Merry Christmas Fund under half way to its goal

By Murray Green

The Camrose Merry Christmas Fund and Christmas Hamper Program assists those in need during the holiday season.

“Camrose and area residents and businesses have generously donated to our fundraising needs, but we are less than half-way to our $40,000 fundraising goal. The Kinettes are also seeking additional donations of toys and cash to be able to provide for the many children in need. Groceries arrive next Tuesday for our volunteer teams to pack hampers Wednesday and Thursday, to be ready for volunteer drivers to come to the fire hall on Saturday, December 21st after 9 a.m. to deliver more than 300 hampers and toys,” said Merry Christmas Fund chair Morris Henderson.

“As they do every year, our community is coming together to support the hamper program with goods, services and financial donations. More than 50 volunteers are committed to packing hampers with enough groceries to last families for several days over the Christmas holidays,” shared Morris.

Cash/cheque donations to the Camrose Merry Christmas Fund are still accepted at the fire hall, Royal Bank, or dropped off at 3412-61A Street. On-line donations can be made by eTransfer to mchampers@telus.net, or at ATBCares.com.

Donations made by December 31 will get a 2024 charitable tax receipt. You can email mchampers@telus.net for more information.

The Kinettes are gathering toys, gifts downtown and the Camrose Swans and Roses Lions Club are transporting the toys to the fire hall on December 19 for distribution with the hampers on December 21.

The Neighbor Aid Center screens requests and provides a list of names to the Camrose Merry Christmas Fund to organize the packing and routing for the hamper deliveries.

You can also volunteer your time to assist with packing or delivering hampers.

Christmas Lane lights up

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Many residents on Marler Drive have decorated their homes. The three best decorated dwellings on Marler Drive will have a chance to win a Christmas Lights contest unique to this area.

By Adan Shaikh


In partnership with Love Local, Camrose Christmas Association has turned Marler Drive into Christmas Lane. The homes on Marler Drive have been decorated and are lit for the festive season. It’s a good place to enjoy a stroll, take photos, and enjoy the many activities Camrose Christmas Association has planned.

The lane can be visited anytime, but some of the special events happening this month might make the visit more special.

On December 13, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., visitors can meet Santa and Mrs. Claus as they make appearances on Christmas Lane at 5712 Marler Drive, and families can also enjoy free horse-drawn wagon rides around the lane, which have been made possible due to generous donations made by many local businesses.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will make more appearances on December 14 and 21 from 5 to 7 p.m.

Winners for the Marler Drive Christmas Lights will be announced following Christmas. This fun contest will make Christmas in Camrose as magical as the North Pole itself.

RCMP play hockey for charity

By Murray Green

A charity hockey game between the Bashaw RCMP and the Camrose Vikings U18 double-A is slated for Friday, January 17, 2025 at 7 p.m. in the Bashaw Arena. All proceeds are to go to the Bashaw Community Resource Centre. There will also be a 50/50 draw and a silent auction.

“We were looking into ways that we (RCMP) can be actively involved in the community and how we could raise funds for local programs, such as meal programs. For myself, I am actively involved with my four children in hockey from U9 to U15. Public service employee, Krista Dubitz and myself presented the idea to the detachment members and employees,” said Sergeant RCMP Trent Cleveland, Bashaw detachment commander.

“So we came up with hosting a charity hockey game. In the fall, we organized a small board and started planning the game. I reached out to the Camrose Vikings U18 double-A and they were more than willing to participate in the hockey game. The RCMP team roster, consists of RCMP members throughout central Alberta, with a few honorary RCMP members, including the coaches from U18 double-A,” added Cleveland.

A special guest will drop the first puck prior to the game.

“We are still seeking donations and sponsorships for the game to help raise funds.”

Tickets are available from the Bashaw CRC.

Kodiaks defeat rival Grizzlys

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Bowen Grycan and Christian Stephenson gather stuffed animals to put into a bag after the Camrose Kodiaks scored first in the annual Teddy Bear Toss game on November 30. The Kodiaks collect the stuffed and other toys and donate them to various charities.

By Murray Green

The Camrose Kodiaks hammered the Olds Grizzlys 6-2 on November 29.

Camrose built up a 6-0 lead before letting off the gas pedal in the contest. AJ Schaaf (7) and Liam Payne (6) scored in the opening period. They geared three more tallies.

Lukas Zimovcak notched his first and second markers of the season, while Owen Lansing collected his second of the year on a power play opportunity. In the third, Lansing added his third goal before Olds fought back with two markers. Goalie Noah Caballero stopped 20 of the 22 shots fired his way.

The Kodiaks recorded 45 shots on goal.

In the Teddy Bear Toss match, it was the Kodiaks that were tossed around in a 7-3 loss.

The stuffed animals and other toys are donated to several charities.

The fur was flying eight minutes into the game when Payne opened the scoring, notching his seventh of the year. Sam Lozinski (11) and Garrett Thom (13) in an all Kodiaks period.

However, the rest of the game belonged to the Oil Barons as they scored seven straight goals to steal the two points in Camrose. Goalie Caballero stopped only 26 of 33 shots sent his direction, while Camrose counted 30 shots on goal.

In December, Camrose is home on December 17 for a 7 p.m. game against Devon Xtreme. The Kodiaks also take on the Drayton Valley Thunder on December 21 at 6 p.m. prior to the holiday season.

