Community

Coalition helps children develop qualities to succeed in life

Published

2 months ago

Todayville

Families of all ages take part in activities at developmental asset-building stations, designed to develop positive qualities in children, as part of Red Deer’s Strengthening Positive Assets & Resiliency in Communities (SPARC) coalition.

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Red Deer coalition helps children develop qualities to succeed in life
Story by Melissa Ballantyne | Photo courtesy of SPARC Red Deer

RED DEER — Hugs, a giant game of Jenga and an interactive display about gratitude, at first glance, have little in common — but all three play a role in strengthening communities.

To show gratitude, to be kind and caring to socially engage with others are all considered developmental assets. Fostering these qualities in children is the key focus of Alberta Health Services (AHS) and its partners in the Red Deer Strengthening Positive Assets & Resiliency in Communities (SPARC) coalition.

“These three activities provide different experiences that help build assets, or positive building blocks, in children,” says AHS Health Promotion Facilitator Rania Page, also co-chair of the Red Deer SPARC coalition. “There are 40 developmental assets that SPARC wants to educate the community about,” says Paige. “Research shows the higher number of assets a young person has, the more likely they are to succeed in school, make better decisions, have better coping skills and have better overall health.”

Developmental assets can be both external and internal, and range from family support, a caring neighbourhood, service to others, safety, creative activities, school engagement, integrity, honesty, interpersonal competence and self-esteem.

There are many ways for families to promote asset-building at home, but many may be unsure of exactly what development assets are, or how to support their children in building them.

To support families, SPARC offers Simple Connections Stronger Families events. Suitable for families with children ages 6-12, these events build resiliency and teach families more ways to connect.

Two events have been held in Red Deer so far this year, with a total turnout of more than 600.

“We’re so happy with the early success of this program,” says Denise Fredeen, AHS Health Promotion Facilitator and SPARC member. “Each event is designed with hands-on activities that give children positive experiences, and help parents recognize the specific assets being built.”

Games, family meals, constructive use of time, discussions on expectations and boundary-setting all play a role in asset building — and they’re featured in ‘stations’ at these events.

“A lot of these are things that often come naturally,” adds Paige. “However many parents may not be aware of the total impact they have. These events help foster understanding and enable parents to make that connection. It’s a really simple way to grow healthy, happy kids.”

The SPARC coalition comprises a number of community groups including: Alberta Health Services, the City of Red Deer, Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools and the Red Deer Public School District.

For a full list of partners and upcoming events, please SPARCRD on Facebook.

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Community

New state-of-the-art facilities about to be unveiled at RDC

Published

21 hours ago

Duane Rolheiser

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From Joel Ward, President & CEO of Red Deer College

State-of-the-art facilities enhance learning, living and athletic experiences at RDC

As we continue to transition to University status, we have been busy preparing our facilities for the anticipated growth of programs and services to serve our ever-expanding number of students. Dr. Paulette Hanna, in her guest article last month, outlined the new programs we are offering this year. The new Bachelor of Applied Arts in Animation and Visual Effects, along with new programs in Justice Studies, Health Care, Education and Business ensure opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship and great careers in central Alberta.

To accommodate the anticipated growth, RDC embarked on the largest facilities expansion in our history. Great programs, well delivered in modern facilities, ensure RDC’s ability to meet the learning needs of our students and our communities.

Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre/Centre des Jeux du Canada Gary W. Harris

Construction is completed, on time and on budget ($88M). We are in the process of moving in and will be hosting an open house and tours for the community in late August. Watch for the grand opening announcement coming soon. You will want to see this amazing facility.

This iconic facility celebrating health, wellness and sport will serve our learners and our communities for years to come and will serve as the legacy of the 2019 Canada Winter Games. And did I mention its design will take your breath away? Stantec, our design and architecture partner, and Clark/Scott Builders Inc., our general contractor, along with our faculty, staff and community partners have created something special, and I know you will be inspired by this newest addition to our College and our community. And it has approximately 2,500 solar panels on the roof along with 276 panels on the solar walkway, and is part of our green energy master plan, which will reduce our heat and cooling costs by almost one third. By the end of 2018, over 3,600 solar panels will be installed at RDC.

Residence

Construction is on time and on budget ($20M) for the 145 studio suites to open in January 2019. It is not a box with rooms. Its uniqueness makes it unlike any residence built before. Again, our team of designers have created something special. Gathering stairs, collaboration spaces and units designed by and for our students, ensure not only an incredible living space, but spaces that support learning. And did I mention that the south, west and east facing walls will be populated with solar panels?

