Two U of L researchers win Parkland Institute awards

Dr. Tiffany Boulton

University of Lethbridge - Two research projects, one on midwifery care in Alberta and the other on the use of gallows humour among the Kainai, got a significant boost thanks to research awards from the Parkland Institute.

Daycare service replacement announced

In June of this year Pincher Creek's Children's World Daycare Society (CWDS) announced they will be closing their doors effective August 31, 2018, a decision likely to affect 70 - 100 children and their caregivers.  On July 16 the Town of Pincher Creek issued a press release announcing that the day care services previously located at the Children’s World Day Care Town Hall site will move to St. Michael’s school, starting on September 3.

U of L students log more than 7,500 volunteer hours

Bryce Baker spent a co-op term marketing the UVolunteer program.

University of Lethbridge - Almost 600 University of Lethbridge students have volunteered more than 7,500 hours at community organizations as they learn first-hand about civic engagement through the UVolunteer program.

LRSD announces Dr. Lloyd Cavers Scholarship 2018 recipients

Dr. Lloyd Cavers Scholarship 2018 recipients with MLA Pat Stier (l) and LRSD Board Chair Brad Toone (r)

Livingstone Range School Division - Livingstone Range School Division is proud to announce the recipients of the 2018 Dr. Lloyd Cavers Scholarship,
awarded to high school students demonstrating exceptional leadership. Finalists from each school receive $200.00, with an overall winner designated to receive $1,000.00.

Representing each high school in the Division, the recipients are:

• Avery Sheldon -­ J.T. Foster School, Nanton (overall winner)
• Spencer Van Dellen ­- Willow Creek Composite High School, Claresholm
• Marissa Medema -­ F.P. Walshe School, Fort Macleod
• Jillanna Hammond ­- Matthew Halton High School, Pincher Creek
• Elisha Lowry - Livingstone School
• Cameron Hildebrandt - Crowsnest Consolidated High School

Fish Sticks puppet video promotes respect for our watershed

Oldman Watershed Council - In March 2018, OWC partnered with WP Puppet Theatre to host a family puppet-making workshop at the Helen Schuler Nature Centre. First, participants made some simple puppets and an aquatic habitat complete with clean, clear water and healthy riparian vegetation. Then, they recorded a quick clip using their handcrafted puppets. We’d like to share a short video compilation of some important messages these wise young folks have for everyone enjoying our watershed this summer.  Click here for the full story.

Evansburg RCMP charge student with uttering threats

RCMP Alberta – Evansburg RCMP have charged a 15 year old male after alleged threats were made towards students at his school.

On June 6, 2018, Evansburg RCMP were notified of an incident where threats were uttered at the Grand Trunk High School. An immediate investigation was conducted and as result RCMP have charged a 15 year old male with one count of Uttering Threats contrary to the Criminal Code.

Knights of Columbus Endowment Fund awards grant to “Ready, Set, Go!” initiative

Chris Smeaton and Anita Lethbridge-Gross of the Holy Spirit School Division, Charleen Davidson of the Community Foundation, and Ed Hamel of Knights of Columbus #5726

Press release - On May 15 the Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta and the Knights of Columbus #5726 presented the Holy Spirit School Division with a cheque for $3,818.50 in support of the Ready, Set, Go! Program.  Ready, Set, Go! is a collaboration between the Holy Spirit School Division and Lethbridge School District No. 51. The initiative provides school supplies, backpacks, clothing, and many other goods and services to children in need during a back-to-school fair, held before the first day of school each year. The grant awarded today will support this year’s event, scheduled to be held in August. “The Ready, Set, Go! Program gives many children a good head start for the school year. We acknowledge the Knights of Columbus Our Lady Peace Council and thank them for their generous support,” said Chris Smeaton, Holy Spirit School Division Superintendent.

SPICA mission, with major U of L contribution, one step closer to reality

Astrophysicist Dr. David Naylor

University of Lethbridge - SPICA, the joint mission between the Japanese Space Agency (JAXA) and the European Space Agency (ESA) to observe the infrared with super sensitive instruments, was named one of three finalists in ESA’s M5 call for mission proposals on Monday, May 7.

U of L contributes to roadmap for enhancing human resistance to radiation for life in space

Dr. Olga Kovalchuk

University of Lethbridge - With more space exploration and possible colonization on the horizon, a group of international researchers, including the University of Lethbridge’s Dr. Olga Kovalchuk, combined forces to produce a roadmap to enhancing human radioresistance, or the level of radiation an organism is able to withstand. The group recently published a paper exploring the subject in the peer-reviewed journal Oncotarget.

Pincher Creek to host health care exposure event for local students

• RhPAP Skills Event will introduce southwest Alberta high school students to careers in rural health care. 

Alberta Rural Physician Action Plan - On April 20, high school students from across southwest Alberta will come to Pincher Creek to explore and learn about different healthcare careers that exist in rural communities at an RhPAP Skills event, sponsored by the Rural Health Professions Action Plan (RhPAP), Alberta Health Services, and Livingstone Range School Division. Students from Pincher Creek, the Crowsnest Pass, Fort Macleod, and Lundbreck will participate in five skill stations, and will explore and learn about some different health-care careers that exist in rural communities.

