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Rotary moves forward on Spray Park skating rink

   While it may be hard to think of winter while the weather has been so hot as of late, the Rotary Club of Drumheller has plans in the works to offer residents a fun way to enjoy the frosty air this winter.
   It is hoped by the end of October, the grassy area next to the Rotary Spray Park and World’s Largest Dinosaur will house a new, temporary skating rink for residents to enjoy over the winter.
   The news comes after the specifications for the rink were approved by Town administration.
   “We’re hoping for a three way partnership between the Rotary Club of Drumheller, the Town of Drumheller, and the Penitentiary,” said Rotary Club member Jay Garbutt.
   The Rotary would provide the funding for the purchase of the rink, the Town would help set up the rink, and it is hoped a deal can be worked out whereby the Penitentiary could provide maintenance services.
   “We’re happy the Town has approved the specifications of the skating rink we hoped for. The next step is to go through the proper channels to make sure the Penitentiary is on board. If that doesn’t work out, we’ll make sure the club will be able to fulfill the ongoing maintenance needs,” said Garbutt.
   The rink is a portable, temporary structure that could be assembled each autumn and disassembled each spring.
   The location, by the Spray Park, was chosen as a way to create a hub, with possible vending options for hot chocolate and more nearby. Garbutt hinted that other locations are possible should the chosen site present problems.
   “The kind of rink we’re looking at can be put up and taken down each year, so the grassy area across from the spray park can be used during the summer as well. The Rotary already has a strong presence in that area with the Spray Park and now the Rotary Clock, so it fits to have the rink in that location,” said Garbutt.
   The grass underneath the rink would be unharmed.
   The idea for the portable rink was introduced last winter by Darcy Thompson, who brought it to the Rotary Club’s attention. There had been discussion in a meeting of Town Council to have the rink in place last winter, but it found to be too late to begin construction. The project then waited until now.
   “We had to shelve the project for awhile, because we found out part way through the process the ground can’t be frozen during construction. We’re hoping everything gets down before the ground freezes,” said Garbutt.
   Should the weather remain warm in October, it is hoped the rink will be in place by the end of the month, ideally even earlier.
   “We’re hopeful once we’re ready, it won’t be more than 15 business days to delivery. Ideally it means the Town would have the pond assembled prior to the middle of October,” said Garbutt. “It’s small scale, but hopefully it’ll have a big impact. It’s one more great thing for people to do in Town. The club was very supportive of bringing a no cost to the public recreational activity to that area.”

Morrin students’ dreams take flight

On Thursday, September 13, Project REACH held the kick-off to the 2nd Annual “No Stinkin’ Thinkin’ Challenge” at Morrin School. The Challenge runs for one month, and has students in Grades K-6 set goals for themselves to achieve within the month, teaching them to think positively and use positive self-talk while doing so. This year, the students were able to let their dreams take flight on a kite, as they were each provided with a kite to decorate and illustrate with their goals for the Challenge. The Challenge wraps up in October, when the awards for the “Most Positive Class” & “Most Positive Student” at Morrin School are announced.

Program helps residents stamp out tobacco use

   Tobacco users in the Drumheller and Hanna areas are being offered a new program to help achieve the goal of quitting smoking or chewing tobacco.
   Alberta Health Services (AHS) is presenting QuitCore, a free six week group program to help residents quit all forms of tobacco use.
   “QuitCore is a group cessation support for people who want to quit tobacco, not just smoking,” said Martin McSween, an addictions counsellor with AHS. “Often people who chew tobacco feel there isn’t a problem. Single tins are equivalent to 30 to 40 cigarettes worth of nicotine.”
   The program gives organized presentations in six sessions, dealing with a variety of aspects to smoking and chewing tobacco. Participants must attend all six sessions, beginning to end to get the full effect of the program, as each session builds upon the one previous.
   One of the most important aspects of the program is the group support involved.
   “One of the main things is it’s a group. People in a group are automatic supports for each other, because they’re coming for the same reason. Support is not just from the sessions. Relationships form and people continue their support for one another on an ongoing basis,” said McSween.
   “If you’re quitting by yourself, cold turkey, it’s usually less than 5 per cent who are successful. The minute you add one person to help you, it can jump by 30 per cent. It keeps climbing the more people you add. When you add a support vehicle like this, it increases the chances even more.”
   An added benefit to the QuitCore program is that it is being offered locally in Drumheller and Hanna, unlike other courses which may require a drive to larger urban centres.
   “It’s local, you don’t have to go elsewhere to do it. This is a local, knowledgeable person who you can talk to after the sessions,” said McSween.
   To sign up for either the Drumheller or Hanna sessions, contact 1-866-710-7848 or visit www.albertaquits.ca. The Drumheller addictions office can be reached at 403-823-1660 for more information.
   The Hanna sessions begin tonight and run until November 14. The Drumheller program starts on October 3 and lasts for six consecutive Wednesdays. Courses will be held in each town’s respective Provincial Buildings.
   “It’s a great program. Drumheller in particular has had some good successes. Definitely the support, people, and knowledge base,” said McSween. “There is a lot of information shared that people may not have known about tobacco use and its effects.”

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