This is the Ugly Christmas Sweater night, so wear your worst sweater, join in on crafts, photobooths and post-game skating.
 
Bear facts

Camrose is in third place, just three points behind the league leading Calgary Canucks. The Kodiaks have 31 points in 25 games.

Payne was named the league’s rookie of the week. He scored a goal on November 29 in a 6-2 road win over the Olds Grizzlys and then opened the scoring for the Kodiaks and added an assist on the second goal of the game to earn the player of the game award. Payne has seven goals and 13 points in 13 games played this season.

 

Churchmice play at Bailey awakens holiday spirit

By Adan Shaikh

The Churchmice Players took the stage with their production of A Good Old Fashioned Family Christmas, filling the Bailey Theatre with Christmas spirit. The comedic play left the audience entertained and touched.

The play follows three sisters, trying to meddle in their parents’ marriage, with the help of their helpful husbands and children who have their own ulterior motives for the dinner party. The traditional living room setting is sure to remind every one of their own family homes.

The cast played their roles so well that they became the characters. Their perfect timing for the jokes and expressions had the audience laughing hysterically. Erin Hammond, who portrayed Judith, especially stood out in her performance. She brought depth and authenticity to the sweet, hopeful character, making it impossible not to root for her, often leaving viewers in awe.

From the very beginning, the play had the audience relating on personal experiences, through jokes about family life. The cast’s dedication to their roles ensured that anyone watching the show felt invested, like a part of the family.

Trevor McTavish as Hayden reminded everyone with his performance what it means to be a supportive husband. Dylan Ward as Max had everyone laughing with his witty banter.

The child actors reminded every one of what it was like to be a child at Christmas. The play left the audiences reminiscent of their own family Christmases.

This play is the perfect way to bring about some Christmas cheer, and the next evening shows will be held on December 13 and 14, at 7:30 p.m., followed by a matinee show on December 15, at 2 p.m. For more information and tickets, please visit the Bailey Theatre website at www.baileytheatre.com.

You can never have too much turkey or jazz

By Murray Green

The St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church is inviting everyone for a evening of great food and fine jazz on December 20. The dinner will be at 5:30 p.m. with the concert at 7 p.m. in the church hall.

“We are holding a Christmas dinner and show called Turkey and All That Jazz. There is a full turkey dinner catered by A-1 Catering followed by a jazzy Christmas concert performed by the Battle River Big Band,” said organizer Kevin Keech.

The Battle River Big Band formed in about 2014.

“We were playing a few concerts and then the pandemic hit and the band was shut down for a couple of years. We played a concert at the Manluk Centre in Wetaskiwin last summer to keep up the momentum and the band together. I started thinking about another gig and I approached the parish fundraising committee to see if they would be interested in doing a Christmas show,” explained Kevin.

“The band will be playing many familiar Christmas tunes in arrangements many have not heard before,” revealed Kevin.

“I am the liaison between the band and the church, not necessarily one of the leaders of the band. We played at the Bailey Theatre and Lougheed Centre in the past and this gives us another concert, but it will be filled with Christmas music,” shared Kevin, who plays tenor saxophone.

“When I first joined, we did a fall show around Remembrance Day, and we do a spring show that was a Latin show last year. Our Lougheed show had a James Bond theme and we had a vocal group join us, so that was a special concert,” added Kevin.

“We play such a variety of music. At our shows, people are looking for that big band experience. We play Glen Miller Orchestra music and that sort of classic music. This show will be a jazzy Christmas concert.

“We have both single and corporate table seatings, so businesses can use the event as a Christmas party as well. We decided later in the planning to add some single seating for concert only guests. There will be a limited number of those seats,” he said.

“You can order the tickets right on the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church website that has an online store on it. You can go to the parish office during business hours, or contact by phone,” Kevin explained.

“The parish itself is trying to promote community and this event is not just for the Catholic community, but for entire community to come and enjoy the food and music,” added Kevin.

The funds will go towards the church, but not any one project.

“Our goal with the band is to have an 18-member band that is stable with community members, so that it doesn’t change a lot. It is like a hockey team, you just start gelling together  and know how each other plays,” said Kevin.

“This band is surreal for me. Tom Spila plays guitar and he was my band teacher in high school. To come full circle and play in a band with him is awesome. Tova Olson, our piano player, taught two of our daughters music. Bob Bailey is a trumpet player and he has been a friend of the family for many years. Marshall Tindall is a music instructor in Wetaskiwin and Norm Skretting is a former band teacher, so we have a lot of talent in the band. Rob MacMillan and Erik Olson, I could go on and on,” Kevin shared.

For more information and tickets go to stfxcamrose.caedm.ca or call the office at 780-672-1131.

Bruins drop game to Lacombe

By Murray Green

Camrose Bruins suffered an 8-3 loss at the hands of the Lacombe Generals, who are tied for first place in the North Central Hockey League (NCHL).

Camrose scored a goal in every period, but it wasn’t enough to earn two points on November 23. Lane Lightning scored between Lacombe goals in the opening period, his fifth of the season. In the middle frame, the Generals added three more tallies before Dillan McCombie replied for the Bruins. Carson Welke notched his sixth goal in the third, but Lacombe added three more goals.

Goalie Curtis Skip was peppered with 52 shots and he made 44 saves.

The Bruins fired 45 shots at the Lacombe cage.

