Drumheller Mayor Terry Yemen, Starland County Reeve Barrie Hoover, and Staff Sergeant Art Hopkins, of the Drumheller RCMP detachment area, will present The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Bronze Level to 14 recipients from the Town of Drumheller and Starland communities on October 17, 2012. 
    The youth are from the Drumheller Valley Secondary School, Morrin School and Delia School.
    The Bronze Level Award recipients will receive their award for challenging themselves in four categories:  learning a skill for at least 6 months; participating and planning an adventurous journey; spending a minimum of 30 hours over 15 weeks being physically active and completing a minimum of 15 hours of community service.
    The combined total of volunteer hours the 14 recipients contributed was 362 hours.
    “This is a great way for young people to learn how to make a difference to themselves, their communities and to the world, on their own time and at their own pace,” said Jack Schneider, President of the Alberta, North West Territories and Nunavut Division and one of Canada’s first Gold Level recipients.  “The participants will discover how choosing, planning and achieving personal goals can change their lives,” he said.
    This Bronze Ceremony also signifies a unique partnership between The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and the RCMP. The Award is now being offered in rural and remote communities in Western and Northern Canada through the Community Youth Challenge; which allows participants to access mentoring support provided by RCMP members and community volunteers. 
    “We’re really excited to be offering youth in remote and rural communities, the chance to participate in the program with hands-on support and involvement of RCMP members and community volunteers,” said Chelsey Dawes, Program Manager of The Award’s Community Youth Challenge Project.
    “Reaching out to youth has the full support of the RCMP since it is one of the RCMP’s five strategic priorities,” said Ms. Dawes. “The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and the RCMP have the same goal - to provide resources to help youth make healthy, informed lifestyle choices and to encourage youth to think critically about issues and get involved in their communities,” she said.
    The Community Youth Challenge is supported by a number of individuals, foundations and organizations including Cenovus Energy, TransCanada Pipelines and Canadian North.
    More information about The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and the Community Youth Challenge in Western and Northern Canada is available at www.dukeofed.org and www.theawardcyc.wordpress.com.

14 students wil be awarded the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award coming up on October 17. Members of the Asset Development committee that  spirited the project along are (l-r) Cathy Smoliak FCSS Town of Drumheller, Janice Hoover Drumheller and District 4H, Cst. Tom Dobrich, Drumheller RCMP Detachment, Diana Rowe, Starland County Community Services, and Katie Pennock, Project Reach - Morrin School. Committee members missing are Dave Watson and Michele Salvatore, Golden Hills School Division, Amber Channel, Christ the Redeemer School Division, Judy Nelson, Big Country Victim Services, Dwayne Nagy, Canadian Armed Forces, Lyle Cawiezel, Prairie Land School Division, J. Barrie Hoover, Starland County.
submitted

    One of Drumheller’s elected officials has just been recognized for her dedication to improving her abilities as a town councillor.
    Councillor Sharel Shoff, while attending the Alberta Urban Municipal Association (AUMA) meeting last week, was given the prestigious Certificate of Achievement for the Elected Officials Education Program.
    “I want to be a better councillor, that’s why I took the courses,” said Shoff.
    Shoff was recognized along with four other municipal elected officials at the President’s Reception at the AUMA meeting.
    The program aims to teach councillors, reeves, and mayors about municipal governance and broaden their knowledge and skills. The courses cover a wide variety of subjects, from human resource planning to communications to ethics.
    “For the last five years, I’ve taken courses on things like municipal finance, government, and infrastructure,” said Shoff. “It’s really worth it. It gives you good insight into municipal government. You can learn whether your town is on the right track or not.”
    To be awarded, participants must complete a total of eight courses. Shoff explained the time commitment was high, which results in only a few people graduating.
    “There are very few people who take the courses, because it takes quite a bit of time,” said Shoff. “I’m the only Drumheller councillor to finish so far.”

Councillor Sharel Shoff (second from left) holds her award for completing the Alberta Urban Municipal Association’s (AUMA) Elected Official Education Program. Shoff and four others received the awards at the recent AUMA meeting. The program aims to improve the skills and knowledge of the province’s municipal leaders.
photo submitted