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Great vibes in the dressing room as RDC Queens Hockey squad gears up for new season

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From RDC Athletics

Tight-knit Hockey Queens ready to hit the ice in 2019-20

Queens Hockey Head Coach Kelly Coulter is thrilled about the 12 returning student-athletes and 11 new additions he has assembled for the 2019-20 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Women’s Hockey season.

“The vibe in the dressing room is fantastic. The girls seem to really get along and care about each other,” he says. “They seem to be really connected so I think that bodes well on the ice for us as well.”

Goaltender Karlee Fetch is back to play her fifth-year after an outstanding bronze medal performance in last year’s playoffs. Bachelor of Science Nursing student Madison Fox will share the duties in net, after joining the Queens from the Pacific Steelers of the Junior Women’s Hockey League (JWHL).

“Karlee is really mature in her game and as a person, so I think she will be a very good role model for Madison in terms of prepping for games and being a student-athlete,” says Coulter. “Madison is a very good young goaltender who likes to compete, so it’s a very good tandem.”

Despite the absence of 2018-19 Second Team All-Conference defenceman Catherine Longchamps, the Queens have a solid returning group on the blue line. Victoria Johnston, Kirsten Baumgardt, Sydnee Decorby, Ashley Sutherland and Mariah McKersie are back at RDC. Bachelor of Science Nursing student Shelby Ballan is recovering from a lengthy injury, but will help the team. Joining the defensive corps are Wetaskiwin’s Abby Fonteyne, Glendon’s Brooke Skrypichayko and Spirit River’s Tessa Ross.

Jenessa Fournier, Camryn Wallan, Neisha Germann, Jessi-Lynn Sumaling, Mary Hirsch and Hannah Petrie return up front. Sydney Rowley, Brooklyn Rowley, Madison Sansom, Carissa Hogan, Tyra Anderson, Braxton Shawara and Red Deer’s Avery Lajeunesse join the forwards.

“Some of the student-athletes have been more dominant goal scorers on their teams, so we’re hoping that will parlay into this season,” says Coulter. “Character and compete level are common traits that we see with all of our players, which makes us extremely happy.”

Madison Sansom is one of those added offensive weapons. The first-year Open Studies student from Saskatoon recorded 12 goals and 20 assists in 25 games with the Battlefords Sharks of the Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League (SFMAAAHL) a season ago. Another talented first-year forward, Carissa Hogan had 12 goals and 13 assists in 28 games with the Swift Current Wildcats, and Coulter views Hogan’s impact extending beyond the ice.

“We are finalizing our leadership group and we have seven girls – Camryn Wallan, Kirsten Baumgardt, Neisha Germann, Victoria Johnston, Sydnee Decorby, Ashley Sutherland and Carissa Hogan, a rookie on our team this year,” says Coulter. “That’s the group that we’re going to be working with, but we are open to adding more as we feel we have a lot of character in our room this year.”

The RDC Queens competed in six exhibition games, picking up three victories and some valuable playing time. The Queens defeated the SAIT Trojans 4-0, the Central Alberta Amazons 2-1 and the Olds College Broncos 3-1.

“Our girls have come in very good shape. The games that we’ve had in the exhibition season, we’ve been very happy with the compete level,” says Coulter. “They are an intelligent young group and are very willing to learn. We are trying to figure out some chemistry and how people play together.”

The Queens dropped a 3-1 decision to the Broncos, 5-2 game to the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns of U Sports, and a very close 1-0 contest to the defending champion MacEwan University Griffins, but they gained important preseason experience.

“The game that we played against MacEwan was a very good game. It had a lot of pace to it back and forth and I was happy that our girls were able to compete at that level,” says Coulter. “I think it helped our girls, especially the rookies, to see the pace and compete levels. MacEwan has been the champions for three years, so they’ve set the bar.”

The RDC Queens will open the season on Thursday, October 10 at 7:00 p.m. against the Broncos in Olds. Then 24 hours later, the Queens will host the Broncos at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre.

“That should be a good series right off the bat,” says Camryn Wallan, a third-year forward from Beaverlodge. “We’re going to have to make sure that we use our speed, get pucks to the net and make sure we capitalize on our opportunities.”

After many practices, hours of training and six exhibition games, the RDC Queens are ready to begin the season.

“I’m excited to get started. We had our team builder on August 25 and 26, and we’ve been together for a while,” says Coulter. “All the girls are ready to compete.”