Camrose plays the Morinville Kings on January 18 in the Max McLean Arena at 8 p.m. in the next home game.

Other home games are on January 25 against Lacombe Generals and January 31 against Wetaskiwin Longhorns.
 
Bear facts

Lightning and Carson Welke lead the team in scoring with 12 points each.

 

Seasons remembers

By Murray Green

Seasons Camrose tributed veterans with its annual Pennies for Poppies program. In honour of Remembrance Day, Seasons Camrose Retirement Community held its annual Pennies for Poppies program to raise funds for the local Royal Canadian Legion with the support of residents, team members, families and community members.

“Every year, Pennies for Poppies allows us to come together as a community and express our immense appreciation to veterans and active service people,” said Landon Miller, general manager at Seasons Camrose. “Seasons is grateful to those that live and work with us and the greater community for their continued support year after year.”

Seasons Camrose held a special ceremony, which included a memorial display, a moment of silence, and readings. The Pennies for Poppies program invited residents, staff and visitors to make donations through self-service poppy boxes, taking a moment to honour Canada’s veterans.

Local artist displays work at the Spotlight Bistro

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Jess Hughes, an artist of many mediums, is displaying her work at the Spotlight Bistro in the month of December.

By Adan Shaikh

The Camrose community is known for art. Apart from being the perfect place for artists to find inspiration, the City is also excellent for art admirers who want to enjoy art displays at many locations around the city.

The Spotlight Bistro at the Bailey Theatre is one of the locations where one can enjoy a nice meal and local art. This month, they are displaying not one, but three local artists. On the left side of their counter is a wall dedicated to local artist Jess Hughes, who enjoys creating with various mediums.

“I mainly do oil paintings; I call it my one true love for mediums. I love painting with oil, but I don’t limit myself to any medium. I paint with gouache, watercolour, and any paint or colour I feel like playing with. I call it mud on a stick art,” shared Hughes.

Hughes moved to Camrose only a year ago to pursue art.

“I heard from a friend that there is a perfect community of artists in Camrose. I didn’t realize how good it was until I moved here,” she commented.

Hughes started creating 20 years ago; in addition to being a full-time professional artist, she is also the administrative assistant at the Camrose Arts Society. She is very motivated to bring art to people.

“It started with wanting to bring my piece of beauty into the world. But one day, I realized that the world we live in, as humans, is different from all the other species on the planet. The way animals experience just being their natural, raw animal self, we don’t get to experience that unless we take a trip to the mountains or a lake. I started creating surrealist animal art to try to bring that experience to more people,” said Hughes.

She finds inspiration in the mundane.

“Inspiration comes out of everywhere for me; it can be the way light is filtering through the window, somebody walking a dog, or even a bird flying over my head. It is everywhere, and I have to quickly get started on using that inspiration before it is gone,” shared Hughes.

Hughes is currently working on a painting of a northeastern black rhinoceros.

“I recently came across an article about how the northeastern black rhinoceros went extinct, which made me very sad. I am working on a piece to honour them and do some commentary on extinction. This piece will look like it’s made out of origami and will be in a realistic African savannah setting,” shared Hughes.

Eight of her artworks are currently on display at the bistro. She looks forward to bringing more art into the Camrose community by creating and inspiring artistic expression.

Camrose helps count birds

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Shown here is a bird enjoying berries on a tree branch on a cold winter day. This bird was joined by a large number of other birds in the same tree, showcasing the abundance of birds in Camrose.

By Murray Green

Birds Canada is currently organizing the 125th annual Christmas Bird Count that is held around the world. The Camrose count, sponsored by the Wildrose Outdoor Club, will take place on December 15.

“Local birders and nature enthusiasts in our city will join this tradition that has lasted over 12 decades. Data collected by participants over the years contribute to one of only two large existing pools of information notifying ornithologists and conservation biologists of what conservation action is required to protect birds and the places they need,” said Camrose count marshall, Glen Hvenegaard.

“This count is all about celebrating birds, comparing populations from year to year and providing opportunities to connect to nature. Last year, on count day, we recorded 1,295 individuals (a bit lower than our long-term average) of 24 species (about average),” he added.

“The Christmas Bird Count is one of the longest-running wildlife censuses in the world. Each individual count takes place in a 15-mile-wide circle and is led by a compiler responsible for safely organizing volunteers and submitting observations. Within each circle, participants tally all birds seen or heard that day–not just the species but total numbers to provide a clear idea of the health of that particular population,” shared Glen.

“The Christmas Bird Count is a great tradition and opportunity for everyone,” said Dr. Brooke Bateman, senior director of climate and community science for Audubon. “Your Christmas Bird Count observations help scientists discover trends about bird species that inform conservation. Ever since the first count in 1900, participating in the CBC has been a fun and meaningful way to spend time outdoors for anyone and everyone.”

“When combined with other surveys like the Breeding Bird Survey, the CBC provides a picture of how the continent’s bird populations have changed in time and space over the past hundred years. The long-term perspective is vital for conservationists. It informs strategies to protect birds and their habitat and helps identify environmental issues with implications for people as well. For example, in 2019, Science published a study using decades of CBC data and other datasets to describe a grim picture: a steady loss of nearly three billion North American birds since 1970. Over the years, Audubon CBC data have been used in more than 300 peer-reviewed articles,” revealed Glen.

