most Valuable Player trophy in her hands that she fully realized the extent volleyball has had on her life.

The announcement came during a post-tournament awards ceremony at the Canadian Collegiate Athletics Association (CCAA) National Championships in Quebec after the Queens had conquered on the court to become back-to-back CCAA national champions.

“I heard the announcement over the speaker ‘From Red Deer College, number 10, Leah Kootz’ - I didn’t even react I just ran up and grabbed it and it hadn’t sunk in,” said Kootz, 19. “Then when I was standing back in the line up with my team holding the award it hit me. I can’t even begin to describe the feeling I had when it finally did, it was incredible.”

It wasn’t an easy road that led Kootz to a national MVP title, but rather one she has been working for her entire life.

It was a road filled with blood, sweat and tears.

Kootz’s volleyball career began at an early age. She describes her earliest memories as ones watching her siblings from the sidelines as they smashed, blocked and dug before her eyes.

“They were my idols,” said Kootz of her two older sisters and older brother. “That pushed me to play because I wanted to be just like them. Then when I ended up being so tall it gave me an edge.

“I just remember that each time I played, my love for the game grew larger.”

Standing at 5’11”, Kootz height surely did give her an advantage throughout her middle school and high school athletics career in which she played a multitude of sports including basketball, badminton, track and field, as well as crosscountry running.

It wasn’t until Kootz was 13 Wednesday, April 29, 2015

that she truly understood the edge she held over the competition as she begun playing club volleyball at Olds College.

LEAH KOOTZ She said being part of a U18 team at only 13 gave her the opportunity to play at a much higher level and play against more experienced teams allowing her to hone in on her skills at an early age.

Her time at Olds led her to be scouted by the U18 University of Calgary Dinos club team, where she said her true passion for the sport began to emerge. Prior to her graduation from William Aberhart High School in Calgary, Kootz was discussing post secondary options when her mom brought up Red Deer College. The more the option was mentioned, the more her curiosity grew. Eventually her club’s coaches caught wind of Kootz’s curiosity and proceeded to contact Queens’ volleyball Head Coach Talbot Walton who agreed to have her try out for the team.

She added that upon joining the Queens she could have never dreamt she would have had the opportunity to be a part of back-to-back national championship winning teams, let alone be named tournament MVP in her second year as a collegiate athlete.

“It stills seems so surreal,” said Kootz. “When you start out at the beginning of every season the end goal is always nationals and we work every practice to be able to achieve

that and to be at that level - but it’s another thing entirely to actually come home with that medal.”

Kootz said she has been taught from a young age by her parents that hard work will take you places, but she adds her career as a Queen taught her more about life than she ever could’ve imagined.

“Coming to RDC to play volleyball has honestly been the best experience I’ve ever had,” she said. “It taught me so much about determination, work ethic, motivation and commitment and has helped me to transfer those skills into my life.”

As many athletes have described team dynamic can make or break a season - despite the skill level present – but for the 2014/2015 Queens volleyball team this was never an issue. “I’ve been part of a lot of teams in my life,” said Kootz. “But this team has really held true to the saying, ‘Once a Queen always a Queen’ and

until I was part of this team I never understood the full impact of that. “We really were like a family this year.”

Following her season with the Queens Kootz plans to finish her second year of kinesiology studies at RDC, but will be transferring to Edmonton come September. “Volleyball has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember,” she stated. “I’ve always been known as ‘the volleyball player’ – so it’s going to be hard to shed that label.”

Kootz hopes to one day work as a physiotherapist, adding that during her volleyball career it was thanks to physiotherapists she was able to overcome multiple knee and shoulder injuries and be able to play at the level she did this year.

“They’ve helped me get through my career and now I want to be able to turn around and help other athletes through theirs.” jswan@reddeerexpress.com

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Mayor reflects on political journey

BY ERIN FAWCETT Red Deer Express Currently serving the second year of her first term as mayor, Tara Veer is relishing all that the position offers.

“In the day-to-day business of being mayor it feels natural – my nine years on council really prepared me well and I have had a life-long love of politics,” she said. “On the other hand it is also very surreal particularly when I see the position through other people’s eyes. Since becoming mayor there has been a real interest in local government from kids and youth in a new way. When I see the holding of mayor through the eyes of a child that comes into the office to be ‘mayor for a day’ and when they sit in the mayor’s chair, it feels surreal for me.”

Born and raised in Red Deer, Veer, who has served as councillor since 2004 and then was elected as mayor in 2013, found a love for politics early on.“Ever since I was quite young – about four or five – I had a strong sense of justice,” said Veer. “Even as a little girl if there was something I didn’t agree with at school or in our household, I certainly made my opinions known.

“I kind of laugh because I can see that I had an interest in politics very young. If there was something that I wanted or if there was a change I wanted to bring about in our household I would campaign and I had all kinds of picket signs, or I would do a survey and show the percentage of what people wanted.”

Veer also recalls when she was in Grade 4 being able to stay up late with her dad to watch the federal election results come in on television. “I didn’t really have an understanding of political parties at that time, but there was something about the whole political process and democracy that inspired me even that young,” she said with a laugh. “I remember going to school the next day and talking about the election and I remember kids kind of looking at me saying how boring that was.”

Veer’s first job in the political scene was working as a constituency assistant for former Red Deer MP Bob Mills. “I worked for him for about three years and it was an amazing experience,” she said.

“The job gave me my first taste of serving as an advocate for people who didn’t necessarily have a voice for themselves.

We would handle the letters and phone calls that came in and we would speak on behalf of those constituents to the federal government. It gave me a sense of how you can help people.”

While working for Mills, Veer also got to be involved with a couple of election cam-

10

Red Deer Express, Women Today

paigns. “I learned how to run a campaign and it was a very valuable experience,” she said.

In the fall of 2004 a municipal election was held. Veer thought she would wait until 2007 to run for council but as campaign signs began to pop up around Red Deer, she had a change of heart. “I just knew I needed to run and it was literally a quick decision,” she said. “I didn’t have a campaign planned or money to fund that campaign. I talked to close friends and family

DYNAMIC – Mayor Tara Veer takes a break from her busy schedule at City Hall.