For more information on RDC Queens Hockey, the student-athletes, scores, and game recaps of conference games, please visit: rdcathletics.ca

After 15 years as a TV reporter with Global and CBC and as news director of RDTV in Red Deer, Duane set out on his own 2008 as a visual storyteller. During this period, he became fascinated with a burgeoning online world and how it could better serve local communities. This fascination led to Todayville, launched in 2016.

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Education

Support a young reader through the Tim Hortons Smile Cookie campaign

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Smile Cookies are coming to a Tim Hortons near you!

We know you missed those delicious chocolate chip cookies with the big blue eyes and bright pink smiles! And we are so thankful Tim Hortons is bringing its Smile Cookie campaign back next week!

Helping struggling students become readers of potential is exactly what local Tim Hortons stores want as proceeds for its Smile Cookie campaign, which runs April 29 – May 5, will be directed to Reading College, a project of the Foundation for Red Deer Public Schools.

“We set up this amazing and fun summer program for kids in Grade 2 where they learn to love reading, and gain the skills to continue their growth as learners. Reading is the foundation for success in school and life. If we can help further develop their skills and instill a love for reading, it creates a lifetime of difference for that child. It will make a difference for them, make a difference for their families and make a difference in their life experiences. That’s the beauty of Reading College,” said Superintendent of Schools, Chad Erickson. “Last year, we had 67 graduates of the Reading College program who were incredibly engaged and able to excel and improve their reading abilities over the month of July, setting them up for further success.”

“The Smile Cookie Campaign is a great opportunity to raise awareness on the importance of literacy. It really does create life chances for students. Reading College is made possible through great support from our community and Tim Hortons – we could not operate it without this support,” said Kristine Plastow, Foundation Board Chair. “I encourage the community to get out there and buy their cookies next week!”

From April 29 – May 5, Tim Hortons restaurant owners in Red Deer will generously donate proceeds from sales of a special smiling chocolate chunk cookie to support the Reading College program through The Foundation for Red Deer Public Schools. The $1.50 treat helps community programs across Canada in the cities where they are sold. This year, 10% of funds raised from Smile Cookies will support the Tim Hortons Foundation Camps, of which more than 100 students from Red Deer Public Schools will attend.

Join us for Smile Cookie Day May 4

“We invite the community to join us for our Smile Cookie Day on May 4 at the Tim Hortons on Thomlison Avenue in Red Deer,” said Plastow. “We have partnered with the Red Deer RCMP, Emergency Services and the Alberta Sheriffs. Come and sit in a firetruck or police car, meet local emergency responders and buy a delicious Smile Cookie, while supporting a great cause!”

“We are excited to bring back the Smile Cookie campaign this spring. On behalf of all Tim Hortons’ restaurant owners and team members in Red Deer, I would like to thank our fantastic guests for their loyalty, generosity and support of the campaign,” said Tanya Doucette, Tim Hortons Restaurant Owner in Red Deer. “We are thrilled to support The Foundation for Red Deer Public Schools and their Reading College program. With funds raised we are helping students learn to read, which will ultimately help set them up for a lifetime of success. During Smile Cookie Week, we welcome all Red Deerians to buy a delicious freshly-baked Smile Cookie in support of a great cause, which helps benefit children in our community.”

Help us promote the campaign by ‘liking’ Red Deer Public Schools on Facebook and ‘following’ us on Twitter, both under @rdpschools. You can also find us on Instagram @reddeerpublicschools.

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2024 City Councilor By-Election

Chad Krahn wins City Council by-election: Official results Friday

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Unofficial 2024 By-Election Results

With 100% voting stations reporting, Red Deerians have elected a new City Councillor during The City’s first ever by-election.

Unofficial results of the 2024 Municipal By-Election are as follows:

Councillor for The City of Red Deer Number of positions to be filled: 1

Candidate Votes
1 BUCHANAN, S.H. (Buck) 479
2 CHILIBECK, Jason 287
3 COLLINGS, Mark 115
4 CULLEN-SAIK, Linda 296
5 HUIZING, Hans 381
6 KRAHN, Chad 2512
7 MACDONALD, Ashley 165
8 MILANEY, Liam (The Level) 29
9 TWEEDLE, Jaelene 2355
10 YZERMAN, Calvin 183

Official election results for the Municipal By-Election will be announced by noon on Friday, April 26, 2024.

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