Red Deer Express, December 20, 2017

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Red Deerians prepare for Christmas with their decked out homes See page 3

Canada 1867-2017 150 YEARS STRONG & FREE!

This year will be the last Christmas for Ten Thousand Villages as they close their doors See page 14

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

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YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

Home for the Holidays

See page 3 for Red Deer’s best decorated houses DECKED OUT - A home on 60th St. and 55th Ave. makes the list for Red Deer’s best decorated homes for Christmas.

Michelle Falk/Red Deer Express

On our 20th Feed a Family campaign year, we have donated 360 turkey dinners to the Red Deer Food Bank this year with the help of our friends, family & customers.

Guy Hitchcock, Craig & Lori Loney, Brent & Bonnie Hemstreet, James & Marlene Slipp, Ciaran O’Neill, Bruce & Lea Ann MacKenzie, Gerry & Florence Feehan, Blake Pearson, Kristy Tillapaugh, Brian & Gail Neeland, Danielle & Joe Perry, Duane Sokalski, VNO Exteriors Ltd, Larry Kemshead, Bill & Linda Stuebing, Bill & Mary Hogg, Mike & Jenny Phelps, Marv Bishop, Tony & Ronelle Ford, Doug MacDonald, TPM Ventures, Christine Lachance, Clark Wright, Pete Sebesten, Don’s Tire, Leonard & Lea Sisco, Ron & Audrey Lueers, Otto & Alice Stepanik, Jim & Carol Anderson, Grant & CL Edmonds, Vic McFadden, Deb & Shaun Simpson, Dustin & Robyn Longpre, Eileen Cole, Ken Frame, Carol & Bob Latremouille, Anthony Mercuri, Amber Walker & Jason McGhee, Greg & Ellen Scott, John Holmes, Stan & Eileen Schultz, Lydia Thacker, John MacDonald, Delly Ann Look, Maxwell R/E, Cathy Squance: AND MORE!

We have now fed 22,164 people in the past 20 years with your support. Thank you!

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Some of Red Deer’s best decorated homes photos by Michelle Falk/Red Deer Express

A home on Oak Drive.

CITY’S BEST - A fully decorated house on Ohio Close makes it to the top of Red Deer’s 2017 light tour.

Red Deer charity seeks underwear donations

UNDERWEAR FOR CHARITY - Mustard Seed staff and guests posed in underwear for the wish list countdown campaign.

Michelle Falk/Red Deer Express

The Mustard Seed has put together a wishlist and checked it twice—don’t blush but they’re asking for undies.

The charity says they receive a lot of food and outerwear over the holidays but need more underwear donations.

“For people’s dignity and to they feel good about themselves

it’s crucial to have good hygiene,” said Byron Bradley, executive director at the Mustard Seed.

People are generous around the holidays, he said, adding that they rely on Christmas donations to last them throughout the year and there is always a high need for hygiene items.

“These are things I used to think having access to was a given - a ‘right’ in a developed country,” Bradley said.

Lack of access to showers and laundry services are major barriers for people trying to gain employment or find housing.

Underwear has a shorter lifespan than other clothing items and needs to be replaced more frequently.

“It keeps us warmer,” said BethanyJo Patricia Desjardins, a guest at the Mustard Seed.

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BY MICHELLE FALK michelle.falk@reddeerexpress.com

because a lot of us are sleeping outside or in bank foyers.

She said underwear is in high demand and it is hard to find at places that give out clothing.

Especially because they cannot accept used ones for medical reasons.

Desjardins explained that for many homeless women especially new underwear is essential to cleanliness during their menstrual cycles.

In the shelters people can get laundry done once a week, but for those who do not access them washing is more difficult.

The Mustard Seed is also asking for new sock donations for ‘warm feet for the street’, and encourages people to pack a hygiene kit with things like shower products and new underwear for the ‘Home in a Backpack’ campaign.

According to Bradley, the charity needs under-attire for men, women, boys and girls.

Also, The Mustard Seed does not get many donations of bras or feminine hygiene products.

“We need stuff of all sizes because people come in all sizes,” he said.

This is the Mustard Seed’s second Christmas in Red Deer since taking over from Loaves and Fishes.

They ask for only new sock and underwear donations.

Offer valid to February 2018

4 Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Red Deer Express

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Alberta Government officially opens 20 medical detox beds at Safe Harbour

BY TODD COLIN VAUGHAN todd.vaughan@reddeerexpress.com

Associate Minister of Health Brandy Payne was in Red Deer to officially open 20 medical detox beds at Safe Harbour Society to help battle the ongoing opioid crisis which is decimating Albertan communities.

The beds are funded through a $1.6 million grant to the Safe Harbour Society, which is now providing 24/7 access to a team of doctors and nurses. Local

physicians, like Safe Harbour’s Physician lead of Medically Supported Detox Dr. Michael Mulholland, provides medication-assisted treatments such as methadone and suboxone.

So far, the detox beds have provided services to over 127 people.

“This life-saving program helps save mothers, sons, daughters, cousins, fathers and friends,” Mulholland said in a press release.

“The reality is that addiction is a medical and social issue, and those who struggle with substance-use

issues are part of our communities and families.

“As a physician supporting this program, my goal is to help those who need this detox care to receive it in a place that brings together the health-care system and community supports to care for the whole person, and to get them the help they need.”

Payne, who took part in an aboriginal prayer prior to the official ribbon cutting, said this is a big step towards battling the opioid crisis in Alberta.

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“Making sure that people struggling with opioid dependency get treatment when they reach out for help is key to preventing more lives from being lost to the opioid crisis,” she said in a press release.

“Medication-assisted treatment is described as a game changer from people receiving that support. These enhanced beds in Red Deer will help people in Central Alberta with opioid dependency get the medical care they need closer to home.”

Kath Hoffman, executive director of Safe Harbour, said this is going to make a huge difference and already has for the last six to eight weeks since the 20 beds officially opened.

“What happens is our buddy comes into detox and he (or she) is getting front line emergency medical care,” she explained.

“There are now more medical options to help with his (or her) drug dependency. That is a big deal for our buddy.”

She added that the safety provided by AHS nurses and doctors means that families who drop their loved ones off at Safe Harbour can rest a bit easier knowing they will be safe at Safe Harbour.

The medical beds also will have an impact on reducing stress on the Red Deer Regional Hospital’s

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DETOX BEDS - Associate Minister of Health Brandy Payne was in Red Deer at Safe Harbour Society to announce the opening of 20 new medical detox beds to help combat the ongoing opioid crisis.

Todd Colin Vaughan/Red Deer Express emergency room, according to Hoffman.

“As far as the community goes, we know we can help the hospital by getting those emergency beds freed up sooner,” Hoffman said. “Doctors at the hospital are helping people and now rather than keeping them in beds, they can send them down to Safe Harbour where those people will still receive the medical support they need.”

Hoffman said it is important that the community is educated on the fact that opioid addiction is a disease that is affecting real people.

“At Safe Harbour we serve six types of people — mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters,” she said. “That is a very difficult thing for people to remember.

“We have a lot of work to do to educate people that this is not the

social issue that people think it is, but rather a health one. These medical supports go a long way in helping us tell that story.”

She added addiction is typically only a symptom of a greater mental health issue such as past trauma.

“I see the people in the Mats Program that come in and stay overnight here. They are high or intoxicated and I think, ‘How deep is that pain that it requires that level of numbing?’”

She added it is important to remember that addiction is not a choice and that people need to be given care and medical attention.

“It happens first of all on a front line level like we are at Safe Harbour, providing those faces of welcome and connection so they know they can come in and they will be welcomed and that we will do all we can to wrap supports and resources around them.”

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Seafood Soup 9. Wor Wonton Soup (for 2) 10. Wonton Soup 11. Wor Mein Soup (for 2) 12. Chicken Noodle Soup 13. Hot & Sour Soup (for 2)

Chicken

Steamed Shrimp Dumplings (10) Steamed Pork Shaomai (10) Steamed Cuttlefish with Curry Sauce Chicken Feet with Black Bean Sauce Steamed Spareribs with Garlic Sauce Stuffed Sticky Rice wrapped in Lotus Leaf (4) Steamed Beef Tripe Chu Mao Sauce Steamed B.B.Q. Pork Buns (5) Beef Short Ribs with Black Pepper Sauce

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Beef 26. Beef Tenderloin with Black Bean Sauce 27. Special Beef Tenderloin 28. Beef with Broccoli 29. Beef with Green Peppers in Black Bean Sauce 30. Beef with Fresh Tomatoes 31. Beef with Snow Peas 32. Ginger Beef 33. Curry Beef 34. Beef with Satay Sauce 35. Szechuan Beef 36. Mushrooms with Beef Hot Pot 37. Beef Ginger Hot Pot

45. Deep Fried Shrimp 46. Shrimp in Black Bean Sauce 47. Shrimp with Cashew Nuts 48. Pan Fried Prawn 49. Palace Style Shrimp 50. Scallops in Black Bean Sauce 51. Salt & Pepper Squid 52. Shrimp with Snow Peas 53. Shrimp with Fresh Tomatoes 54. Curry Shrimp 55. Scallops with Snow Peas 56. Shrimp, Scallops & Squid with Mixed Vegetables 57. Seafood Tofu Hot Pot 58. Salt & Pepper Prawns 59. Szechuan Shrimp 60. Szechuan Scallops

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2 Egg Rolls Dry Garlic Spareribs Chicken Fried Rice Sweet & Sour Chicken Balls Beef Chop Suey Fortune Cookies

4 Egg Rolls Dry Garlic Spareribs Deep Fried Shrimp Beef with Broccoli Chicken Fried Rice Sweet & Sour Chicken Balls Sweet & Sour Pork Fortune Cookies

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A very Merry Christmas to all Mary Kemmis PUBLISHER mary.kemmis@reddeerexpress.com

Mark Weber SENIOR REPORTER mark.weber@reddeerexpress.com

Carlie Connolly REPORTER carlie.connolly@reddeerexpress.com

Todd Colin Vaughan REPORTER todd.vaughan@reddeerexpress.com

Christmastime — ‘the most wonderful time of year’ has again swept us up in all its glittery excitement.

There are lots of fun events to check out. And of course there’s the shopping.

Folks whip out credit cards trying to find that elusive, perfect gift for the loved one or friend who has pretty much everything. Sometimes that can be a real challenge in a society where many of the folks we know have pretty much everything they want!

In spite of the commercial craziness, many of us swear the next Yuletide will be different.

People chat about simplifying things, slowing down, and of finding time to reflect on the joys and blessings of life – family, friends, good health and the country we call home.

But for many, Christmas represents

nothing but stress and worry. It can also be a lonely time for many.

Christmas really is the one time of year that seems to magnify the inequalities of society.

The marginalized and those struggling to make ends meet appear more alone and worse off.

It’s no surprise then that those who have their attention focused primarily on others are the people who have insight into the meaning and joys of Christmas.

And speaking of the meanings of Christmas, the birth of Christ continues to inspire everything from lively theological discourse to vibrant personal faith and the desire to serve.

Observing the rich season of advent as Christmas approaches has a calming effect, drawing folks back to the heart

of the season.

Even Charlie Brown is revitalized by the story in the classic A Charlie Brown Christmas. The special first aired in 1965 and has remained a televised holiday staple ever since.

Touching on the over-commercialization of Christmas, the program gently reminds viewers of the true meaning of Christmas.

It all begins with Charlie Brown confiding in Linus as he feels depressed in spite of the growing seasonal excitement. Hoping to generate some enthusiasm in himself, he gets involved in directing a school play about the Nativity.

Turns out, he has to deal with a bunch of uncooperative kids who are more interested in music and dancing.

Nonetheless, Charlie Brown is de-

Canada’s health-care wait times hit new record high In 2016, we hit the 20-week mark for the average wait time for treatment by a specialist (across 12 medical specialties) after referral from a general practitioner.

Twenty weeks is a far cry from the 9.3-week wait measured by the Fraser Institute’s annual survey in 1993.

You would hope this milestone served as a wakeup call for politicians and policy-makers to improve the dismal situation faced by patients in Canada. But this year’s survey finds that wait times have worsened. At 21.2 weeks between referral from a GP to treatment, patients waited longer than ever in 2017.

Provinces such as British Columbia (26.6 weeks) and Alberta (26.5 weeks) have reached their own historic highs, Quebec has broken the 20-week mark for the first time since 2003, and patients in New Brunswick can expect to wait almost a full year for treatment (41.7 weeks).

In some provinces, patients routinely expect to wait more than a year for orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery.

In many cases, physicians routinely report that their patients wait longer than the physicians consider clinically reasonable (never mind what patients would prefer).

The simple and universal questions: • Why do we wait so long?

• Why aren’t things improving?

The answer to both questions is also simple, but profoundly frustrating. It’s because policies haven’t changed.

Although we’re now more aware than ever that universal health-care systems in other countries deliver more timely access to quality care at similar or lower costs, we continue to pursue the very policies that set us apart.

Instead of embracing the private sector as a partner or even just as a pressure valve, defenders of the status quo continue to demonize the private sector as antithetical to the very nature of universal health care.

Yet when we look at some of the more successful universal systems, such as Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany and Australia, we find that private insurers and providers are deeply woven into the fabric of their systems. For example, Switzerland ensures universal coverage through a competitive (albeit regulated) private insurance market. More than 40% of hospitals in Germany are private, for-profit institutions.

Canadian policy-makers are also obdurate in their rejection of copayments and deductibles. While such payments are explicitly prohibited by the Canada Health Act (via threat of financial penalty to the provinces), they are routinely used in other universal health-care systems.

For example, patients in the Netherlands can expect to pay a deductible before coverage begins. In addition to a deductible, patients in Switzerland are expected to pay 10% of treatment costs.

Most of these countries also either exempt vulnerable populations, provide subsidies or maintain an

Bacchus Barua

Michelle Vacca ADVERTISING mvacca@reddeerexpress.com

Melissa Flinn ADVERTISING melissa.flinn@reddeerexpress.com

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termined to let the traditional side of the story shine through.

But he begins to wonder if he really knows what Christmas is about. Linus says he can tell Charlie, and walks to center stage to make his point. He quotes the second chapter of the Gospel of Luke, verses 8 through 14.

It has a profound effect on the gang.

Everyone mellows out and grows more thoughtful as the story proceeds, ending with the gang singing Hark the Herald Angels Sing. They all then joyfully wish Charlie Brown a Merry Christmas. And all is well.

Ultimately, however you choose to observe the holiday, we wish you the very best of the season.

Have a truly blessed, peaceful and Merry Christmas and all the very best in 2018.