CBC data is used to measure how birds are already responding to climate change.

“A 2022 Audubon study used 90 years of Christmas Bird Count data to show how birds have shifted amid a century of major environmental changes. By tracking how bird ranges have moved over time, conservation efforts can be prioritized in areas that are important for birds today and in a climate-altered future. With two-thirds of North American bird species at increasing risk of extinction by the end of this century, CBC data is more important than ever for effective conservation,” reported the society.

Birders of all ages and abilities are welcome to contribute to this fun, nationwide community science project, which provides ornithologists with a crucial snapshot of our native bird populations during the winter months. The volunteers break up into small parties and follow assigned routes, which change little from year to year, counting every bird they see. In most count circles, some people also watch feeders instead of following routes.

“Don’t worry about your skill level because we can match up experienced birders with newer ones,”  said Glen.

Bird counters will meet at the Camrose Railway Station at 8:30 a.m., finish counting by 12:30 p.m., share sightings over a potluck meal and be finished by 2 p.m.

If you are interested, contact Glen Hvenegaard, count marshall, at gth@ualberta.ca or 780-678-5806.

Nordlund couple enjoy 1965 Mustang

13 auto
By Murray Green

Brenda and Brian Nordlund own a 1965 Ford Mustang.

“We found this car in a specialty car lot in west Edmonton and we took it for a drive on a Mother’s Day, Sunday evening. We peeked through the fence later to see it again. I kept teasing her that I was going to get a tinker toy. Naturally, her response was ya, ya, ya,” recalled Brian.

“We looked at a few cars on the lot, but I couldn’t get her past this car. At that time, I wasn’t working on Fridays, so I called the guy up on Monday and made an appointment to see the car on Friday morning and we wound up bringing it home,” explained Brian.

“All that I have done to it is change the power steering in the car. I also changed the differential, but cosmetically, it is the same as you see the car right now,” shared Brian.

“My thinking was if you want an old car to drive and you think your wife will hassle you for doing that, buy her one too,” laughed Brian. “All of a sudden she became a car person and I stopped being bugged about spending so much time on my car (1967 Dodge Coronet).”

Brenda’s Mustang has a 289 engine with two barrel carburetor and an automatic transmission.

“It might be the original engine, I haven’t had time to check that out yet. It runs like a Swiss watch. I have a few parts that I would like to toss on the engine, but she won’t let me do it because the car runs too good as it is,” added Brian.

“She doesn’t want me to turn it into a hot rod. The car is as original as it can be and she wants to keep it that way. It is her car, so I’m not going to tell her what to do with it,” he commented.

“My intention in the first place was to check out a 1970 or ’71 Dodge Dart that I saw in the same lot. I was trying to get her interested in that car, but she kept going back to the Mustang. I thought if I’m going to buy a car, I’ll get what she wants. I’m one of the original 12 members of the Alberta Mustang Owners Association that we started in 1978. I had 1969 and 1970 fastbacks back then. I am no longer with the club now, but now we can be again,” said Brian.

“She really enjoys the car. We go to several car shows like this and meet a lot of great people and have fun. To me, there is no down side because I have been a member of the hobby since I was a teenager,” he shared.

“The first year we bought it, we drove the car all the way down to Spokane, Washington, and back and never even added a quart of oil. On the way back, we stopped in Sicamous, BC, to inquire about renting a houseboat and we went out of the office.

Across the way was a couple getting off a Harley and he tears off his helmet and shouts, ‘Did you buy that car off a lot in Edmonton?’ and I said yes. He had seen the car on the lot in west Edmonton. It is a small world, but a long ways to walk it,” laughed Brian.

“You never know the people you meet along the way. We stopped going to car shows for a bit and it seemed like we took the cars out, washed them and then put them back in storage. We said to each other, we have to stop doing that. We need to enjoy the cars more and we are doing that now because we are retired,” Brian said.
 
FUN FACTS

This information is courtesy of Wikipedia. Since the Mustang was introduced four months before the usual start of the 1965 production year, the earliest Mustangs are widely referred to as the 1964 and a half model by enthusiasts.

Standard equipment for the early 1965 Mustangs included black front seat belts, a glove box light, and a padded dashboard. Production began on March 9, 1964. Mustang Serial number one was sold on April 14, 1964, at the George Parsons Ford dealership in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada.
The V8 models were identified with a badge on the front fender that spelled out the engine’s cubic inch displacement (260 or 289) over a wide V.

Several changes to the Mustang occurred at the start of the normal 1965 model year in August 1964, about four months after its introduction. These cars are known as late ‘65s. The engine lineup was changed from a 170 or 200 engine to a 260 or 289 engine with a two-barrel carburetor as the base V8.

Have a safe and responsible holiday season

14 have a safe holiday seson
Debbie sits on a bench at Mirror Lake Park, which she sponsored with a beautiful message on the plaque. The message is: “Don’t give up. Don’t give in. Don’t let your demons win. You are more than your trauma.”

By Adan Shaikh

The holiday season is about embracing the good things about winter while staying warm and spending time with family and friends. For many people, this is also a time to unwind after a busy year and reflect on their accomplishments, as they look forward to the following year. Unwinding can often mean enjoying some alcoholic beverages, which can be fun and relaxing, but can quickly turn into a dangerous situation if overdone.

