Talking Junior Achievement
Keith Pudwill, Program Manager Junior Achievement Northern Alberta and NWT was the guest speaker at the Rotary meeting Nov. 18. Pudwill spoke of the free Junior Achievement programs offered through schools and in partnership with the teachers for students from grades 3 to 12. The topics offered include financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship skills.
Pudwill said they are always looking for volunteers to teach the programs and the volunteers can be matched to a topic, school and grade level. Topics covered in Junior High include diversity, dollars and sense, economic and investment. In high school they cover company programs, success skills, and how to be entrepreneurial.
Pudwill also covered the SCIP Intern program for students to get professional experience before they graduate.Through the Serving Communities Internship Program (SCIP) nonprofit organizations offer skill-based internship positions for Alberta post-secondary students. Postings for internships include communication projects, website design, graphic design projects, youth mentorship, photography, videography and a variety of other topics.
– Lucie Roy Photo
In Ottawa
Morinville Mayor and Alberta Urban Municipalities Association President Lisa Holmes was in Ottawa last week for Federation of Canadian Municipalities Board meetings. During her stay she had the chance to meet with Sturgeon River-Parkland MP Rona Ambrose, Interim Conservative Leader, and new Federal Minister of Infrastructure Amarjeet Sohi. She also attended committee meetings on a number of municipal and national topics.
– Submitted Photo
Breaking the rules
Primeau student Kevin Hessell was one of many to pay $2 for the Break the Rules/Build a School fundraiser held last week at the school. Hessell said his pass allowed him to break a rule every day. Broken rules through the week included have a Kapow pop in class, allowing electronic devices at lunch, wearing hats all day, hanging out in the hallway, and wearing PJs on Friday.
The school goal is to raise $10,000 towards the Pope Francis Elementary School building in the Philippines, a project in partnership with Development and Peace. The GSACRD goal is to raise $200,000.
– Lucie Roy Photo
Coats for Kids
École Notre Dame students are collecting Coats for Kids until Nov. 25 to support the Midstream Support Society.
Students heading the project include Hannah Ralph, Emily Chiasson, Alyssa Smith, Alex Kitzan and Clare Rolleston (right).
Acceptable items being collected include a focus on gently used coats, toques, gloves, mittens, scarves, snow pants, ear muffs, and boots. Other warm clothing for indoor and outdoor use including long-sleeved shirts, sweaters and thermal layers are accepted for all ages.
The Midstream Support Society Community Corner Drop-in helps members of the community by providing gently used clothing, household items, furniture and appliances in working condition at little cost to the shopper. They also have a Supplies for Students Program, assist with the Christmas Hamper Program, hold a Family Christmas Party and Supper and operate the annual Santa Store, which allows parents in need to obtain gifts for their children.
– Lucie Roy Photo
Operation Christmas Child
November 16-22 was National Collection Week for the Canada-wide Operation Christmas Child shoebox program. Collection points in Morinville included Carrie’s Hair Design and Morinville Sobeys. Morinville Public School collected more than 30 shoeboxes for the program this year.
Instructions on what to pack and what not to pack were provided with the boxes provided to participate in the campaign.
Last year Canadians filled more than 700,000 shoeboxes with gifts for children living in conditions of poverty, disease, war and natural disaster. The shoeboxes collected in Morinville and throughout Canada last week will make a journey into the hands of needy children in Haiti, Latin America and West Africa.
Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse.
– Lucie Roy Photo
Bidding for a cause
The 18th Annual Santa Store Auction took place at Coach’s Corner in Morinville Saturday night with more than 100 lots up for bid. The annual event packs the local bar with those looking to bid big in aid of the Midstream Support Society’s Santa Store. Friends of the Santa Store Auction Committee Director Deborah Robillard said just a little over $12,300 was raised at the event.
“Chair Tina Gougeon, Secretary Lisa Piche, Directors Crystal Ringuette, Deborah Robillard, Erin Hoffman, the five elf assistants and numerous volunteers worked hard and put in many hours to make the event a success,” said Joyce Preeper, Friends of the Santa Store Auction Committee Treasurer, adding the group was thankful to every person who took the time to come out and bid.
The Santa Store, opened at the local thrift shop during the Christmas season, allows those in need an opportunity to obtain one large and one small gift for their children.
Above: Auction volunteer Victoria Symanczyk shows bidders the board filled with Lottery tickets and two $50 gift certificates donated by Jiffy Lube that sold for $240.
– Lucie Roy Photo
