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GoFundMe campaign for family of Red Deer toddler recovering from near fatal accident

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Submitted by Caitlin Stanley

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About a month ago, on April 9th, 2020, in the midst of the chaos of a worldwide pandemic, our dear friends, Leslie and Astrel, lived through one of the biggest nightmares any parent could possibly experience. While Leslie was loading her dishwasher, Amélie suddenly collapsed and was rushed to the Red Deer Regional Hospital. Upon admission an X-ray revealed a foreign object was ingested and was wreaking havoc on her tiny body. An extensive cardiac surgery would confirm that it was a button battery.Doctors at Stollery Childrens Hospital save toddlerThe battery caused a rupture to her esophagus, trachea, aorta, carotid left artery, she flat lined twice, she suffered a stroke on the left side of her brain, and had sub dermal bleeding on the right side.48016922_1589255679325844_r.jpeg
Mortified, friends and family stood helplessly by as social distancing measures and travel restrictions prevented us from providing that physical support and comfort in person.  Mom and dad took turns staying by her side. Amélie’s two older brother’s couldn’t even visit their baby sister in hospital.  For weeks this tiny angel truly battled for her life.48016922_1589257328157597_r.jpeg
The team of doctors that cared for Amélie at the Stollery Children’s Hospital truly performed a miracle!48016922_1589257383583865_r.jpeg
Amélie is not out of the woods just yet, but as you can see her beautiful smile has returned to her little face.  Unfortunately,  this disaster has placed a massive financial strain on the Adolphe family.  Father, Astrel, is taking time off work. Mother, Leslie, was on maternity leave since October 2018 and was supposed to return to work April 15th 2020 but due to Covid-19 had to push back her return due to a lack of childcare for their two older children.  Obviously given this crisis, a return to work for Leslie is out of the question for an undetermined amount of time.We have already received such a huge miracle in the life of a remarkable little girl.  It is our prayer that anyone touched by this story donate a what they can to support this very special family in their time of need.We love and support you Adolphe family, and we got your back.Thanks to everyone who has reached out and shown so much love and support!

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Updates (2)

  • YESTERDAY by Cynthia Pottinger, Organizer
    UPDATE FROM LESLIE 05.12.20
    As you are all aware of our situation with Amélie one of my dear friends Cynthia Pottinger took the time to create a Gofundme Fundraiser for Amélie. I’ll be honest the pride in me didn’t want to recieve any help, but then I’m reminded of the village it has taken to help our baby girl get to where she is from where she was. I intend to use the funds to assist with the cost of creating awareness and advocating on the dangers of button batteries, and of course for the unknown day to day costs as we move forward. As some of you may know (or not) I was on maternity leave prior to this occurring and scheduled to return to work early fall but with the current incident that date is now unknown. A heart felt thank you to those who have already personally reached out to me with your contributions, please know they are greatly appreciated. #Ameliestrong #Buttonbatteryawareness

#RedDeerStrong – Tacoloft can’t wait to open for customers again on day 1 of phase 1 this Thursday

Food Truck Drive Thru giving local food trucks a chance at operating this year. Local support has been overwhelming!

After 15 years as a TV reporter with Global and CBC and as news director of RDTV in Red Deer, Duane set out on his own 2008 as a visual storyteller. During this period, he became fascinated with a burgeoning online world and how it could better serve local communities. This fascination led to Todayville, launched in 2016.

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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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