All it takes is one moment of irresponsibility for an accident to occur and alter someone’s life forever. This is what happened to Debbie Davies, a Camrose local whose life was utterly shattered by a drunk driver at the age of 19.

“This happened in Munster, Saskatchewan, where I was attending college. Around Easter time, I made plans to see my boyfriend with friends. I have never had a drink; I do not drink to this day. I had decided to go to a party with my roommate and see my boyfriend, but all my friends, including my boyfriend, were drunk when I got to the party. I was naturally the designated driver at all our events. I wanted to be a criminal lawyer, so I always used to say I needed all my brain cells, which is why I never really tried alcohol. The bar was closing, and they wanted to go to another party. I offered to drive, but they didn’t want to hear any of that; they wanted to drive.

“On our way to the party, my boyfriend took his car with his friends, and I was in another car with my roommate. All of sudden, I saw my boyfriend’s car, one of his friends was driving it, the car was coming towards us and kept getting closer and then all I remember is seeing lights as we got struck. My friend went flying out of the vehicle and fell into a ditch, the car started spinning, and that is when I also went flying out of the vehicle,” shared Debbie.

As she lay on the highway, unable to move, with a broken neck and cracked skull, her friends, who were still able to move, checked on her. The driver who had struck the car she was in performed CPR on Debbie, saving her life as they waited for the ambulance.

“He just about took my life, but he also saved me,” commented Debbie.

Debbie had severe brain damage from this incident and spent three months in a comatose state.

“It took me a year to walk; I had to work hard to relearn how to eat and talk; I was like a baby again. To this day, I have this big black spot on my brain,” shared Debbie. But drinking and driving does not only affect those around the drunk driver; it also poses many life-changing consequences for the drivers themselves.

“Many people believe that impaired driving is only a provincial offence and deemed as less serious, but that is not true. Law enforcement still has discretion in the process. If circumstances warrant, impaired drivers can still be prosecuted criminally, which has greater jeopardy of larger fines, criminal records, and even jail time if there is property damage, injury, or death involving another person. The judicial consequences and the financial burdens are the higher vehicle insurance costs. There is potential for thousands of dollars in immediate costs plus anything long-term, including civil lawsuits. This, of course, also has a ripple effect that could be felt through employment loss and hardship faced by those that may be dependent on the impaired driver, such as family and friends,” shared Const. John Tomaszewski from Camrose Police.

“For provincial administrative sanctions, consequences can range from a minimum 30-day suspension and seven-day vehicle seizure plus a $220 fine for novice drivers that have any alcohol in their body while operating a vehicle, to lifetime licence suspensions and thousands of dollars in fines for those who have been charged multiple times. Currently, the penalty for a first-time offence for a fully licensed driver that is over the 80mg limit is a 90-day immediate licence suspension followed by another 12-month suspension where the Ignition Interlock Program may be applied for at a high cost to the driver. Further to that is a $1,200.00 fine and 30-day vehicle seizure, which could cost an additional $3,000.00. Completing a $379.00 Planning Ahead course is also required,” he continued, sharing the costs and consequences of driving under the influence.

It is worth noting that Camrose as a city saw fewer cases of DUIs this year.

“In the 2024 year to date, there have been 84 drivers subject to impaired driving-related charges or sanctions in our city, which is a bit lower than 2023, when there were 110. The number of drivers charged obviously doesn’t correlate to the number of impaired drivers that are actually out there; they are just the ones who have been caught. However, our members are committed to reducing impaired driving in our community through several initiatives, such as check-stops and mandatory alcohol screening of drivers during routine traffic stops. Demographically speaking, we see much less impaired driving-related sanctions in our younger population,” commented Const. Tomaszewski.

But what steps can you take to prevent drinking and driving accidents from happening at all?

“Calling 911 to report a suspected impaired driver. Maintaining awareness and positive influence through social connections and planning to arrange alternate transportation,” advises Const. Tomaszewski.

By making sure you have transportation and being mindful of how much alcohol you consume, you can enjoy a happy and safe holiday season. This not only protects you while you enjoy your favourite cocktails, but also prevents incidents that can cause mental and physical trauma to other people.

 

St. Mary’s receives two ultrasound machines

15 ultrasound
St. Mary’s Hospital Camrose Foundation board members Darren Lockhart and Carolyn Andersen, left, overlook Covenant Health St. Mary’s Hospital Camrose doctors Boray Nguyen and Louis Minders as they test out one of two ultrasound machines the Foundation purchased to assist the medical staff. The added machines save transportation and wear and tear of the machines with less travelling within the hospital, and offer quicker service for the patients.

By Murray Green

Covenant Health St. Mary’s Hospital Camrose received assistance from the St. Mary’s Hospital, Camrose Foundation for two point of care ultrasound machines (POCUS) to enhance patient care at bedside. The total cost of the project was  $117,411, approximately $58,705 each.

“Point of care ultrasound has become an essential tool in the assessment of patients. It provides more accurate information than the naked eye or the stethoscope and often prevents the need for a patient to be booked for a formal ultrasound investigation. Many of our physicians are certified through the national Point of Care Ultrasound body and have therefore incorporated this into their practice. With additional courses coming out some physicians are expanding their repertoire of scans they are certified in,” explained Dr. Louis Minders, St. Mary’s medical director and hospitalist.

