Red Deer Living Winter 2013

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items 6 Editor’s message

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Cover photo courtesy Kristin Fraser.

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departments

8 food | Soup’s on! Easy to make and healthy too, soup

is the ultimate winter comfort food

12 PEoPlE | Music man Carl Stretton is a hard-working

music ambassador

15 oUTdooRS | Smooth and serene Cross country skiing an appealing winter activity

22 coMMUniTy | centennial countdown. Wrapping up Red Deer’s centennial year

25 HEalTH & WEllnESS | Just breathe. Powerful healing through Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatments

27 BUSinESS | Entrepreneurial excellence. Red Deer Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year Awards

feature18 Healthy, happy kids Making the most of the

first five years

columns30 a SlicE of lifE | finding lost

things. Christmas spirit doesn’t come from a box

contentsw i n t e r 2 0 1 3 VOL 3 • ISS 16

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15

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welcome back, winterThis year, I said ‘hello’ to winter while on an unavoidable road trip during a blizzard.

We fought at first, me and winter, but we’ve come to terms with each other now. At

the risk of having snowballs thrown at me, I’ll go so far as to say I don’t mind having

four seasons: on a warmish winter day, it’s kind of fun to go tromping through the

snow in one of the city’s many parks.

But, here at Red Deer Living, we recognize that winter is a split decision among our

readers.

That’s why this edition has articles with winterish ideas — even outdoor activities

— and it also has topics that are more indoors. We start with soup: who doesn’t love

soup? You’ll get ideas for new ways to enjoy the

social side of this winter comfort food, and you’ll

also get tips on how to create delicious soups

packed with nutritional goodness.

If it’s cold outside, you might turn to one of

Red Deer’s many warm music venues for some

live tunes. Chances are that Carl Stretton will

be there, either performing music, coordinating

events or connecting people. Carl’s deep

connection to everything musical is detailed in

the “Music Man” article on page 12.

Outdoor enthusiasts are sure to be pleased

winter’s here, and the cross country skiing article

looks at what draws people to this invigorating

and refreshing activity. Next, “Healthy, happy kids” provides great information for

parents, especially those with kids under five. There’s a snapshot of how children

are developing throughout our province, and there are also tips and resources to let

parents know how to help their kids during these important, formative years.

It’s hard to believe, but Red Deer’s centennial year is quickly wrapping up. Check

out the Community article to read about highlights from the past year and to

see great images from events held throughout 2013. Then, you’ll learn about the

unexpected and interesting healing option of Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatments, which

aren’t limited to elite athletes anymore. People with a variety of medical conditions

can now receive these treatments right here in Red Deer.

Next, we’ll look at the Red Deer Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year

Awards, which were held in October, and two of the award recipients share what

winning means to them in “Entrepreneurial excellence.” Finally, Treena Mielke

shares her thoughts on the Christmas season, including some of the challenges and

gifts that it brings.

Whether you’re looking to forget about winter or to embrace it, this edition has

articles and ideas to help meet your needs. And, if you’d like to stay connected to

Red Deer Living between editions, you’re welcome to like us on Facebook or follow us

on Twitter. Merry Christmas, everyone, and happy winter!

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P R o d U c t I o n A d m I n I S t R At o R

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E d I t o R I A L

Jennifer Blair, Leslie Greentree, Jock MacKenzie, Treena Mielke,

Judith Moody, Jenny Spurr, Laurette Woodward

P H o t o G R A P H Y

Jennifer Blair, Tanya Lee,Judith Moody, Robert Reed,

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editor’s message



food

Soup’s on!easy to make and heathy too, soup is the ultimate winter comfort foodBy Jennifer Blair



T he first rule of soup club is you don’t talk about soup

club. You really don’t have to, anyway. People can smell

the soup cooking from a mile away.

“There’s something about soup cooking,” says Krista

VandenBrink, one of the masterminds behind soup club at her old

office. “We would bring in crockpots and put it all together and

start it in the morning, and then you’d have the smell wafting.

Everybody who wasn’t in soup club wanted to be in soup club.”

Soup club started as a way to get

people away from their desks over

the lunch hour. “It was an excuse to

get people together, and soup seemed

to be the best way to do it. It was easy

for people to make, and it was warm

and cozy.”

Every week on a Tuesday, one per-

son would bring enough soup for 15

people and, over the lunch break, the

people in soup club would forget their

work for the hour and come together over wintertime’s signature

comfort food.

“People come together over food, and when you come together

over a comforting food like soup, I think people tend to open up a

little more,” says VandenBrink. “I learned so much about the people

I was in soup club with on a personal level. People just felt warm

and comfortable and cozy, and they looked forward to it.”

And soup isn’t just good for the soul; it’s also good for you, ac-

cording to Kristin Fraser, owner of Inner Glow Nutrition. A holistic

nutritionist and natural gourmet chef trained in New York, Fraser

often recommends homemade soups to her clients as an important

part of a healthy diet and busy lifestyle. “I really promote soups a

lot in my consulting. Soups are such an easy thing to make, and

they’re also really healthful too.”

For the most part, homemade soups use whole ingredients,

and those quality ingredients are the source of soups’ nutritional

strengths. “The less you process your food, the more healthful it is,”

says Fraser. “Then you know exactly what’s going into it. There’s no

preservatives or fillers or additives — things that don’t necessarily

need to be in your soup. Making it yourself is so important, I think.”