U of L neuroscientists awarded nearly $2 million for research into Alzheimer’s disease

University of Lethbridge - Drs. Bruce McNaughton and Majid Mohajerani will investigate brain neurobiology related to Alzheimer’s disease thanks to two grants worth nearly $2 million over five years from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR).

University of Lethbridge and University of Calgary researchers collaborate to tackle hepatitis B virus

University of Lethbridge - For Lethbridge residents suffering from the effects of chronic HBV and its resulting health problems, treatment options in Lethbridge do not exist, sending most patients to the Calgary Liver Unit. On Thursday, Mar. 8, Calgary Liver Unit Medical Director Dr. Carla Coffin will present her work at the University of Lethbridge as part of the U of L’s Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute (ARRTI) Speaker Series.

Wear pink to take a stand against bullying

Government of Alberta - Albertans can show their support and take a stand against bullying on February 28 by participating in Pink Shirt Day.  Ten years ago, two Nova Scotia teens started a movement when they wore pink to support a fellow student who was being bullied. Now people all over the world wear pink to promote inclusion and healthy relationships.  The Alberta government supports anti-bullying initiatives, such as Pink Shirt Day. Tomorrow, Minister Sabir will wear pink to show his support for safe and inclusive schools, workplaces and communities.

University of Lethbridge first in Canada to recycle Styrofoam on its campus

Pictured: The process of recycling Styrofoam is highly efficient in terms of volume, effectively reducing a large box of Styrofoam  into a tiny box of melted product

University of Lethbridge - The University of Lethbridge is lessening its environmental footprint through the introduction of a new recycling initiative, becoming the first Canadian university to recycle Styrofoam on its own campus.  Since June 2017, Styrofoam at the U of L has been recycled through the Calgary-based StyroGo service. A special mobile recycling truck comes to campus on a regular basis, shredding and melting the Styrofoam into highly-condensed blocks of material that are then re-sold to companies that use the recycled products to make a variety of after-products, including toys and architectural molding.

Pincher Creek school bus involved in collision

Gayle MacIntyre photos

On Tuesday February 13 at 3:40 pm a Pincher Creek area school bus was involved in a collision with  an automobile.  According to a report from Matthew Halton High School, all students and the driver were unharmed.  From the report: "The bus, which was travelling southbound from Pincher Creek, was moving at reduced speed through blowing snow and slushy conditions when it collided with the other vehicle, which then rolled into the embankment. The bus driver managed to keep the bus on the road temporarily until a field approach could be used to move the bus into a safer location. Emergency medical services were called and all students on the bus were checked out by EMT personnel and found to be safe and well. Another school bus was dispatched and the students were taken to hospital as per First Student (bus service) protocols. Parents were then contacted and the children were picked up at the hospital."

"It is believed that weather was a factor in the collision."

Snow day Thursday, February 15, 2018

Pincher Creek area schools will be closed Thursday, February 15 due to inclement weather and poor driving conditions, including Canyon, St. Michael's, Livingstone, and Matthew Halton schools.

Unique research project involves at-risk youth sentenced to playing chess

University of Lethbridge - Local youth involved in the criminal justice system are being referred to a program where they learn to play chess as part of their sentence. The Chess for Life program is a University of Lethbridge research project that aims to explore how learning to play chess affects youths’ thinking and the choices they make every day. After a local judge sentenced a youth to practice basketball a couple of years ago, Dr. Lance Grigg, an associate professor in education, brought up the possibility of learning to play chess as a possible alternative sentence for youth involved in the criminal justice system. The judge liked the idea and Grigg organized a trial run of the Chess for Life program last year.

Pincher Creek Rotary donates dictionaries to local schools

Photos supplied by Rotary of Pincher Creek

Karin Buhrmann - The Rotary Club of Pincher Creek has just finished handing out Canadian dictionaries to all the grade 3 students in the Crowsnest Pass, Lundbreck, Pincher Creek and Brocket, about 160 in total.  The Rotary Club has sponsored this dictionary project for the last eight years.

Christmas Turkey Shoot at Spring Glen Elementary

Kelly Thomas and Carol Gross presenting Overall Best Shooter Karson Kiemele witha Pincher Creek Coop Compound Bow.

Kelly Thomas - The Spring Glen Elementary School in Glenwood had their First Annual Christmas Turkey Shoot on Friday, December 8, and it was a great success. We had some amazing archers come to participate and they went away with some great prizes.

Napi's Playground School Library revitalized

Fu Hui Educational Foundation President Jusdy San with Napi's Playground students

T. Lucas/C. Davis - Napi's Playground School at Piikani Nation hosted a reopening ceremony for their extensively renovated library on November 15. Guests in attendance included representatives of the Fu Hui Educational Foundation (FHEF) and the Martin Family Initiative (MFI). Both organizations provided financial support to the school to refit the library. The guests were toured through Napi Playground (Piikani Nation's elementary school) and visited with students in their classrooms before the presentation.