Red Deer Rebels teaming up to collect toys for kids

From Wawanesa

GET READY FOR THE WAWANESA TOY DRIVE WITH THE RED DEER REBELS

Together with United Way of Central Alberta and local independent insurance brokers, Wawanesa Insurance is collecting toys for kids and sending two lucky fans to the Memorial Cup in Kelowna, B.C.

Whether unwrapping a teddy bear, a fire truck or a stethoscope, there’s nothing like making kids smile during the holidays. This year, Wawanesa Insurance is teaming up with United Way of Central Alberta, the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) and independent insurance brokers to host holiday toy drives across Canada, including right here in Red Deer.

Wawanesa Insurance and the CHL want to give more kids a reason to smile, and they are making it easy and rewarding for anyone to help. For fans heading to the Red Deer Rebels game on November 30, please consider bringing a new, unwrapped toy to donate. Wawanesa Insurance will enter all toy donors into a Grand Prize draw for a trip for two to Kelowna for this year’s Memorial Cup Presented by Kia.

“Happy kids, neighbours helping neighbours, and some of the best hockey in the world – it’s a winning combination to help more Canadian families enjoy this holiday season,” said Selena Hinds, Vice President of Communications and Community Affairs for Wawanesa Insurance. “We are thrilled to partner with the Canadian Hockey League, independent insurance brokers and local charities across Canada on this country-wide holiday toy drive. For us at Wawanesa Insurance, supporting the communities where we work and live is the essence of who we are.”

If someone is unable to bring a toy to the game, Wawanesa has partnered with local insurance brokers to provide people with convenient toy drive drop-off locations:

Western Financial Group	#101 4320 – 50 Avenue	Red Deer, AB
Beyond Insurance Inc.	102 4802 – 51 Ave	Red Deer, AB
HUB International Insurance Brokers	33 Mckenzie Crescent #203	Red Deer County, AB

Wawanesa Insurance is a proud partner of the CHL and the Official Auto and Home Insurer of the CHL. For more information about the Wawanesa Toy Drive and full contest rules, visit: wawanesa.com/toydrive.

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Duane Rolheiser

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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Community

Red Deer family rocked by cancer diagnosis seeks support from the community

Published on March 21, 2023

Todayville

From the Facebook page of Nicole Maurier

With permission from Abby Marie Maurier I am reaching out to you today to let you know that my beautiful daughter Abigail has just been diagnosed with cancer. She has Lymphoma, which is cancer of the lymphatic system and she also has a large mass on her right lung.

What I’m asking for is a variety of support in these ways:

1. Have you or someone you know been diagnosed with cancer, specifically Lymphoma and do you have information you can share about treatement, top clinics etc.

2. Are you someone that has information that you can share towards her holistic healing? She will require postive lifestyle changes such as nutrition, meditative yoga, massage, etc.

3. Can you help support Abigail’s journey by contributing towards her fundraiser in order to help her prior to treatments, during and afterwards.

4. Your prayers, intentions, love and support is greatly appreciated

5. Please share this post so we can reach as many supporters as possible

I am a warrior Mama Bear on a mission to heal my daughter and I won’t stop at anything. I believe healing is possible, I believe in the power of community and love and I believe that together, all of us will help heal her in some special way.

From GoFundMe

Hello, my name is Nicole and I am fundraising for my beautiful daughter Abigail. Abigail was recently diagnosed with Lymphoma, which is cancer cells in the lymph system, and she also has a large mass on her right lung.

She is a young beautiful woman, age 24 and she graduated as a Cardio Tech in 2021 and has been enjoying her work at the hospital tending to cardio patients with the utmost love and care. She has just started her journey in life, residing with her long-term boyfriend Gus in their home with their 2 bunnies, Biggie and Peaches. Abigail also has a dog named Kyah, who is with her in the photo.

Anyone who has been blessed to cross paths with Abigail knows how special she is. She radiates light and love where ever she goes and has a heart of gold. Ever since she was a baby, I have called her my earth angel.

With her recent diagnosis and as her mother, I am asking for your help to please contribute what you can towards her journey with cancer. The funds will be used to allow her to take time off work and focus on her health and treatment. We are looking into a variety of cancer clinics in order to offer her the best outcome possible because she is so deserving of a life of longevity and living cancer free.

Another important part of Abigail’s healing is providing her with proper nutrients, wholesome foods, meditative yoga, massage therapy and other holistic treatments to strengthen her body which the funding will help support.

Your contribution is received with gratitude and appreciation and I thank you with all of my heart for your donation to help my daughter.

Donate

Organizer

Nicole Maurier

Organizer

Red Deer, AB

Business

Business leaders decide it’s time to reduce the number of homeless in Red Deer

Published on March 14, 2023

Todayville

News release from the Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce

Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce to form Task Force on Homelessness in Red Deer

The Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce will be convening a Task Force of community and business leaders to address the issues of homelessness and identify actionable steps which can be taken to tackle this generational challenge in Red Deer.

“With the release of the City of Red Deer’s Point in Time (PIT) Report on homelessness last week we are very concerned and disappointed with the effectiveness of the strategies currently in place, and the urgency by which we need to turn this situation around within our city,” commented Scott Robinson CEO of the Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce. “Clearly our current strategies are not enough, and we need to elevate the urgency by which we get things done to reduce the number of citizens who are without a place to live. The growing number of people who are homeless is not sustainable and is impacting on our sense of pride, safety and attractiveness of our city to business and industry.”

“We will share more about this Task Force and the next steps in the coming weeks. Time has run out to act with conviction, courage, and clarity. Our community and citizens deserve that from our community leaders, and we are ready to bring the business community and the urgency required to the table.”

Over the next 60 days, the Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce will be reaching out to its business and social agency partners to build the Task Force on homelessness and establish a strategy to address the critical steps that need to be taken to reverse the trends and further our community’s vision as a vibrant and healthy city.

Matt Cassidy, Chamber Board President. remarked “Our Chamber is positioned to be the collaborative leader in connecting our business community, social agencies, and elected officials together, to find tangible progress on this complex issue. All businesses rely on the vibrancy of our community as they strive to be sustainable, innovative, or grow, and the results of the PIT Report indicate that we need to do much more. This task force will help hold our leaders accountable for the actionable progress needed and engage one another effectively.”

“In speaking with our membership, and those working closely with the vulnerable populations there are best practices and models for delivery that are successful in other parts of the world that we need to start implementing” says Robinson. In addition, we need to look at ways that our private sector can get more involved and bring their expertise and strategic thinking to the table. As a collaborative community we also need to ensure that governments at all levels are delivering on their promises of affordable housing and eliminating barriers to expediting these investments.

Established in 1894 the Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce is a non-partisan, collaborative business leader representing over 825 member businesses. As one of Red Deer’s oldest and most established membership organizations we are striving to build a vibrant community that fosters an environment where businesses can lead, be innovative, sustainable, and grow.