Store-bought soups tend to have more sodium and less nutrient

value than their homemade counterparts, but even so, store-

bought soups can be made a little more healthy by adding your

own ingredients. “You can always add lots of protein elements,

fibre elements with black beans or medicinal ingredients like

garlic and ginger,” she says.

“When you keep it simple and you have good quality ingredients, I don’t know how you can really mess up a soup.”

food

Editor’s Note: Looking for more soup ideas? Check out the two tasty recipes in our digital version of this article at digital.lovereddeerliving.ca/winter2013

But Fraser truly feels that anyone can make soup at home.

She herself is proof of that. “I come from being the girl who

used to burn my macaroni and cheese,” she said with a laugh.

“I have a lot of friends that are intimidated by cooking in gen-

eral, but soup is easy. It’s totally doable.”

Fraser usually starts by roasting her vegetables in the oven

to bring out the flavour. Once the vegetables are done, she’ll

combine them in a pot with some garlic, herbs and stock and

let them cook for around 30 minutes. Then, she uses a hand

blender to create the right consistency.

Leftovers, like the remains of a turkey dinner, can also be

used to make a delicious and nutritious soup. Fraser calls

them “must-go soups” — they’re made from anything that

must go in the refrigerator. “That’s how people eat. You just

need to Google recipes with the ingredients you have and see

what comes up.”

And soups can easily be frozen, making them both the ulti-

mate convenience and comfort food. “You’ve got to be mindful

of the temperatures going into the freezer. You don’t want it to

be hot going into the freezer,” said Fraser.

If you’re hoping to freeze a batch

of soup for dinners down the road,

Fraser recommends taking the

soup off the stove once it’s done

cooking and sitting it in a big

pot or sink filled with ice, which

brings the temperature of the

soup down quickly. “A lot of peo-

ple would just turn off the stove

and leave it, but things actually do

progressively cook in your soup.”

No matter what type of soup

you’re cooking, Fraser’s advice is to “keep it simple.”

“When you keep it simple and you have good quality ingredi-

ents, I don’t know how you can really mess up a soup.” RL

Krista VandenBrinkPhoto by Jennifer Blair

Kristin Fraser.Photo courtesy Kristin Fraser




Whether you’re attending an elegant gala or enjoying a ca-

sual drink at one of the many local music venues, chances

are good you’ll recognize Carl Stretton, one of Red Deer’s

hardest working musicians. Most often seen with his

stand up bass, Carl also plays guitar, keyboard and sings. Even when

he’s not on stage, his influence may well be at work behind the

scenes. Carl has made a name for himself as a major music

connector — whether it’s an event co-ordinator looking

for a jazz ensemble, a musician in need of accompani-

ment or a venue, a music venue wanting to organize

weekly open mic sessions or someone in need of a

professional sound man, Carl is the guy to call.

Carl’s life has been filled with music from the

beginning; his cello-playing Edmonton-born mother

met his trombone-playing Boston-born father at

the Peabody Conservatory in Massachusetts. Carl

was born a few years later in New York City, where

the family settled. His mother brought Carl and

his brother Eric back to Edmonton when she and Carl’s

father separated, where she continued playing with the

Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, of which she was an

inaugural member.

“Our home was filled with music be-

cause of my mother and grandparents,”

Carl says. “But I have always had two

streams running concurrently in my

life — music and science. I started

learning to play piano in grade one,

but I was also that kid who took

everything apart to see how it

worked.” He didn’t get into trou-

ble for pulling things apart,

because, as he says, “I was also

pretty successful at putting it

back together.”

He attributes his interest in

science to his stepfather, who

came into his life when Carl

was four years old. “My stepfa-

ther was a physics instructor,”

Carl says. “I’ve always been good at

people

Music manBy Leslie Greentree

A



people

Music man

A Carl Stretton. Photo by tanya Lee.

B Photo courtesy white rabbit Design Studio

C Carl playing in C-note trio with troy Davis on flute. Courtesy Carl Stretton.

Carl Stretton is a hard-working music ambassador

math and science, and that developed largely due to

his influence.”

After Carl’s youngest brother, Gordon, was born, the

family moved to Ohio when Carl’s stepfather took a job

at Kenyon College. Carl attended grades three through

eight there, a time he describes as a mid-west rural

scene straight out of ‘Tom Sawyer’. He spent a lot of

time paddling on the river, but he also continued to

play piano until grade seven.

During those formative years, Carl also tried the vio-

la and violin, without, as he describes it, much success.

He began singing with a friend in a church choir and,

at age 12, chose the stand-up bass. His stepfather died

the next year and the family moved back to Edmonton;

by grade 10 Carl had enrolled in drama and music at

his high school, where he learned lighting, sound and

stagecraft. During that time he learned the electric

bass while collaborating with Roger Deegan, a classical

composer who also wrote folk music. He also played in

various rock bands.

After high school Carl took electronics technology at

NAIT, but the rock scene was more enticing and he didn’t

complete the course. A year later, he took the Grant

MacEwan music program, learning jazz. He says Grant

MacEwan was extremely valuable, but the lure of the

road beckoned. “I played in three bands over the next

three years,” he says, “a country rock band, a band that

played club/ disco music and a western swing band.”

“Touring is a grueling lifestyle. After three years I met

my wife-to-be and decided to get off the road,” he says.