Jenna Swan/Red Deer Express

and told them I felt I needed to do this and I needed their support because I certainly couldn’t do it alone. And then I ran!”

There were 25 candidates who were vying for a spot on council that election. Veer spent the election night at home listening to the results come in over the radio with her family. “They were naming the top 12 candidates and my name wasn’t on there,” said Veer.

“I remember kind of being disappointed because I had felt the campaign had gone better. I remember my dad telling me not to worry and maybe I was number 13. “I remember driving to City Hall that night to go and congratulate people that had won. I had my cry on the way down and I remember thinking that I knew I was supposed to run but that I guess I would find other ways to make Red Deer a better place to live. I resolved that in my heart.”

When Veer arrived at City Hall, her dad was right and she was in 13th spot. At the

end of the evening, Veer finished in seventh position.

After serving nine years on council, in 2013 Veer made the decision to run for the mayor’s chair.

“I had served on council for three terms and I knew that I was committed to serving the people of Red Deer in one capacity or another. But I reached a point on council where I felt that I had done all that I could do as a councillor and that I was more than ready for a new challenge,” said Veer. “I weighed that decision heavily because it was a risk. I knew that it was a calculated risk that I would have regretted not going for more than I would have regretted had I pursued it and not been successful.

“I believe that in leadership you should stay long enough to make a difference, but not grow stale in your capacity. I had reached a point as a councillor where I knew I needed a new challenge and a new mandate from the people of Red Deer.”

She added the road that led her to where she is now was informed by many people along the way.

“It’s become so evident to me that welltimed words of encouragement, people believing in me and supporting me served as catalysts to bring it about. Often those individuals may not have known what the power of their words had at a critical decision-making juncture.”

For Veer, one aspect for her and what her role as mayor has helped her do is to make a positive difference in the lives of today’s youth. In fact, it is a goal of Veer’s during her first term as mayor to visit every Red Deer school.

“One of the foundations of democracy and government in an elected capacity is that you represent everyone – not just those who can vote for you. I feel strong about influencing and being a role model for young people because I had an interest in politics from such a young age. To me it’s my way of endeavoring to inspire kids to follow their dreams no matter what they are,” she said. “Essentially I am living the dream that I had since I was very young.”

Today, Veer is grateful for her experience on City council and in her role as mayor and is looking forward to achieving more.

“I absolutely love the democratic process. I really believe we live in the best City, in the best province, in the best country in the world. I believe that Red Deer is great, but I believe we can make it an even better place,” she said.

“My hope would be to run for office as long as the people feel like I am serving them well and as long as I have a vision for our City.” efawcett@reddeerexpress.com

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Annual Fun Run is set for May 9th in City

BY MARK WEBER Red Deer Express The fourth annual Only Women’s Fitness Fun Run is set for May 9th at River Bend Golf & Recreation Area in support of Women’s Outreach.

Organizers describe it as, “A perfect way to celebrate Mother’s Day weekend with the special women in your lives.”

There are more than $10,000 in prizes, plus food, a Women’s Expo, chip timing, kids activities, music and a Mother’s Day Weekend Brunch.

Val Jensen spearheaded the event, and is passionate about getting as many women and girls from across the region involved as much as possible.

“I had Dance Magic for 20 years, and I’m a big believer in girls and women being active,” she said. “So when I sold the studio, I thought what am I going to do in my volunteering and retired life. I had spent a lot of time with Woody’s Triathlon as a tri-athlete and race director, and had helped build that event. But that event sells out every year in about one month.” Jensen felt there was a real need in the community for a way to help local girls of all ages be more active.

She decided to launch a run.

“I went to Only Women’s Fitness and said, would you sponsor a run? They were very excited because that’s what they’re all about,” she said, indicating the organization’s overall goals to promoting activity.

Jensen then teamed up with

FAMILY FUN - Nancy West and her daughter Ivy enjoyed the photo submitted Only Women’s Fitness Fun Run last year.

Family Services as the local benefitting charity over the span of three years. “So the first three years it was Family Services, and now I’m excited to partner with Women’s Outreach for the next three years.”

The Only Women’s Fitness Run is of course held the Mother’s Day weekend. “That’s what I want to do on Mother’s Day, is to play outside with my children – and they’re 30 years old,” she adds with a laugh.

“That’s what I want other women to do, too.”

At the inaugural run, about 250 participants signed up.

“And last year, we had almost 900.” She said there are several different races during the day - participants can walk or run 10km, 5km, 3km or 1km. There is also the 500m Little Ladies Race and 100m Diaper Dash.

“Our youngest was seven months old wearing a race shirt

and a race number, and our oldest participant last year was 83 and she pushed her greatgrandchildren in an umbrella stroller for three km. She’s already registered for this year.

“We also had lots of elderly people walk in the four generation group, too. A lot of people had no idea of the beautiful

trails that are down there at River Bend as well.”

Other activities include face painting, obstacles courses, games, a family brunch and an extensive health expo. Representatives with various agencies and organizations will also be onhand to chat about their services to the community.

This year there is also the Subway School Challenge, where the school with the highest percentage of girls taking part in the event will be recognized as the Most Active Girls in School. The school with the highest percentage of girls participating will win a Subway lunch for their racers.

Online registration closes May 7th at midnight, although registration will be open on site right up until the race start on May 9th.

To register visit www.onlywomenrd.ca or www.womensoutreach.ca or email starstruckreddeer@gmail.com. editor@reddeerexpress.com

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11

The ever-changing industry that is fitness I’ve been in the fitness industry for many years and have seen a lot of trends come and go. New trends in fitness evolve out of three main ideas.

One reason for new fitness ideas is time. We live in a fastpaced busy culture where time to exercise is limited.

The second factor people take into consideration are results. The last important consideration that motivates today’s fitness trends is lifestyles.

Within the fitness industry the four big trends are bodyweight training, functional fitness, HIIT and yoga. Each of these trends are linked to the motivations listed above.