The new machines will allow for volume assessments, a more accurate way of determining if someone has too much or too little fluid rather than guessing. Free fluid assessments can tell if there is fluid where there is not meant to be fluid like in the abdomen or around the heart. This can be essential in the ER. Confirmation of position before induction of labour so babies can turn at any time and if a physician is unsure, they are able to ensure that the head is down before commencing induction of labor. It will lead to more accurate assessments that also lead to better patient care.

“Based on my ultrasound of a patient’s heart they were accepted to the CCU in a tertiary centre for more advanced care, this sped up their journey to specialist care by several weeks,” added Dr. Minders.

“The hospitalist team at St Mary’s Hospital provides a robust service to inpatient management. We have higher than average complex and high acuity patients compared to other rural sites in central zone. Given that, use of point of care ultrasound has become the extension of the physical exam and provides increased and rapid accuracy and diagnostic certainty. It is important to have such state-of-the-art equipment readily available. The Hospitalists use the ultrasounds almost daily for diagnostic purposes–this tool has become as important as the stethoscope for providing physicians with reliable patient information,” shared Dr. Boray Nguyen, inpatient care physicians lead (hospitalist lead).

The Hospitalist team is thankful for the opportunities that the purchase of two machines present for on site. They will allow the hospital to enhance and increase programs and services. Advanced levels of learners in the medicine program will be able to perform procedures such as abdominal drainages, relieving the volume on existing diagnostic imaging departments and equipment. The machines will be invaluable to special care unit (SCU) patients for a quick look for pathologies causing the symptoms in our critically ill patients.

The machines will also be used by obstetrics and surgical services. They have increased numbers of twins being born on site, this requires higher frequency of ultrasound monitoring during labour to ensure safety for both mother and baby, as well as immediate monitoring for any labouring patient that deteriorates. They previously used outdated technology for this purpose.

“We are very excited to become a residency site, which is a significant physician attraction and retention opportunity for our hospital and for our community. A residency program at our site brings with it options for increased program and service options in the interest of learning. Residents will increase St. Mary’s Hospital’s capacity to retain higher acuity patients within our community, saving transport time and costs to have procedures done at other sites, and to enable patients to have better access to local family and community supports. Resident attraction to our site will increase knowing there is ultrasound training and ongoing proficiency available,” said Stacey Brewster, St. Mary’s Hospital site administrator.

BRCF grants STARS

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Ben Paulson, a director on the Battle River Community Foundation board, presents the cheque to Shannon Paquette, donor relations and development officer for STARS.

Submitted


The Battle River Community Foundation awarded a $10,000 grant to the Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service, otherwise known as STARS.

“Since we started in 1985, STARS’s mission has been to provide critical care anywhere, and with ongoing support from community partners like the Battle River Community Foundation, we can continue to be there for patients in their worst moments. The Foundation’s funding of $10,000 to our Allies for Life program will cover the costs of one mission in your area. We are so grateful for partners like the Battle River Community Foundation, and thank you so much for your ongoing support of our mission to save lives,” said Shannon Paquette, donor relations and development officer for STARS.

The grant is funded from income earned from: the Bob Hanrahan Fund, the Leo and Jean Vos Family Fund, the Stan and Jackie Hovde Memorial Fund, the Sven and Lillie Nelson Memorial Fund, the Dave and Shirley Mitchell Hughenden and Area Fund, the Rosalind Community Fund, the Martha and Gene Waldorf Fund, and the Foundation’s Community Fund.

The named endowed funds like those listed above permit the Foundation Board to select grant recipients from applications received annually. The Foundation’s Community Fund allows the Foundation the flexibility to respond to changing needs in our communities. The Battle River Community Foundation exists to support organizations in east central Alberta that benefit the local communities and positively impact the future.

Grants from the Battle River Community Foundation are primarily made possible through the generosity of individual donors and organizations that have created endowment funds. The principal of these endowment funds is kept intact, and the income is made available annually to support local projects and organizations. Since it was founded in 1995, the Battle River Community Foundation has granted over $9,891,300 to support charitable activities in the Battle River Region.

 

No good way to bully

By Murray Green

There is never a good way to bully someone.

Special Olympics Alberta-Camrose stands behind the phrase No Good Way. People have come a long way with being educated and educating others with acknowledging that words matter. Join Special Olympic athletes to celebrate 10 years of #NoGoodWay, motionball’s anti-bullying campaign in support of Special Olympics athletes and all those living with intellectual disabilities. This campaign promotes the use of inclusive language with a goal of ending the casual and negative use of the “R-word” (retard) from everyday conversations.

By choosing kindness and inclusion, you can join tens of thousands of Canadians to create safer and more inclusive environments for the one in 10 Canadians living with intellectual disabilities. The 10 years is just the beginning of the #NoGoodWay journey. Together, they can create a more inclusive Canada.

Use Your Voice. Make The Choice. Take The Pledge. I will choose not to use the R-word in everyday conversation. I will educate others about the link between the R-word and bullying. I will show my support on #NoGoodWayDay.

Hockey Vikings split with NAIT

By Murray Green

A new season of sports has arrived at the University of Alberta, Augustana for the 2024-25 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference season.
 
Hockey

Augustana Vikings split the weekend series with the NAIT Ooks by winning 5-3 in Camrose and losing 6-3 in Edmonton on November 29 and 30.

