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Big Brothers Big Sisters hosting free BBQ and family fun for the community at KCB Cabinets

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LITTLES BUILD BIG LOOKS TO BE EVEN BIGGER FOR YOUTH HQ

On Saturday, August 26, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Red Deer & District invites everyone to come down to KCB Cabinets & Renovations for the returning Littles Build BIG event. While Littles and waitlist youth from the Big Brothers Big Sisters program build toolboxes, staff and volunteers will be hosting a free barbecue and providing information about the BBBS program to help find potential mentors and provide matches for the many youths waiting on the waitlist. In addition, there will be a bouncy castle and a paid dunk tank with many local celebrities including council member Lawrence Lee, former UFC fighter Jason MacDonald, and Ben Pelletier, a teacher who recently cycled from Vancouver to Halifax while raising funds for the BBBS program.

The event will also serve as the kickoff for September as Big Brothers Big Sisters month in Red Deer, with Red Deer Mayor Ken Johnston in attendance to make the official proclamation.

“It has been an honor to work with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Central Alberta. Our youth need guidance in this crazy world,” said Carl Sauve, Owner of KCB Cabinets & Renovations and Big Brothers Big Sisters mentor. “Being a mentor, you understand firsthand the benefits you can bring to kids in need and the community you call home. It is easier than anyone would think, so give it a try!”

“We are so grateful to have people like Carl Sauve and businesses like KCB Cabinets and Renovations who understand the positive impacts mentoring has for youth and want to help spread that message,” says Terri Blanchard, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Red Deer & District Manager. “With over 75 Littles waiting for a BIG in the Red Deer area, this event gives us the opportunity to connect with the community in a really fun way and find the amazing mentors we know are out there.”

Anyone is welcome to attend the event. Anyone looking to be in the dunk tank may contact BBBS manager, Terri Blanchard, at [email protected] for more information.

About BBBS of Red Deer & District

Big Brothers Big Sisters has been active for over 100 years. The organization came to the Red Deer & District region in 1976 and has been at work in this community ever since. Several programs and services are available to young persons and their families, including in-school mentoring. BBBS also provides activities for waitlist children and youth (those who haven’t been matched yet) as they wait to be matched with a caring mentor.

About Youth HQ

Youth HQ empowers youth by fostering a community of support. Our network seeks to instill young people with confidence in their unique identities and abilities, providing them with skills for life through knowledge, healthy relationships, and quality experiences while providing safe environments to learn and grow. Youth HQ coordinates programming for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Red Deer & District and BGC of Red Deer & District, offering numerous programs and services that support children, youth, and families.

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New Documentary “Cooking with Hot Stones” Explores History of Fort Assiniboine, Alberta

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February 14, 2025 – Alberta, Canada – A compelling new documentary, Cooking with Hot Stones: 200th Anniversary of Fort Assiniboine, is set to air on Wild TV, RFD TV Canada, Cowboy Channel Canada, and you can click here to stream for FREE on Wild TV’s streaming service, Wild TV+. This engaging one-hour feature will take viewers on a journey through time, exploring Fort Assiniboine’s rich history from 1823 to 2023.

Fort Assiniboine is a significant landmark in Alberta, playing a crucial role in Indigenous history, the fur trade, and the western expansion of Canada. This documentary captures the spirit of the region, illustrating how it has evolved over two centuries and how it continues to shape the cultural fabric of the province today.

Wild TV will make the documentary free to stream on Wild TV+ on February 14th so that it can be easily accessed in classrooms and other educational settings throughout the region, ensuring the historical significance of Fort Assiniboine reaches a wider audience.

Produced by Western Directives Inc., Cooking with Hot Stones: 200th Anniversary of Fort Assiniboine brings historical moments to life with vivid storytelling, expert interviews, and breathtaking cinematography.

“We are very excited to partner with Wild TV as part of our one hour documentary production. Based in Alberta, we respect the hard work and quality programming that Wild TV brings to a national audience. With the broadcast opportunity, Wild TV gives our production the ability to entertain and educate Canadians across the country on multiple platforms,” said Tim McKort, Producer at Western Directives.