Bodyweight training is an economical and timesaving option because the moves can be done anywhere. Squats while you brush your teeth? Sure!

Plank while you’re waiting for water to boil? The old-school exercise trend goes back to the basics - pushups, planks, lunges, squats, and pull-ups.

Char

ANDREW Since these moves require no workout equipment, they can be done just about anywhere, making bodyweight exercises a great pick for everyone.

One of the great things about being physically fit is how easy everyday activities that used to seem difficult feel when you have more muscle and less fat.

That’s where functional fitness comes in - training that will make your life easier. Functional fitness links directly to our lifestyles as Canadians. It includes natural body movements that help us prepare for our daily life – things like shoveling snow, carrying groceries or lifting your children.

Super-efficient HIIT is the ideal workout for a busy schedule. The concept behind HIIT is simple - exercise as hard as you can for a few minutes, recover just long enough to stop sucking wind, and repeat. This spikes your metabolism and builds muscle quickly. And unlike those leisurely treadmill sessions, it burns calories both during a workout and (here’s the beautiful part) for up to 24 hours afterward. This is not a workout you can do while reading a magazine or chatting with your friend. Because it’s so short, you will be working hard the whole time. The trade-off is this format offers seasoned exercisers a challenge and new exercisers a way to see results.

You may be sucking wind, but you definitely won’t be bored!

Most yoga studios and local gyms offer yoga classes that are open to all ages and fitness levels. It is great to witness teens, athletes, middle-aged moms, men, seniors and even fitness

buffs and body builders. Everyone can feel accepted and included and, unlike other sports or classes that focus on niche clients, yoga tends to have open arms.

The most exciting part about the direction of the fitness industry is that it is finally an environment where all are welcome. Gone are the days where you needed to be an elite athlete to be physically active. The types of training mentioned in this article allow everyone to participate regardless of their level of athleticism.

As you continue your fitness journey you will be able to increase your own results. The results you get will depend on your level of commitment and your level of intensity. These are two factors that you can control making your fitness level your own. Fitness is a journey not a destination!

Char Andrew is a certified group fitness instructor at Only Women’s Fitness in Red Deer.

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Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Electrician enjoys success of trades career

BY ERIN FAWCETT Red Deer Express

“I have spent days digging trenches or pulling big pipes and big wires. There are days I have been both physically and mentally exhausted and I have wondered why am I doing this? This is hardly glamorous,” said Greene. “But with work comes reward because now I am instructing and some of my fellow peers have advanced in their careers as well. I’m proud of my trade and I’m proud to represent all electricians, not only female electricians.”

Being an instructor Greene said she enjoys teaching all of her students, but there is a sense of personal gratification when it comes to seeing female students in her class.

“To see them at such a young age be so determined and take control of their destiny at such a young age is really so great to see. They know they can be a trades person and be successful and they don’t doubt themselves at all.”

For one Red Deer College electrical instructor, overcoming obstacles of being successful in a career that was for the most part male dominant has been rewarding.

Joanne Greene has been an electrical instructor at Red Deer College for the past two years.

“After I had done a couple years of university in Newfoundland where I am from, I wanted to do a little bit of soul searching and to travel the country a little bit. I moved to Vancouver and after a couple of years I thought it was time to get some type of a career,” she said.

“I considered going back to university but then I looked at the costs of going back. I had originally wanted to be a teacher but I would have had to pay almost $200,000.”

Greene’s father is a millwright and he suggested that she get a ROLE MODEL – Joanne Greene, an electrical instructor at Red Deer College, encourages young women to give the trades a try. trade. efawcett@reddeerexpress.com Jenna Swan/Red Deer Express “I decided to actually listen to him for the first time in my life,” laughed Greene. “I enrolled in a pre-employment program which included a little bit of a sampler – I was able to try a couple of different trades, not just electrical. I did some welding and pipefitting. After I did that I was convinced electrical was the trade for me.”

Greene moved to Alberta in 2002 because of the opportunities in the oil and gas sector. “I found work as soon as I came here.”

Greene said when she went to school to become an electrician, it was not the norm to see females in trades.

“There is at least one girl now in every class and you’re seeing a lot more women in fourth year or getting ready to do their Red Seal exam,” she said. “We hear of a lot of success stories and a lot of women venturing into a lot more non-traditional electrical work.

“When I started female electricians did basically residential work like house wirings. Now there is a lot more versatility. Women are doing more industrial and construction-commercial.”

She added she believes the shift is due to women being successful in the field.

“I truly feel that myself and some of my mates – the pioneers – we worked really hard to get where we were and I think it was noticed,” she said. “We bring our own strengths to the job. Women are multi-taskers, we have small hands that can fit into small places that big hands can’t – we have our own strengths.”

Greene’s success did not come without challenges – especially with her entering a male-dominated industry.

“A lot of work for electricians is out of town so you can be in a camp-type style. Being female there’s an obstacle there being that they need to accommodate you for the fact that you are female,” she said. “I’ve had some of my biggest obstacles be men, but I’ve also had men be some of my biggest supporters too. Now I think because it has become so much more familiar that youth are not seeing it as a difference as much.” #4 # 4 48 4804 480 804 - 50 A Ave Ave. D Dow Downtown Red Deer She added the physical demands that come with being an elecwww.fi neshoes.ca • 403.352.2200 trician can be tough as well.

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Local chocolatier finds success in the business world

BY JENNA SWAN Red Deer Express

When she was a little girl people were always telling Barbara (BJ) Tumanut she was ‘bossy’.

In fact, once all of the kids in her Kansas City, Missouri neighbourhood where she grew up formed a coalition to tell her that if she didn’t stop being so bossy, they wouldn’t be playing with her anymore.

It wouldn’t be until much later in life that she would realize her ‘bossiness’ was in fact a natural born ability to lead.

Today Tumanut leads her team of dedicated staff as owner of Red Deer’s Chocolates by Bernard Callebaut after purchasing the store in 2011. As of July 1st she will also lead Red Deer Rotary Club – Sunrise as acting president and sits on the board of the Red Deer Chamber of Commerce.