“We had kids and it became apparent I had to get a ‘real

job’.” He returned to NAIT and became an electronics

service technician; the family moved to Red Deer in

1985, and Carl spent the next 17 years repairing elec-

tronics for the Brick and playing in weekend bands. The

marriage didn’t last, but his now-grown daughters, Lisa

and Annette, remain nearby in Red Deer.

Thanks to Carl’s versatility, he has worked with many

local musicians, including Randi Boulton, Paeton Cam-

eron, Shiv Shanks, Cassandra Littlespoon, Jesse Roads,

“Our home was filled with music because of my mother and grandparents. But I’ve always had two streams running concurrently in my life — music and science.”

»

B

C

Charlie Jacobson, Audrey Graham, Steve Sherman and many

others. He can be seen at any number of music venues, including

The Vat, The Hideout, Velvet Olive, One Eleven Grill, Cities Gastro

Pub, and at many special events and functions.

“My areas of specialty are jazz, blues, rock and folk, but jazz

is probably my favourite. I like the progressiveness of jazz — it’s

exploratory,” he says. “But the blues are right up there, too. I like

blues for the feel. The two cross over quite a bit; both include a

lot of improvisation.”

All the hard work, all the connections and collaborations paid

off; for the past year, Carl has been self-employed as a musician.

A popular, versatile and reliable performer, he also runs sound

for musicians and venues, records musicians in his studio, and

repairs and maintains audio equipment. As well, he runs Red

Deer Scene, a print and online source for local music and other

A At Cities with Paeton Cameron.

B Carl on the drums. Photo by tanya Lee.

arts events. And that’s where his importance as a music connec-

tor really showcases itself. Red Deer Scene puts Carl in regular

contact with most of the musicians in town as well as the music

venues. “I contact the venues to get listings, so as part of the pro-

cess I am also able to assist them with acquiring acts,” he says.

His goals for the next year: continue to expand the success of

Red Deer Scene and move more into artist development and pro-

motion — something he’s been doing for years but not officially.

He’s also focusing on further developing his songwriting skills.

“As a bass player, you’re always a support to other musicians,”

he explains. “This will move me more toward solo performance.

The music I write is definitely jazz/ blues. I love Steely Dan —

they embody the type of music I am likely to write.”

“I’m happiest on stage when the music is going right and the

audience is responding,” he says. “A lot of music jobs require dif-

ferent things, and the difference between success or not is being

able to tailor what you’re doing to the situation.”

Because of his musical flexibility, Carl has shared the stage

with countless artists of various musical genres, including

headliners at festivals such as Central Alberta Music Festival.

“I’m able to play with most people, because I’ve had so much

experience in many genres,” he says. Then he laughs: “When I

look back, I’m still doing the same things I did in high school. It’s

a different context but the same skill set.” RL

people

“My areas of specialty are jazz, blues, rock and folk, but jazz is probably my favourite.”

C

D

B

A

C Playing with Laurelle Young.D Playing with randi Boulton.Photos A, C & D courtesy Carl Stretton.


find carl online at www.reddeerscene.com

Smooth and sereneWhITE oN WhITE. Flakes of powdery crystals piled against a

forest of green that reaches to an Alberta blue sky. It’s crisp, it’s

clear, and it’s quiet.

For cross country skiers, this invigorating winter wonderland

pulls them outside when so many others are holed up indoors

for the winter. Skiers get exercise and a healthy dose of Vi-

tamin D while enjoying nature — either alone or with family

and friends. When you add in that the sport is relatively low

cost, it’s a compelling argument to check out the ski trails this

winter.

But how do you get started? “Trial and error was the best way

for me to begin,” says Bob Martin, a relative newcomer to the

sport. one of the beauties of

cross country skiing is that it

can be done almost anywhere

and anytime. Groomed tracks

are available at Great Chief

Park/heritage Ranch and at

River Bend Golf & Recreation

Area. If you are not relying

on pre-set tracks, the nearest

park or any of the miles of

trail system within the city

can offer the opportunity for

practice.

If it’s lessons you want, they

are available. Lessons for beginners and intermediates are put

on by the Parkland Cross Country Ski Club (PCCSC) and held at

River Bend beginning in January and running for an hour and

a half on Monday and Wednesday evenings. The lessons will

include an introduction to or refinement of basic cross country

ski techniques. Participants will also get basic information on

equipment, waxing techniques, clothing and locations to ski in

Red Deer.

Boots, bindings, skis and poles are the basic requirements.

Many local schools allow students and family members

cross country skiing an appealing winter activity

Story by Jock Mackenzie / Photos by Robert Reed

outdoors

One of the beauties of cross country skiing is that it can be done almost anywhere and anytime.

» SOURCE MEDIA GROUP: CELEBRATING ITS 10TH YEAR wINTER 2013 • red deer Living 15


A-C Cross country skiing is great for youth, families and friends.

outdoors

weekend access to this neces-

sary equipment — all for free.

Renting from Valhalla Pure

outfitters is another option, as

is purchasing new equipment

from Valhalla, Atmosphere and

Sport Chek. Another choice is Play It Again Sports for new or

used gear.

“Skis come in two basic types: waxless or waxed,” says Chad

Karns, manager at Atmosphere. “Entry level skiers may prefer

the waxless variety, a type of ski that uses a scaled design on

the base to give traction, but a great deal depends on what kind

of experience the skier desires. The best bet is to talk to some-

one knowledgeable.”

