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Holden Farmer Day gets boost from ball tournament PAGE A8
Your LOCAL Media since 1918! Volume 105 Issue 41
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Holden celebrates first graduating class in nearly 40 years BY JANA SEMENIUK Holden Rural Academy (HRA) held graduation celebrations June 8 at the Paragon Theatre for the village’s first graduates in nearly 40 years; Alyssa Zimmer, Cordell Janzen and Cayden Brisson. Holden had their last graduating class in 1984 before becoming a K-9 school then a K-6 in 1999. After Battle River School Division closed the school in June 2020 due to declining enrollments, HRA society was created and eventually took it over as a public charter school offering ‘placebased’ education for grades 7-12. The specialty programming has students learning not only in the classroom, but also in the community acquiring skills and gaining experience from local businesses and community groups. HRA opened their doors in Sept. 2022 to just over 60 students. Emcees for the graduation event were students Grayson Zemlak and Cheyenne Suchy. HRA Board Chair Justin Ewasiuk spoke to the crowd of 90 and offered congratulations to the grads. “I'd like to thank everybody for coming out today to celebrate the first grad class in Holden in almost 40 years,” he said before addressing the grads. “I'm glad that you guys got to experience this new type of education that we've brought to Holden, and to be the first grad class. You guys are going to be setting the example for everything going forward.” HRA Superintendent Wes Oglinski focused on how HRA came to fruition while praising the work of society members and the community in addition to the bravery of the new graduates. “This day would not have been possible without the contributions of so many people. Holden Rural Academy would not have been here, if not for the hard work and dedication of our founding members and board of directors,” he said. “I look at our three graduates and I see the future. They made the decision to leave the traditional school system
Holden Rural Academy's first graduating class; (L-R) Cayden Brisson, Cordell Janzen and Alyssa Zimmer. They are also the first graduating class in Holden in nearly 40 years. Photo: Jana Semeniuk and chose Holden Rural Academy as their school that they wanted to complete their education in. They wanted the opportunity to have a work-based program to cultivate their interests and explore opportunities in the community and beyond. These young people are transitioning to new adventures, and I applaud their bravery.” Guest speaker for the ceremonies was Kevin Van Lagen, also known as the Prairie Principal. Van Lagen helped HRA in their earliest phase by coming out on a speaking engagement in addition to providing advice along the way. Van Lagen is the principal of Altario and Consort schools in central Alta., and a vocal advocate for the value of rural education in Alta. Through his leadership, Altario and Consort schools have both staved off closures and saw increased enrolments due to their school’s specified focus; Al-
tario on agriculture and Consort on baseball. “I spoke a few years ago in this community, when there was talk about shutting down Holden school. And since that time, I've worked closely with members of your school board in particular, to come up with this vision of Holden Rural Academy. So, when I was asked to speak today, I felt an honour and privilege to be here,” said Van Lagen. “There's no greater joy than seeing the success of our students. Knowing that, you also understand that there's joy in giving, and give back to this community, and whatever community eventually becomes your home. If we all give in our communities, we have a better place to live and we have a better sense of purpose, especially in rural communities that we live in.” Continued Continued on Page on B8 Page 21
Prairie Principal, Kevin Van Lagen, as the guest speaker at Holden Rural Academy's first graduation ceremony June 8. Van Lagen is the principal of Altario and Consort schools in central Alta., and a vocal advocate for the value of rural education in Alta. who supported HRA in their efforts to become a charter school after Battle River School Division closed Holden school in 2020. Photo: Jana Semeniuk
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Your LOCAL Media since 1918! Volume 105 Issue 41
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Wednesday, June 14, 2023 s
Boyle Street Project making Father’s Day special for homeless Jana Semeniuk Staff Reporter
The Boyle Street Project in Tofield is gearing up for Father’s Day by creating special individual bags with 25 personal care and snack items for homeless men in Edmonton, who make up just over 70 percent of the city’s 2,800-person homeless population according to a 2018 report. “We did the same thing for Mother’s Day, except with (feminine) items such as hygiene products, etc.,” said organizer Yvonne Brown. The bags include a belt, socks, sunglasses, and Dads cookies among several other items. Brown said BSP collected enough donations for 30 bags to distribute this week in Edmonton. She added that the BSP was created in 2018 under Busy B Bargains, a second-hand store with two locations in Tofield. In addition to providing personal items, the BSP also collect bread and buns donated from the local IGA that make nearly 300 sandwiches which are distributed to the homeless each week, while the personal care bags are distributed each month. She said the initial idea of personal care bags came when trying to find a way to use up items at Busy B they couldn’t sell such as partially used bottles of shampoo. “I tried to have no garbage left at Busy B,” said Brown who also started that organization nearly 40 years ago. Although she has left the day-to-day operations at Busy B, Brown remains a member of their board. “There was a way to use half bottles, I would just stand it and put one bottle on top and let it drain in. And I did that with the lotions as well.”
Brown said her late husband Peter was a huge proponent of the BSP insisting special candies be included in each package. “He was the one that insisted that we have the best candy,” said Brown. After Peter passed away last year at the age of 85, Brown said she had to take some time to grieve and put the BSP on hold, but not for long. Within a few months, Brown was back garnering support from the community and acquiring new members for the group including Sandy Brolly, Elsie Olson, Claire Thomas, Jean Williams, and Donna Leary. Leary volunteers to distribute the sandwiches and personal care bags in Edmonton. Member Sandy Brolly, who joined BSP in the spring, said she fully supports the project and feels empathy for those who live on the street. “In 1995 I was laid off from my nursing job, and but for the grace of God I could have been one of those people,” she said. “I think about that, I was pretty lucky I didn’t end up on the street because I couldn’t afford to live.” Meanwhile, Brown said anyone can come by the Tofield Food Bank if they would like to donate to the project. She said she is grateful for the support BSP has had from a number of organizations and residents, including the Town of Tofield and Busy B. “This project is (fulfilling). I am grateful for the connection to Busy B, the Viking store, Twice Nice in Killam, and the personal donations to this project,” said Brown. “I am absolutely truly grateful because without that we have nothing to give.”
Members of the Boyle Street Project in Tofield with donated items for special care bags that will be distributed to homeless men in Edmonton this week for Father's Day. L-R: Sandy Brolly, Yvonne Brown and Elsie Olson. JANA SEMENIUK PHOTO
MLA Lovely named chair of ED committee John Mather Staff Reporter
Camrose MLA Jackie Lovely has been appointed as the Chair of the Economic Diversification Committee. “As Premier Danielle Smith said, our team is ready to get to work delivering the promises we made to Albertans during the election,” said Lovely after the ap-
pointment. “I am looking forward to the next four years and to working alongside my colleagues.” Lovely said the new cabinet, which includes a mix of experienced and new ministers, will move Alberta forward. “As a diverse team, these ministers will govern for all Albertans and work to en-
sure Alberta realizes its full potential,” she said. “This cabinet will work collaboratively to accomplish the work that Albertans voted for, including continuing to grow and diversify the economy, keeping life affordable, reforming the health care system, tackling crime, providing help for those struggling, and defending Alberta’s interest.”
Page B2 - The Tofield Mercury, Wednesday, June 14, 2023
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2023 Flagstaff District 4-H Beef Clubs
Reserve Champion Steer Kasey Adams
Grand Champion Steer Kade Rancier
Thank you to our buyers!
Grand Champion Female Kasey Adams
Reserve Champion Female Abby Rancier