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Central Alberta

Desperate Central Alberta kids in need of connection

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Calling all Donors and Supporters

We need your help!

In these challenging times, children and families are isolated, struggling to cope and understand, and are forced to wrestle with other mental health issues. As a Youth HQ supporter, you play a key role in ensuring the well-being of the children and families we serve. Through you we are able to cultivate authentic, caring relationships, opportunities, and connections to create a sense of belonging among and between children, adults, and community. It is times like this that reveal our true heroes – you.

Kids need Connections – Every child deserves the chance to exceed beyond the circumstances that surround them. Through our dedicated staff team, amazing volunteers, and committed donors and supporters we have been able to adapt during these difficult times and continue to meet the needs of the children and families we serve. Like many charities, fundraising has been a daunting challenge for us.  Many of our annual events have been cancelled, altered and donations are down this year.

In an effort to address our funding challenge we are asking you to consider supporting us in our efforts through this “crowdfunding initiative”.

On Giving Tuesday, December 1st we are launching the Kids need Connections Crowd Funding Giving Campaign.

Check out and learn more about this initiative.  Visit the campaign page by CLICKING HERE or by visiting our website at www.youthhq.ca.

Once on the page, you will have three options to support this ground-breaking initiative:

    1. The most obvious is to contribute (thus the CONTIBUTE  button staring back at you when the page opens up!).
    2. While we are always happy to receive any donations folks are able to make, the biggest secret to the success of a Crowd Funding campaign is to create the crowd.  This is something that every one of us is able to do at absolutely no cost.  I’m asking you to share….share….share….and then share more!  We need to get this message out to all our networks if it’s going to be successful.  Share on social media, share by email, text the link to people who don’t use either (is there actually anyone who doesn’t use social media or email???)….whatever it takes to get this shared far and wide.  And when you share, make sure you compel those you’ve shared with to do the same.
    3. The final option is to do both….contribute to the campaign and then share it out to your various networks!

You literally hold the keys to the success of this initiative in your hands!  Please do everything you can to support our efforts in this campaign. Thanks for your continued support and thank you in advance for doing anything you can do to help our cause in this challenging time. And for making a difference … for kids’ sake.

QKIDS NEED CONNECTIONS

Boys and Girls Clubs ensure children and youth are connected to others and the world around them. We aim to cultivate authentic, caring relationships, opportunities, and connections to create a sense of belonging among and between children, adults, and community.

There are more than 1,500 children and youth in Red Deer looking for connections; a mentor or someone to look up to; a safe place to go and make friends; somewhere to feel valued and a sense of belonging.

10-year-old Jamie said “I haven’t seen my friends for months and can’t remember what some of them look like”.

11-year-old Michelle said “I thought I would never see my friends and the Club again, and then the Club came to me”.

Boys and Girls Clubs are adapting to these circumstances to help ensure Kids are Connected.  We need your help. Our funds are not adequate to meet the present need.

Please Share and/or donate!

Alberta

Highway 11 to be twinned from Sylvan Lake to Rocky Mountain House

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Major highway upgrades keep Alberta moving

Budget 2024 includes $1.9 billion for planning, design and construction of major highway and bridge projects.

Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors is investing in the provincial highway network to keep Albertans safe and on the move, now and into the future.

This investment enhances Alberta’s competitive advantage by building and improving our economic corridors to provide vital links to markets in and out of Alberta. These projects will increase the safety and efficiency of our provincial highway network, ensuring Albertans spend less time stuck in traffic and more time doing the things they love.

“Alberta’s highways connect families and friends and get local products to market. We all count on well-built roads to get where we need to go, and that is why we are investing in major upgrades to our road and bridge network. With smoother and more efficient traffic flows, families can spend less time on the road and more time together.”

Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors

Investing in upgrades to the provincial road and bridge network creates thousands of jobs, improves traffic flows and supports the development of the province’s major economic corridors. These investments in key projects are vital to ensuring communities across the province have the infrastructure needed to get their goods to new markets and to support the higher traffic counts that come with a growing population.

“Alberta is the fastest-growing province in Canada, so it’s imperative we get to work today planning, designing and building the highways and bridges we need for tomorrow. This investment from the Government of Alberta will strengthen the province’s transportation network and expand our economic corridors so we can build our businesses, boost our exports, and create good-paying jobs.”

Tim Bennett, senior vice-chair, Alberta Motor Transport Association

As the province continues to grow, so does the need for new and improved highways to get more people and goods to their destination. Expanding Alberta’s economic corridors keeps the province connected, strengthens supply chains, and is important for economic growth and diversification. These investments will enhance Alberta’s competitive advantage, making it easier to transport goods in and out of the province.