Express Yourself The Red Deer Express welcomes and encourages ‘Letters to the Editor’. Letters must be less than 500 words in length and include the author’s name, city of residence and contact information. Contact information will not be printed in the newspaper, however, the author’s name and

city of residence will be included in the paper.

Please keep letters topical. We will not run letters advocating for or against individual businesses.

Personal attacks or attacks on the character of an individual or a group will not be accepted.

The editor reserves the right to edit any letter for

annual cap for total out-of-pocket expenses.

These differences, among others, between Canada’s system and other more successful systems are generally tied to Canada’s stubborn adherence to a single-payer model.

In Canada, government controls the purse strings, physician and patient incentives are obfuscated, and individuals are generally not allowed to pay directly for treatment within the country’s borders.

Of course, there are those who choose to ignore the plight of Canadian patients and instead focus on discrediting the Fraser Institute’s survey methodology.

Perhaps they would have more trust in data from the Commonwealth Fund, which recently ranked Canada last (among 11 countries including Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands) in a) the ability of patients to secure a same or next-day appointment when sick; b) the wait for treatment in the emergency department; c) the wait to see a specialist; and d) the overall wait for elective surgery.

Or perhaps these same critics could simply listen to the thousands of Canadians waiting for treatment, including patients who recently took to Twitter (with the hashtag #CanadaWAITS) after Globe and Mail health reporter Andre Picard’s call for stories.

When it comes to the structure of our universal health-care system, we are the exception.

Unfortunately, we pay for our exceptionalism with long wait times that have become the defining characteristic of Canadian health care.

Bacchus Barua is associate director of the Fraser Institute’s Centre for Health Policy Studies. His columns are distributed through Troy Media.

www.reddeerexpress.com space and clarity. Opinions expressed in ‘Letters to the Editor’ are the sole opinion of the author and do not reflect the opinion of the paper.

Send your letter to 121, 5301 43rd St. Red Deer, AB T4N 1C8 or email it to editor@reddeerexpress.com.

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Wednesday, December 20, 2017 7

Mustard Seed receives new cargo van from Scottsville Auto Group PRE-BOXING WEEK

BY TODD COLIN VAUGHAN todd.vaughan@reddeerexpress.com

“This vehicle can’t be down. There are too many people that need the services,” Scott said.

Bradley said the van will support many programs, Scottsville Auto Group recently donated a brand including the day-to-day support of clients at The new Nissan cargo van to The Mustard Seed to help Mustard Seed, support their School Lunch program and other “We help people with new furniture and beds charitable programs. when they are are moving out and also many difThe Mustard Seed currently delivers lunch to ferent types of support. It will help us immensely,” over 385 students across 31 schools in the Red Bradley said.

Deer area, and the previous vehicle being used He added, “We can’t do the work we do without needed over $8,000 help from the comin repairs. munity. It is such an “It doesn’t run amazing gift.” very well and it The Mustard Seed doesn’t have a lot of inherited their school heat in the winter lunch program from time,” Mustard Seed the former Loaves Managing Director and Fishes, which had Byron Bradley said. provided lunches in “We are thrilled Red Deer for over 20 years. to partner with “It started with Scottsville Auto Group.” them doing five MUSTARD SEED - The Mustard Seed recently Garrett Scott of received a new Nissan cargo van from Scottsville lunches per day,” Bradley said. “When Scottsville Auto Auto Group.

Todd Colin Vaughan/Red Deer Express Group said he was we came to Red Deer shocked when he heard the amount of need in in the Summer of 2016, they were making about the community.

250 lunches and we are now doing upwards of “They have a bigger hill to climb than we do 385 lunches. It is volunteer driven. We had over as car dealers,” Scott said. “They have a lot to do. 4,600 volunteers come through our doors this year.

They support so many people and I was blown “They start making lunches at 7 a.m. with fresh away with how much they were doing with what products from amazing businesses here in town, they had before. Hopefully they can expand their and then have volunteers delivering the lunches reach and get those meals into children’s hands out. We are really relying on those volunteers.” and people who need it the most.”

He added, “A lot of kids and families rely on The Nissan van is worth nearly $40,000 and this crucial program that we are honoured to be Scottsville included a five-year maintenance package. a part of it.”

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Operating Budget focuses on community safety

BY CARLIE CONNOLLY carlie.connolly@reddeerexpress.com

The recommended 2018 Operating Budget, which is proposed at $361 million, has a primary focus on addressing community safety for the citizens of Red Deer.

With a proposed 2% tax increase, the proposed budget is based on council’s Strategic Plan, guidelines established by City council, initiatives in City department service plans and feedback from citizens regarding community safety.

It includes items such as the addition of four RCMP members, two municipal employees and increased funding for rough sleeper camp debris clean up.

“Our citizens have consistently identified for us that crime and public safety is their number one priority, therefore it is the number one priority of the City. We have heard consistently that we need to address the crime and public safety challenges, particularly with respect to property crime, and certainly the proposed funding of officers is a step towards that,” said Mayor Tara Veer.

As recommended from administration, Veer said those police officers will be specifically targeted for the downtown.

“We continually hear about some of the safety challenges in the downtown as being a critical

component for the economic development and sustainability of our downtown.”

The addition of the two municipal employees are support employees for the RCMP contingent.

Veer also touched on some of the challenges with the operating budget.

According to City Manager Craig Curtis, the increase in funding for rough sleeper camp debris clean-up is a major initiative.

“We’ve had a major problem in terms of the park system; we’ve had a number of community complaints in terms of the number of rough sleeper camps we have (in) the City. We believe that at any one time there have been up to 50 or more, and that we’ve been using resources in our parks and peace officers to actually evacuate those camps and clean them up.”

Curtis added that a significant portion of these rough sleeper camps relate to the opioid crisis.

The 2018 operating budget being recommended by administration considers City council’s direction that the property tax increase does not exceed 2% in 2018, which must include a 1% capital contribution (amenity and growth).

Administration will present its operating budget to City council for consideration on Jan. 9th and debate will continue on Jan. 10th through 12th.

Dates are also held for Jan. 15th through 19th if required.

Kindergarten and Pre-Kindergarten Registration 2018/2019 ONLINE Registration Opens Monday, January 8, 2018 In School Registration will take place at Iron Ridge Elementary Campus between 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. & 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. on Friday, January 19, 2018 Campus is located at 4710 Broadway Ave, Blackfalds, AB. Copy of original birth certificate and any other pertinent legal documentation, such as custody or guardianship orders, must accompany registration.

Please note: Kindergarten Student must be 5 years of age by December 31, 2018 (Wolf Creek Public Schools Policy #300).

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Project humanizes homelessness

BY MICHELLE FALK michelle.falk@reddeerexpress.com

A mental health worker’s experience has led to a project that showcases the lives of clients.

Ian MacLeod’s idea came out of his experience collecting information for obituaries of clients who had passed away.

As he dug into their histories, he realized that many of them had incredible stories that no one knew about until after they were gone.

He wanted to find a way to honour his clients’ achievements during their lives.

After seeing a viral video on YouTube produced by a Florida group, he was inspired to showcase the stories of his clients with the Canadian Mental Health Association of Central Alberta.

The Cardboard Stories project consists of short video clips of people who are homeless and struggle with mental

illness sharing unexpected things about themselves written on pieces of cardboard.

The Association received a grant from the Royal Bank of Canada four years ago for a ‘Stigma Reduction Video Project’ and they determined this was the perfect project for the funding.

“The stories are to remind people to stop judging and think of each person as an individual and not as a collective,” said Christine Stewart, executive director of the Canadian Mental Health Association of Central Alberta.

The statements collected in Red Deer range widely, some are heartbreaking while others are encouraging.

“Recovered alcoholic clean for two years.”

“I’m 53 and I never thought it would happen to me.”

“I am a mechanical engineer.”

“I’m a community support worker, but I’m homeless.”

“I found God.” “It’s so easy to judge, but I think sometimes we forget that if we just had two more bad-things in a row happen, that could be us too,” Stewart said.

The Canadian Mental Health Association requested the Rethink Homelessness Project of the Central Florida Commission on Homelessness’ permission to use their idea and project name.

They were thrilled to share it and only asked that they get a copy of the video to share, too.

According to Stewart, there are at least 200 people in Red Deer at any time that are without housing.

You can watch the Red Deer project on their web site at http://reddeer.cmha. ca/cardboard-stories/ or on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSrD0vxQKZ4.

The original Cardboard Stories video has more than 6.5 million views on YouTube.

SHARING THEIR STORIES - Christine Steward, executive director of the Canadian Mental Health Association of Central Alberta holds up the cardboard stories they collected from homeless people in Red Deer at an event at The HUB on Ross.

Michelle Falk/Red Deer Express

Red Deer Big Brothers and Big Sisters receives $9,000 to help children

BY TODD COLIN VAUGHAN todd.vaughan@reddeerexpress.com

Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Red Deer recently received $9,000 from the Red Deer and District Community Foundation to support, train and recruit mentors for eight children.

According to a press release, the funds will go towards a mentorship program that will match a caring adult with a child and provide them with training and support, “That will enable the relationship to flourish and create opportunities for the mentee to grow and discover their potential.”

Program Manager Dawn Flanagan said the funds were a grant they applied for and will help them start to find mentors for the over 70 children currently on their wait list.

“The ability to recruit and train new matches is just incredible,” she said.

“For a lot of these kids, it can sometimes be the only stable adult in their lives. A lot of our families include single parent households and they work long hours.

“They want what is best for their kids but due to multiple demands aren’t able to do that, whether that is emotionally, financially or even time-wise.”

She added these funds will go specifically to one-on-one mentoring, however she did mention that they also have mentoring programs in schools as well as a program specifically for teenagers.

The cost to provide mentorship per year is $1,200 per child, meaning that providing a mentor to everyone on 70 child wait list costs the program $84,000.

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We will be closed starting December 23rd to January 1st, reopening Tuesday, January 2nd

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#2, 5116 52 Street, Red Deer, AB

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“We get new kids added all the time, I just signed up three new kids yesterday,” Flanagan added.

Big Brothers and Big Sisters not only requires grants like this one, it also is consistently in need of adults looking to mentor.

“January is mentoring month. There is going to be a real push from Alberta Mentoring Partnership at Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Canada to get the word out that we need mentors and we really need male mentors,” Flanagan said.

To become a Big Brother or Big Sister, you can log to to the Youth HQ Website. You will need to provide three references and go through a child welfare and criminal record check.

“Statistics show that there is an 18 to one return on investment from mentoring. What people give to youth now, pays society back in spades,” Flanagan added.

Happy Holidays from all of us at the Red Deer Express & Central Alberta Designs

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10 Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Red Deer Express

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Community Calendar The Red Deer Action Group Society is seeking volunteer board members who have a interest in transportation for individuals who are disadvantaged or disabled. If you are interested, please email rdag@telus.net for further details.

Beginner two step and waltz lessons (cued) run Jan. 19th - April 27, 2018 at Innisfail United Church 7 p.m. Call Wendy at 403-505-4979.

Suicide Information & Education Services is currently taking registration for ‘Living Beyond Suicide Loss’ a free 12-week support group beginning Jan. 11th for anyone who has lost someone to suicide. Registration is also open for the Grief Recovery Method® support group which is an 8 week step by step process to complete any type of loss (including but not limited to: death, divorce, health, relationships). Cost is $295 which someone benefit plans may cover.

No one is turned away due to finances. Evening group begins Jan. 16 and afternoon group begins Jan. 17th. If you are not sure if this program is for you, please register to attend a free information session on Jan. 9th at 7 p.m. Please call Dawne at 403-342-4966 for more information or to register.

Robbie Burns’ Night supper – hosted by the Red Deer Legion Pipe Band on Saturday, Jan. 20th, at the Royal Canadian Legion, Red Deer. Join us for cocktails from 6:00 to 7:00, followed by a traditional Robbie Burns supper: Special events include piping in of the Haggis, the Red Deer Legion Pipe Band, Highland Dancers and more. Tickets are available from any Pipe Band member or the front desk of the Red Deer Legion for $30 per person and should be purchased in advance. For more information call the Red Deer Legion at 403-342-0035.

Travel Memories at the Library - Jan. 3rd from 2 - 3:30 p.m. in the Red Deer Public Library, Downtown Branch, Snell Auditorium. Sailing around the world: Six continents, sixty countries, three oceans, ten years, on a 39 ft. sailboat. Dreams can become reality.

If you plan to bring a group, please contact us at 403-346-4576, ext. 1500. Join us in the Snell Auditorium for light refreshments.

Daytime Documentaries at the Library - Jan. 10th from 2 - 4:30 p.m. in the Snell Auditorium, Red Deer Public Library, Downtown Branch. This month’s film will be: Where to Invade Next. This time Michael Moore “invades” other nations to co-opt their solutions to American problems. If you plan to bring a group, please contact us at 403-346-4576, ext. 1500. Join us in the Snell Auditorium for light refreshments.

Canadian Mental Health Association wants to hear from you! We have launched a Speak Up for Mental Health campaign beginning with a survey, available on-line, and in hard copy, to gather the opinions of people throughout Central Alberta about what mental health and

wellness education should look like in the coming years. People can take the survey on-line by going to www.speakupformentalhealth.com or visiting the CMHA web site at www.reddeer.cmha.ca. To get a paper copy of the survey sent to you, or for more information, call 403-342-2266. Survey responses will be collected until Dec. 28th.

Y.A.R.D. (Yoga Alliance of Red Deer) NOW taking registration for Janurary 2018 winter session. Many classes to choose from: gentle modified, kundalini, yin, hath, yoga for backs, yoga Nidra and flow classes. Punch passes and drop ins welcome.

Please see www.reddeeryoga.ca or call 403550-9240 or email info@reddeeryoga.ca.

Golden Circle continues with Thursday night dances - admission is $7 per person and everyone is welcome. For more information, call Diane at the Golden Circle at 403-343-6074.

Red Deer Readers’ Theatre meets on the first and third Thursdays of each month, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the Timberlands Branch of the Red Deer Public Library (300 Timothy Drive).

We are currently preparing for our forthcoming performances. Readers’ Theatre enables people who enjoy activity in Theatre to participate without the need to memorize scripts and without attending a long schedule of rehearsals.

We use the method of “anticipated reading”, using our voices as the instrument for delivering an interesting performance. Our group is open to all members of the public, and we invite you to attend and join us in reading play scripts and selecting those suitable for our intended audiences. We’ll have a kettle on and all the fixin’s for you to make yourself a cuppa tea, coffee or hot chocolate. It is quite an informal group and our objective is to enjoy the activity and provide entertainment where we can. There is no charge for attendance. For further information, call Lionel at 587-679-6222 or e-mail bensar@shaw.ca.

