February 7, 2018 –
Members of the Smoky River Runners Club attend “Train like a First Responder Day” hosted by the Smoky River Fire Department
Members of the Smoky River Runners Club enjoyed a different training regimen on Tuesday, January 30.
Twenty-seven young athletes from schools in Falher, Donnelly and McLennan were bussed to Smoky River Fire Department Hall to participate in training similar to the training undertaken by Smoky River Fire Rescue and RCMP “First Responders.”
The ninety-minute “Train like a First Responder day,” called for a considerable amount of coordination and assistance from different groups in the community, such as FCSS bussing the kids from École Heritage and École Routhier and École Providence bussing the McLennan club members to Falher.
Smoky River Fire Department Chief, Marcel Maure along with firefighters Colby Robbins and Chris Gullett hosted the running club at the Fire Hall and helped prepare the kids and run practice.
RCMP Constable Guy Girard, Cst. Nick Fournier, Cst. Allan Paterson and Cst. Michelle Phillips planned, prepared and ran practice.
February 14, 2018 –
New Horizon Co-op presents $10,000 cheque to Falher Friendship Corner Association
On February 6, New Horizon Co-op presented Falher Friendship Corner Association (FFCA)with a cheque for $10,000.
The cheque contributes to FFCA’s fundraising project for the purchase of an additional 24-hour, residential housing facility.
FFCA Executive director Carol Boucher L’Abbe, Paulette Gosselin and a number of FFCA clients were at New Horizon Co-op Hardware Store for the cheque presentation.
Representing New Horizons Co-op were Tyrone Rolling, Co-op Petroleum Manager, Dennis Johnson Co-op’s assistant petroleum manager, Volodymyr Shustval Co-op Hardware Store Manager, and grocery store department managers, Kyle Heyn, Miranda Fournier, employee Karen Dayon and Ryan Roy, New Horizon Co-op Branch Division Manager.
“I work for Co-op but I am also on the FFCA Board so we are basically going out from business to business and trying to raise money that way,” says Ryan Roy. “So it is a community initiative.”
Falher Friendship Corner Association’s mission is to provide services and support to people with developmental disabilities, and help these individuals achieve the quality of life and level of independence to which they aspire.
Since its inception as a school in 1969, the FFCA has broadened its mandate as a non-profit charitable organization, continuing to expanding its programming and at this time offers support in such vital areas as residential, community access, independent living, respite and employment.
February 21, 2018 –
Ecole Providence students spend two days celebrating Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday
Due to the Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday falling on the same day, Archbishop Gerard Pettipas instructed Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Grouard/ McLennan to have students celebrate Valentine’s on Tuesday February 13 and give February 14 to observing of Ash Wednesday.
Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent for Catholics, a period of fasting and self-denial that runs this year to Thursday March 29 with Easter Sunday on April 1.
In accordance with traditional Catholic practice, Ecole Providence students were encouraged to give up something for Lent or to do something extra special to mark the Lenten period.
At 10.30 am on February 14, Father Eucharius came to the school to celebrate Ash Wednesday Mass with the students and staff in the school chapel.
Before beginning the celebration of Mass Fr. Eucharius put a few questions to the kids to test their knowledge about Ash Wednesday and Lent.
During the afternoon, the students broke into their “family groups,” which are small groups where the older students taking charge of the younger kids as each group follow a schedule through different centres. On this occasion, some centres dealt with St. Valentine, 3rd-century Roman saint commemorated on February 14.
Pat Rowan declared best right-winger as part of NPHL awards
Whether it’s on the left wing or right wing, Falher’s Pat Rowan continues to win NPHL awards.
Rowan won his latest award by receiving four of seven first place votes, and 23-17 points over Fort St. John’s Jeff Shipton, who placed second.
Rowan was second on the Pirates in scoring this season [11-23-34 points] in 18 games played, and now boasts career totals of 133-186-313 points in 162 games played.
Rowan also won the Best Right Winger Award in 2012-13 [co-winner] and 2013-14 and was a co-winner of the Best Left Winger Award in 2011-12.
Other Pirates to win the award were Luc Desaulniers in 1975-75, Roger Gervais in 1979-80 and 1980-81, and three straight years from 1987-88 to 1989-90, Glen White in 1984-85, and Steve Reade in 1997-97.
February 28, 2018 –
A chilly but very fun Family Day in Donnelly
The temperature dropped into sub-double digits on Feb. 19, but that didn’t stop children and families from coming out for Family Day in Donnelly.
The event, organized by the Donnelly Recreation Society, started at the Park Regalo in the morning.
Children ran up and slid down the snow mounds and families enjoyed hot dogs, hot chocolate and other goodies as part of the event.
“I love coming out here and seeing children having fun and families coming together,” says Heather Servant, president of the Donnelly Recreation Society.
The society accepted donations as well.
A wagon ride around the Village of Donnelly was part of the fun.
There was free skating at the Guy/Donnelly Sportex that afternoon.
Pirates of the Carnaval
This year’s pirate theme was certainly on full display at the 36th annual, Carnaval de St. Isidore held on the Family Day long weekend.
With such an abundance of pirate motifs and so many people in pirate costume, it would have been of little surprise if Captain Jack Sparrow had made a cameo appearance.
Contained within the pirate theme were many of the Carnaval’s perennial favourites including snow sculpting, hayrides, bonfire, fireworks, maze, games and tobogganing.
There was also an adult and kids geo-cache treasure hunt, beer gardens, bar and naturally, excellent French Canadian Food including caribou, poutine and maple taffy.
The indoor events included numerous Francophone musical entertainers, dancing and comedy. A beard contest was also on the schedule to the obvious enjoyment of the audience.
Unlike recent years, when it was a little warm for ice sculpting and other winter activities, this year’s event was blessed with weather cold enough to keep the sculptures intact and at the same time create a perfect winter carnaval atmosphere, without being too cold to enjoy the outdoor events.
