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Last updateMon, 16 Jun 2025 3pm

Local high school students explore potential futures at Special Areas

SAB PLRD Career Day April 2025 Roads Session

Over 170 high-school students from across the region explored potential careers at Special Areas this past April.
Prairie Land School Division partnered with Special Areas Board staff to highlight different opportunities students could pursue right here in the Special Areas. Grade 10 and 11 students learned more about potential careers from equipment operators to agricultural fieldmen – and everything in between.
“Special Areas has always been a big supporter of Prairie Land – and its students. It was important that we help our students understand how many different careers are found right here in our rural communities. PLRD is all about preparing our students for big futures; we wanted to make sure students knew they could pursue those big futures in the Special Areas,” said Kelly Lewis, Coordinator of Teacher Recruitment, Trades & Outdoor Learning.
Over the two-day event, students participated in sessions highlighting different trades Special Areas employs. Special Areas employs over 120 permanent and 140 seasonal staff, and students learned more about potential jobs – and career paths – offered here at home. Sessions focused on agricultural services, equipment operating, road maintenance and construction, and protective services.
“We appreciated the chance to meet high-school students from across the region and show them some of the different jobs they could have at Special Areas. There are so many different careers possible and helping students see how they could get a good job right here at home is very important to us. We want local students to see ways they can build a future here at home if they want,” Brent Fecho, Superintendent of Roads & Equipment.
Students enjoyed hands-on learning opportunities during the sessions. Staff from Special Areas roads and construction departments spoke about the type of work they do and toured students through various equipment.
Agricultural Fieldmen talked about their role, including key tasks like weed control to pest surveys to working in the Red Deer River valley. During interactive games, students had a chance to try out different tools like backpack sprayers, sweep nets, and pest controls.
Lunch was served at the Youngstown Community Hall, and students could visit booths to learn more about careers in the trades and future training paths. Representatives from Medicine Hat College helped students have hands-on practice with a house wiring simulator, along with information on post-secondary training programs. CAREERS shared information about the Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP), including how students could pursue different trade career paths while still working. Dual-credit programs were featured at the Altario Agricultural Academy booth, including new opportunities with Lakeland College.


Vice principal appointed at Wheatland Crossing

Michelle Gordon

Golden Hills School Division is very pleased to announce the appointment of Michelle Gordon to the position of Vice Principal of Wheatland Crossing School, effective the start of the 2025/2026 school year.
Michelle holds a Bachelor of Education from the University of Alberta and a Family Studies and Guidance and Career Education from Western University.
Michelle has been with Wheatland Crossing School as a teacher since 2022, following nine years of teaching at a number of schools across Canada. Her leadership philosophy focusing on collaboratively supporting students, staff, and families so all students reach their highest potential will serve her well in her new administrative role.

Joint efforts by Southern Alberta RCMP units leads to seizure of stolen property and guns

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On April 16, 2025, after receiving an initial report of suspicious activity, the Central and Southern Alberta Crime Reduction Units (SAD CRU), with assistance from the Emergency Response Team and Strathmore RCMP, executed a Search Warrant for stolen property in Rockyford.
As a result of the search RCMP recovered five stolen ATVs, three stolen firearms, two stolen trailers, a stolen car and various other stolen items.
The stolen items were linked to thefts from Caroline, Airdrie, Drumheller, Vulcan, Strathmore, and Calgary areas.
“These investigations spearheaded by the Southern and Central Alberta Crime Reduction Units with assistance from RCMP detachments across Southern Alberta showcases the Alberta RCMP’s ability to work collaboratively in interdicting crime networks,” says Constable Adam Heather of SAD CRU, “two of the stolen firearms recovered in Aldersyde are linked to the same break and enter as two of the stolen firearm recovered in the Rockyford search, this demonstrates how different crime groups are interconnected.”

As a result of the investigation RCMP have charged Kevin De Laurier (50) with:
Unauthorized possession of a firearm (x3);
Possession of property obtained by crime (x11);
Break and Enter;
Failing to comply with a release order (x5).
De Laurier was taken before a Justice of the Peace and remanded into custody with his next court date set for May 22, 2025, at the Alberta Court of Justice in Airdrie.
RCMP have charged Nicole Lewis (42) with:
Unauthorized possession of a firearm (x3);
Possession of property obtained by crime (x5).
Lewis was taken before a Justice of the Peace and released with her next court date set for May 20, 2025, at the Alberta Court of Justice in Calgary.
On April 19, 2025, Brooks RCMP received a report of a stolen vehicle. During this investigation, Alberta RCMP Detachments in Brooks, Redcliff, Drumheller, Strathmore, Three Hills, Bassano, Taber-Vauxhall all assisted in locating two stolen vehicles and arresting a suspect. SAD CRU followed up on this investigation and on April 21, 2025, SAD CRU, with the assistance of the Emergency Response Team, High River RCMP, and Okotoks RCMP executed a Search Warrant in Aldersyde.
As a result of the search, RCMP additionally recovered:
Stolen trailers (x3);
Stolen Trucks (x3);
Stolen motorbikes (x3);
A stolen ATV;
Stolen firearm (x3);
Forged documents;
61 other firearms.
After a brief pursuit RCMP arrested and charged Foothills County resident Clayton Whaling (44) with;
Possession of property obtained by crime (x8);
Possession of a stolen firearm;
Flight from police;
Mischief;
Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle;
Failure to comply with a release order (x3);
Possession of break-in tools;
Possession of a prohibited weapon.
Whaling was taken before a Justice of the Peace and remanded into custody for court on May 30, 2025, at the Alberta Court of Justice in Okotoks.
RCMP have charged Foothills County residents Allan Eroshinsky (78) and Chad Eroshinsky with:
Possession of property obtained by crime (x5);
(Allan)Careless storage of a firearm (x2) - (Chad) Careless storage of a firearm (x1);
Possession of a prohibited weapon.
Allan Eroshinsky and Chad Eroshinsky were taken before a Justice of the Peace and released with their next court date set for May 30, 2025, at the Alberta Court of Justice in Okotoks.
From the original Brooks investigation, RCMP have charged William Holub (43) with:
Flight from police
Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000 (x2)
Break and Enter
Possession of break-in instruments
Holub was taken before a Justice of the peace and released for future court dates at the Alberta Court of Justice in Brooks.


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