Fung Loy Kok Taoist Tai Chi® - Start 2018 with improvements in balance, circulation, and stress reduction. Tai Chi is an ancient Taoist Art that is beneficial to people of all levels of fitness and ability, designed to strengthen both mind and body. A volunteer organization, FLK Taoist Tai Chi® has accredited instructors and has been offering classes in Red Deer for over 30 years.

Come and have fun with us! The first week is free. Bring flat soled indoor shoes and wear loose clothing. Our next set of Beginner Classes starts the week of Jan. 8th, 2018. For more information, go to www.taoist.org. Daytime Mon/Fri 11 a.m.- noon; Tue/Thurs 9:30-10:30 a.m.; Saturdays 9:30-10:30 a.m. Evening - Mon/Wed 6-7 p.m.; Tuesday 6:30-8:30 p.m. Classes also offered in Sylvan Lake, Innisfail, Rimbey and Lacombe.

Red Deer Celiac Support Group anyone living with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten intolerance, come and learn how

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to manage your diet, where to buy food and about eating out and other information. We meet the third Tuesday of the month at South Sobeys coffee lounge, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Drop in or stay and visit. Free coffee. For more, call Clarice at 403-341-4351 or Karen at 403357-2233. Email reddeerceliacs@yahoo.ca.

The Candian Mental Health Association wants to hear from you. The Speak up for Mental Halth Survey is available online and in hard copy. The survey is designed to asses what mental health and wellness education should look like. People can take the survey on-line by going to www.speakupformentahealth.com or visiting the CMHA website at www.reddeer.cmha. ca. To get a paper copy of the survey sent to you, or for more information, call 403-342-2266.

Survey responses will be collected until Dec. 28th.

Canadian Mental Health Association Come to our free drop-in support group for parents and caregivers of children and young adults with a mental health concern, Caregiver Connections. Caregiver Connections runs every first and third Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. and every 2nd and 4th Tuesday from 10a.m. – 12p.m. at 4911 51 St., Suite 404, Red Deer, AB T4N 6V4.

To learn more, visit www.reddeer.cmha.ca and click on Services and then Family Support. Please call 403-342-2266 or email education@reddeer. cmha.ab.ca to discuss or simply just show up.

Innisfail Circle Chase Round Dance Club - Beginner Jive (all dancers welcome). Waltz/Two step/Phase 2/2 plus. Must have basic phase 2). Club runs thru April. Contact Wendy at 403-505-4979.

Central Alberta Lyme Support - this support group is for people who have or suspect they have Lyme disease or any of the co-infections, and for their caregivers and families. Meetings take place the last Thursday of each month at the Red Deer Museum and Art Gallery from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Recycle Your Bottles for a Cause! COSMOS Bottle Depot has entered into agreements with some local charities to help them raise program dollars by placing year-round blue collection bins in specific locations throughout the city. Shalom Counselling Centre has just placed a bin in the gas bar area at Sinnott’s Independent Grocers, Clearview Market Square. All proceeds from this bin will be used to provide affordable counselling for emotional and wellness concerns to those coming to Shalom. Thank you in advance for your support. To find out other charities and locations contact COSMOS at 403-343-0715.

Kung Loy Kok Taoist Tai Chi® - Improve your balance, increase your circulation and reduce stress. Meet new friends and have FUN! Tai Chi is an ancient Taoist Art that is beneficial to people of all levels of fitness and ability and designed to strengthen both mind and body. A volunteer organization, FLK Taoist Tai Chi® has accredited instructors and has been offering

classes in Red Deer for over 30 years. Come and try the first week for free. Bring flat soled indoor shoes and wear loose clothing. Come and play with us! For more information go to www.taoist. org. Daytime - Mon/Fri 11 a.m. to noon; Tues/ Thurs 9:30-10:30 a.m. Also, evening classes run Mon/Wed 6-7 p.m. and Tuesdays from 6:308:30 p.m. Health recovery class runs Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon. Classes also offered in Sylvan Lake, Innisfail, Rimbey and Lacombe.

HEARTS of HARMONY is welcoming new members. We are an a capella chorus for women of all ages who love to sing harmony, barbershop style. During the month of September the group will host an open house every Monday. Rehearsals are Monday nights from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at Davenport Church of Christ (68 Donlevy Ave). Join us any Monday night and experience the joyful sound of four-part harmony with a group of wonderful women! For more information, call Yvonne at 403-986-1034 or Sheryl at 403-742-4218. Visit our web site at www.heartsofharmony.ca.

Sunrise Toastmasters meet every Tuesday (except following long weekends) from 7 - 8:15 a.m. These early risers learn public speaking and leadership skills in the lower level of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church at 40 Holmes Street - just behind Canadian Tire on the north hill.

Everyone over 18 is welcome. Call Jock Mackenzie at 403-357-4895 for further information.

Does your children’s fashion sense change on a weekly basis? Not sure what to do with your old clothing? Donate your reusable clothing and cloth items to Diabetes Canada’s reusable goods donation program. Drop your bagged items in our blue clothing donation bins located at the locations listed below. Call 1-800-505-5525 or visit declutter.diabetes.ca for more information. Your donation will make a difference in the lives of the 11 million Canadians living with diabetes or pre-diabetes, while diverting items from landfill. Sites include Red Deer Walmart, Red Deer Independent Grocery, Red Deer Superstore, Burger Baron, Red Deer Fas Gas Plus, Red Deer Sentinel Storage, Red Deer Ludus Ltd, Red Deer Wholesale Club, Bethany CollegeSide, Red Deer Boardwalk, Red Deer Bent Iron Gym, CollegeSide Gardens; Sunnybrook Grocery, and the South Hill Bottle Depot.

Are you interested in learning the centuries old art of Taoist Tai Chi® Developed for the benefit of both mind and body, this practice can be of benefit to people of all levels of fitness or ability. Fung Loy Kok Taoist Tai Chi® offers Health Recovery Classes on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. We are a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to sharing the health benefits of Taoist Tai Chi® arts training.

We have been in Red Deer for over 30 years. (because it works!) We are located in the Port o’Call Shopping Centre behind Scotia Bank in downtown Red Deer. For more information go to www.Taoist.Org and follow the links.

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Deadline to submit is Friday at noon (time sensitive events will take precedence)

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Red Deer Express

Wednesday, December 20, 2017 11

Remembering the Christmas season of 1967 As another Christmas rapidly approaches, it is interesting to recall back 50 years ago to the Christmas Red Deer enjoyed in 1967.

The year had been a terrific one. Canada had celebrated the centennial of confederation in banner style. There was a wonderful outpouring of national pride and faith that an even more glorious future lay ahead. It is often said that Canada never appeared as proud and united as it did in its national Centennial Year.

Every province, every community, almost every organization and a great many individuals took on a centennial project. In Red Deer, the official centennial project for the City was the construction of an impressive, two-storey Public Library.

In March 1967, there had been the great news a “hometown boy”, Roland Michener, had been appointed as Canada’s twentieth Governor General. Although born in Lacombe, he had moved as a baby with his family to a new home in Red Deer, where his father became one of the community’s most successful businessmen, the mayor and later the local M.L.A. As the year started to draw to a close, there was further excitement in the community on the news that the new Governor General would be making a vice-regal visit to Red Deer at the beginning of November.

Quite understandably, one of the key events for the visit was having the Governor General preside at the official opening of the new Centennial Library on November 3.

Another major public project was the construction of a new campus for the Red Deer College on the southwestern corner of the City. While the main building was actually not complete when the Governor General came to Red Deer,

there was still a strong desire to have him officially “open” the new campus while he was in the community. Nevertheless the heating system in building was not hooked up yet, so the speeches were kept brief.

Not every project involved new construction.

A serious proposal was made to improve the appearance and attractiveness of the Downtown by restoring and enhancing the old historic buildings. The proposal was dubbed the Norwich Plan, after the city in England which had successfully revitalized its retail core by highlighting its historical buildings.

As it was, the Downtown was still a vibrant part of the community as the central retail hub. Two large department stores, Eaton’s and the Bay dominated, but other outlets such as Kresge’s, Woolworths, McLeod’s and Stedman’s, as well as the locally-owned stores, were very popular.

The annual Christmas shopping season went very well. The fall had generally been warm and dry, but more seasonably cold and snowy weather began to set in during the last week of November. Really cold weather and a significant blizzard did not hit until a few days before Christmas. Hence, people did not have much of a challenge as they went about their shopping and other errands.

There were Christmas specials galore. Girl’s dolls were 98¢ to $2.99 each. Scrabble games were $5.98. Seal skin boots for those trudging through the snow could be had for $22.95 a pair. Souvenir Centennial coin sets were $7.95.

For those interested in the latest in technology, wood console colour T.V.’s were offered at $699.

For the holiday feasts, butterball turkeys were 47¢ per pound. Mandarin oranges were $2.37

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SIXTIES’ CHRISTMAS - Ross Street looking west at Christmastime during the 1960s. photo by Frank Ede

for a 9 lb. case.

The local Post Office reported one of the busiest Christmas seasons on record People sent a truly impressive number of Christmas cards and parcels as holiday greetings and gifts. Extra staff were hired to handle the huge volumes of mail.

A couple of days before Christmas, a mild chinook set in and the weather improved.

Temperatures rose to the near freezing mark and stayed there for Christmas Day. Local churches reported very large turnouts for the traditional Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services.

As the wonderful Christmas of 1967 drew to a close, there was a genuine chorus of a very Merry and Prosperous Christmas to all and best wishes for a Happy New Year in 1968.

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12 Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Red Deer Express

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Christmas Church Services

Christmas – a time to explore the meaning of the advent season

BY MARK WEBER mark.weber@reddeerexpress.com

As the old tune merrily points out, the Christmas season is indeed the, “Most wonderful time of the year.”

It can also be one of the very busiest, bustling along over a series of weeks with Christmas parties, gift-buying, relative visiting, shopping for all kinds of stuff to pull off the ideal, glittering seasonal celebration, office get-togethers, pot-lucks - you name it.

This ‘busy-ness’ can, however, easily cross a line to just plain out of control mayhem as well. Folks complain about how tiring it all is, how dreadful it is to venture anywhere near a mall and how even family times can brim with tension and unease at the best of times.

We typically say it’s going to be different next year. We will scale things down; we will take a simpler approach to the holiday season. We will focus more on what we say matters most – family, friends, and perhaps paying more heed to the true meaning of the Christmas season.

But often, the ‘busyness’ of the holiday season wins out anyways.

It seems to take a concentrated effort to enjoy the sentiments of the classic Christmas carol Silent Night, or It Came Upon a Midnight Clear – hymns that reflect the peacefulness and sense of gratitude that are really at the heart of Christmas.

As Noel Wygiera, priest of the St. Luke’s Anglican Church parish in Red Deer has pointed out, traditions like advent help to bring a sense of reflection and heightened meaning to Christmas.

Advent starts on the fourth Sunday before Dec. 25th.

And of course, there are a variety of ways that the public looks at advent. There are advent calendars for children, for example.

But exploring the tradition shows what lies at the heart of advent.

SACRED H EART C C ATHOLIC

HURCH

5508 - 48A Avenue 9CHRISTMAS EVE (Sunday, Dec 24th) Mass: 9:00 am, 4:00 pm, 7:00 pm & 10:00 pm

9CHRISTMAS DAY ( Monday, Dec 25th) Mass: 11:00 am

9NEW YEAR’S EVE (Sunday, Dec 31st)

Churches mark it in differing ways, but essentially it can include scripture readings and lighting an advent candle each of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas.

The term is an anglicized version of the Latin word ‘adventus’, which means ‘coming.’

According to Christianity.com, scholars believe that during the fourth and fifth centuries in Spain and Gaul, advent was a season of preparation for the baptism of new Christians at the January feast of Epiphany, the celebration of God’s incarnation represented by the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus, his baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist and his first miracle at Cana.

During this season of preparation, Christians would spend 40 days in penance, prayer, and fasting to prepare for this celebration; originally, there was little connection between advent and Christmas. “It was not until the Middle Ages that the advent season was explicitly linked to Christ’s first coming at Christmas.

“In the same way, the church, during advent, looks back upon Christ’s coming in celebration while at the same time looking forward in eager anticipation to the coming of Christ’s kingdom when he returns for his people. In this light, the advent hymn O Come, O Come, Emmanuel perfectly represents the church’s cry during the advent season.”

Wygiera describes it as a quite time of reflection and preparation.

“All of the lessons through advent have that dual purpose. It’s about preparing ourselves not just to celebrate what happened in the past but to anticipate what’s going to happen in the future. It’s not really a ‘countdown’, but more of a ‘building up.’”

By Christmas Eve, all four of the advent candles are lit.

Chris Armstrong, in his article entitled Advent: Close Encounters of a Liturgical Kind in Christian History Magazine, shared of his personal thoughts of how the tradition impacts him.

Mount Calvary Lutheran Church

18 Selkirk Blvd. Red Deer

Christmas Services

9NEW YEAR’S DAY ( Monday, Jan 1

)

Living Faith Lutheran Church Christmas Service

Christmas Eve Candlelight Services 3:30, 5:30 & 7:30pm

December 24TH • 10:00 am Bethany Collegeside Care Centre

Christmas Day Service 10:30am

All are welcome to this celebration of the birth of the Prince of Peace

403-347-9852

Mass: 9:00 am, 11:00 am & 7:00 pm st

“Every year these rich scriptural reminders and the traditional prayers that accompany them set my blood rushing a little faster and bring a rising excitement: Christ came with plenty of prior notice. Prophets and angels joined to proclaim his coming. And now I can join too, with the cloud of witnesses stretching back to apostolic times, in the same proclamation!

“And in the protected, quiet times of meditation, I can respond as I imagine believers have done on every advent since the tradition began: I can bow my head and prepare my heart to receive the One who is always present, but who seems distant in the busyness of the season. I can mourn for my hardness of heart. I can hope in his grace. And I can rejoice that in answer to the cry, O come, O come, Emmanuel, he came.”