Alternative Energy Lab (AEL)

Construction is completed, on time and on budget ($10M). Partnering with the Federal Government who funded 50% of the cost, this new teaching, learning and research space will demonstrate and showcase new alternative energy solutions for consideration by business, industry and local homeowners.

Information sessions, demonstrations of new technologies and research into the efficacy of alternative energy solutions in central Alberta will be the primary focus of this new facility. New programs will be developed to assist in the installation and trouble-shooting of new technologies. The addition of the AEL to our Centre for Innovation in Manufacturing gives RDC a great one-two punch to support small and medium businesses in applied research, rapid prototyping and 3D printing in central Alberta.

We will hold the grand opening later this fall. Watch for information sessions and tours open to the general public right after the grand opening.

The change occurring at RDC is breathtaking. New facilities, new programs and the Premier’s announcement granting University status has made 2018 the most transformative year in our history. And there is more. This fall we will host five national sporting pre-Games events leading up to the Canada Winter Games, and then we will host competition in the same five sports during the Games in February and March, 2019. Following the Games, RDC will host the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Men’s Volleyball National Championship from March 6 to 9 – the first time since 1987.

And we have to find a name for our new University…

Joel Ward is President & CEO of Red Deer College

This column was first published in the Red Deer Advocate on July 28, 2018

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Community

George and Katherine Goruk celebrate 70 years together

Published

2 days ago

Lloyd Lewis

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Let’s all take a moment and celebrate this amazing achievement – 70 years of marriage. Congratulations to George and Katherine (nee Shupenia) Goruk.

George Goruk (now known as Geedo by his family) was born on the family homestead North of Bellis Alberta on May 21, 1929. He is the third son of a family of eight born to William and Jennie Goruk who were among the earliest settlers in the Bellis area northeast of Edmonton. He grew up on the family farm and attended the North Bellis High School.

He first met Katherine (Kay) Shupenia (now known as Baba) in Edwand in 1945. Katherine was born in Spedden Alberta on February 8, 1932 and was the second eldest of a family of six born to Humphrey and May Shupenia. Their first meeting occurred when Kay and her siblings where chasing cows on horseback near Edwand and George and his buddies had hid in the ditch and scared the heck out Kay’s horse(s). Later George would take Kay and other friends to dances in Smoky Lake in his 1938 Ford. As Kay said, she fell in love with his jalopy and the two were married in Bellis on August 8, 1948. Their wedding reception was held in the loft of a newly constructed barn on the Goruk Family farm. They had to be married before the hay and farm animals moved into the barn which still stands today. They spent their first year of marriage on the original William Goruk homestead site and soon after their first son Dennis was born on August 19, 1949 they moved to their first farm located one mile North of Edwand Alberta which had been purchased from his father-in-law with the help of his father.

They farmed for one year then moved to Edmonton where George started his career in the oil industry as a roughneck on service rigs during the early development of the Leduc oilfield. During this time their second Darrell was born on October 16, 1952 and third son Bernie on October 16, 1955. George worked his way up a field superintendent with Kenyons Well Servicing and in the summer of 1959, the family moved to Red Deer Alberta. In 1962 George acquired the assets of Chupp Well Servicing and started Target Well Servicing Ltd. In 1972 they purchased a 360 farm along the Medicine River seven miles South and six miles West of Sylvan Lake. George continued to run Target Well Servicing while he and Kay also ran a cow calf operation at their new family farm. Target was sold to Thomson Industries in 1973 and George continued on as a Vice President of Thomson and President of Target Well Servicing which he expanded by starting up service rig companies in Wyoming and Texas as well as the first Canadian Service Rigs in Australia. He continued to grow the Thomson Well Services division by adding Nitrogas Well Services in Calgary, L&M Oilfield Rentals in Edmonton and Arrow Supply in Corpus Christie Texas. All during this time when he was travelling the world and building these new companies, Kay took book keeping courses and continued to “hold down the fort” and look after the farm which she reminds him of every now and then.

In 1978 Thomson was acquired by ATCO Ltd and George became the President of ATCO Oilfield Services and continued to oversee Target (renamed ATCO Well Servicing) and the other Thomson companies he established. Initially ATCO continued to grow the service rig business and over time divested the Well Service division companies and exited the well servicing and drilling business.

George officially retired in 1994 but continued to raise registered Quarter Horses and Polled Hereford cattle at his farm(s) near Sylvan Lake which is now a hay and grain operation with barley, wheat and canola that he continues to farm with his sons. On the other hand Kay has not retired and continues to look after George and their house and her huge garden……which she reminds him of every now and then.

Today George and Kay’s family has grown to number 27 including their three sons, 19 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.