By investing in highways and bridges, Alberta’s government is not just improving transportation; but also laying the groundwork for a stronger, more connected Alberta, ensuring prosperity for generations to come.

“ACC is supportive of the capital investments the province is making in major corridors across Alberta, including Highway 3. Improving our economic corridors is critical in ensuring we have stronger supply chains and more efficient movement of goods and people.”

Shauna Feth, president and CEO, Alberta Chambers of Commerce

“Strengthening and expanding economic corridors is a strategic priority for the EMRB. By working together, our 13 member municipalities are finding efficiencies so we can ensure people and goods can move seamlessly to, from and throughout the region. The EMRB would like to thank the Government of Alberta for its significant investment in this critical work. As the province’s population approaches five million, transportation networks have never been more important.”

Karen Wichuk, CEO, Edmonton Metropolitan Region Board

Projects across the province that are receiving funding include:

  • Highway 3 twinning, Taber to Burdett
  • Highway 11 twinning, Sylvan Lake to Rocky Mountain House
  • Safety and road improvements on Highway 881
  • The Highway 22/1A interchange at Cochrane
  • Highway 40 Twinning, south of Grande Prairie
  • Highway 201 Bow River Bridge on southeast Stoney Trail
  • Deerfoot Trail upgrades
  • Terwillegar Expansion

Budget 2024 also looks to the future by investing $151.2 million over three years for 56 engineering projects, with $100 million in new funding over three years for 36 engineering projects to address future infrastructure needs as our province continues to grow. This will fund projects such as:

  • Highway 60 capital improvements
  • Highway 40 grade widening between Hinton and Grande Cache
  • New intersection/alignment at Highway 16A and Range Road 20
  • Highway 2 Balzac Interchange Replacement
  • Highway 63 twinning, north of Fort McMurray
  • Vinca Bridge replacement

Budget 2024 is a responsible plan to strengthen health care and education, build safe and supportive communities, manage the province’s resources wisely and promote job creation to continue to build Alberta’s competitive advantage.

Key Facts

  • Alberta has a vast provincial highway network that includes more than 64,000 lane kilometres of highways, of which about 58,000 lane kilometres are paved.
  • The province has more than 4,800 bridge structures, including river crossing bridges, overpasses and culverts.

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Blackfalds

New Catholic Elementary School for Blackfalds

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News release from Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools

RDCRS receives full construction funding for new Kindergarten to Grade 5 school in Blackfalds

On Monday, March 4, Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools (RDCRS) received full construction funding from the Government of Alberta to construct a new Kindergarten to Grade 5 school in Blackfalds.

“The full construction funding for the new Kindergarten to Grade 5 school in the vibrant growing community of Blackfalds marks a significant milestone in our government’s commitment to providing state-of-the-art education infrastructure for our communities. This investment illustrates our dedication to meeting the evolving needs of our students and ensuring they have access to modern, innovative learning environments,” stated MLA for Red Deer North and Minister of Health Adriana LaGrange.

RDCRS appreciates the construction funding provided by the Government of Alberta. Over the past several years, Blackfalds has seen tremendous growth. RDCRS’ current Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 9 school located in Blackfalds, St. Gregory the Great Catholic School, has grown by 64% since its establishment in 2017.

“We are very pleased to receive full construction funding for a new Catholic elementary school in Blackfalds. The funding will allow the division an opportunity to build a much needed new school and meet the learning needs of our Blackfalds students,” said Board Chair Murray Hollman at Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools.

The schematic design for the new school has progressed smoothly since RDCRS received design funding from the Government of Alberta in March 2023. The plans look excellent and work is ongoing between Alberta Infrastructure and the Town of Blackfalds to ensure the steps to secure the land in the new development are completed. The land needs to be ready for construction according to the timelines and criteria established in the P3 project.

“We are pleased that the progress achieved thus far has demonstrated the collaborative efforts necessary to warrant this full funding announcement, “ added Board Chair Hollman.

The new school is expected to be ready for occupancy in September 2027.

Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools serves over 10,650 students in 21 schools in Red Deer, Blackfalds, Sylvan Lake, Rocky Mountain House, Innisfail, and Olds. It also supports the learning of over 850 students in a Home Education Program. The Division is committed to serving children and parents with a complete offering of learning opportunities delivered within the context of Catholic teachings and within the means of the Division.

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