The CAMROSE BOOSTER, January 26, 2016 – Page 26
Vaughn shares ideas Rocky Road Ice Cream Fantasy on strategic thinking in Augustana gym this Sunday By Dan Jensen
Face painting, cool crafts, parachute flipping, gymnastics, wall climbing and ice cream will be on the menu when the Augustana Residence Life staff put on their annual Rocky Road Ice Cream Fantasy from 1 to 4 p.m. on January 31. “It’s going to be a fun filled afternoon with an Adventures in Space theme,” said Augustana student engagement coordinator Angela Chytracek. The Rocky Road Ice Cream Fantasy was creat-
ed in 1993 by students who were looking to do something for the children and youth of the community. The proceeds from this year’s event, including the admission fee and sales of raffle tickets, will be donated to the Heart and Stroke Foundation in memory of Mark Chytracek who, at the time of his passing on Oct. 9 was Augustana director of student and residence services. The admission fee also includes a donation of a non perishable item for the Camrose Neighbor Aid Center food bank. “It is a great way to have
fun as well as to support a great cause,” said Chytracek. Augustana Residence Life is currently asking Camrose and area businesses for donations of items that can be used in the raffle and silent auction, as well as financial support to cover the purchase of Ice Cream Fantasy materials. Any donation will be greatly appreciated. More information about the carnival and the different ways in which you can get involved may be obtained by calling Chytracek at 780679-1113.
City expresses interest in Canada 150 Mosaic Project By Dan Jensen
Community development officer Scott Vaughn was the guest speaker at the Jan. 6 meeting of the Camrose Chamber of Commerce. By Dan Jensen
Alberta Culture and Tourism Community Development Unit community development officer Scott Vaughn stressed the importance of groups and organizations doing strategic thinking when they are planning for the future at the Camrose Chamber of Commerce luncheon hosted by Best Western Plus Camrose Resort Casino Jan. 6. “Strategic thinking is something that should be taking place continually in your organization and is a way to be proactive,” said Vaughn. “You are not going to just start moving on something because something has happened. You are already thinking ahead to what may be coming and you are doing some planning around that.” Vaughn said that strategic thinking and coming up with new ideas is not always about “throwing the baby out with the bath water.” “There are some things that we will want to take with us as we create our future for tomorrow.” Vaughn said the advances in technology with cell phones and new cars are the result of strategic thinking and looking at what could be. “With car manufacturers we are now starting to see electric cars. These thinkers were not accepting that things would always be the same. They were planning and not just accepting the status quo. There have been things that didn’t go as well as they would have liked but they were changing; they weren’t just changing small pieces.” Vaugh said organizations continually need to be thinking about whether they are meeting the needs of their clients or customers and if there is a better way they can provide service. He also stressed the importance of scanning all the different information that is available. “You need to be thinking in terms of options, and not immediately saying that something won’t work,” he said. “There needs to be the freedom to present the option, try those options, then get excited about the particular scenario and what it might look like. The key is to not discount options right away and let the creativity flow. Most times in organizations we are actually preventing creativity. We say words like ‘yeah but’ or ‘well, that isn’t going to work.’” Vaughn concluded by encouraging organizations to find their strategic sweet spot. “Finding that sweet spot is a big part of what you are doing as an organization when you are doing strategic planning,” he said. “In the business world it means looking at the competitor’s offerings, your own company’s capabilities and what your customers’ needs are, and what can be done to fit into that sweet spot. Look at what other communities or a similar size are offering out there in Alberta, Canada and the world.”
The City of Camrose has authorized Community Services to submit an application to participate, along with seven other Alberta communities, in the Canada 150 Mosaic Project. “Having a lot of schools and arts groups come forth with their members to put together a piece of public art that would go up somewhere very public in our city would be a great way to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017,” said Community Services general manager Ryan Poole in a presentation to council Dec. 14. The Canada 150 Mosaic Project is a national mural project that is intended to unify Canada while creating a visual portrayal of history. A total of 150 murals will be created across Canada. “In 2017, Canada will turn 150 years old,” said an application to participate in the Canada 150 Mosaic. “To celebrate this birthday, the Mural Mosaic team is launching a bold undertaking. Over a two year span, the trio (St. Albert based Lewis Lavoie, Paul Lavoie and Phil Alain) plans to create a mural including all provinces and territories, over 80,000 paintings and 150 murals that, when united, will form one gigantic mural mosaic. The mural, if ever connected would be over 365 metres wide by 2.5 metres high. The mural will represent a cultural mosaic, a time capsule, a visual portrayal of history, an art masterpiece from the soul of the nation. An art piece that fifty years from now may inspire another generation, who will in turn be able
to celebrate through the mural and maybe take it upon themselves to add to this memory.” Communities selected to represent the province and the nation will host an event inviting participants from far and wide from their region to participate and create their mural. “Camrose has the opportunity to engage up to 750 participants to get involved and be a part of this project and experience, each creating a single painted tile that is coordinated all together to create one mural,” said Poole. “This is a community mural so no artistic skills are required. In saying this, part of the mural will be completed by professional artists to tie it all together.” Poole believes the project would foster community pride, support arts and culture, express what Camrose values, and become a lasting legacy. “It would put Camrose on the map as a community that contributed to a lasting national initiative,” he said. “We would become more connected coast to coast through participation in the project.” Councillor Max Lindstrand described the mural project as a fantastic idea. “It has great legacy potential for our community,” he said. The cost of participating in the project ($12,500) would be funded from the Community Events budget. The project would be coordinated by Jane CherryLemire. Bus lease agreement Council approved the lease of a City owned bus to the Rose City Handi-Van Society to provide enhanced
bus service focused on servicing the needs of the senior population. Council also approved an agreement with the society that sets out the provisions for operating the enhanced bus service utilizing the leased bus. The objectives of the Rose City Handi-Van Society are to provide safe and effective transportation for residents who have difficulty with conventional means of transportation, to sell, manage, lease or otherwise deal with the property of the Society, and to provide all necessary equipment and furniture to carry on its objectives. Council appointments Council appointed John Bibo, David Kotyk and Dale Bowal to three year terms on the Local Assessment Review Board, Gordon Lougheed, Greg Arends, Itua Iriogbe and Earle Berry to three year terms on the Camrose Green Action Committee, Lowell Knutson, Mark Schneider and Crystal Zinck to three year terms on the Camrose Police Commission, Kaye Rud to a three year term on the Camrose Public Library, Carman Mason, Garry Zetsen and Gordon Lougheed to the Camrose Municipal Planning Advisory Committee, Margaret Holliston, Cody McCarroll, Carla Beck, Brad Niven, Colleen Swanson and Deborah Cryderman to three year terms on the Social Development Committee, John Bibo to a three year term on the Subdivision Development and Appeal Board, and Dave Kotyk and Dale Bowal to three year terms on the Composite Assessment Review Board.