For knowledge and experience, the PCCSC is an excellent

place to start. Their website provides a wealth of information

as do their monthly meetings held at the Kerry Wood Nature

Centre on the second Tuesday of each month.

An ALternAtiVe tO cross country skiing is the increasingly popular pas-time and sport of snowshoeing. Mod-ern snowshoes, with their lightweight construction, are a huge improvement over traditional options. However, if you want to pretend you’re a fur trapper, you can still use the tradi-tional type with hardwood frame and rawhide lacings, but these need to be used in colder temperatures when the leather won’t stretch. Kerry wood na-ture Centre (KwnC) has a number of

todd niven of KwnC shows two kinds of snowshoes. Photo by Jock Mackenzie

For youth under 18, there are several options. “There’s

the Jackrabbit program for ages six to nine and Track

Attack for ages 10 to 13,” says Kelly Bogle, president of

the PCCSC. For those aged 13 to 18, there is a Fitness and

Racing group and an adventure/touring group.

For adults, the PCCSC has even further choices. The club

provides sessions on avalanche beacon use, mountain touring,

map and compass, GPS and tour leading. They also organize

both day and overnight trips.

An obvious advantage to living in Red Deer is its wide variety

of cross country ski opportunities both in and around the city.

Each winter is different. Whether there is a light or heavy

snowfall, warmer or colder temperatures, we can guarantee one

thing: there will be winter. Enjoy it! RL

“Give it a try” days where you can use ei-ther their old-style or high tech snowshoes for free. Both types available at KwnC are intended for light snowfalls. Snowshoe rentals are also available throughout the winter months at very reasonable rates. Visit www.waskasoopark.ca for information and event dates.

For more serious snowshoeing, see Valhalla Pure Outfitters to rent snowshoes suitable for mountain use; deeper snow re-quires greater flotation and bindings suited to a variety of footwear.

Strap on the snowshoes this winter

A

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C

for more information on the Parkland cross country Ski club, go to www.parklandxcskiclub.org.



Sometimes, as parents, we wish our children

came with instruction manuals. Each of us

wants to do what’s required to help every child

become a happy, healthy and productive adult.

But, despite our best intentions, current research

shows that some Alberta children might not be

getting what they need. According to the Alberta

government, through data collected in its Early Child

Mapping Project, nearly 27 per cent of Alberta’s chil-

dren are experiencing difficulties in one or more areas

of development. The Canadian average is 25 per cent.

“The first five years of a child’s life are the most

critical years of their development,” says Shelley Dal-

las-Smith, chair of the Red Deer Early Years Mapping

Coalition. “These years affect a child’s whole life.”

Studies show children who get what they need

while young are more likely to: succeed in school,

pursue further education, have better jobs, earn

more money and be physically and mentally healthy

throughout their lives. They’re better parents who

have happier relationships and better problem solving

skills. They’re also likely to avoid incarceration and

Story and photos by Laurette Woodward

Healthy, happy kids

feature

substance abuse.

“It’s important

to note,” says

Dallas-Smith, “that

every socio-eco-

nomic group in

Alberta has chil-

dren experiencing

difficulties. They

are in low-income, middle income and high income

families. The gaps are in every community.”

The Early Child Mapping study measured five areas

of competence:

• Physical health and well-beingWell-rested, well-nourished, good energy levels,

gross and fine motor skills;

• Social competencePlays with others, is curious, respects authority,

controls own behavior;

• Emotional maturityExpresses age-appropriate emotions, empathy

with others;

Judy Scott (left) and Shelley Dallas-Smith (right).

“The first five years of a child’s life are the most critical years of their development ... These years affect a child’s whole life.”

Healthy, happy kids Making the most of the first five years

feature

• Language and thinking skillsInterest in reading / writing, skill with counting, shapes and

colours;

• Communication and general knowledgeCommunicates needs / wants in socially appropriate ways, tells

stories, has age-appropriate knowledge about outside world.

Red Deer’s results showed a few gaps that matched what Red

Deer’s child experts already knew, such as some

gaps with communication skills.

There was a surprise as well. “There were

significant gaps in the emotional maturity area,”

says Judy Scott, an active member and past

chair of Red Deer Early Mapping Coalition. Scott

wonders if the prevalence of technology such as

cell phones is a factor. Scott says it has become

increasingly common to see children playing

with technology, as well as their parents engaged

in texting while they are around their children.

“I don’t want to give technology a bad name,”

says Scott. “Technology is a reality. It’s just a

question of finding balance.” »

A

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Photos A-D: Parents and children playing at the Kinsmen Family Play Space in Parkland Mall.

wINTER 2013 • red deer Living 19


Early childhood development Mapping information: www.ecmap.ca/Findings-Maps/Pages/default.aspx

family Services of central alberta: 403-309-8222, www.fsca.ca

feature

TiPS foR PaREnTS Things you can do at home to helpyour preschool child develop well

• Talk, talk, talk with your children. respond to their questions and ask them questions about what you see and do.

• Tell stories, play make-believe

• Read stories with an animated voice and face. this is important for communication skills and empathy.

• Unplug from electronics for a while. while you do, ask questions and talk!

• Get your child to play with or use: play dough, crayons, scissors (these help devel-op necessary fine and gross motor skills).

• Play with non-electronic toys like Lego, puzzles, etc.