Pastor Don Hennig

Mass: 11:00 am

SUNDAY DEC. 24 Christmas Eve - 10:30 AM •Advent 4 Lessons, Carols and Communion Music with Sanctuary Choir •7 PM Family Christmas Eve Service

SUNDAY DEC. 31 10:30 AM Worship Service New Years at Noon Celebration

Gaetz Memorial United Church 4758 Ross Street, Red Deer

403-347-2244

gaetzmemorialunitedchurch.ca Gaetz Memorial United Church Facebook Page GaetzMemorialUC

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Red Deer Express

Wednesday, December 20, 2017 13

Christmas Church Services

Your truly Red Deerian holiday traditions

BY MICHELLE FALK michelle.falk@reddeerexpress.com

To find out some local Christmas traditions, we asked on facebook and did some digging and here is what we found the people of Red Deer like to do every year.

1. Sitting on Santa’s Knee Everybody and their dog wants to sit on Santa’s knee. For many families, visiting Santa is an annual event.

Whether it is at Bower Place or Parkland Mall, everyone has their favourite spot to see jolly old St. Nick.

Fur babies too! Kris Kringle hears the puppies’ wish lists at the Central Alberta Humane Society, Global Petland and Petsmart.

2. Downtown ‘Find the Pickle’

HOLIDAY PICKLE HUNT - Ten Thousand Villages Store Manager Tina Bale holds up “the Pickle” that is hidden around the store.

Michelle Falk/Red Deer Express

This has to be one of this City’s most hilarious traditions!

In Red Deer, people go from shop to shop trying to find glass pickle ornaments. When you find the pickle you can enter your name in a draw to win prizes from the participating stores.

Did you know? The origins of the pickle tradition is a funny one. Many people will tell you it’s a German tradition but you will be hard pressed to find anyone in Germany who has heard of such a tradition.

The hunt’s inception was actually a marketing strategy developed by Woolworths in 1890 when they first began importing the blown glass Christmas ornaments to North America.

It was fashionable to have glass fruit and vegetables on the tree and from there the tradition of finding the festive gherkin began.

This tradition began as a marketing campaign in Red Deer, too. Four years ago the Downtown Business Association organized it to encourage people in retail stores outside the malls for their holiday shopping.

Since its initial years though the hunt has become an event unto itself. Ten thousand Villages Manager Tina Bale says they have to keep extra pickles because people often want to keep them as a trophy.

“People come in just for that,” she said. “They take it very seriously.”

She laughed that for a few days they had no pickle, because it had broke and visitors were quite distressed when they could not find it.

Retail stores participating can be found at http://www.downtownreddeer.com/about/north-pole-stroll/ The event ends Dec. 23rd.

3. Annual City Light Tour Red Deer has enjoyed the annual Christmas Light Tour compiled by Jim Elliot for 15 years. Each year, Elliot carefully curates a list for people to view the City to see the most elaborately decorated homes. This year his son A.J. helped design the route.

Families have been piling into their cars to drive the route, or walk sections of it since its inception. This truly is a Red Deer City Classic.

St Mary’s Catholic Church

THE SALVATION ARMY

CHURCH & COMMUNITY SERVICES 4837 - 54th 4th th SStreet, tr Red Deer 403-346-2251 Theree is a R Redeemer, e eeeem Jesus, God’s own Son ed

6 McMillan Avenue

CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS MASS TIMES 4th Sunday of Advent Saturday, December 23 - 5:00pm Mass Sunday, December 24 - 9:00am and 11:00am Masses Christmas Eve Sunday, December 24 4:30pm Christmas Nativity Pageant 5:00pm Mass • 7:30pm Mass • 10:00pm Mass • Midnight Mass (12am) Christmas Day Monday, December 25 10:00am Mass Feast of Holy Family Saturday, December 30 - 5:00 pm Mass Sunday, December 31 - 9:00am and 11:00am Mass The Solemnity of Mary, Holy Mother of God Sunday. December 31 - 7:00pm Mass The Solemnity of Mary, Holy Mother of God Monday, January 1, 2018 - 10:00am Mass

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 4310 – 39 Street December 24th 10:30 a.m.

Christmas Eve Worship & Celebration Service 4th Sunday of Advent

6:30 p.m.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

The route takes about 2.5 hours to drive. The lights remain on fairly late, well after 10 p.m. at most houses along the route.

Noteworthy displays to hit include Ohio Close, Barrett Drive, Cornett Drive, 4216-35th St., 51 Baines Crescent, 4 McConnell Close, Judd Close in Johnstone Crossing, 35th St. in Mountview, Robinson Crescent in Rosedale Meadows, the Parkland Nurseries and Garden Centre and Red Deer City Hall.

City Hall is worth its own little trip with multi-coloured trees glittering across the park in front.

You can download the map online here: https://www.google. com/maps/d/edit?mid=1vxUoqiu2uTipKunYu4JgTMqg8iaEVd a6&ll=52.256316563769225%2C-113.79977372942199&z=14 4. The Polar Express Alberta Prairie Railway excursions chug up to the North Pole to see Santa.

The train departs Stettler for a one-hour long round-trip journey to the ‘North Pole’ set to the sounds of The Polar Express film. Passengers are served hot chocolate and cookies, as well as a Polar Express souvenir mug. During the first half of the trip you read along with the classic children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg.

Santa boards the train when it arrives at the North Pole. During the return trip he walks through each car giving out a ‘first gift of Christmas’ to all the kids under 12 and everyone sing carols as the train heads back to Stettler.

For more information, call 1-800-282-3994.

5. Giving back This is a nice ‘feel good’ holiday tradition for many. Especially if you’re away from family. One example is by donating blood.

The Canadian Blood Services Red Deer Donor Clinic is located at #5, 5020 - 68th St. They are opened Dec. 23rd and 26th.

Serving Meals at the Mustard Seed The charitable organization is opened from 12-6 p.m. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and welcomes volunteers. Executive Director Byron Bradley said they have lots of volunteers on these major days, but can use them throughout the holiday season as well. For more information, email volunteerreddeer@theseed.ca.

Christmas Sunday Worship Service Dec. 24th - 11:00 am Christmas Eve Candlelight Service Dec. 24th - 6:30 pm Christmas Day Community Dinner Dec. 25th - 12 noon - 1:30pm

EVERYONE WELCOME! Giving Hope Today

Sunnybrook United Church 12 Stanton Street

403-347-6073

Christmas Eve Services 10:30 am Christmas Eve Service especially for little children & families 8:00 pm Intergenerational Christmas Eve Service

ST. LEONARD’S ON THE HILL

43 Avenue & 44 Street • 403-346-6769

“A Church for all Ages”

Celebrant: Rev. Chris Roth St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Hillsdown ~Christmas Eve, December 24~ 4:30 pm Christmas Service St. Leonard’s Anglican Church ~Christmas Eve, December 24~ 7:00 pm Family Eucharist Service ~Christmas Day Service~ Dec. 25 ~ 10:00 am

14 Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Red Deer Express

www.reddeerexpress.com

Last Christmas for Ten Thousand Villages in Red Deer

BY MARK WEBER mark.weber@reddeerexpress.com

Ten Thousand Villages Society Red Deer has announced this will be their last Christmas.

During the past 10 years, sales have been over $2.5 million - sales that represent hope to many makers in the developing world, noted a press release.

“However, despite great efforts and contributions by volunteers and financial backers we have been unable to achieve the level of sales that would support the continued operation of the store in Red Deer.”

Ten Thousand Villages is a well-established fairtrade organization that sells products from over 120 artisan groups in 35 developing countries.

The organization provides these countries an important market sustaining income through fair trade.

This income pays for food, education, healthcare and housing. From coffee and chocolate to home décor and personal accessories, all products in the store are handmade making them truly unique.

“It’s been a lot of hard work, and a tremendous struggle for these 10 years,” noted Victor Doerksen, president of the board in his message to the volunteers. The decision to close up shop was made this past October at the annual general meeting.

“Charity would have been easier - it would have been simpler and quicker to just write a cheque and donate the money. But I still believe that, while charity is a good short-term solution, our model of helping the artisans gain an income for their families by providing a market for some-

thing they have worked to produce is still the best long-term solution.”

In the meantime, Doerksen said he was thankful for the tremendous support the store has been shown over the years.

“From patient investors who will not be getting all their money back; to our various managers over the years who have worked tirelessly for pay that is not the greatest; to our board members who give up their evenings to provide direction and to all our volunteers who selflessly give their time and are our best customers too.

“Thank-you to all. You have given hope to many people for 10 years.”

For Tina Bale, store manager, it certainly marks a season of change. She’s been managing for four years, and was a volunteer at the City store prior to that.

In the meantime, there is all kinds of great inventory to explore - ideal items for Christmas gifts. And there are mark-downs that customers can take advantage of as well, she added.

These include new mark-downs every day until Christmas.

“We just wanted to do Christmas as usual,” she said of the plan in place following the decision to close.

Looking back, she has many wonderful memories to treasure. “I think I’m the only manager here that started as a volunteer,” she said. “I didn’t even know what ‘fair trade’ was.

“I didn’t know at first there was a way to purchase things consciously and care for people,” she said. “Now, my family knows if something has the ‘fair trade symbol on it, that puts a smile on my face!”

Working with the many volunteers who help

80,800 CANADIANS

LAST CHRISTMAS - Ten Thousand Villages Store Manager Tina Bale stands in the downtown store, which will be closing in 2018.

Mark Weber/Red Deer Express run the day-to-day operations of the store has also been a joy, she said.

“These people who come in and give of their time because they believe in it - as a volunteer I never really thought of it. But being on the other side - making sure the shifts are filled and that

the customers are cared for, and that things are done around the store - these volunteers come in and do all of that because they believe in what they are doing.

“We all feel very blessed to have served in this community for the past 10 years.”

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Red Deer Express

Wednesday, December 20, 2017 15

Be fire smart as you deck the halls Fire-related deaths double in Alberta during the holiday season, so follow these safety tips to keep you and your family safe.

Tips for a fire-safe holiday include water natural Christmas trees daily and keeping them away from fireplaces, heaters and candles. Also, check all lights for loose bulbs and worn or broken cords and replace any damaged sets of lights.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for number of light strands to connect and remember that lights are either for indoor or outdoor use – not both.

Place candles in a glass holder and blow them out before leaving a room or going to bed. Turn off indoor and outdoor decorations before leaving the house or going to bed.

Be careful not to overload electrical outlets and never put cords under rugs.

▾ WE WANT FAMILIES TO CELEBRATE SAFELY AND THAT STARTS WITH KNOWING WHERE THE POTENTIAL HAZARDS ARE AND TAKING SIMPLE STEPS TO PREVENT A FIRE FROM STARTING.”

Dan Lemieux ▴

Also, use electric appliances for deep frying instead of heating oil in a pot. Stay in the kitchen when cooking and if a pan catches fire, slide a lid over it and turn off the burner.

Keep space heaters at least one metre (three ft.) away from curtains, furniture and decorations.

“The holiday season is a wonderful time of year, but it is also a busy time and fire safety is often not on the top of our to-do list.

FIRE FREE HOLIDAY - Some tips for a fire-safe holiday include watering natural Christmas trees daily and keeping them away from fireplaces, heaters and candles.

File photo It’s easy to forget to blow out candles or turn off your decorations when you’re rushing around. I want to take this opportunity to remind all Albertans to be fire smart when decorating and entertaining to ensure a safe and happy holiday season,” said Shaye Anderson, minister of Municipal Affairs.

Fire departments are ready to respond 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“However, taking steps to prevent fires from occurring is the safest choice you can make. We want families to celebrate safely and that starts with knowing where the potential hazards are and taking simple steps to prevent a fire from starting,” said Dan Lemieux, director of emergency services and fire chief, Strathcona County Emergency Services No matter the time of year, Albertans should have and practise a fire escape plan with two ways out.

The fire escape plan should also be shared and reviewed with holiday visitors. Homes should have working smoke and car-

This time of year gives us a chance to pause and reflect with gratitude about the community we live in, and do business with.

Thank you for your support in 2017.

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bon monoxide alarms which should be tested monthly, with the batteries replaced annually. Portable fire extinguishers should be placed in the kitchen, garage and by the furnace as an extra safety measure.

In 2016, there were 4,324 fires in Alberta resulting in 29 deaths and 166 injuries.

Cooking fires, fires caused by smokers’ materials and fires involving electrical wiring in the home accounted for 68% of all house fires from 2007 to 2016.

Other common fire causes include heating equipment and appliances.

Properly maintained smoke alarms provide reliable, early notification to allow families to escape and call the fire department.

From 2012 to 2016, smoke alarms did not activate due to power failure (no battery, dead battery or disconnection from home wiring) in 27% of the fires where a smoke alarm was present.

-Weber

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Red Deer Express

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DON’T DRIVE IMPAIRED

Driving impaired – drunk or high – can cost your licence, money, health or someone’s life Driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs carries serious consequences.

The Traffic Injury Research Foundation determined that, in 2013, of Alberta drivers killed in collisions, more than one in four was over the legal limit for alcohol, and one in two had used drugs.

“Both alcohol and drugs impair a driver’s ability to safely operate a vehicle. Statistics show that more than a quarter of drivers killed in collisions in Alberta were drunk, and even more were high.

“That is a tragic, criminal and entirely preventable loss of life.

Police will lay charges and, yes, they can detect drug use,” said Brian Mason, minister of transportation.

Impaired driving comes in many forms – alcohol, drugs (including over-the-counter, prescription and illegal), distraction and fatigue.

On average each year over the past five years, there were 7,550 Criminal Code convictions for impaired driving in Alberta.

“Impaired driving is a crime regardless of whether impairment is caused by alcohol or any other drug. Everyone has a role to play in traffic safety. Please take time to plan for a sober ride to and from your destinations this holiday season,” Supt. Gary Graham, officer in charge, Alberta Traffic Services.

Drug-impaired driving, including cannabis-impaired driving,

has been a crime since the 1920s and is detected and prosecuted regularly in Alberta.

“SADD Alberta encourages drivers to plan ahead this holiday season. Whether it’s at the end of the night or just trying to juggle busy schedules, it’s important for everyone to drive sober, stay focused on the task of driving and avoid rushing. Friends who ride as passengers must also keep in mind how their actions may affect the driver,” said Arthur Lee, provincial community liaison, Students Against Drunk Driving.

Meanwhile, drivers convicted of an impaired driving offence have to install an ignition interlock device.

The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction also found that cannabis creates performance deficits in many skills required to drive safely, such as tracking, reaction time, visual function, concentration, short-term memory and divided attention.

Simulated and on-road studies of driving performance found using cannabis increased a driver’s likelihood of swerving, as well as showed an inability to maintain a safe distance and difficulty controlling speed.

According to the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, driving under the influence of cannabis (DUIC) costs

Let’s make sure Impaired Driving becomes a thing of the Past!

Red Deer & District Chapter

Please use a Designated Driver!