She explained she moved to Red Deer from Edmonton, following her decision to purchase the Red Deer store.

“I moved to Canada from Kansas City, Missouri in 1997,” explained Tumanut, who studied communications at the University of Missouri. “And my first career after studying was in the fine wine business - if you’re talking about women in a nontraditional career, that was me then.

“In the classes, tastings, and business meetings I was often the only female - it’s much different now and I would say it’s now predominantly women but it wasn’t like that then.”

As much as she enjoyed the day-to-day happenings of the fine wine business, life had more in store for Tumanut.

“I was put in a position where I had to do something else,” she told of how she came to be in the chocolate business.

“My boyfriend and his family owned the three Chocolates by Bernard Callebaut in Edmonton and I was really at a crossroads with no idea what I was going to do.

“So he asked if I wanted to come work for him - just for the Christmas season – maybe two or three months and in January when I was back on my feet I could look for something that I really loved doing.”

Little did she know, that those three months would turn into eight years.

“The shelf life of working for your partner is maybe two to three years,” she explained.

“We had pushed that another five – so I felt it was time to move onto something different.”

Tumanut began to examine her natural skill set. She asked herself what she was

16

Red Deer Express, Women Today

BUSINESS LESSONS FROM BJ – Owner of Chocolates by Bernard Callebaut, Barbara (BJ) Tumanut explains what it means to be a good business owner and what she Jenna Swan/Red Deer Express has learned from her time as an entrepreneur. truly good at? What did she want out of life? What skills had she gained from life experiences?

“I was curious, I was a hard worker and I really, really enjoyed people - which I felt was one of my strengths,” said Tumanut.

“All through university and even afterwards I worked retail, primarily customer service because that was my real strength.

“I knew in the back of my head I had these skills but I didn’t know how to transfer that into a career.”

That’s when she began to think of starting her own business.

Although she grew up in a neighbourhood with few locally-owned businesses, she had understood from a young age the importance they held to the economy.

“My first job I worked for a man who owned two pharmacies – both of those put together were probably the size of a decent walk-in closet,” she tells of her early employment. “When he interviewed me he also interviewed my mom and dad.”

Although she credits her parents as well, she says it was here she truly learned how to respect people, how to thank people, and how to give back.

“He started these pharmacies from scratch and it was the first time I had ever been exposed to entrepreneurship.”

Seeds of the importance of entrepreneurial skills had been planted in the back of Tumanut’s mind. These seeds were merely waiting for the right idea to help them bloom later in her life.

“I had a few ideas I was entertaining but when I put it down on paper it just wasn’t a viable option,” she explained. “I just al-

ways found myself back at square one. But when you’ve done something for so long and you’re good at it, you’ll end up gravitating back towards it and for me it was chocolate.”

That’s when she heard the Red Deer store location was for sale, and set her sights on the shop.

She says the four years she has owned the store haven’t been easy, but added if it were easy to own your own business everyone would.

“It was hard for me to make friends in Red Deer at first,” said Tumanut who moved to Red Deer alone to take over the store. “I went from having all of these friends around me to eating dinner alone in the dark every night and it hurt a bit.

“Here I was pouring everything I had into this business and no one to share it with on a friendship basis.”

It didn’t take Tumanut long to get back on her feet saying she has since developed lasting life-long friends in the City which she accredits to the Chamber of Commerce, her Rotary Club, and to her own surprise – Twitter.

“I knew I couldn’t do it on my own,” she said. “But I never did think and never will think that I know everything there is to know and that’s where your friends, your family, your mentors, and your role models come into play.

“Since I’ve moved here I have met some of the brightest and most creative people in my entire life - I have friends and mentors here that I can learn so much from.

“You can’t ask people for help without giving back, whether it’s a professional, romantic, or business relationship.” jswan@reddeerexpress.com

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Planning a dream destination wedding To many women, it is a dream that is developed over the span of years.

Rachel

TRIPP It could be built while watching happy endings in childhood movies like Disney’s The Little Mermaid or Cinderella. Dreams are made from listening to music knowing in their hearts they just heard the song they must walk down the aisle to. Through the inspiration boards, colour palettes, and magazine articles this has all created a picture that will be unfolded in all its beauty within hours or days of arriving to her chosen destination.

The definition of destination weddings can pertain to any venue located outside your town of residence. A more mainstream definition of destination weddings would be defined as a southern location in countries like the United States, Mexico, Bahamas, Jamaica, Grand Cayman or Aruba.

When choosing the destination, the following are a few things to consider: budget/pricing, legalities for marriage and resort. Choosing a destination and figuring out your wedding can seem daunting. Many venues are becoming more financially pleasing to the bride/ groom’s budget requirements.

Over time, resorts have developed a better understanding of their demographics. Although it can be fun to narrow it down, keep in mind the budget. For example, flying from Vancouver to Aruba may require a moderate budget based on a per person basis even in the off season.

Limited venues and availability in Aruba can drive pricing up. Aruba should be planned over a year in advance to acquire desired flight times and allow guests to have time Wednesday, April 29, 2015

to coordinate funds. However, on the flip-side, Calgary to Cabo San Lucas, Cancun or Las Vegas can be done on a smaller budget. Short flight times and high rates of weddings in these areas call for lower rates for competition. Peak wedding time for these areas are the months of November and May. Will our marriage be recognized in Canada? Can I get married on a ship? How do I get married in Mexico - these are all common questions.

The answer is complex and varies with each country.

Ships mandate marriage requirements in the country where she is registered.

With Mexico, it is more complicated with its marriage requirements. Here’s an example. Based on a civil service, non-catholic, Spanish-speaking minister, in the State of Jalisco, at the RIU in Puerto Vallarta, Mexican law and hotel policy dictate the arrival of bride and groom and four witnesses within four business days before the wedding. Both bride and groom must take a prenuptial course at a government office, have blood tests taken (at the resort) which produce the medical certificates that are necessary to move forward.

They must also produce notarized and translated birth certificates. If that is not your cup of tea, then take off to Jamaica!

