For 39 years, the community of Drumheller and St. Anthony’s School has remembered a former student who was lost one night after being hit by a car in Rosedale.
Adele Dyck was the daughter of Henry and Yola Dyck. When she was 13 she was attending St. Anthony’s School and the family was living in Rosedale. On September 27, 1974, at about 8 p.m., she was on her way home from a friend’s home when she was struck by a vehicle and killed on Highway 10. Her mother Yola discovered her just a half a block from their home.
After the accident there was an outpouring from the community of support for the family. The only clue the police released to the public following the tragic collision was they believed it was a red vehicle that struck the young girl.
It was reported that because it was a stormy night police believed it was possible the driver may have never known they had struck someone.
To this day the driver has never been discovered.
The support came from the school community and Yola said the first ever Adele Dyck Memorial Award was presented at the end of that school year in 1975.
St. Anthony’s School describes the Adele Dyck Memorial Award as its “oldest and most prestigious award.”
It is also one of its most unique awards. Each year it is presented to a Grade 8 student. The candidates are assessed on scholarship, friendliness, participation in school and community, co-operation, judgment, industry, sense of fair play and character.
What makes the award unique is that the students select the winner. While teachers have the authority to veto any of the award winners, in the history of the award this has never happened,
“This year the students picked another worthy recipient who has demonstrated all the attitudes and criteria that we look for. It is with great pleasure to present this year’s Adele Dyck Memorial Award to Rachel Ranger,” said Principal JoAnne Akerboom at the presentation on September 16 of this year.
St. Anthony’s principal JoAnne Akerboom, left presents the Adele Dyck Memorial Award to Rachel Ranger. This award is one of the school’s most prestigious, awards and has been presented since 1975.