Michael Dawe 403-346-9325

Are you a

victim /survivor of an impaired driving crash?

We are here to help.

403.986.9904

maddrd@telusplanet.net • www.madd.ca/reddeer

Have a safe holiday!

Please use a designated driver!

Kim Schreiner MLA Red Deer North 403-342-2263

an estimated $1 billion per year in Canada today, according to a 2017 CCSA-led study, ‘Estimating the Harms and Costs of Cannabis-Attributable Collisions in the Canadian Provinces.’

It estimates the cost by studying DUIC associated fatalities, injuries and damage to property in the Canadian provinces and territories in 2012.

The highest costs are associated with fatalities, with young adults between the ages of 16–34 accounting for two-thirds of all DUIC fatalities.

Other key findings included that in 2012, cannabis collisions in Canada resulted in an estimated 75 fatalities, 4,407 injuries and 7,794 victims of property damage only (PDO) collisions, with an estimated economic and social cost of approximately $1 billion.

The highest costs are associated with fatalities, accounting for more than 58% of the costs.

While less than fatalities, injury costs and costs related to PDO collisions are also substantial.

Sixteen to 34-year-olds represent only 32% of the Canadian population, but 61% of the cannabis-attributable fatalities.

This group also disproportionately represents 59% of the cannabis-attributable injuries and 68% of the people involved in cannabis-attributable PDO collisions.

- Weber

SOME THINGS DON’T MIX During this Holiday Season make arrangements for a safe ride home with a designated driver or taxi.

YOUR NEXT TRIP MIGHT NOT END ON A HIGH

Central Alberta Victim and Witness Support Society Blackfalds RCMP Detachment 4405 South Street, Blackfalds Ph: 403-885-3355 www.victimsupport.ca

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Red Deer Express

Wednesday, December 20, 2017 19

DON’T DRIVE IMPAIRED

Project Red Ribbon marks 30 years

MADD Canada’s red ribbon campaign raises awareness about risks, consequences of impaired driving MADD Canada’s iconic red ribbon – symbolizingg the innocent victims of impaired driving and thee importance of always driving sober – turns 30 this year! For three decades, our Project Red Ribbon bbon campaign has been raising awareness about out the risks and consequences of impaired driving. iving. While great strides have been made over thee years to reduce impaired driving, it continuess to be a deadly problem on Canada’s roads.

Continued ontinued awareness efforts are vital. Our Project Red ed Ribbon campaign helps keep the sober drivingg message top of mind during the busy holiday season. ason. With parties and celebrations plentiful, thee risk for impaired driving is especially high.

Our ur red ribbon is a small but powerful symbol of thee wearer’s commitment to sober

in crashes involving drivers who were positive for alcohol alone.

683 deaths, or 28.1%, occurred in crashes involving drivers who were positive for drugs alone.

399 deaths, or 16.4%, occurred in crashes involving drivers who were positive for both alcohol and drugs.

The statistics reflect the growing incidence of driving after drug use, which now exceeds that for driving after alcohol use. Cannabis, the most commonly-found drug, is present in almost half of the drug-positive fatal crashes.

It must be emphasized that the figures document the presence of alcohol and/or drugs and not whether the driver was legally impaired. While research indicates that most of the alcohol-positive drivers were likely impaired or very

Red ribbons and car decals are available through the MADD Canada web site, Chapters and Community Leaders, Allstate Insurance Company of Canada offices across the country and participating sponsor outlets.

Anyone who wishes to support Project Red Ribbon with a donation can do so online through the web site, by calling 1-800-665-6233 or by texting “RIBBON” to 45678 (a $10 one-time donation is added to the donor’s cell phone bill and payable to his or her service provider.) A monthly donation option is also available.

According to MADD Canada, crashes involving alcohol and/or drugs are a leading criminal cause of death in Canada. On average, approximately 4 people are killed each day in crashes involving alcohol and/or drugs. In 2013, there were a total of 2,430 crash deaths on public roads, involving at least one highway vehicle (e.g.

driving. om November From 1st, t, 2017 to January 8th, h, 2018, MADD anada Chapters Canada nd Community and eaders will disLeaders ibute millions tribute off ribbons to anadians to Canadians wear ear and display as a reminder minder to: Never drive impaired or ride de with an impaired driver.

Plan ahead if you’re going to be drinking or consuming drugs. Call an Uber or a cab, arrange a designated driver, take public ansit or stay the night. transit Call 911 you see a driver you suspect is impaired.

For or information on the signs of an impaired driver and nd what to do, visit our Campaign 911 page.

impaired, there is no comparable information on the drug-positive drivers.

It should also be noted that these figures do not include total, or alcohol and/or drug-related, fatalities, occurring in crashes off of a public road. Nor do the figures include crash deaths involving only ATVs, snowmobiles, farm tractors, and other non-highway vehicles.

passenger cars, vans, trucks, or motorcycles). Based on testing of fatally-injured drivers, it may be estimated that 1,451 (59.7%) of these deaths involved drivers who had some alcohol and/or drugs in their system.369 deaths, or 15.2%, occurred

With files from MADD Canada

Make it a Safe Holiday...

Don’t Drive Impaired!

Impaired!

Don’t Drive Impaired!

Earl Dreeshen, MP

Red Deer - Mountain View 4315 - 55 Avenue-Suite 100A

Taking an impaired driver’s keys could save a life.

Being Impaired and Driving don’t mix.

(403) 347-7426 1-866-211-0959 www.earldreeshen.ca

Have a Safe & Happy Holiday Season!

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20 Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Red Deer Express

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Politicians visit Red Deer’s Fairview Elementary for nutrition program launch Government invests $10 million into school lunch program

BY MICHELLE FALK michelle.falk@reddeerexpress.com

Politicians visited Fairview Elementary School because of the school’s successful nutrition pilot project.

“We have witnessed significant difference in participation levels, engagement levels, and among some of our English as a second language students actual physical growth,” said Kim Walker principal of Fairview Elementary School, which was selected as one of the 14 schools involved in the pilot across the province.

The Alberta government recently announced that it would be implementing the lunch program across the province due to the success of the pilot. They will be investing $10 million in the current schools as well as providing funding to another 48

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EVERYBODY VOLUNTEERS

Volunteers Bring Holiday Cheer to Families With Donated Books With the objective of promoting literacy and providing wonderful books for families accessing the Christmas Bureau, the Red Deer Christmas Bureau Literacy Section has been growing steadily since 2004 under the direction of Don and Maureen Yamagishi.

15, twenty retired teachers volunteer to assist families find the best books for their children.

The Literacy Section at the Christmas Bureau is possible through the wonderful partnerships with businesses and clubs in our community and Red Deer Citizens who donate Parents are always generously to the pleased to choose Christmas Bureau books for their campaign. With children. “They help from the Nearly are amazed at the New Book Store, Maureen Yamagishi quality of the books,” Friends of the Public comments Maureen Yamagishi.

Library, Coles, and Chapters, 3,643 There are board books for infants, books were given as gifts in 2016. illustrated bedtime story books, In addition, the Red Deer Public nonfiction material and the latest in Library offers a free library card to literature for high school students. each family.

In 2016, 1,137 children and youth Don and Maureen thank all their received books for Christmas from community sponsors for support the Christmas Bureau. and the volunteers who donate their New families to Red Deer and Canada are able to receive a dictionary, and materials for English language acquisition. Having books available at home helps students to become more successful at school.

From mid-November to December

time and share a passion for reading.

Pictures, fundraising highlights and on line donation information can be found on the Red Deer Christmas Bureau Facebook page.

Submitted by Donna Durham, Red Deer Food Bank

Visit www.VolunteerCentral.ca 403-346-3710 info@volunteercentral.ca this space sponsored by

schools across the province.

Among those at the school to celebrate the project on Dec. 18th were Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Education Annie McKitrick and Red Deer North MLA Kim Schreiner, who has been a major supporter of the project since the beginning.

McKitrick said the project was a priority to her party.

She added that the Premier is also interested in how the Provincial government can support the efforts of school boards to feed students nutritious meals to maximize their learning outcomes.

Kim Walker talked about the positive effect the pilot has had on their student body at Fairview Elementary.

“If they have universal access to food, they can choose a snack or have a meal, and that changes the way they participate in lessons,” she said.

Walker told a story about her experience with one student in particular prior to the start of the lunch program. This student was in her office in the afternoons on a regular basis for discipline issues. After sharing a lunch with him at one point she realized that he was seeking mineral input, and was hungry. Since the

FIRST DAY - Newly appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Education Minister Annie McKitrick chats with nine-year-old Safa Yahya, a Sudanese refugee, on her first day as a student at Fairview Elementary School.

Michelle Falk/Red Deer Express nutrition pilot has been implemented she does not see this student sent to the office in the afternoons anymore.

Of the 235 students that attend Fairview Elementary, only 15 opt out of the lunch program.

“I think the fact that we have so few kids and families opting out of this program tells us that we got the right school,” said Stu Henry, Red Deer Public School District superintendent who selected Fairview for the project.

Wheelchair accessibility is a problem in the City, woman says

BY MICHELLE FALK michelle.falk@reddeerexpress.com

A wheelchair accessibility advocate says she is fed up with the City of Red Deer’s indifference.

Heather Dahl, who uses a wheelchair, has lobbied for accessibility in Red Deer for years.

She said it is time the City ‘puts its money where its mouth is’.

In the wake of UN Disability Day on Dec. 3rd, Dahl said, City staff have been slow to respond to safety concerns and have ignored her complaints.

According to Dahl, accessibility is not a priority for the City of

Red Deer. She said infrastructure and transportation need major attention. She added, that bylaws also need to be put in place for things like snow removal and enforced, to hold business owners accountable.

Mayor Tara Veer disagreed, stating the City has added stricter bylaws on commercial snow removal and is an early adopter of technology and strategies to improve accessibility.

“On the whole, we have made significant gains over the past couple of years to make Red Deer more accessible,” she said pointing to numerous initia-

tives by the City, including the accessibility audits conducted to inform future design.

Dahl has brought specific concerns about infrastructure and transit safety to the City on many occasions over the years.

Top priorities for her are how the Action bus is run, sidewalks randomly leading to nowhere and snow removal.

“I’m frustrated,” Dahl said. “I have been ignored and my concerns have gone unaddressed.”

Dahl said the problem is able-bodied people are making decisions for people with disabilities. She believes because City employees are not using these services they don’t understand what is actually necessary and resources are being wasted, she said.

“On Action Bus, there’s a criticality to this service; we have to be cognizant of the fact that we take things for granted. We can drive a car and go whenever we want; for our Action Bus clients we have to try and understand what their needs are and adapt our service as best we can to

serve those needs.”

While city employees maintain that you do not have to be disabled to be an effective advocate. According to Dahl, their efforts to anticipate the needs of people with disabilities are falling short.

Penny explained, in newly developed areas, handicapped accommodations are designed into the plans but for more mature communities like Dahl’s north side neighborhood, these modifications have to be added after the fact.

“Some of the community points are not as accessible as we may hope, but we are working to change that,” he said. But he maintained, “transit overall is an accessible system, be it a conventional bus or an Action Bus.” “It will take time to fully modernize all the existing infrastructure in the City,” Veer said.

Emphasizing accessibility is something they will continue to aspire towards.

“It’s a huge illusion,” said Dahl, who accesses the services every day.

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Red Deer Express

Wednesday, December 20, 2017 21

WHAT BIG BOX STORES DO YOU WANT AT PARKLAND MALL?

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VIDEO The Mustard Seed receives cargo van from Scottsville Auto Group

DADDY DAUGHTER TIME - Dan Turberfield teaching his four-year-old daughter Jordan how to skate at Bower Ponds Dec. 17th.

Michelle Falk/Red Deer Express

38106 Range Road 275, Red Deer County, AB T4S 2L9 Ph: 403-350-2150 Fx: 403-346-9840 WWW.RDCOUNTY.CA A great place to live, work & grow

MUNICIPAL PLANNING COMMISSION DECISIONS On the 19th day of December, 2017, under provisions of the Land Use Bylaw 2006/6, Red Deer County Municipal Planning Commission issued decisions approving the following applications:

38106 Range Road 275, Red Deer County, AB T4S 2L9

WWW.RDCOUNTY.CA

Permitted Use PINE LAKE 1. G. & K. Girard – the following setback relaxations for existing buildings on Lot 10, Blk A, Plan 1860TR, NE 6-36-24-4: attached garage 1.29 metre (4.2’) side yard and detached garage 7.5 metre (25’) rear yard (Lakeview).

East of PENHOLD 2. C. Kunkel – the following setback relaxations for an existing barn on Lot 1, Blk 1, Plan 002-4791, SE 2535-27-4: 24.48 metre (80’) front yard and 1.26 metre (4’) side yard.

SW of INNISFAIL 3. J. Babcock, P. & A. Leask, D. & C. Bradshaw - 50 metre (180’) relaxation to the minimum distance to the nearest dwelling for a Kennel operation on NW 10-35-1-5.

GASOLINE ALLEY West 4. Pearl Rose Construction – 4 metre (13’) setback relaxation for a proposed accessory building on Lot 16, Blk 10, Plan 162-3935, SE 29-37-27-4.

East of RED DEER 6. D. & O. MacIntosh – Intensive Recreation Facility (riding arena, stables and training facility) on Lot 3, Blk 1, Plan 112-5470, NW 11-38-26-4.

A person may appeal a Discretionary Use approval prior to 4:30 p.m. on January 10, 2018, by paying the required appeal fee and by filing an appeal in writing against the decision with the Red Deer County Subdivision and Development Appeal Board, 38106 Rge Rd 275, Red Deer County, Alberta. A Permitted Use approval may not be appealed unless the decision involves a relaxation, variance or misinterpretation of the Land Use Bylaw. For further information, contact Planning & Development Services at 403-350-2170.

A great place to live, work & grow

PUBLIC SALE OF LAND (MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT ACT) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT ACT, RED DEER COUNTY will offer for sale, by Public Auction, in the Red Deer County Centre, 38106 Range Road 275, Red Deer County, Alberta, on Monday, January 8, 2018, at 2:00 p.m., the following land: Part of Section

Section

Township

NW 23 Lot 16, Block 3, Plan 4485AP

36

Range Meridian 23

4

Area

Certificate of Title

8500 sq. ft.

243P95

This parcel will be offered for sale, subject to a reserve bid and to the reservations and conditions contained in the existing certificate of title. The land is being offered for sale on an “as is, where is” basis, and Red Deer County makes no representation and gives no warranty whatsoever as to the existence or adequacy of services, soil conditions, land use districting, building and development conditions, absence or presence of environmental contamination, or the development ability of the subject land for any intended use by the purchaser.