Arrive two business days before your organized wedding with some notarized documents in hand, and you have yourself a legal wedding!

Ahhh - the cherished resort.

Not all resorts offer the same things. Wedding packages vary with fees attached to all enhancements, or complimentary packages to maximize the budget. Resorts are also different when it comes to accommodation. The resort must have what she deems important. Make a list and start short-listing the resorts.

Can the resort blend cultures through the food, music, and ceremony? Can they produce a photographer that can capture the dress photo-op in a manner that portrays beauty?

Whichever is important to

BLISSFUL – Planning a destination wedding doesn’t have be photo submitted complicated. the bride, others should know this is her dream. This dream leads to an emotional journey that will ultimately lead to one of the most memorable days in

her life. Perfection is necessary.

Rachel Tripp is a destination wedding specialist and travel consultant with Expedia CruiseShipCenters in Red Deer.

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Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Local Elder making a difference with youth

BY KALISHA MENDONSA Red Deer Express For Theresa ‘Corky’ Larsen Jonasson, the honour of being recognized as an Elder has come at a younger age than most, but she is eager to fill the role her community has nominated her for.

“Number one, you don’t call yourself an Elder. Your community recognizes you as that when they begin asking you to do things like pray, or sit with people or lead in ceremony,” Jonasson said. “I’m fairly young to be an Elder – I’m only 55 – but I’m getting asked. I think I can hide away or pretend that nobody needs my help - or the help of Elders - or I can try my best. And that’s what I do. I try my best to do work in the community.”

Jonasson, or ‘Corky’ as the community knows her, began to notice the young women in her community were looking for a role model and someone to relate to about their problems. She said that her husband Lynn was her biggest support and source of encouragement in moving into the role of Elder.

“As an elder, you park your ego. There is no ego – there is humility and doing what is asked of you in a good way.

You don’t expect anything in return – you just try your best,” Corky said.

“I find that especially with our young women, they need someone and that’s where my heart lies – the youth. That’s what I focus on. They are the ones that are really searching – especially the ones who have been in care or have been separated from their families over historical events.”

Corky said Lynn taught her to hone the patience it takes to guide youths. She said one has to be invested in the youth, getting to know them over time, before they begin to make an impact in the youth’s lives. She has many ‘special children’, which is the title that she gives to those she unofficially adopts into her life as family.

“I see a lot of anxiety and depression in our youth now and Wednesday, April 29, 2015

I think the trick is to channel that towards using your voice more, and to empowerment.

Everybody wants to be part of a community or a family. Everybody wants to know where they came from, where they belong and they want to be a part of something,” she said.

THERESA ‘CORKY’ LARSEN JONASSON She added, “This is why we respect our elders so much - they have lived a long time, they have learned life lessons, they have made mistakes and learned from them. They’ve seen the good things and they’ve seen the bad things. To share that with the youth, it’s important for one-on-one face time to happen, which takes a lot of time. It takes someone who is really patient and willing to teach.”

Corky is a community leader for several reasons. She leads ceremonies, guides community conversations around important issues, engages the youth in her life and takes on several mentorship roles. Aside from that, she is constantly trying to build community relationships and build up those around her.

“The most important work we can do is community work.

I want to keep building relationships and keep the healing going. We need people to stop buying into the stereotypical ‘First Nations’ perspective,” she said, speaking about an issue very close to her heart.

“We hear about things that go wrong on reserves, and it seems to make the news all the time. The drug addictions, the killing and the money – it’s all in

Red Deer too. We see it all the time. What people don’t talk about are the people who are trying hard to make their lives better. We don’t hear about the people who are on reserves doing good work, supporting their youths and Elders and tying the community together. We don’t hear about that.”

Over the past several months Corky has poured her heart into sharing information, awareness and leading discussions pertaining to the hundreds of missing and murdered indigenous women across Canada through ‘Walking With Our Sisters’.

‘Walking With Our Sisters’ is a traveling art commemoration that is moving across Canada.

Beaded moccasin tops, known as ‘vamps’ are collected and are left unfinished to represent the lives of the women being honoured.

Community conversations are led by Corky each month that allow people a space to

share thoughts, ideas and emotions pertaining to the subject.

“There were just a few at that first conversation, and it came up that not only can we do it, but we need to do it.

Just watching people from all parts of the City coming to sit in these conversation circles is amazing. It’s really something beautiful and I’m very honoured to be a part of it. I was asked to be lead Elder for it,” she said.

She added after the installment reaches Red Deer, the conversations will continue and the information and ideas will continue to flow.

Corky was adamant to thank the Elders that have guided her, as well as members of City council, and former mayor Morris Flewwelling for their guidance and efforts in building relationships and strength in the Red Deer First Nations community. kmendonsa@reddeerexpress.com

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Local woman a beacon in community

BY KALISHA MENDONSA Red Deer Express Some people succumb when they are witness to loss, pain and strife – not Marlene Pannenbecker, 2014’s ‘Mom of the Year’ finalist and winner – she said that every day she makes the conscious choice to be strong. Pannenbecker is a resident in Lacombe but her warmth and strength reach far beyond the small City. She has become known throughout Lacombe and Red Deer as an incredibly selfless woman and as a synonymous representation of a strong woman.

However, before anything else, she said she is first and foremost a mother.

“I am, first of all, a mom. I’m also a strong woman but I am a mom first and I love being a mom,” she said. “To me, being a good mom means showing my children that you can do anything that you want to do,

anything you set out to do, as long as you do it correctly. It’s my job to set an example to be kind as much as you can. Kids learn by what they watch, and by what they see. They watch how you react to things, and how you don’t react to things.

I think that it always has been one of the most important things.”

Pannenbecker said she feels like she’s on the right path, because she feels the strength and character of her children as accomplishments that truly bring pride to her heart.

The Pannenbecker family was thrust into the public eye after the death of young Damian Pannenbecker, who was 19 at the time, after he lost his life in a vehicle accident. This was a time of tremendous struggle for the close family. The loss of Damian impacted many community members, and led to a noticeable and understandable drive in Marlene to not give

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into her sorrow.