Scott Stirling, Vice President of Wild TV, also expressed enthusiasm for the project: “At Wild TV, we are passionate about telling Canadian stories that resonate with our audiences. This documentary not only highlights a crucial piece of our nation’s history but also celebrates the resilience and contributions of Indigenous peoples, traders, and settlers who shaped the land we call home today. We are proud to bring Cooking with Hot Stones: 200th Anniversary of Fort Assiniboine to our viewers across Canada.”

Airtimes for Wild TV can be found here.

For airtimes on RFD TV Canada, click here.

For airtimes on Cowboy Channel Canada, visit CCC’s schedule.

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100+ Women Who Care Red Deer celebrates 10th season in 2025 with new leadership

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L to R: Cindy Jefferies, Susan Knopp, Lane Tomalty, Bre Fitzpatrick
Photo credit: The SnapHappy Photographer

After a decade of leadership under Cindy Jefferies and Susan Knopp, 100+ Women Who Care Red Deer (100+ WWCRD) is proud to celebrate 10 years of supporting local charities and the announcement of Bre Fitzpatrick and Lane Tomalty as its new co-leaders. This marks an exciting new chapter for the group, which has made a significant impact on not-for-profit organizations in Central Alberta.

Cindy and Susan have led 100+ WWCRD with vision, dedication, and a commitment to empowering women to lead and inspire change. Under their stewardship, the organization has raised over $630,000 for local charities by hosting 4 annual 1-hour meetings. Since 2015, more than 36 local charities have received funding through the group.

Reflecting on their tenure, Cindy and Susan stated:

“Leading 100 Women has been an honour and a privilege. When we began this journey, we didn’t know where it would go – we simply loved the simple, elegant, and fun ‘100 Who Care’ concept and thought it was a great fit for our community. We are grateful to the many women who have stood with us. They are the magic of the organization! We are confident Bre and Lane will steward this leadership role well and we look forward to supporting it – just not from behind the microphone!”

Bre and Lane bring a dynamic energy and fresh perspective to the organization. Both have been involved with the group and have been mentored by Susan and Cindy over the past year. They are eager to continue the collaboration, connection, and local support this team of women have established in Red Deer.

In their joint statement, Bre and Lane shared:

“We are humbled to step into this role and build on the incredible foundation Cindy and Susan have laid. Many needs are at the doorstep of our community and in the hearts and minds of our members. We know a powerful, caring, and united group of individuals can play a huge role in driving change and breaking barriers.

To celebrate this milestone and leadership transition, the 100+ WWCRD hosted the final meeting of 2024 on November 25th at the Red Deer Golf and Country Club. The evening featured reflections from Cindy and Susan, the selection of the Salvation Army as the charity of choice, an opportunity for members to connect with Bre and Lane as they outline their vision for the organization’s next chapter, and a toast to 10 years.

For more information, please visit www.100womenreddeer.ca

About 100+ Women Who Care Red Deer

100+ Women Who Care Red Deer is a network of compassionate, empowered, and dedicated women who make a direct, immediate, and positive impact in Red Deer and area. We support local non-profit and charitable organizations that work every day to make our community a better place to live. 100% of funds donated go to the selected charities – there are no
administration fees, and all costs are covered by the generosity of sponsors. Collectively, we make a difference.

The group meets 4 times annually for 1 hour. Non-profit and charitable organizations are nominated by members. After hearing 3 randomly drawn pitches, the members vote to select their top choice. The group with the highest number of votes receives the members’ donations. Each member or team commits to donating $100 at each meeting. Since 2015, the average raised has been more than $15,000 per meeting.

Membership is open to all women In Red Deer and area. We invite you to join us! The first meeting of 2025 will be on Monday, February 3, 2025.

Founded in February 2015, the organization currently has about 150 members. We are committed to uniting this powerful group of 100+ women who care and lifting the amazing non-profits and charitable groups they support.

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