Together We Raise Tomorrow raised awareness yesterday

LaVonne Rideout asks 'What do we have'.
T. Lucas photo

Toni Lucas, Pincher Creek Voice

Twenty people attended a public discussion hosted at Parent Link titled 'Together We Raise Tomorrow' on Tuesday, September 23.  Early Childhood Mapping Communication Development Coordinator LaVonne Rideout from the University of Alberta chaired the discussion.


The goal of Together We Raise Tomorrow is to gather information to work toward supporting the safety, well being, and development of children in Alberta.

Rideout asked three major questions of parents and the community:  'What do we have?',  What do we need?', and ,What can we do?'.

These questions are being asked in hundreds of communities across Alberta.  Rideout herself is asking 27 communities that she is involved in, including Pincher Creek.

"There is a lot of value in the conversation that people bring to the discussion," said Rideout.  On an instant level, some people learned about already existing resources and strategies to help them with one of the most challenging careers a person can have, parenting.

On a community level, these people gave voice to their thoughts and ideas and changes they want to see happen.  Some local initiatives will come out of this session.  Parent Link and Early Childhood Coalition were on hand to listen to those that attended.  This means that it will target individual communities with what those communities have addressed as issues.

This information from all the communities visited is being compiled and will go to Human Services where new provincial strategies can be employed.

Related link:  Together We Raise Tomorrow.