“I remember saying in my head that if I wasn’t strong, I was going to go crazy and that was the decision I had to make.

My kids needed me, my husband needed me and they had to see me make that choice,” she said. “I think that I’ve always made that choice since. I have made the choice to be strong as much as I can. I have my days of crying, or anger or freak-outs.

I truly believe that you don’t know what it means to be strong until you have no other choice – so that’s what I chose.”

Marlene said with her several adopted children and then with the loss of her son, some people have branded her a ‘Mother TeMARLENE PANNENBECKER resa type’ – something that myself. They said that I had she does not agree with. She said she has been told she is to understand that people are an inspiration to other women inspired by my strength – so and people, and that it took her I needed to basically just be a long time to get used to that okay with it,” she said.

“I’m okay with it because idea. Between losing her son, dealing with the aftermath of I think it brought attention loss in her family, and receiving to the fact that despite all the the title of ‘Mom of the Year’, it bad things that can happen in life, if you choose to be happy, was all a bit much for her.

Marlene worked through the you can be, even with the hard spotlight and used the title to times. It’s okay to have those support a cause that made her hard times, but the key thing is family very happy, and would choosing to be happy.”

Marlene also played a cruhave meant a lot to her son Damian. As ‘Mom of the Year’, cial role in organizing and faMarlene was awarded $10,000 cilitating a project called Line for herself and $10,000 that of Hope – Red Deer Style. She, would be donated to a charity along with a number of friends of her choice. She and her fam- and community members in ily chose a program called Do- the Lacombe/Red Deer area, minican Feed the Kids, which organize a weekly dinner each is operated by her sister and Sunday at Potter’s Hands Minbrother-in-law in the Domini- istries.

There are a number of reacan Republic.

This is where she met four of sons that Marlene has become a beacon in her community her seven children.

This donation slightly edged – mainly, her strength, comMarlene’s reputation closer to passion and drive to do good that of a ‘do-gooder’ and an in- things for people.

She said although she has spiration. She said although she eventually warmed up to those these qualities, she would like titles, it doesn’t truly represent to remind people that she is a regular person and only does who she feels she is.

“My friends told me to say what she does for her family. kmendonsa@reddeerexpress.com thank you and be proud of Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Area women set to ‘shimmy’ for good cause

BY ERIN FAWCETT Red Deer Express A fun and unique fundraiser that will benefit a local cause is set to take place in Central Alberta next month.

Shimmy Mob, a ‘flash mob’ type event, is the largest event of its kind by the number of geographical territory covered in one day, creating awareness and raising funds for women’s and children’s shelters in participating communities.

Now in its fifth year, Shimmy Mob is an international event with more than 2,200 dancers in 181 cities participating this year.

The Central Alberta event will run at the AG Foods on Main St. in Delburne on May 9th. This also happens to be World Belly Dance Day as well.

Delburne SAFE Families will be hosting a barbecue and bake sale and dancers will be performing the Shimmy Mob choreography and other dances during the noon hour.

“Our primary objective is to raise donations and awareness for women and children’s shelters throughout the world. Our secondary purpose is to share the beauty of belly dance in a fun, flash mob-type event on World Belly Dance Day,” said Kathleen Ennis, team leader for Delburne and who

also teaches at Shadow Dancer Studio in the Town. “We all wear the same t-shirt and perform the same choreography. We have quite a large group of dancers this year. I do hope that it expands, and based on the growth of the event every year, I’m sure it will. It’s a great chance for people who haven’t taken belly dancing to give it a try.”

Ennis added her team is raising money to support Delburne SAFE Families, a local committee that was formed in 2010.

The acronym stands for ‘Stop Abuse for Family Empowerment’. Their mission is to assist women in crisis and educate people of all ages about domestic violence and the many services that are available. Aside from raising money old cell phones, personal hygiene items and gently-used clothing for women and children will also be collected. There will be drop-off spots at Ladina’s Massage, Mane Street Salon and the Village Office, and all donations are greatly appreciated.

Last year Ennis and her team donated nearly $900 to SAFE Families from fundraising, and combined with the barbecue and bake sale almost $1,700 was raised for them at the event.

Ennis encourages participants in this year’s event as she said her and her team

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are not only fundraising for a worthy cause but are raising awareness as well.

“I think that supporting a group (Delburne SAFE Families) that is working to educate people and help women and children in abusive situations is an important thing to do,” she said. “So there are many ways people can participate – through their donations, by coming out to the event and having a barbecue lunch, buying some bake sale or craft items, and generally providing moral support.

“Whether or not we wish to face it, we probably all know somebody who has been in an abusive relationship. The more we talk about this subject and the more light we can shine on it, the more we can do to stop it and the better the chance that women who are victims of any type of abuse will realize that there is help out there for them, to not be afraid, and ask for that help. It’s also important for men and young people to join the conversation so we can collectively take a stand, and put an end to abuse. Abuse thrives in silence – if we end the silence we may be able to stop the violence.”

For more information, visit http://www. shimmymob.com.

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Red Deer Express, Women Today

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Being a woman in today’s oil industry

BY KALISHA MENDONSA Red Deer Express As uncommon as might seem to find a woman supervisor or executive in the oil and gas sector, it isn’t unheard of.

Terri Mackenzie has continuously proven herself in a field of sexism, crude comments and negativity to become an assembly, maintenance and overhaul (AMO) supervisor with Baker Hughes in Red Deer.

During her career of 23 years in the oil patch, Mackenzie said she has had to deal with being called every derogatory name in the book. She has had to prove her knowledge, skill and ability over that time and luckily, she has received some recognition of her strengths. “A girl can do any job she sets her mind to. The challenge is dealing with the people you work with. Yeah, that means putting on a suit of armor and taking all the negativity that they throw at you. It’s got to be like water off a duck’s back. Girls in trades can’t let it get to you – and if it does, do not show it.”

She has kept her head down, learned her trade and worked her way up from a boiler hand over two decades. Currently, she supervises a shop full of people as they manufacture, take down and re-build tools for the oil patch.