Augustana came out fired up to build a 5-1 lead after 40 minutes. In the first, Owen Wheatley, Tanner Manz and Jacob Biensch garnered the tallies. Gerrik Ripley and Briggs Jowett added to the lead in the middle frame. NAIT tried a comeback in the third with two goals, but came up short.

Goalie Jack Osmond turned away 27 of 30 shots fired at him. The Vikings counted 29 shots on goal.
In the rematch, Vikings were on the scoreboard first when Nico Gallo scored. After a NAIT tally, Conrad Phillips replied to give the Vikings a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes.

NAIT scored twice in the middle frame to take the lead. The Ooks added three more tallies in the third period, while Manz notched the only marker for the Vikings.

Goalie Osmond stopped 35 of 40 shots sent in his direction. Augustana counted 27 shots on goal.
The Vikings have six wins in 12 games and sit in fourth place in the ACAC standings. The top six teams qualify for playoffs.

Augustana hosts the first place SAIT Trojans on January 24 at 7 p.m. in the next home game.
 
Volleyball

The Augustana women’s team also had a split weekend as they lost 3-0 to Red Deer, but bounced back with a 3-0 match victory over Olds on November 29 and 30.

In the first match, Taryn Watson led with nine kills, Kari White added 13 assists and Racquel Lussier recorded five digs.

Against Olds, both Hadley Ziemmer and Watson led with 10 kills, White set up 24 assists and Cassandra Klinger counted 10  digs. The Vikings are tied for fifth place with four wins in nine matches.

On the men’s side, the Vikings lost 3-0 to Red Deer and were edged 3-2 by Olds on November 29 and 30.

In Red Deer, the Vikings were led by Ethan Yodogawa with eight kills, Caelum Hartman with 16 assists and Joel Smith with nine digs.

Against Olds, the Vikings were led by Devon Nazarchuck with 19 kills, Hartman with 31 assists and Joel Smith with 12 digs.

The Vikings are in sixth place with two points.
Augustana hosts NAIT on January 11 at 6 p.m. for the women’s team and 8 p.m. for the men’s squad in the next home game.
 
Basketball

The Vikings women’s team split the weekend with a 74-57 loss to Red Deer and they beat Olds 69-27 on November 29 and 30. Against Red Deer, Ella O’Hara led with 17 points and Mallory Ogilvie chipped in with nine. Against Olds, Ogilvie led the offence with 17 points, while Mackenzie Mrazik added 11 in support. Augustana is in fifth place with a 2-8 record.

The Vikings men’s team won 96-87 over Red Deer and beat Olds 92-82 to sweep the weekend series of games on November 29 and 30. Against Red Deer, Jonathan Gomes led the offence with 25 points and Brett Marlow added 22 in support. In the Olds game,  Gomes led with 21 points and Marlow chipped in with 17 points. Augustana is in fifth place with two wins.

The Vikings host NAIT Ooks on January 10 at 6 and 8 p.m. in the next home game.
 
Curling

Augustana women’s team have a 1-4 record. The men’s rink is at 0-4. The second bonspiel is on January 17 to 19 in Edmonton, hosted by Concordia. The ACAC championships are in Red Deer on February 7 to 9.

 

Camrose EMS set up to collect donations

By Adan Shaikh

Camrose Emergency Response Services and Community Response Team will be holding their annual Stuff An Ambulance drive. On December 14, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., the staff will be collecting donations outside of Safeway at Cornerstone. The donors will have a chance to help the families in the community and warm up with some hot chocolate and coffee.

Donations needed for this year’s drive are: non-perishable food items, hygiene/household products, baby supplies, and monetary donations for Camrose Neighbor Aid Food Bank.

In addition, Safeway will also have prepackaged donation bags that can be purchased in the store.

For a more comprehensive list of items needed, please visit this website: www.neighboraid.ca
 
Sta christmas dogs

Midnight Madness launches
holiday season

Adan Shaikh, Camrose Booster  

Golden Bins set up a beautiful backdrop for a Christmas photo station for pets. Puppies Seeya, Kismet, Savvy and Freja got their photos taken in their best Christmas outfits.
Sta santa

Midnight Madness fun

Murray Green, Camrose Booster

Santa listened to children’s orders for Christmas presents and vowed to return.
Bonnie

Reflections

By Bonnie Hutchinson

Christmas treats
 
Every time I walk past a commercial Christmas cake in a grocery store, I flash back to “Christmas cake making day” when I was a child.

Every year, on a Saturday in November, we had Christmas cake making day. It was an all day production. Kids helped prepare the dried fruit–rinsing it and setting it out to air until it was completely dry. There were conversations about the balance of raisins and currants and how much peel.

Bigger kids helped prepare the pans. As I recall, the special pans were greased, then lined with brown paper and then maybe the paper was greased too. Grown-ups were in charge of making the dark batter, mixing in the dry fruit, and filling the prepared pans. Only grown-ups were allowed to test whether the cakes were done.

Then the cakes were packed away in a cool dark basement corner to deepen the flavours. One magical day in December (only our mother knew which day the cakes were deemed to be ready), we’d bring the cakes upstairs, take apart the tins, peel off the paper, and congratulate ourselves for how wonderful they were.
 
***

When I see commercial Christmas cake in a grocery store, my flashback memories make me smile, but that doesn’t motivate me to go to all that work myself! In fact, I can’t remember the last time I did any home baking at all–except an annual Christmas cookie baking day with my daughter and eldest (now adult) granddaughter.

