The Central Alberta Refugee Effort (C.A.R.E) exists to help immigrants and refugees adjust to their new home in Central Alberta and become productive members of our society.

This week C.A.R.E. held their Learn to Skate Program at a few of Red Deer’s ice surfaces including the G.H. Dawe Arena, Bower Ponds and the West Park Outdoor Rink.

The program began six years ago and gives new immigrant youth aged 10-19 the opportunity to experience this unique aspect of Canadian culture. All of the equipment is rented by C.A.R.E  and this allows the kids to try skating without spending a lot of money.

Rachel Pinno, Settlement Practitioner for Immigrant Youth at C.A.R.E, said, “Some positives of the program include the children talking about hockey and skating. The children get to do something fun over the break and they get to see a little bit of Red Deer as we hold these events at different facilities.”

Constable Derek Turner says, “Some of them come from different places  where the trust with police is not there. It’s good to try to build that up from a ground level. By doing events like this where we’re  hanging out like people.”

C.A.R.E would like to thank the City of Red Deer for partnering up along with the Red Deer RCMP and Red Deer Pond Hockey.

The program ran from December 28-30th.

Photos by Lloyd Lewis, Todayville