• Bake something together. take the time to let your child mix, help you measure. this develops fine and gross motor skills, an understanding of sequencing and more.

• Talk about your own or other people’s feel-ings, at an age appropriate level. it helps develop empathy.

• Go on a walk and let them run a little bit ahead. Children will explore. take the time to let them be curious.

WHaT PaREnTS can do To HElP THEiR kidS There are many simple things parents can do at home to help

their children. “The main idea is to slow down, enjoy your chil-

dren and allow them to play,” says Scott.

Also, there are resources in the community including some

that can help parents know if their child is meeting age appropri-

ate milestones.

“You don’t know what you don’t know,” says Scott. “That’s why

we’ve made resources available to parents. We want to help.”

Parents can receive assistance understanding how well their

child is developing in one of two ways.

The first is by attending the Early Years Fair, held in the

Parkland Mall in February. It will be advertised throughout the

community and on the Family Services website. Last year was

the first annual event, organized by The Red Deer Early Years Co-

alition. Parents can bring their children to the fair and interact

with them at a number of booths, where there are professionals

that can talk with parents about their children.

The second alternative is to do an Ages and Stages Question-

naire or ASQ. It is available online through Family Services of

Central Alberta, www.fsca.ca. The survey identifies possible

gaps in development. It can also be accessed through the

mail, or with an in person visit, depending on a parent’s

preferences.

Scott says the earlier you help a child the better. “Ad-

dressing small problems now prevents big ones in the

future.” RL

“Addressing small problems now prevents big ones in the future.” D



A s Red Deer’s Centennial Year comes to an end,

the Red Deer Centennial Committee looks back

on a series of projects and events that have

commemorated our city’s past, celebrated our

present and created a vision for a strong future.

“We started planning for Red Deer’s 100th birthday about

three years ago, after The City of Red Deer asked the Central

Alberta historical Society (CAhS) to spearhead centennial

celebrations,” says Sheila Bannerman, chair of the Red Deer

Centennial Committee. “our goal was to plan a centennial

year that would make all Red Deerians proud.”

The Centennial Steering Committee, which consists of

nine members, three each representing CAhS, the general

public and The City of Red Deer, came together in the fall of

2010. Just one year later, four Centennial Working Commit-

tees were established: Community Events, Marketing &

Promotions, Legacy Projects, and Fundraising/Sponsorship.

These committees consulted with the public, and what was

thought to be a small homecoming weekend blossomed into

a year-long celebration. “We looked at recommendations

from the community and got so excited about what we could

do to celebrate Red Deer’s birthday that we ended up with a

full year of projects and events,” explains Bannerman.

one of the most memorable moments for the Red Deer

Centennial Committee was planting more than 100 trees —

including the official centennial tree, the hot wings tatarian

maple — in the space between Gaetz Avenue northbound

and southbound near Parkland Mall. Considered a legacy

project, the Centennial Grove Planting was hosted by the

Legacy Projects Working Committee and sponsored by Nova

Chemicals.

“We wanted to celebrate Red Deer’s park system as

something that makes our city unique,” says Lisa Perkins,

Centennial Steering Committee member and City adminis-

tration representative. “There are immediate environmen-

tal benefits to planting trees, but we know the Centennial

Grove will have its biggest impact years from now when the

trees have grown.”

wrapping up red Deer’s centennial year

CentennIaL COuntdOwnBy Jenny Spurr

A Former Mayor Flewwelling opening the previous time capsule in March, 2013.

B Penny Carnival at the Fall Fair.C Family street dance on Little Gaetz Avenue.D Light barrel garden in City Hall Park.e First night at Bower Ponds, December 31, 2012.F wildrose Harmonizers at the Fall Fair.

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community


with more than 15 different events, Red Deer has had a lot to celebrate over the past year.

CentennIaL COuntdOwn

Grand finaleWHaT: Fire and ice Centennial Closing Ceremony

and Lantern Parade

WHEn: December 13, 6 - 8:30 p.m.

WHERE: City Hall Park

this event features chili, hot chocolate and ice sculp-tures in City Hall Park. the first 1,000 guests will re-ceive a free lantern and glow stick. All ages welcome. For details, visit www.reddeer2013.ca

G Skaters at Bower Ponds for the First night festivities.H Lowering of the new time capsule in March, 2013. i water tower lit up during homecoming weekend.J A cake from the Centennial Cake Competition in

February, 2013.Photos A & H courtesy the City of red Deer. Photos B - G and i-J courtesy red Deer Centenial Committee.

And through it all, the most important lesson learned

was “not to panic,” laughs Bannerman. When the city was

threatened by overland flooding in June, the Red Deer

Centennial Committee had to make big adjustments to the

River of Light display, changing the floating light show to a

display at Fort Normandeau and later, a light barrel garden

in City hall Park. “Even though it was disappointing, the

community was very understanding when we had to adapt

the event and, in the end, people loved being able to enjoy

these spaces in a new way.”

“Though we were surprised by the flooding, we weren’t

surprised by the response from the community,” adds

Perkins. “People were happy to accommodate changes in

venues, schedules and timing to make the event a success.”

With more than 15 different events, Red Deer has had a

lot to celebrate over the past year.