“Number one, the boys here respect me because I’ve earned my stripes. And they know I’ll clean their clock if I have to.

It’s helped me in ways. I want to teach them, but you have to discipline them. I have to be reminding them to read tech units and things. I find I’m more motherly when I’m in the shop than in the field.

“Being a supervisor with compassion, you’ve got to monitor it. When do you show your compassion, and when don’t you? At times, that’s hard.

We’ve had some pretty difficult times here - I’ve had to go for a walk. That’s really the only way to deal with things, especially if you’ve been working with someone for years. You can’t just blow up.”

Mackenzie said the reason Wednesday, April 29, 2015

ACCOMPLISHMENT - AMO supervisor Terri Mackenzie relaxes for a moment in the shop that she supervises at a Baker Kalisha Mendonsa/Red Deer Express Hughes facility in Red Deer. she got into the patch was because her husband left her and she was left with bills and a house to maintain.

“I wasn’t making enough money. All of my friends worked in the field, and told me to go get a boiler ticket and fire a boiler in the winter. So that’s what I did,” she said.

After five years, Mackenzie made the transition to work with tubing and casings for oil well construction. That lasted for seven years before she applied for Baker Hughes.

She became a tool hand, which meant that she spent a lot of time in camps, working alongside men in installing rigs, operating the machinery and then rigging out with the rest of the crew. She said growing up on a farm helped her feel comfortable pulling her weight, and she had no hesitations in doing the exact jobs that the men did.

“I was treated like any other roughneck. If they got in trenches, I got in trenches. If you didn’t, you were gone. I couldn’t quit, or say I’m done because I had to keep my house. I didn’t have anyone to support me, so I toughened up and supported myself.”

Mackenzie said the first real recognition she got of her ability was about seven years after being in the field. She said she was about to rig in with the rest of the crew, but was told that she had done it enough and the younger guys would rig her in.

“It felt good to get that pat on the back, but at the same time I felt useless,” she said.

One of the biggest challeng-

es that lie with women working in the oil patch is the lack of standard equipment made for women. Mackenzie does not have access to fire-proof, standard safety gloves that fit, because they are all made for men. She has also never had a pair of coveralls that weren’t made for a man.

She said she had similar issues finding work boots be-

cause she has small feet and getting them custom made was a hefty price. Finally, Mackenzie said one of the biggest annoyances is knowing there is still a very different pay scale for women than there is for men. “Our wages have to become more equal. Yes, I understand that there is a pay grade.

We all start down and can advance up, but it doesn’t matter if a male engineer or a female engineer goes to the same school, they are still two different wages. That is still a huge issue in this industry,” she said.

“As a woman supervisor, you need to find that outside voice and you use it, and you use it with authority. You’ve got to show what you know – show your authority, your confidence and your knowledge. As soon as they see that you know your job inside and out, you have that knowledge, men will start to look at you differently.” kmendonsa@reddeerexpress.com

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Randi Boulton’s artistic journey continues to unfold She is headed to the Canadian Country Music Awards later this fall she’s introduced as a country artist.

“A lot of people will Local singer Randi say after my shows, Boulton continues ‘Well, you’re not really to make her mark country – you kind of musically as she exdo everything’.” She plores artistic vistas also points out that while continuing to there’s a tendency for share her tunes with a listeners to try and broader audience. define musicians styShe’s really always listically. “My whole on the go – always life I’ve been fighting sharing her superb being put into a box. tunes with audiences Maybe it’s just my across Central Alberta rebel state of mind, and beyond. Her mubut I want to break sic is rich, exciting into some rock music and powered by her and sing that for my amazing voice – as fans. Then I want to witnessed on her CDs break into some counSometimes Life and try, and sing that. I’ve last year’s Randi With always tried to keep an ‘I’ – a project which those borders away so boldly features more I can do what I want of the profound artistry and have that freeBoulton is known for dom.” while being energized Speaking of counby tunes exuding a try ties, Boulton has more light-hearted naalso worked with loGIFTED – Singer/songwriter Randi Boulton continues to establish herself on cal country star Gord ture. photo submitted Last June, she held the music scene.

Bamford as of late as a CD release concert well. “He hired me to for Randi With An ‘I’ at play for his golf tourthe College Arts Centre, and there was pal- lifestyle. People let their guards down; they nament last year,” she said. “Well I’m playpable excitement; few would have left that leave their comfort zones.” ing, Jason Blaine jumps up and we start doBoulton attended the ACMAs this year ing a duet together – all these people there evening with any doubts that this woman is (the Association of Country Music in Al- for me to sing in front of, it was like the indeed on her way.

As the months have passed, opportuni- berta) and enjoyed every minute of it, too. biggest showcase ever.”

“My producer asked me if I was going ties continue to unfold.

Looking back, music – no matter what “My friend just secured sponsorship for country! About 10 years ago I would have genre may be reflected at any given time us to go to the CCMAs (Canadian Country said no way, but honestly, country music has always been a passion. She started garMusic Awards) in Halifax this September,” isn’t country music anymore. They are kind nering attention at 12 years of age, when she said. “That’s going to be huge. It’s how of cramming into my genre now, whatever she landed first prize in a talent show with that was,” she laughs. Boulton has been her mom. Boulton later won a songwriting Jason Blaine got his start – at the CCMAs.” It’s going to be a full week of not just asked where she fits categorically but truth contest at 14. That led into being selected showcasing her music but also connect- be told, her engaging, wonderfully-crafted to play for Showcase ‘98 in Edmonton. ing with key contacts who could very well tunes don’t adhere to a strict labeling code.

Along with her talent, Boulton has been “I don’t really think I can be put into a box blessed with a charming, warm personality help her along in her career as well.

“I’ll meet a tonne of people when I’m because there are aspects of country in it. to match. She has a great sense of humour, out there, and that’s fantastic because half There are also aspects of pop, so how do and she’s a delight to watch on stage – not the battle is just networking and getting to you put it all into a box when (that box) just for her vocal abilities but for how she doesn’t exist?” know more people,” she explains. connects with audiences.

