This week Drumheller is celebrating National Non-Smoking Week with the ninth annual Knee Hockey Challenge.
    National Non-Smoking Week is January 19 -25 and the theme this year has two parts; emphasizing that the  “Majority Do … choose a Tobacco Free lifestyle, or a Tobacco Free Pregnancy.”
    Tobacco reduction/addictions counsellor for Alberta Health Service, Martin McSween says despite messaging in pop culture or in the media, most have made the choice to live without tobacco.   
    “With current stats stating 17 per cent of the population in Canada smoking and less than 3 per cent using spit tobacco nationally, the majority of us do choose a healthier lifestyle,’ said McSween.
    He goes onto explain the second part of the theme, focusing on pregnancy, deals with the effects smoking can have during and after a pregnancy, and while much of the focus is on young women, it also touches on families.
    “The dads have a play in making a pregnancy tobacco free and it does impact the family,” said McSween. “If you do break free during pregnancy it is highly likely you will go back.”
    One tradition in Drumheller to mark the national event is the annual Knee Hockey Challenge held on Weedless Wednesday, January 22. About 115 Grade 6 students from Greentree, St. Anthony’s and Morrin School will descend on Greentree School for the event to learn about choosing a healthy lifestyle. The Drumheller Dragons also participate in the event.
    McSween says Grade 6 is an opportune time to talk to students about choosing to stay away from Tobacco.
    “It is a key stage in that transition year, even if you are in the same school, there are still those changes, from elementary to junior high and from junior high to high school,” said McSween.
    While it is National Non-Smoking Week, the focus is on all tobacco use including chew, which is often used in sports, and often there is a misconception that it is healthier.
    The office in Drumheller has set up a display at Drumheller Associated Physicians with literature to allow people to learn more about the health effects of smoking and how to get support for those planning to quit. The QuitCore program is once again being offered in Drumheller. Area counsellors also offer one-on-one counseling for those wishing to quit. More resources are available through AlbertaQuits, including a website chock full of information, as well as a telephone support line.

    The Government of Alberta has hired three engineering firms to study flood mitigation options for the Athabasca and Red Deer Rivers.
    Working closely with local communities, Stantec Consulting Ltd. will provide an engineering assessment and recommendations for flood mitigation options for the Red Deer River basin.
    The consortium of Golder Associates and IBI Group will provide an engineering assessment of flood mitigation options and recommendations for the Athabasca River basin.
    “While it is impossible to prevent floods from happening, we can reduce the impact of future floods on Alberta’s people, environment, economy, and taxpayers. This is the next step toward adding layers of flood resiliency,” said Ken Hughes, Minister of Municipal Affairs.
    These assessments will work within the same parameters as those already in progress for the Highwood, Elbow, Sheep, Bow, Oldman, and South Saskatchewan river basins.
    Proposed flood mitigation projects are evaluated based on impacts to the overall watershed, including:
• impacts on water management downstream
• environmental impacts
• risk-reduction structure types and locations;
• area accessibility;
• impacts on property values;
• relocation of utilities; and,
• community preferences.
    Communities will be consulted throughout the assessment process and their input will be a key factor in how government moves forward with flood mitigation in these areas.
    Golder Associates provides consulting, design, and construction services in earth,  environment, and related areas of energy. Golder Associates has three offices in Alberta.
    IBI Group is a global architecture, planning, engineering, and technology firm.
    Stantec Consulting Ltd. offers professional consulting in planning, engineering, architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, surveying, environmental sciences, project management, and project economics. Stantec is an Edmonton-based company with 16 offices in Alberta.