“We’ve met so many great people: the volunteers, the

sponsors and the people who came to the events,” says

Bannerman. “We’ve met people from all over the world

and different parts of Alberta. For us, that’s been the most

rewarding.” RL

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community


For people who are impacted by Multiple Sclerosis, the car-nation is a powerful symbol of hope. Each May, during the MS Society’s annual Carnation Campaign, over 10,000 of

these living, hopeful symbols are spread throughout central Al-berta.

“The Carnation Campaign is the longest standing fundraiser for the MS Society, as it’s been operating nationally since 1976,” says Tara Maloney, executive assistant with MS Society of Can-ada, Central Alberta Chapter. “The money raised supports re-search and assists with programs, such as local support groups for people and families who are affected by MS.”

People can pre-order carnations through the local MS Society office at any time for May delivery. On May 9 and 10 — just in time for Mother’s Day — citizens can also purchase flowers at select locations throughout central Alberta. “Co-op is our pre-senting sponsor, and carnations will be available at Co-op stores in Red Deer, Lacombe, Innisfail, Spruce View and Rocky Moun-

tain House,” Maloney explains. “Flowers will also be available at Curves, another campaign supporter.”

The carnation campaign wouldn’t be possible without the pow-er of volunteers, who are involved with everything from sorting to delivering flowers to manning the booths at participating stores. According to Maloney, volunteer participation is a special aspect of the campaign. “Our volunteers are often clients, who may not be able to participate in other MS Society events like the walk or run, due to their illness,” she says. “People are often able to volun-teer with the Carnation Campaign and that’s very meaningful.”

The MS Society, itself, helps to bring meaning to many people and families that are impacted by MS. Through its wide range of programs and educational opportunities, the local office provides information to help people understand and cope with the disease. Just like the Carnation Campaign each May, the connections at the MS Society help to provide many people with what they need most: hope. n

| Advertising FeAture |

Carnation CampaignMS Society channels “the power of the flower”


Hyperbaric oxygen isn’t just for elite athletes anymore.

Thanks to advances in technology, Hyperbaric Oxygen

Treatment (HBOT) is now available for people with a

variety of conditions and is even offered in Red Deer.

Sometimes the human body’s cells do not get enough oxygen

supply to thrive or repair; but even cells that were thought to be

dead can be revived — with oxygen. If your mom’s had a stroke

or your child a concussion, getting massive amounts of oxygen

to their brain cells can speed their recovery. “The results for

any brain injury can be phenomenal,” says Al Evans, respiratory

therapist and owner of O2xy-wellness. “HBOT saturates the cells

with 10 to 20 times the oxygen as breathing straight oxygen.”

Problems arising from impaired circulation, such as in

diabetic ulcers, respond well too, as do surgeries such as joint

replacements with before and after treatments.

Evans carefully interviews each potential patient in

order to understand his or her condition and to explain

the process. He then makes a plan for the recommended

number and frequency of treatments that would bring

the best possible results for the specific problem. For most

chronic conditions such as stroke, concussion, MS and

autism, 40 treatments is the norm; possibly less for sports

injuries such as sprains and broken bones. Long term results

may vary according to each condition and each patient.

The patient (or mother and child) simply rests in the cham-

ber, wearing all their clothing, while 100 per cent oxygen flows

around them. No mask is required. The oxygen is picked up

by the blood through the lungs and carried to every cell of the

Just breathePowerful healing through Hyperbaric Oxygen treatments

Story and photo by Judith Moody

body. Patients feel good when it’s over — refreshed and invigo-

rated thanks to all that oxygen.

Dr. Gary Davidson, an Emergency Physician at Red Deer

Regional Hospital, whose own daughter attends O2xy-well-

ness for HBOT as part of her treatment for bone cancer in her

leg, is convinced of its usefulness. “I recommend that patients

talk to their health care provider regarding HBOT to promote

healing of chronic wounds, strokes, sports injuries and many

other medical conditions,” he says. “I believe that with the

tremendous research going on in HBOT, there likely will be an

increased use in the medical field.” RL

“HBOt saturates the cells with 10 to 20 times the oxygen as breathing straight oxygen.”

• ADD/ADHD• Alzheimer’s• Anti-aging• Autism• Cancer• Carbon monoxide poisoning• Cerebral Palsy• Crohn’s Disease• Crush injury• Delayed radiation injury• Diabetes• embolisms• Fibromyalgia• Flesh-eating disease• Gas gangrene• Multiple Sclerosis• Macular Degeneration

• Migraines• neuropathy• Osteomyelitis (bone

infection)• Parkinson’s• Pre- and post surgery• rheumatic condition • Skin grafts & flips• Spinal cord injury• Sports injury• Stroke• Sudden deafness in

children• thermal burns (fire or

electrical)• traumatic brain injury• wound healing

what’s it good for?

talk to your doctor to see if your condition warrants referral for HBOt.

Julie Blow, who has MS, receives HBOt

health & wellness

Visit www.o2xy-wellness.com for more information on Hyperbaric oxygen Treatment.


Self-development and self-confidence. These are just two of the benefits for students at Arashi Do Martial Arts. Other perks include increased fitness, skill development and pos-

itive relationships. For Gary Vig, owner and operator of Arashi Do, it’s incredibly rewarding to connect with students and work with them as they develop a martial arts lifestyle.

“We have a wide variety of programs for people of all ages and skill levels, and we’re especially proud of the kids programs that we’ve developed,” he says. “At our dojo, we’ve got a clear vision of martial arts as a vehicle for self-development, and we’ve found the recipe on how to teach these skills to young children.”

