Community
Giving To Others Makes Us Happier
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– Danielle Stewart, Volunteer Central
The holiday season can be overwhelming. Our to-do lists seem to get bigger while the budgets grow tighter. One way to help alleviate the stress and tensions of the holiday season is to give the gift of happiness. New studies attest to the benefits of giving—not just as the receiver, but as a giver, it boasts plenty of health benefits and happiness, and strengthens our community.
Studies have shown that giving to others makes us far happier than spending on ourselves. Of course, you don’t have to shop to reap the benefits of giving. Research suggests the same benefits come from donating to charities or volunteering your time. In lieu of giving gifts, make a pledge with friends and family to donate your time to a local organization. Create an impact that will have a ripple effect within our community while boosting your feel-good spirit.
Here are just a few ways you can make an impact in our community this holiday season:
Adopt-A-Family
Put food on the table for a family that doesn’t have the means to do so. The Outreach Centre and The Salvation Army, among a few other organizations, host programs that help give meals and gifts to families during the holiday season. Alternatively, you can choose to donate through the Outreach Giving Catalogue. Find out how you can get involved at womensoutreach.ca.
Help the Homeless
At a time when warm homes and family gatherings are common, the homeless are left feeling particularly isolated. Check out The Mustard Seed, and The Salvation Army for programs to volunteer with, or for items to donate.
Gifts for Grandparents
The Gifts for Grandparents program is underway for its 12th year. In 2018 over 500 gift bags were delivered to isolated seniors in Central Alberta just in time for Christmas. The goal for 2019 is to continue to make Christmas brighter for seniors in our community. Donations can be dropped off starting November 13 to December 11 at FSCA, Kinsmen Family Place Parkland Mall, Timberlands PetValu, Capri Salon, Shoppers Drug Mart (Village Mall, Bower Mall & Clearview Market locations) and Marlin Travel. It is our goal to connect with seniors that could just use a little cheer in their life especially around the holiday season. If you have any questions please call Liz at 403.309.8215
Kettle Bells
Each holiday season, the Salvation Army amps up its fundraising efforts to help support underserved populations. We all know those kettle-bell stands with the ringing bells! Although in the days of plastic debit cards, spare change is hard to come by, no doubt. As little as a dollar will collectively go towards helping those in need in our community.
Toy Drive
Big Rebels fan? Kill two birds with one stone. The Wawanesa Toy drive is in support of United Way Central Alberta. Put a smile on a child’s face this holiday season by donating a new and unwrapped toy at the Red Deer Rebels game on Nov. 30.
GivingTuesday
December 3rd marks the opening day of the giving season, #GivingTuesday. From December 3rd – 10th, the Downtown Business Association will be accepting donations on behalf of the Food Bank, Christmas Bureau, Red Deer Soup Kitchen, Safe Harbour, and the Whisker Rescue. To learn more about what items to donate or to drop off items, get in touch with Raven from the Downtown Business Association.
If you’re looking for other ways to get involved, check out our website at volunteercentral.ca for all the latest volunteering opportunities in our community.
Community
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.
Community
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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