Christmas cookie baking day began when my children were small. As they grew up and left home and grandchildren began to arrive, my daughter and I continued the tradition. We’re now joined by her daughter. Every year I look forward to our three-generation Christmas cookie baking day.

One of the delights for me (though I’m not sure it lights up my daughter and granddaughter) is that we’re still using my grandmother’s shortbread cookie recipe, passed on to me by my mother. My grandmother died long before my granddaughter was born, but I love the sense of continuity of a five-generation recipe.
 
***

For the past several years, our baking day has happened in my granddaughter’s kitchen. It takes a bit of organizing for three people living a several-hours drive apart to make sure we have all the ingredients and equipment we need.

Last year, what with one thing and another, it turned out we were missing a few things. Ever adaptive (of course we’re adaptive, we grew up in rural Alberta!), we were able to improvise and make do.

“No rolling pin?  Hmm. That’s going to make it harder to roll out the shortbread cookie dough. Well, we could just pat the dough out…or…yes a wine bottle on its side. Yes, the bigger wine bottle will be better. Perfect!

“Hah! It works! A little awkward, but functional. You weren’t going to open that wine today were you?”

“No cookie cutters? Hmm.  Well, pretty boring, but we could use an upside down glass to make circle-shaped cookies…”
 
***

On our most recent Christmas cookie baking day, we honoured our tradition of “testing” the batter as we go. “Hmm. Butter and sugar. Yep, seems to taste okay.” “Oooh, icing. Yes, I think it will do. Well, maybe one more taste, just to be sure…”

Over the years, all three of us have moved to healthy eating, but Christmas cookie baking day is off-duty. By mid-afternoon, If we all feel a little queasy after all those gobs of sugar and raw batter, so be it.

I figure our Christmas baking day is good for the soul. My body can cope with a sugar-butter-flour day once a year. When in doubt, enjoy! Enjoyment is good for your health.
 
***

I’d love to hear from you. If you have comments about this column or suggestions for future topics, send an email to Bonnie@BonnieHutchinson.com. I’ll happily reply within two business days
 
 
Laurel nadon 2019
Homespun By Laurel Nadon

Homespun

By Laurel Nadon

A Nordic rabbit hole
 
I found myself in a real rabbit hole, one I had dug myself.

It started when my mom popped by, while we were outside gathering firewood for the winter, to say that my brother and sister-in-law were on their way to the Camrose Ski Club’s annual ski swap. We decided to take a break and head in, as we set our own ski trails. I would love to have all my kids set up with the newer, warmer kind of cross country gear like what I now have.

We found everything that my 13-year-old needed which was great, except for one thing–that left two kids who still needed poles, boots and skis. I joined Facebook pages in Camrose and Edmonton and launched a second-hand search. The more I learned though, the more confused I became.

The three-pin binding was now referred to as “vintage” or “antique.” It was developed prior to the Second World War, but is still in use today. A system called Salomon Nordic System (SNS) was introduced in 1979, putting the flex in the binding and not in the boot. The system later evolved, but started as a looped bar protruding from the sole of the ski boot.

Then the New Nordic Norm (NNN) was introduced, but the two systems are not compatible with each other as NNN ski bindings have two ridges while SNS have one. Is this a cruel prank by manufacturers so that we need to buy more gear? Not only that, but there are two kinds of SNS boots. Pilot boots have two bars, while Profil have one bar by the toes. Fortunately, SNS ski bindings then started to be made with a groove so that both types of boots would fit in them.

The more I knew, the more it seemed I still needed to know. My husband started to get tired of hearing about the nuances of cross country skis; my kids grew tired of being measured and weighed so I could analyze what to buy them. (They were also hungry because they thought I was saying M&M, the chocolate candy.)

I spoke of my gear search to friends who are also skiers; I’m sure they too tired of my plight, though they were too polite to say so. One friend said that it’s best to have help at a ski store and that a person’s weight is more important than height.

With this information, I learned how to perform my own camber test and even showed up on a stranger’s front porch with a piece of paper so that I could do the test on the skis they were selling. The skier stands on one ski with all their weight with a piece of paper underneath which shouldn’t be able to be pulled out, signifying that the person is heavy enough for the middle of the ski to make contact with the snow when they’re pushing off. The stranger didn’t comment on my piece of paper. The skis we bought from him for my 10-year-old have the Turnamic binding which has a lever that locks and closes by pushing to the side. Introduced in 2016, this is a vast improvement over bindings that need to be pushed down and forward with a ski pole to be released.

Even more perplexing is that many people selling this gear don’t understand what they are selling. I have become adept at zooming in on pictures to differentiate between SNS and NNN; I have looked at people’s gear and told them what they actually have.

Apparently something called the Nordic Integrated System (NIS) was introduced in 2005, but I know nothing about it because I have reached my limit for new facts about cross country skis. I don’t even want to know.

Then, so close to the finish line with only one pair of skis remaining to complete three kid sets, I read troubling information that really gave me pause. Apparently a glide wax should be applied regularly to waxless skis, to avoid the risk of not getting any glide. Should they be called “mostly waxless” then?

Maybe I’ll be lucky enough to find the last set of skis while the snow is still perfect to hit the trails, but first – time to figure out how to wax my so-called “waxless” skis.