Part of this recipe involves programs that teach age-appropri-ate skills in a fun way. The Mini Monkeys Jiu Jitsu class is one such example, as it’s a hands-on class that teaches technical skills through games and play. “Jiu Jitsu is great for young kids, because they love to play on the ground,” explains Vig. “In this class, chil-dren learn gross motor skills and listening skills, and these relate

to many other aspects of their lives.” Other classes for youth, in-cluding the Little Dragons Mixed Martial Arts class, Junior Karate and Kickboxing for teens.

Vig believes in developing individual programs for each stu-dent’s skill level, and he finds that personal consultations with new students are essential. Every new student gets a consultation with a coach, where they talk about goals. This is followed by a half hour personal training session and then the student is placed in the appropriate class.

The Arashi Do recipe works for individual students and families. “Our family has been training here since 2010, and three of our children started in beginner programs — at 11, four and four years old,” says Kristina Bunney. “My husband and I are both new to martial arts and started our training after the age of 40. A member of our family is at the dojo at least five days a week. Training at Arashi Do is like training with family, and I can’t imagine training anywhere else.” n


Develop at the DojoArashi Do Martial Arts provides powerful lessons for youth


business

Entrepreneurial excellence

P ride in a job well done. Recognition for a company well

run. The two factors go hand-in-hand at the Business

of the Year Awards presented by Red Deer Chamber of

Commerce. This year, the 32nd annual awards ceremony

was held on october 15, which coincided with Business Develop-

ment Bank of Canada’s Small Business Week.

Approximately 40 businesses were nominated for awards and

an intense screening process followed. “The nominees were all

interviewed by a committee of Chamber Ambassadors and Board

Members,” says Meghan Gustum, marketing manager with Red

Deer Chamber of Commerce. “Then, an anonymous judging pan-

el of business leaders and past recipients made a short list and

then the final decision on the three winners.”

Businesses received awards in one of three categories based

on the number of employees in their organizations. The 2013

Business of the Year winners were: 1) The Coverall Shop (1 – 15

full time employees), 2) IFR Workwear Inc. (16 – 49 full time

employees) and 3) Bilton Welding & Manufacturing Ltd. (50+ full

time employees).

“It is such an incredible honour to be recognized,” says Erin

Buckland, vice president of IFR Workwear Inc. “The award is a

tribute to what we’ve been able to achieve since we started our

business eight years ago. That’s quite a short period of time,

By Shelley Newman

»

red Deer Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year Awards

rDC Jazz ensemble performing at the awards. Photo courtesy Dave Brunner Photography.

and we couldn’t have come this far without having such a

great team.”

For Buckland, her closest team member is her father and

president, Reg Radford, who she started the business with

in 2005. With only three staff, they began their journey in

manufacturing flame resistant workwear, and they haven’t

looked back since. Buckland, Radford and their staff take pride

in creating quality workwear that meets all requirements for

oil, gas and electrical safety. “our goal is to have trustworthy

products that keep people safe,” she explains. “Flame resistant

workwear could literally make the difference between life

and death for people in the industry, and we never forget the

importance of that.”


a

business

The IFR Workwear team also keeps people

in the forefront through their community

involvement and contributions. They’ve been

involved in numerous projects over the years,

as the Radford family was the capital campaign

family for the fundraising of Ronald McDonald

house Central Alberta. In addition, the business

sponsors scholarships at Red Deer College and

was the sponsor for “Slick’s Lounge” at the Red

Deer Curling Club. “We also like to support

our employees and the organizations they’re

involved with,” says Buckland. “That’s part of

how we connect to the

larger community.”

Community connec-

tions are also important

to management and

staff at The Coverall

Shop, fellow winners

at the 2013 Business of

the Year Awards. “The

community has been so

good to us both as a family and as a corporate

entity, so we like to give back where we can,”

says Jeremy Jablonski, general manager at The

Coverall Shop. “It’s important to be good cor-

porate citizens, so we commit our time and/or

resources to a variety of organizations.”

The crew at The Coverall Shop are active in

their individual community volunteerism; the

company supports Red Deer College through

scholarships and events, and it connects with

organizations such as Red Deer hospice Society

and the Food Bank. Jablonski also takes pride

in their work with the Coats for Kids program

through their other company, Parkland Coverall

Cleaning. “We believe in supporting grassroots

causes that can have an immediate, positive

impact on people in the community,” he says.

“It’s so important to help people and to enhance

“We believe in supporting grassroots causes that can have

an immediate, positive impact on people in

the community.”

the economic situation in central Alberta.”

Through their work at The Coverall Shop,

Jablonski and his team are enhancing the

industry in central Alberta. The family-owned

business began in 2010 through a partner-

ship between Jablonski, his father, Bob, and

his two sisters. Their goal was to distribute

flame resistant workwear directly to the end

users with an innovative and customized

approach, and their continual growth as a

business speaks to their success. “We can

provide customized products for clients, no

matter what size of

order they may have,”

says Jablonski. “We’ve

recently acquired a

second company for

cleaning garments, so

we can now offer the

full service of selling

and servicing that cli-

ents may require.”