No bid will be accepted where the bidder attempts to attach conditions precedent to the sale of any parcel. No terms and conditions of sale will be considered other than those specified by Red Deer County.

Red Deer County may, after the public auction, become the owner of any parcel of land that is not sold at the public auction.

PUBLIC SALE OF MANUFACTURED HOMES (MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT ACT)

Discretionary Use East of INNISFAIL 5. D. Ray – location of Clustered Farm Dwelling to accommodate a third dwelling (manufactured home) on SE 25-36-26-4.

Ph: 403-350-2150 Fx: 403-346-9840

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT ACT, RED DEER COUNTY will offer for sale, by Public Auction, in the Red Deer County Centre, 38106 Range Road 275, Red Deer County, Alberta, on Monday, January 8, 2018, at 2:00 p.m., the following Manufactured Home: Legal 4-27-37-32-SE

Lot

Mobile Home Park

Year

WE225

Waskasoo Estates

1998

Model Shelter Berkshire

Serial # SHL 1676-98-14699

This Manufactured Home will be offered for sale, on an “as is, where is” basis subject to a reserve bid and to the reservations, conditions and financial encumbrances registered in the existing Alberta Registries and otherwise existing. Red Deer County may, after the public auction, become the owner of any Manufactured Home that is not sold at the public auction.

No bid will be accepted where the bidder attempts to attach conditions precedent to the sale of any Manufactured Home. No terms and conditions of sale will be considered other than those specified by the County.

Terms: Cash or certified cheque. Non-refundable deposit of 10% of bid at the time of the sale, with the balance of 90% of bid within 10 days.

Redemption may be effected by payment of all arrears of taxes and costs at any time prior to the sale.

Dated at Red Deer County, Alberta, December 20, 2017 Finance Department.

22 Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Red Deer Express

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Servus Credit Union partners Police Briefs with City on new arena

by Carlie Connolly

BY TODD COLIN VAUGHAN todd.vaughan@reddeerexpress.com

first Thursday of every month.”

Veer added it was important for the City to create a facility that respected the 64 years of history of the former Red Deer Arena.

The City of Red Deer and Servus Credit Union recently held “It had 64 years of a proud history on many fronts, so it was a press conference to begin the final steps towards the Jan. 13th important we incorporate as many heritage elements as possible,” she said. opening of the Servus Credit Union Arena.

During the announcement, Servus Credit “First and foremost being the Red Deer See our video at Union President and CEO Garth Warner Arena sign, which is displayed prominently and Red Deer Mayor Tara Veer announced in the entrance to the arena. A lot of the rails that Servus will provide a contribution of in the facility are refurbished old benches and .com $1,000,000 over the course of 15 years. the score clocks are faces from the old score This sponsorship not only gives Servus clock in the centre of the ice.” the naming rights to the former Red Deer Arena, it will also She added that the arena will be an integral piece of the 2019 go towards a free Canada Winter Games. community skate night running the “O ver the first Thursday of course of the every month from 2019 Canada 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Winter Games, “We have a lot men’s and womof members who en’s hockey will be live in Red Deer, in this facility. In so being able the lead up to that, it will be the home to invest in the community where to local figure members live and skaters, ringette work is very implayers as well as portant,” Warner hockey players,” said. she said.

“Investing in the Veer invited community is part Red Deerians to of our DNA and it come experience is part of being a the building for themselves in the credit union.”

Ve er s aid New Year.

“We are welServus’s contributions were im- NAMING RIGHTS - Servus Credit Union President and CEO Garth Warner and Red coming the pubportant to create Deer Mayor announced a 15 year partnership for the Servus Credit Union Arena. Part lic to our offia modern facility of the deal will provide Red Deerians with a free skate night the first Thursday of every cial opening on Todd Colin Vaughan/Red Deer Express during tough eco- month.

January 13th. The nomic times. building is nearly “The City recognized that for us to do more in these challeng- complete, the finishing touches are just underway now and it will ing economic times, we needed to engage in sponsorships and be ready when we welcome our community,” she said.

Warner added that investing in Alberta is important to Servus naming rights,” she said.

“Servus came on as the naming sponsor for this facility and as Credit Union.

“We have no other place to invest other than in our communities; part of that sponsorship, we will be offering free skating on the we are local and we are only in the Province of Alberta,” he said.

She has her mother’s eyes, cheekbones, and prescription amphetamines.

Some things should never be passed down.

Lock up or turn in your prescription drugs.

Learn more at SecureYourMeds.ca A message from Drug Free Kids Canada.

RED DEER RCMP TEND TO NONSUSPICIOUS DEATH DOWNTOWN

Shortly before 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 13th, RCMP officers on patrol in the downtown located a deceased man who had fallen from the roof of Sorensen Station. The RCMP investigation has confirmed that the death of the 45-year-old man was not suspicious. The deceased was not a Red Deer resident.

MAN AND WOMAN ASSAULTED IN WRONG HOME TARGET Red Deer RCMP are investigating a home invasion in the Oriole Park neighbourhood after four men forced their way into what is believed to be the wrong house and assaulted two of the occupants.

Shortly before 3:30 a.m. on Dec. 14th, RCMP responded to a 9-1-1 call after four masked men forced their way into a residence on Ottawa St., one carrying a machete, and assaulted the woman and man who lived there. The victims report that when the suspects heard there were children in the home, they claimed to have the wrong house and fled. The two children were not involved in the altercation.

At this point in the investigation, RCMP believe this was a targeted home invasion that targeted the wrong residence, and that the suspects and the victims are not known to each other.

ONE MAN HAS DIED FOLLOWING A RESIDENTIAL FIRE Red Deer RCMP are saddened to announce that the 31-yearold man injured in the house fire on Nagel Ave. the morning of Dec. 17th has succumbed to his injuries.

At approximately 10:40 a.m., Red Deer RCMP were dispatched to a residential fire on Nagel Ave. in Red Deer. Paramedics and STARS Air Ambulance assisted in the transportation of the victim to the Calgary hospital.

The RCMP investigation into his death has been concluded as not suspicious. Fire investigators continue to work to determine the cause of the fire.

RCMP INVESTIGATE GRAFFITI SPREE IN WEST PARK Red Deer RCMP are looking for public assistance to identify the people responsible for offensive graffiti sprayed on a West Park seniors lodge, a church, a house and several vehicles.

At 4:30 a.m. on Dec. 17th, RCMP responded to a report of multiple acts of graffiti vandalism in the area of 57th Ave. and 57th A Avenue on West Park Church of the Nazarene, West Park Lodge, the seniors home shuttle bus, the door of a nearby home, and parked cars. Graffiti included vulgar words and drawings, racist terms and “666.”

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This paper is

0la% 0 1 ble c y Rec Save on Foods Correction Notice In our weekly Àyer dated December 15 to 26, 2017 and the Àyer dated December 20 to 26, 2017 Pork Roast was incorrectly advertised. The price should have read $4.49/lb. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Thank you.

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Red Deer Express

Wednesday, December 20, 2017 23

Entertainment

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Dan Davidson up for five ACMA Awards Davidson will head to Red Deer with Brett Kissel in the New Year photo submitted

BY CARLIE CONNOLLY carlie.connolly@reddeerexpress.com

COUNTRY STAR - Country singer Dan Davidson is up for five ACMA Awards and will be heading to Red Deer come January to perform alongside Brett Kissel. photo submitted

It’s an exciting year for Edmonton-based country singer Dan Davidson as he’s up for five Alberta Country Music Association (ACMA) Awards.

This year marks the second year in a row he’s been nominated.

“It’s satisfying for me after putting in so much hard work.

People are still noticing, so it’s awesome,” he said.

One of those award categories is Song of the Year, for the song Barn Burner, which came out on the tail of his first single Found.

“Clayton Bellamy and I wrote

it together and we had such a great time writing Found that we decided we’d try it again on Barn Burner, and we couldn’t get in the same room on this one so we did a few Skype writes, so we never really left our pyjamas,” he said with a laugh.

Davidson recently released his new EP Songs for Georgia, which was inspired by his fouryear-old daughter Georgia.

Georgia was a toddler when some of the songs were starting to get finished.

“She just knew all the words and loved dancing and singing to them.”

Davidson began playing music professionally when he

was 19-years-old in a band from Edmonton called Tupelo Honey.

“We had a lot of success. We had toured with bands like Bon Jovi and we had several Top 40s and Top 10 iTunes albums and huge commercial placements in the States.”

They later went their separate ways, but Davidson said he had always wanted to do more of a solo thing.

“When I started writing it just came out country. I think as an Albertan we can’t get away from that sometimes.”

Looking back at the past year, Davidson said his first single Found going gold was a career benchmark.

“I think I was the only independent country artist to have a gold record this year, and that was really cool to see my name as the number one song in Vancouver, the top selling Canadian song for six weeks this year. That’s the kind of stuff I never thought I would see,” he said.

The highlights and excitement don’t stop there. Going into the New Year, Davidson will be heading out on tour with Brett Kissel to perform at 35 shows.

“He’s always been a really great supporter for me and he’s always given me words of encouragement as things were starting. Now that it’s happening, it’s so nice to be able to get up on the same stage and play together and become closer friends.”

Davidson said when it comes to getting his inspiration for songwriting, he tries to steer clear of what the Top 40 sounds like.

“I find that when people start to chase what’s cool, by the time you get there it’s not cool anymore,” he said.

He added that he hopes to have a single come out some time in the New Year.

“The hardest part of my job is figuring out what the next single is, and I can’t stand the choosing,” he said with a laugh.

Davidson will perform alongside Brett Kissel at the Sheraton Hotel Jan. 19th and will head out to the ACMA Awards the following week.

EARLY DEADLINES Due to the upcoming holidays, future edition booking deadlines are: December 27th edition – space Wednesday, December 20th at 5pm January 3rd edition – space Thursday, December 28th at 11am

Happy Holidays from all of us at

24 Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Red Deer Express

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Entertainment Alberta Country Music Awards coming up next month

BY CARLIE CONNOLLY carlie.connolly@reddeerexpress.com

The 2017 Alberta Country Music Awards (ACMA) are fast approaching with an exciting line-up of performances.

Entering into its seventh year, the Association of Country Music in Alberta’s annual Awards are all about promoting some of the finest country music in Alberta.

“It’s nice to see everybody from the Association and all the players and members that you work with throughout the year.

The people part of it is the best part,” said President of the Association Bill Hanson.

He added that the Awards are not only about promoting country music, but also the industries that support country music, so they try to support their sponsors through the country radio stations in the province, along with some of the clubs.

One of those facilities is Red Deer’s Billy

Bob’s Saloon, which is where the kick-off party will be on Jan. 27th.

The Awards will then follow on Jan. 28th at the Sheraton Red Deer Hotel.

He added that this year they’ve started a new category that’s going to be just for the established artists who have done really good things in Alberta, but also outside of Alberta.

“Sometimes they’ve gone to Nashville.

Artists like Gord Bamford, Emerson Drive, Carolyn Dawn Johnson and Terri Clark, so that level of artist is a new category. We’re calling it the ‘Entertainer of the Year’ category.”

Hanson said they hope to have some of them come out, but haven’t received confirmations yet.

“It’s nice to have those established artists involved and excited about the Association.

“We’ve been principally concentrating on up-and-coming artists and getting people who’s careers are just getting going, but it’s nice to have the established ones involved as

well,” said Hanson.

The Awards have always been held in Red Deer, acting as a sort of middle ground.

“There’s a whole bunch of us who had been in the industry a long time, but one of the issues that has come up over the years when people have tried to get an association for country music going in Alberta was the Edmonton Calgary rivalry.”

So Red Deer stuck.

Hanson said they are currently in the process of figuring out who will be on the show, but said those singers in the Rising Star category usually are the ones performing.

“Every year we’ve decided that we put our Rising Stars on the show, and then we populate the rest of the performances with members that either haven’t been on the show or have had a great year with their careers,” he said, adding that they also have a youth component now to recognize the younger artists.

COUNTRY SINGIN’ - Local singer Jamie Woodfin performs at a past ACMA event. This year’s ACMA Awards run Jan. 28th.

Bill Borgwardt photo

Stellar cast lights up the stage with The Other Side of the Pole

BY MARK WEBER mark.weber@reddeerexpress.com

If you find yourself lacking in regards to Christmas spirit, you may want to check out Prime Stock Theatre’s engaging production of The Other Side of the Pole.

Performances run through to Dec. 23rd at the Welikoklad Event Centre with curtain at 7:30 p.m.

There are also 2 p.m. matinees as well.

From start to finish, the show is completely

entertaining, buoyed by a troupe of terrific actors, a fabulous set and lighting design and catchy, charming tunes - all under the very capable direction of Ian Leung.

Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for students and $15 for seniors. For children under 12, the cost is $5.

Tickets are available at the Black Knight Inn Ticket Centre, online at bkticketcentre.ca or at the door. For more information, visit www. primestocktheatrecompany.com.

Making the show that much more special is that it is the very same production that launched Prime Stock in Red Deer 23 years ago, in the old Kresge’s building. Penned by Stephen Heatley and Marney Heatley, the show actually premiered in the City in 1982 at Red Deer College.

As to the show, its sparkling originality shines through at every turn.

As mentioned, a huge part of that stems form the exceptional cast - Erin Pettifor, Jaimi Reese, Emily Howard, Silverius Materi, Ben Stevens and Ben Oomen.

Morgan McKee is serving as musical director, and rounding out the creative team are set designer Daniel Van Heyst, costume designer Gwen McCagg and Billy Robinson on light design.

Kudos to all for lending their superb talents to the show, which moves along at a nice pace as we become more acquainted with the goings-on in Split Hoof.

Christmas has been banned in Split Hoof, Alberta for 10 years now, and eight-year-old Sandy Kringle (played by Howard) is determined to find out why, and what all this ‘Christmas’ stuff is anyway? With the help of newcomer Willy Witherspoon (Oomen), she uncovers the identity of a mysterious lodger and reveals family secrets long kept hidden.

Howard and Oomen are just tremendous in these central roles, capturing the child-like wonder, fun and mischievousness of their characters perfectly. Every single scene they are in is a delight, as are those including Sandy’s parents - Pix (Reese) and Alex (Materi). All four bring a rich sense of charisma to their respective roles, conveying the emotional and personal journeys that each of them are on during the course of the play.

Stevens is also excellent as John Smith, who has a few surprising secrets of his own, and Pettifor as Mylar lights up each scene that she’s a part of, which unfortunately aren’t too many.

