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‘Homophobic, transphobic’ sign draws fire BUSINESS OWNER APOLOGIZES FOR MISTAKE BY JONATHAN GUIGNARD ADVOCATE STAFF
Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff Shooting
An armed RCMP officer patrols a residential property at 52 St. and 42 Ave. in Red Deer Thursday afternoon. A shooting occurred in the Michener Hill area neighborhood Thursday.
Man shot in arm in Michener Hill POLICE SEEK SHOOTER BY ADVOCATE STAFF A 29-year-old man walking in the Michener Hill area was shot in the shoulder on Thursday afternoon and RCMP are still searching for the shooter. Patrol cars swarmed the area around 41 Ave. and 51A St. about 2:20 p.m. after getting the gun call. The wounded man was treated on scene by Emergency Medical Services before being taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Police officers immediately combed the area, but no suspect was located. An officer armed with an assault rifle was among those who could be seen scouring the neighbourhood. Other officers were interviewing residents in the area.
“At this point in the investigation, RCMP believe the shooting was a targeted event and that the public is not in any danger,” said police. RCMP are looking for a newer-model white Ford F-150 pickup truck in connection with the shooting. 51A St. between 41 and 42 Avenues was closed off while the investigation continued on Thursday afternoon. Several officers could be seen going through a backpack at the side of 51A St. about 3 p.m. “They are still looking for witnesses and if there were surveillance cameras in the neighbourhood that can help police to gather what happened,” said an RCMP spokesperson later in the afternoon. RCMP are seeking anyone who saw anything at the time of the shooting. Anyone with information is asked to call RCMP at 403-343-5575 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.tipsubmit.com
A local business owner is sorry after his “homophobic and transphobic” billboard drew backlash from social media on Thursday. The large sign outside of Queen’s Diner in the Burnt Lake Industrial area read, “It’s Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve! Pick a washroom.” “I do apologize to the people I offended by that sign,” said owner Scott Shaw. “It wasn’t my intent to belittle anybody and to come across as a homophobic person.” Pictures of the sign made its rounds through social media on Thursday, forcing Shaw to delete the diner’s social media accounts. Shaw said the message was more about him not being able to put a third bathroom in his restaurant and letting people choose between the men or women’s facility. Serge Gingras, chair for the Central Alberta Pride Society, said these types of things are discouraging especially with all the steps forward taken in the community. “Often people make those kinds of statements without even knowing what they are talking about. When I first read the sign my first reaction was this is homophobia and transphobia combined together in one,” said Gingras. Shaw said he now understands the seriousness of the situation and said he never meant to hurt anybody. He admits the Adam and Eve reference was poorly used. “I realize now it’s a sensitive topic. These are types of things that need to be approached in a more professional manner. I made a mistake. I know this isn’t a light hearted manner and I take 100 per cent responsibility,” said Shaw. See SIGN on Page A7
United Way sets sights high, despite tough times BY SUSAN ZIELISNKI ADVOCATE STAFF United Way of Central Alberta wants people to focus on possibilities as it begins its 2016 fundraising campaign to help improve the quality of people’s lives. Last year the annual four-month campaign raised $2,264,934 and impacted 18,000 children and adults who accessed programs at community agencies funded by the United Way. Campaign co-chair Craig Curtis said the United Way now faces a “catch-22.” The majority of funding comes from workplace campaigns but some compa-
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CRAIG CURTIS CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIR
nies and businesses have had to lay people off as the economic storm rages on. He said unemployment brings a whole host of pos-
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sible issues — housing, child care, and even domestic problems. But the United Way can help with the assistance of dollars from Central Albertans. “United Way needs us more than ever and the United Way is best equipped to have the biggest impact on the most people in Central Alberta now who need it most,” said Curtis to a crowd of about 500 people at the United Way’s luncheon at Sheraton Red Deer Hotel on Thursday to kick off the 51st campaign. He said there are still companies that continue to thrive and prosper in hard times and some of them were at the luncheon because they do care. See UNITED on Page A7
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‘UNITED WAY NEEDS US MORE THAN EVER AND THE UNITED WAY IS THE BEST EQUIPPED TO HAVE THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON THE MOST PEOPLE IN CENTRAL ALBERTA NOW WHO NEED IT THE MOST’
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