But these days, as she indicated, the As for the CCMAs, there is indeed much “I’m trying to network – to get to know lines have blurred. The classic country of people because you never know when you to look forward to.

“You’re putting together a whole bunch decades past doesn’t sound like the coun- are going to meet up with someone who of musicians – they’ll jam in the hallways, try of today – which sits just fine with the can help you out, or you can help them they’ll jam in the bathrooms, they’ll jam hordes of fans who tune into country-pop out. It’s important to do that.” editor@reddeerexpress.com outside. It’s so funny. It’s just a different stations globally. She said that sometimes,

BY MARK WEBER Red Deer Express

24

Red Deer Express, Women Today

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Local coach enjoys making a difference

BY JENNA SWAN Red Deer Express The pinnacle of Cara Lee’s more than a decade of coaching happened for her during a routine visit to a surgeon’s office where she was conducting a clinic. A physiotherapist, Lee noticed in the waiting room of the office one of her former team members – one from her early days as a coach.

“We both recognized each other right away,” remembers

CARA LEE Lee. “She started crying and said to me, ‘I remember when I first started playing I was the worst player on the team, but you made me feel like the team could not go on without me.’”

Moments like this are what being a coach is all about.

Before she began her career within Red Deer’s minor sports

scene, Lee had played sports including a high level of ringette, softball, and basketball.

She said she more remembers the coaches of her youth, as opposed to other role models at the time. “I recognized later in life the huge impacts they had on me, so eventually that led me to have a strong desire to be involved with my own children’s athletics,” she explained.

“I have seen in my own life how much confidence sport has given me, and I just want that for my own kids as well.”

When her children were young, Lee was on her own raising daughters Jade, 17, and Tyla, 15. This meant after working all day, she wanted to be able to spend as much time with them as possible and this led her to start coaching their Timbits soccer team.

She has since coached her daughters in soccer, hockey, softball, ringette and inline hockey. She admits, at first she was fairly nervous, but thanks to support from Red Deer Minor Hockey coaching mentorship and certification programs she has developed a strong core of coaching philosophies, adding that one of her biggest mentors was Tom Bast – head coach of the Midget ‘AAA’ Sutter Fund Chiefs. Her

time spent coaching tells her that while there is a difference in how male and female coaches approach each sport, they aren’t as different as you might think, and that a misconception she has seen is women are the only ones who get emotional when coaching.

“When I was coaching younger kids and I would see one score their first goal I would be crying on the bench I’d be so excited,” she explained. “I know I can get extremely emotionally involved, but I’ve also coached alongside men who have had more passion and emotion for the sport than anyone I’ve ever seen – male or female.”

She added the benefits of having a son or daughter coached by a female can be seen in the fact it is one more positive female role model.

“We see different things in the athlete’s attitudes and even have different ways of looking at the technical side of things -

so there are benefits to having both male and female coaches.”

Currently, Cara can be spotted in the dugout of the U-18 ‘A’ Red Deer Rage Softball Club for the 2015 season, where daughter Jade will be playing her last season before heading to the Alberta Summer Games and onto playing softball for the Iowa Western College Reivers.

Cara explained that while she wouldn’t attribute her daughter’s skill to the fact she that was usually her coach, it didn’t hurt to have a supportive parent at home.

“I wouldn’t say it fostered her skill, because you tend to be born with those natural abilities,” said Cara.

“But what I think having your parents coach you does is help to foster wellness and develop the reiteration of the things you need to do in order to play at that high of a level.” jswan@reddeerexpress.com

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25

Tips for today’s financially savvy lady There are things which you need to know to make yourselves a financial Wonder Woman.

1. Have credit. You need to have credit just to get utilities or a cell phone let alone to buy a car, a home or book a vacation.

You need to have two types of credit reporting on your behalf. One of them must be a credit card and the other can be a car loan or other fixed payment type product. Keep in mind that when this loan is paid off you need to get a new secondary credit.

Things you should know: • If you have a secondary credit card from your partner’s account chances are it is not reporting to your credit bureau.

Make sure you have your own credit card or else ensure that the card you have chosen reports for both of you.

• Cell phones and mortgages now reported to the credit bureaus so keep those up to date.

• It is your responsibility to make all your payments on time so set a reminder in your phone if you need to but don’t be late.

• If your life sees you moving frequently then opt for electronic bill notification to ensure that nothing gets missed.

• Do not exceed 50% of the available

Pam

PIKKERT credit limit as it is can be seen as an indication of poor credit management 2. Be on the mortgage. If you are purchasing a home with anyone else you need to make sure you are on the mortgage. Even if you are not currently employed outside of the home you should be on there. It will allow you to phone the lender in case you have a question or need to catch up on a payment. It will also ensure that if the worst case occurs that your home seamlessly transitions to you so you are not trying to deal with that on top of everything else.

3. Know where everything is. Say your partner takes care of all financial matters in your relationship. Or say that as a single lady you have not yet organized all that annoying paperwork. Do yourselves a favour and do so now. Experts say you should be able to put your hands on all documentation within two minutes of needing it. Decide on a system and get organized. Here

are a few of the things you should have on hand. These include tax information, insurance policies, investment, RRSP’s and other savings (including passwords) and proof of debt repayment.

4. Have sufficient insurance. Another necessity of life is adequate insurance. The younger you are when you put these in place the cheaper it will be and a qualified insurance professional will make sure you are well protected. It’s a good idea to have coverage outside of your employer as few of us stay with the same company indefinitely. Here are the types of insurance you should have - life insurance , disability insurance and critical care.

5. Save some money. I get that saving your money does not seem like fun but trust me, your 65-year-old self would tell you to get going on this now! Consider setting up an automatic savings plan. The money comes out each month without you having to make a decision between saving or that fabulous new purse.

There you have it ladies. It’s time to become a financial superstar!

Pam Pikkert is a mortgage broker with Dominion Lending Centre - Regional Mortgage Group in Red Deer.

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Red Deer Express, Women Today

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