Still, as an ensemble, there just isn’t a weak link.

The compelling blend of professionalism, natural chemistry and raw talent that exudes from this group is in itself a real ‘gift’ this holiday season.

As Thomas Usher, artistic director of Prime Stock shared in an earlier interview, it’s a sweet-natured, warm and even moving Christmas show. Hopefully more folks will include it in their plans this holiday season.

As mentioned earlier, tickets for The Other Side of the Pole! A Christmas Family Musical are available at the Black Knight Inn Ticket Centre.

Go online to bkticketcentre.ca, or they are also available at the door.

Visit www.primestocktheatrecompany.com.

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Red Deer Express

Wednesday, December 20, 2017 A25

Lifestyle

Committed to helping you hear.

# 202, 4327-54th Ave. Red Deer, AB

403-346-3939

Christmas is coming

www.riverlandhearing.com

WRAP IT UP Daniel Quanz wraps gifts at Parkland Mall, with proceeds going to the Central Alberta Ronald McDonald House.

Michelle Falk/Red Deer Express

JOLLY OLD TIME Three-year-old Katie Cave and her older sister, sixyear-old Victoria Cave, pose for a photo with Santa Claus at Parkland Mall.

Michelle Falk/

NAUGHTY OR NICE - One-year-old Oliver Clark sits on Santa’s knee for the first time at Bower Place.

Red Deer Express

Michelle Falk/Red Deer Express

One simple question to consider There is one question you need to ask yourself when it comes to living your best life, no matter what the aspect you are facing.

One question that covers all things in your life, and is the key to moving ahead, staying stuck, or falling behind.

It doesn’t matter what your situation is, your history, your goals, your circumstances or anything - this question applies and is the key.

The question is this: ‘Am I willing?’

And there is an equally powerful question: ‘Am I unwilling?’.

Let me explain.

Fill in any goal you have here: get fit and healthy, get a raise, have a great marriage, take a vacation, get a new car, move to a new house, earn a million dollars, it doesn’t matter.

Everything is available to you, if you are willing.

Six weeks ago, I weighed 217 lbs, and I had all sorts of great excuses as to why - the near-death crash in November 2015, the stress of working seven days a week, 12 to 16 hours a day, the economy, five surgeries, etc, etc.

All of them a load of garbage. Excuses. Lame excuses.

Today I weigh 199 lbs.

I dropped 18lbs of fat in six weeks.

How? Simple.

I decided I was unwilling to be fat and out of shape any more.

After 20 years as a trainer, I knew exactly what to do, I just wasn’t doing it.

Sure, I was doing a few things, but not enough to make a change and I got to the point where I was unwilling to be in the shape I was in, any longer.

I picked a date and started along with a bunch of our clients at the gym. A support group of amazing people up to the same thing. I (and I can safely say ‘we’) faced all sorts of challenges and there were habits that I had formed in the last two years that

were not serving me.

I finally got to the point where I was willing to do whatever it took to make this change and I gave up the bad habits that were holding me back.

When you are willing to do whatever it takes to get to your goal, your problems will collapse. They HAVE to because you will be relentless in your pursuit of that goal until they do!

Being willing means, you will do the things required to get your goal.

For fitness that means you have to be willing to go to the gym, get sweaty, tired, sore and then have to clean up, and go eat healthy food.

Are you willing to STOP eating crap? To stop drinking 300+ calorie fancy holiday drinks and eating junk food because it is convenient.

Are you willing to say ‘no thanks’ to your friends who will want you to join them in a ‘treat’?

Are you willing to make healthy food at home even though it takes time?

Are you willing to go shopping and just get the good stuff, walking by the temptations? Are you willing to get enough sleep, drink enough water, do some stretches, get to classes on time, push your comfort levels, lift bigger weights, and say NO to all the offers of chips, juice, wine, popcorn, cake, ice cream, etc?

I can hear some of you crying already that I am taking all the fun out of life! Nope. Simply asking a question. Are you willing?

Because here is the big thing: You don’t have to do this, and you don’t have to change.

Perhaps you are unwilling to change, and that is totally fine!

Perhaps you are willing to be where you are at, and all that comes with it, and that is totally cool! The only problem comes when you say you want to be healthy and then don’t do anything about it. Now you are at war with yourself and the only result is that

Scott McDermott

you will be unhappy.

Your brain is hard wired to win at whatever self-image and set belief you have for yourself. If you believe that bad stuff always happens to you, it will. If you believe that you are always going to be overweight, then you will be. Your subconscious is way more powerful than your conscious mind, and is always working to create the image of yourself that you have. You need to reprogram yourself to your goals and create a new image.

Create a clear goal of who and what you want to be and write out every step, and ask yourself if you are willing to change enough to get there.

If you want to lose weight, think about all of the things that will need to change: how you eat, how you exercise, how you move each day, how much water you will drink, the things you know are not helping you and then think about what you will need to give up in that regard.

Make a list of all of these things, and beside each one, ask yourself, ‘Am I willing?’.

Think about the daily things that you will need to do, who you will need to work with to help you, the people you will need to surround yourself with.

If you are unwilling to give up wings and beer with your friends every week, fancy sugar drinks, sweets, and watching three to four hours of TV a day, then that is a great discovery, and you can just move on and let the healthy body goal go.

Subconscious thoughts are deeply ingrained, so this might take some time.

If you want to change, you need to be willing, relentlessly willing to change and to stay focused and consistent.

If you can do that, I guarantee your life will change, and faster than you imagined.

Happy Training!

Scott McDermott is a personal trainer and the owner of Best Body Fitness in Sylvan Lake.

Bower Dental welcomes our latest Generation Cavity Fighter

Mike W. Zuk DDS General Dentist Stop In or Call 403.347.8008

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26 Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Red Deer Express

Lifestyle Christmas Bureau receives special donation

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We need more love in the Christmas Stocking What’s responsible for this change?

What does this world need more than anything else this Christmas?

Some say it’s the rising gap between rich and It needs gifts of love, empathy, civility, less poor, the decrease in medical services and deaths hatred, less poverty and less environmental pol- due to opioid drugs. Others argue that medicine lution, destruction of guns and missiles before has been able to cure the easy problems and now faces the tough ones. it becomes too late.

It needs a mindful civilization that cares about The blunt fact is no one knows the ultimate every human being. And it must start with indi- answer and neither do I. But I have some ideas. vidual families and end with politicians through- Obesity has to be a factor. A huge number of out the world who control nuclear weapons.

North Americans are obese. When you’re overI enjoy the festivities of the Christmas season. weight you walk each day hand in hand with the For a short time the world looks less likely to big killers, hypertension and heart disease. I’ve blow itself up. But for people who’ve lost loved written for 60 years that obesity is the top killer.

I’m also convinced our world is slowly, but ones it’s a grim, lonely time. A Christmas surrounded by possessions, but without family and surely choking to death with environmental friends who care is the setting for depression. pollution and it is starting to kill us. As the old As a doctor I’ve seen much unhapIndian wisely remarked, “When you the land, then the air, then piness at this time of year.

Dr. Gifford poison the water, you will eventually realize I’ll never forget one call my nurse you cannot eat dollar bills.” Just look received just prior to the holidays. It was from a young female patient who at how China’s growth has poisoned asked if I could drop by the hospital to its land, water and air. see her at the end of the day. She was Today it’s impossible to escape ina young mother with young children dustrial pollution. and she was dying of cancer.

There’s a great debate about whether insecticides used in food production I discovered she merely wanted to thank me for caring for her during her are a cause of cancer. But I wonder long illness. But she also asked if she how many readers realize the adverse could thank me with a hug. I bent over effects of individual human pollution? her bed so she could do so. Somehow For one example, studies show that I can’t imagine this happening today as I might those on antidepressant and other drugs are be accused of sexual harassment. The following passing these medications in their urine day day she died, leaving her husband and children. after day. These drugs enter our water supply.

Can you imagine the sadness of that Christmas? We’re all drinking this human pollution. No one Unfortunately we have no way of controlling knows what it’s doing to us.

I was asked on a radio interview recently what fatal accidents and illnesses that occur just before the holidays or any time of the year. As the I’d like to put in this year’s Christmas stocking. immortal bard Shakespeare wrote, ‘Each new I replied that, “I’d like to see Big Pharma do morn new beggars howl, new orphans cry, new something that no one could criticize, namely sorrows strike heaven on the face’. produce an honesty pill.”

But what about the big picture as we end 2017?

A little honesty could solve many or this world’s It is not a pretty scenario. problems. A little love and civility might, too.

For the first time in history life-expectancy in This is the 42nd year I’ve had the pleasure of North America and other developed countries wishing readers a happy and healthy Christmas. has slowed down. In fact, today’s expectancy And my thanks for sending along your comments is one-fifth of what it was prior to 2011. The this past year. idea that today’s babies may live to 100 years For information, visit docgiff.com. For comis less likely. ments, email info@docgiff.com.

Jones

CHRISTMAS GIVING - Five-year-old Mila Harestad donated $200, half of her birthday money, to the Christmas Bureau on Dec. 15th.

Todd Colin Vaughan/Red Deer Express

Prime Retirement Living in Red Deer At Revera, we’re just as unique as you are. We’re all about freedom of choice and making sure you maintain your independence, while getting the individual support you need. Come see the difference for yourself at one of our Red Deer retirement residences.

Call to book your tour today.

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Red Deer Express

Wednesday, December 20, 2017 27

Sports

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Olympic sportscaster Brian Williams says IOC too lenient on Russians OLYMPIC BROADCASTER - Canadian Sportscaster Brian Williams was in Red Deer speaking to a crowd of 900 people from Farm Credit Canada.

Todd Colin Vaughan/Red Deer Express

Williams was in Red Deer for a speech for Farm Credit Canada

BY TODD COLIN VAUGHAN todd.vaughan@reddeerexpress.com

World-renowned Canadian sportscaster Brian Williams, who covered 14 Olympic games between both CBC and CTV/TSN, said that he was disappointed with the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision to allow some Russian athletes to compete as neutrals in the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Russia, as reported, was banned from Pyeongchang after an investigation by the World Anti-doping Agency into state-sponsored doping at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.

Russian athletes who haven’t tested positive for doping, however, will be able to compete as neutrals without the use of their national flag or anthem under strict guidelines.

Williams, who was in Red Deer speaking at a paid event for Farm Credit Canada, said before his speech to the Red Deer Express this ruling is equivalent to allowing Russia to compete anyway.

“This is state-supported doping. This would be no different than if the Canadian Prime Minister,

if Canada was caught cheating ‘en masse’ in let them down.”

Vancouver, used the Mounties to change urine Williams added he recently spoke with former Canadian IOC member and Montreal Lawyer samples and intimidate people,” he said.

He added the fact that former IOC mem- Dick Pound, who said it was important for the ber and Russian Minister of Sport Alexander IOC not to give Putin a back door. In this inZhukov’s lifetime ban from stance, Williams believes the Olympics suggests they have. ▾ “They aren’t letting that Russian President “WHEN IT IS THE MINISTER Vladimir Putin likely knew Russia compete in uniform OF SPORT, DON’T TELL ME of the widespread doping but they are going to get among Russian Olympic more attention without THAT THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF athletes. the Russian flag. When GOVERNMENT DIDN’T KNOW “When it is the Minister they come in under the WHAT HE WAS DOING. THIS of Sport, don’t tell me that Olympic flag and play the WAS STATE-SUPPORTED.” the highest level of governOlympic anthem, everyone ment didn’t know what is going to know it is the he was doing. This was Russians,” he said.

Brian Williams state-supported,” he said.

He added he believes ▴ Williams said due to the IOC started in the right direction with sancthis scandal, no Russian athlete should have been allowed to compete tions against Russia, however they didn’t go in Pyeongchang. far enough.

“Sochi happened because the Russians did not “People say to me, ‘If they kick them all out, what about the innocent athletes?’. I’m sorry but do well in Vancouver. They were hosting four it is their country and their fellow athletes that years down the road and wanted to make sure

they did well and they did win the most medals, but many of them were dishonest medals.

“If that isn’t enough to kick them out, I don’t know what else is,” he said.

The Russian scandal is the latest in difficulties for Pyeongchang after the NHL decided not to send athletes and the fact that tensions have risen between North Korea and the west. Williams feels the Olympics will be a success, despite the international controversy.

“I feel bad for the South Koreans in many ways because they paid all this money to get the Olympics and the facilities, but then they get some body blows,” he said. “The NHL is not going, then this Russian story and when they got the rights, the tension between North Korea and the west — particularly the United States — was not at the level it is today.

“They have taken some blows but I am sure the Olympics will be fine, they always rise above it.”

He added the reason they will succeed is because the Olympic Games is about the best athletes in the world.

“As I always say, the Olympics are about the athletes and not the fat cats that run it,” he said.

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Red Deer Express

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Sports

Sting captures bronze at Ringette Ice Breaker Tournament

BY TODD COLIN VAUGHAN todd.vaughan@reddeerexpress.com

The Central Alberta U19AA Sting Ringette team managed to capture a bronze medal in Lacombe in front of their home fans over the weekend at the Ice Breaker Tournament.

The tournament, which was held at the Gary Moe Autogroup Sportsplex, saw the Sting manage to win their pool and make it to the semi-finals. “We were down 5-3 and then we scored a couple quick ones to make it 5-5. They scored with about three minutes left, so we lost that one,� Head

Coach Shawn Wagar said.

Wagar said his team had to spend Saturday night wishing they were in the gold medal game, but they were still ready to play the following morning. “We won the bronze medal game in overtime. They were excited,� he said.

The bronze comes shortly after the Sting won a silver medal in Edmonton.

These are early promising results for a team looking to go to the Ringette National Championships in Winnipeg. “We have a really young team. We have nine first-years,� Wagar said. “We were really pleased. It is a tough six-team division that we play through-

out the province. The teams up in Edmonton and St. Albert and the two Calgary teams are all tough but we are finding our way. We seem to be doing pretty well.�

Wagar said many of his veteran players contributed to a team that medalled at Nationals last year. That experience is paying off in spades this year. “We also have solid first- and second-years that help out. It is a nice mix,� he added.

Wagar was thankful to the organizers of the tournament, who hosted teams from three different age groups. “Our organizers are fabulous. We put

on a sort of country fair-market theme.

We were able to run all of our divisions and it was a wonderful weekend. Three of the last four games in our division went into overtime so there was good competition,� he said.

He added playing in Lacombe is something his girls are excited for, with most of the team coming from Lacombe, Red Deer and surrounding areas. “We play our home games out of Penhold and we travel a lot. It is nice for them to have their friends and grandparents out to the games,� Wagar said.