For Jablonski, the recent Business of the Year

win is a great honour and source of pride for

everyone at The Coverall Shop, and it has also

provided a new level of credibility for the busi-

ness. “We placed a banner about our win on

the company website the day after the awards

ceremony, and two days later a company from

Langley called to congratulate us and to let us

know they may want to do business with us in

the future,” he says. “Being recognized by the

Chamber of Commerce gave us a new level of

credibility at the local level and beyond.” RL

B c

A Stage at the Business of the Year Awards.B erin Buckland and reg radford (front centre)

and the winners from iFr workwear. C Jeremy Jablonski (front centre) and the

winners from the Coverall Shop.Photos courtesy Dave Brunner Photography



Where is one of the best places to live? Lacombe, of course. In March, Money Sense magazine unveiled its rankings of the best places to live in Canada, and La-

combe ranked 8th for cities overall and 3rd for small cities. The magazine ranks cities on several criteria, including earning poten-tial, availability of amenities and access to healthcare. According to Mayor Steve Christie, his friendly city has all these and much more.

“Lacombe has incredible amenities for a small city,” he says. “We have our own hospital, municipal police force and volunteer fire department. Plus, there are public, Catholic and Christian schools, including Canadian University College, which is a degree-granting institution.”

Other amenities include both built and natural spaces, as the City helps residents stay active thanks to a well-developed trail system, complete with outdoor exercise equipment at Cranna Lake. And, people can get where they’re going easier thanks to the Highway 2A upgrade, the single-largest project ever under-taken by the City of Lacombe.

“Lacombe may be a small community, but the opportunities are excellent,” says Guy Lapointe, economic development manager. “Some of our recent initiatives include a new skate park and the ME Global Athletic Park, which is a multi-purpose area with an artificial turf surface.”

Recently, opportunities in Lacombe have grown to include more celebrations. In 2011, citizens said they would like more chances to enjoy celebrations — and the City listened. “We went from hav-ing one festival a year to having four,” Lapointe explains. “In addi-tion to Lacombe Days, people can now enjoy the Encore Art Sale and Celebration of Creative Expression, the Culture & Harvest Festival and the Light up the Night event.”

The small city has balanced growth with citizen engagement to achieve positive results. “Recently, we conducted our first ever citizen satisfaction survey, and 96 per cent of respondents rated quality of life as good to excellent,” says Christie. “There’s a great spirit in this city, and it’s wonderful to see that reflected in the feedback we receive.” n


LacombeA quality place to call home


a slice of lifewith Treena Mielke

Finding lost thingsChristmas spirit doesn’t come from a box

Once again it is time. It’s time to go downstairs and bring

Christmas out of hiding. It’s time to unpack the card-

board boxes where Christmas is kept carefully stored

under the stairs.

I sigh. I’m not ready. I’m too tired. And I don’t have it. The feel-

ing of awe, magic and excitement. Oh I can get going without it,

but it’s so much easier if I can find it.

I talk to myself sternly. Adult to adult. “Work hard, plan and

use your creativity. In the end, it will be worthwhile. Your guests

will feel like they have stepped into an old fashioned Christmas

card when they enter your home. And you will move graciously

through your Christmas card home, emitting the spirit of the

season through endless smiles and hospitality.”

I sigh. I’m really tired now. I sit at my dining room table, gazing

out into the night and the distant lights. Swirling white snow-

flakes interrupt the inky blackness like misbehaving, irresponsi-

ble children. I mentally give myself a shake and tell myself I have

been staring outside for too long. Christmas, curiously absent

from my house, needs to start having a presence. But, I don’t

move. I just keep looking for those lights which seem to bob in

and out of focus, obscured by the falling snow.

As the clock on the fireplace mantle slowly ticks towards

Christmas, I find myself, like Ebeneezer Scrooge guided by the

distant lights, going back, way back in time. I finally see where

the lights are coming from: the church, the tiny, white clapboard

church of my childhood. Its windows are lit up and it’s full of

people. And there I am, in the front row, a tiny girl with tangled

brown hair and woollen stocking feet that don’t quite reach the

floor. My eyes are full of wonder and they are fixed on something.

It is the tree, the Christmas tree at the front of the church. It is

amazing. So beautiful. So shimmering. So perfect. The image

fades, but not before I capture the feeling. The feeling of awe.

The next image is of me and my brother at home. In our front

room, with its stained wall paper and potbellied stove, is our own

tree, a pathetic, Charlie Brown thing. The tree’s only redeeming

feature is brave little bubble lights, their cheerful bubbling softening

the harsh glow from the light of a lone bare lightbulb. My brother

is making a star. I stand beside him, watching the magic unfold.

To this day, there is no star in the heavens’ that compares to that

tinfoil and cardboard creation my brother made. That image fades

as well, but not before I get the feeling. The feeling of magic.

Young as I was, I already knew a few facts of life. I knew we were

poor. I knew Toronto Maple Leafs were the best hockey team in

the world, and I knew my dad and my brothers loved me. And it

was enough. The image fades and the lights, barely visible through

the inky blackness suddenly disappear into the swirling snow, but

I’m not surprised. My visit to the past is over. But it’s fine. It’s all I

needed, really.

And for that brief moment, when I allowed myself to go back in

time to when Christmas was a Charlie Brown tree lit by bubble

lights and crowned by a tinfoil and cardboard star with a father

and brothers who taught me without really saying so there really

was a Santa Claus, I found what I was looking for. The gifts of awe,

magic and excitement.

Apparently, I had had them all along. They had just been mis-

placed. RL




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Red Deer Living Winter 2013