An exciting month for Matthew Halton student

Erica Ross

• Erica Ross discusses her upcoming Vimy Ridge Tour, Bullying Prevention,  Katimavik,  meeting the Premier,  and more

Toni Lucas, Pincher Creek Voice

Erica Ross is brave enough to forge her own path.  Trying to change the world around her, she has taken steps to influence situations where she feels changes are needed.  To accomplish this she participates in the Eco-Hawks, Student Council, and SADD at Matthew Halton High School.  She feels that is enough during her graduating year. "Another committee would make my head explode," Ross joked as we talked about the pressures  and thrills of graduation and her schedule.


On March 14 Ross, along with 60 other young people across Alberta, attended a Youth Engagement Luncheon with Premier Alison Redford in Edmonton.  Ross is on the Alberta Prevention of Bullying Youth Strategies Committee, one of the youth committees that gathered for the day. Other groups represented were the Government of Alberta Youth Advisory Panel, (Bullying Y.A.P.) and Minister of Ed. Student Advisory Council, (M.S.A.C.).   After the luncheon, these youths and the Premier discussed and assessed a policy that the government is coming out with on how the government expects people who are working with the disadvantaged to show respect, courtesy, and efficiency.  "She has a real presence,"  Ross said about Redford.

Ross will leave on the 7th, and will be back on the 24th of April  for the Vimy Ridge 95th Anniversary and War Memorial Tour called 'Great Escapes'.    "We have to do special projects on it,"  Ross said, explaining some of the research that she has done in regards to this particular effort.  Two of the schools that will be represented are Matthew Halton (25 including chaperones) and F. P. Walshe High School. EF Educational Tours will send approximately 2000 students from Canada.  "Apparently Stephen Harper will be there as part of the ceremonies," Ross said.

This tour will include France, Germany, the Czech Republic, Netherlands, Hungary and Poland.
"I'll have four different currencies to work with,"  Ross said, explaining some of the calculations for converting some of the monies she will be dealing with into Canadian dollars.  The money that she will be traveling with will be The Euro, Poland - Zloty, Hungary - Forint, and Czech Republic - Koruna,

"We are going to so many cool places that it is hard to pick what is most exciting," Ross said. "I'm really excited to go the Berlin, and to see east and west Berlin and where the wall was."  Special things that she is taking include her camera, a favorite sweater, and "my pink Converse" (shoes).  Her grandparents gave her extra money to help her enjoy the trip.  They specifically asked that she please not bring anything back for them, except pictures.  "When I get back, I'm going to have so many pictures,"  she said.

After she gets back, she will meet with various committees, study for her tests, and plan for her graduation.  "I've got my dress.  It's blue."   When asked what she will do after graduation she explained that she will be going into Katimivik, she expects to hear about her placement by April 14.

"I'll get to experience new things, and that is what you have to do in life.  You can't just sit around and play video games."