The Sting will now take Christmas off before a busy 2018 schedule.

“Our next big tournament is in Calgary in January. We then travel to Vancouver the start of February and then mid-February we have Provincials in Edmonton.

If things go well, hopefully we will go to Nationals in Winnipeg,� he said.

The Sting need to finish in the top four to be able to compete at Nationals. “It will be close. Between the six teams, they are all close. We have to stay healthy and continue to play well,� he said.

He added that he wanted to thank the organizers. “It was a neat weekend. The girls really enjoyed it and it was a nice way to go into our Christmas break,� he said.

Generals cap off first half of season with win in Innisfail

BY TODD COLIN VAUGHAN todd.vaughan@reddeerexpress.com

The Chinook Hockey League second place 11-2-0-2 Lacombe Generals were looking to head into the Christmas break with their second win of the week on Sunday against the 4-9-0-2 Innisfail Eagles.

After dominating the Eagles 9-1 on Dec. 13th, the Generals kicked things off early when Nathan Deck scored 28 seconds into the game.

The first period, however, would be all Innisfail with Tom Mikrut, Greg Moore and Pete Vandermeer all scoring unanswered goals for the home squad.

The Generals would head into the second period with plenty of work to do down 3-1. “I figured they were going to come hard,� Generals Coach Sean Robertson said. “We played them four days ago and we got what we wanted. You had to know that with the way that team is coached, they wouldn’t be too pleased with it. We knew they were going to

come and we were complacent.�

The second period was a much different affair for the boys in gold, with Ian Barteux, Dylan Nowakowski and Travis Granbois scoring three unanswered Lacombe goals, leading to a 4-3 Generals lead.

Travis Dunstall appeared to tie up the game for the Eagles with just over a minute left in the frame, however the goal was called back due to goalie interference.

Robertson credited the General’s turnaround in the second to winning puck battles, face-offs, one on ones and a “commitment to stay in the battle�.

The final frame would see Kyle Bailey adding another Generals goal with 4:30 to play and Billy Marshall would add an empty netter, leading to an eventual 6-3 Lacombe win. “At the the end of the day, it could be a rodeo out there but we want two points,� Robertson said. “We have to find the line between sticking up for each other and also making sure we don’t shoot ourselves in the foot by doing anything stupid.�

The Generals now head into a break before the second half of

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their season begins in January. Robertson said his team has a good feel for what type of team they are this season. “The first six games we were sticking the toes in to see what we had. We started to build on what we think we are good at. We are working things we aren’t bad at,� he said.

Robertson said that his team has solid ground to build on. “It has nothing to do with Xs and Os. These guys play for each other, they care about one another and they legitimately care about being a team. They bought in to that,� he said.

With solid character, the Generals now have to work on their on-ice routines and their way towards another Allan Cup. “Obviously, that is the end goal. There are so many steps before that. We have to work on keeping the puck out of our net. I don’t know what we are averaging, but it definitely is not where it needs to be come February, March and April. We have to buckle down and get stingy defensively,� he said. “Everything we have done so far has been on the chalkboard. There hasn’t been too many reps with what we have been doing on the ice.�

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

All the best in 2018!

Barb Miller MLA, Red Deer South 403-340-3565

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Red Deer Express

Wednesday, December 20, 2017 29

Homes

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Make time for traditional experiences and ageold seasonal magic The 12 days of Christmas are whizzing past and the time is drawing near for winter nights filled with wonder and anticipation.

Santa will soon be squeezing down our chimney and tip toeing around our tree as he fills stockings with treats and toys for everyone.

Those who have small children will be pounced on at some dark hour as their wee ones scatter out of bed in anticipation of what has transpired the night before and those with no children home may have a leisurely sleep in unless they are a kid at heart.

Christmas magic is still around if you take the time to look for it and include your family in time-honored traditions.

When was the last time you watched a live nativity pageant or went Christmas caroling?

Put on some Bing Crosby or old

Yuletide music and sit watching your fireplace (or the one on TV) while you sip hot chocolate and appreciate the twinkle of the tree you have worked so hard to decorate.

Curl up on your couch and read The Nutcracker to your kids while introducing them to the sweet strains of Tchaikovsky and create a festive memory they will never forget.

If you allow yourself some minutes to reflect, you will remember times and events from your childhood that were special and that made Christmas memorable.

Give yourself time to reflect on Christmas past as you strive towards Christmas present and give your heart time to wander to happy times.

There is nothing like reflection to bring peace to the soul and this year is the year to give yourself the gift of time.

Put down the laborious items that you think you must get done and

Kim Wyse

UNIQUE FIND

This week’s feature home is a unique rustic-style castle (not for sale) located in the Waskasoo neighbourhood.

Michelle Falk/Red Deer Express

walk with your kids in the snow, drive around your community and look at Christmas lights and try to take some time to volunteer.

The other day we were busy as beavers in our house as we painted our living room; when we finally broke for coffee in the afternoon we were shocked at how mild the weather was and how wonderful the sun felt on our faces as we wandered outside.

I felt a pang of regret at having let

such a beautiful day slip by but also told myself that I had been busy. The trouble is, too many of these busy days go by us and we miss the sun on our face or the joy that fills our heart at Christmas because we are too busy.

My encouragement to you is to get out in the ‘sun’ as often as you can this season and make time for traditional experiences and age-old seasonal magic.

I want to offer my appreciation and thanks for everyone who continues to

read my column and for the wonderful feedback I receive from my readers.

This year will be the best yet and I wish you every happiness in 2018.

May your home be blessed and your lives be rich and full with every happiness that your heart can possibly hold.

God bless you all, my darling readers, may your upcoming days be merry and bright. Happy Christmas to all of you!

Kim Wyse is a local freelance designer. Find her on ‘Ask a Realtor/Ask a Designer’.

Breaking up is hard to do So the reality of the world is that a large number of marriages end up in divorce.

This is a hard enough time in anyone’s life so the lenders and the mortgage insurers have come up with a product that can help.

It is the ability to refinance your matrimonial home up to 95% of its value to payout your ex their portion of the equity and perhaps even some of the debts you incurred together.

This is a specialty product and there are certain things you must do. Let’s take a look, shall we?

Step 1. You must complete a legal separation agreement through a lawyer.

Even if it is the most amicable split in the history of mankind, this has to be done. The reason for this is you want your rights protected fully. If you are the one staying in the house, you want to make sure that your ex has legally and irrevocably given up their rights to the home. If you are the one leaving, you want to make sure that your name is removed from the title so there is no question of you having any further obligation where it is concerned.

There will be a cost associated with the legal separation agree-

ment. How much? I would not dare to say but I would budget a bare minimum of $2,500. It is also important to keep in mind that legal matters often take more time than anticipated so don’t imagine you will be able to get this completed in a hurry.

Make sure that you address any debts taken on during the marriage. These can be paid out from the proceeds of the new mortgage but only if they are listed.

Step 2. Order an appraisal. This has two reasons. The first is that you and your ex will be able to determine the true value of the home through an impartial third party. The second is that most lenders require it in this situation.

Step 3. Write up an offer to purchase. This one always catches people off guard. Why should you have to write up an offer to purchase on a property you already own?

The answer is just this. The lenders require it.

This legally binding document shows the agreed upon price and the final closing date to which both parties have agreed. This can be completed through your lawyer, with the help of a willing real estate professional or on your own with a form available online.

Pam Pikkert

Step 4. Get a mortgage. You have likely been in contact with your mortgage professional before now but if not, then now is the time. You are going to have to provide: • separation agreement • appraisal • offer to purchase • letter of employment and paystub • last two years Notice of Assessments or T4’s • Any other required documentation It is very important to note that you will incur new mortgage insurance premiums if you go right to 95% of the home’s value even if you had already done so on the same property.

This is a brand new application with you as the sole borrower, so a full new premium applies. This is how it could look -home value $300,000; 5% equity $15,000; new mortgage for $285,000; insurance premium $8,977.50; total loan $293,977.50 So that, my mortgage minions, is a product which can help you through a very challenging time. As always we are more than happy to answer any of your questions. Until next time!

Pam Pikkert is a mortgage broker with ‘Mortgage Alliance Regional Mortgage Group’ in Red Deer.

30 Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Red Deer Express

www.reddeerexpress.com

Classifieds Obituary

Announcements

6HUYLFHV

Births

Misc Services

Murray BARNARD ARE YOU EXPECTING A BABY SOON?

The family of Murray BARNARD are saddened to announce his sudden passing at the Red Deer Regional Hospital on December 14, 2017. Murray was born March 17, 1932 in Toronto, Ontario.

He was a proud father of his daughter Lisa Barnard, his son David Barnard (Karen) and three loving grandchildren Joshua, Sarah and Matthew Barnard. Murray is predeceased by his wife Lois Barnard (nee Bennett) parents Lyla and Percival Barnard.

He will be missed by many as he was a true friend and a real gentleman. Donations may be made in Murray’s Memory to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Welcome Wagon has a special package just for you & your little one!

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Adult Care

Education/Trade Schools

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Hotel, Restaurant, Food Services

All Visits are Free.

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Employers have work-at-home positions available. Get online training you need from an employer-trusted program.

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Help Wanted CLASSIFIEDS Christmas & New Year’s Day Hours & Deadlines OfďŹ ces & Phones CLOSED Monday & Tuesday, December 25 & 26, 2017 and Monday, January 1, 2018

RED DEER ADVOCATE Publishing Dates Saturday, December 23, 2017 Tuesday, December 26, 2017 Wednesday, December 27, 2017 Deadline: Friday, December 22, 2017 @ 4 PM Publishing Date Tuesday, January 2, 2018 Deadline: Friday, December 29, 2017 @ 4 PM

RED DEER EXPRESS Publishing Date Wednesday, December 27, 2017 Deadline: Friday, December 22, 2017 @ Noon Publishing Date Wednesday, January 3, 2018 Deadline: Friday, December 29, 2017 @ Noon CALL CLASSIFIEDS 403-309-3300

Toll Free 1-877-223-3311 classiďŹ eds@reddeerexpress.com

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Red Deer Express

Wednesday, December 20, 2017 31

View the Clues Contest

Read to Win!

Below are five phone numbers that appear inside our clients’ ads in this week’s Express (includes Special Features & Supplements) Simply match the phone number to the business, fill out the contest form and drop it off at the Express office prior to draw deadline listed.

403.343.3300

________________________________

403.885.4646

________________________________

403.342.0900

________________________________

866.211.0959

________________________________

403.343.3673

________________________________

Enter in person at the Red Deer Express #121, 5301 - 43 St.

411 Lantern Street, Red Deer County 403.348.5309 www.the-hideout.com ANSWER

Complete each grid with numbers from 1 to 6, keeping in mind that:

NEXT DRAW DATE: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29th @ NOON

HOW TO PLAY: Fill-in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9 only once.

- a number can only appear once per row

Each 3x3 box is outlined with a darker line. You already have a few numbers to get you started.

Remember: You must not repeat the numbers 1 through 9 in the same line, column or 3x3 box.

- a number can only appear once per column - a number can only appear once in each box of 6 squares

ACROSS 1. Received a high grade on 5. Tied contest 9. Pub drink 12. Bottom of a shoe 13. Compete 14. Censor 15. Church song 16. Gambler’s wager 17. Can cover 18. Jabber 20. Border trimmers 22. The total amount 25. More crimson 27. Rural spot 29. Campus dwellings 33. Not employed 34. But

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Sundays at 9am, 11am and 6pm

Children’s programs weekly for infants to grade 10 32 Street & Hwy 2, Red Deer County 403-347-6425

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November Winner: Jerry Perras Name: _______________________________________ Phone: _______________________________________

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Rodents Strip of wood Young Constructs Con’s foe Hawaiian hello Inlets Territory Gather Shadowy Haul Shoe tip Lyric verse Big boys ANSWER

We invite you to join us on Sundays at 9am, 11am or 6pm Living Stones Church, 2020 40th Avenue, RD

Christian Science Society 4907 Gaetz Ave.Red d Deer 403-346-0811 • Church Services- Sundays at 11am • Reading Room-bookstore & Reading Area - Wednesday 10am-4pm • 2nd Wednesday each month- Testimony Meetings- Noon

For more info visit

christianscience.com

Sunday 10:00am, 11:30am

#1 England Way 403-343-6570

myhomechurch.ca

32 Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Ho-Ho Ho the

Red Deer Express

www.reddeerexpress.com

Hold

PAYMENTS!

With the Purchase or Lease of ANY in-stock New OR Used vehicle, receive a

FREE GIFT from us!

•Flatscreen TV •BBQ •Tablet •Soundbar •Cordless Drill •Smoker

Save

25%

OFF

Platinum #17T4796

*

on ALL in-stock new 2017 F-150’s!

s e d u incl

+

1,500.00

#RC10006 #U32057

2015 Ford F350 Crew Cab 4x4, Diesel, Moonroof, Leather, 5th Wheel Prep., Nav., only 104,556kms!

*

Platinum

$

54,500

Eligible Costco Members Receive an additional

1,000.00

OFF

$

*

PLUS GST

Pre-owned Deals!

It all ends January 2 nd, 2018!

Receive the FIRST 3 PAYMENTS on us! Up to

$

2017 F-150

MSRP $77,019 25% OFF – $19,255 SALE PRICE $57,764

2014 Ford Flex

Over 100 to choose from!

All Wheel Drive, New Tires, Moonroof, Leather, Nav. with only 46,591kms!

SEL Trim

$

PLUS

#U32170

2015 RAM 1500 Crew Cab 4x4, HEMI, Moonroof, Nav., Back Up Camera, only 53,379kms!

Sport

$

38,900

NO

PAYMENTS* for 90 DAYS!

25,900

#U32060

2014 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4x4, 5.0L, HID Headlamps, Leather, New Tires, only 97,664kms!

XTR

$

29,100

*No cash value in lieu of no-charge gift, while quantities last. Save 25% on in-stock 2017 F150s, OAC. MSRP $77,019 with 25% off $19,225; sell price of $57,764 + GST #17T4796. First 3 payments on us available on select in-stock 2017/2018 models, OAC. Value up to $1500 combined. Eligible Costco members receive an additional $1000 in savings with valid Costco membership on select new vehicles. No payments for 90 days available on preowned vehicles, OAC. Cash prices do not include applicable tax. Sale ends January 2, 2018. Vehicles may not be exactly as shown. See dealer for full details.

RED DEER COUNTY • Airdrie • Olds • Canmore

403.343.FORD(3673) • www.camclarkfordreddeer.com