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Having MS Gives Innisfail Resident Reason to get Involved

Published

8 years ago

4 minute read

Registration is currently open at www.msgolf.ca, and if you join the MS Society of Canada – Central Alberta Chapter’s MS Golf Classic event, you will have the distinct pleasure of meeting long-time participant, Vicki.

“My journey with MS started in 1984 when my mother was diagnosed. At that time, the diagnosis was very scary, we hadn’t heard much, if anything about MS. All we really knew was that there was no cure and there was very little available (at the time) for treating MS. We have always been a family that finds the humor in everything that we can so, I hate to say it but when she was having a relapse we would find ways to joke about it. I remember her having trouble hearing at one point so we would whisper, if she had vision problems we would hide things on her – not nice but it did keep the situation light.

Dad was diagnosed almost 10 years after Mom, in 1993. When he got the diagnosis, we figured all would be OK, we knew the disease by now. Unfortunately, as we all know now this disease is one of the harder ones to diagnose because it affects each person differently, and in this case, Dad was not as lucky as Mom. His form of MS was progressive, and it was not long before we had to move him into a care facility. Sadly, he passed away in 2002.

I started having symptoms myself late in the 90’s I was pretty scared. Yet there had been much progress made with MS treatments and understanding the disease, so I was also pretty hopeful. I have been extremely fortunate since then, as my relapses and symptoms have been manageable with these advancements in treatments – and am thrilled to say I have been relapse free for two years now!

My family has been great support system for me, from helping with the daily injections to helping me train for the MS Bike for six years, they have always been there for me. I also have wonderful staff at Freeman Insurance Agencies Ltd that are all aware that I have MS, and who participate, volunteer and help us with our sponsorship in the MS Golf Classic to show their support!

Having MS has taught me to be strong – to never give up! Its taught me humility and to ask for help when I need it (which I rarely admit to). I can honestly say that having this disease gives me more motivation for staying as active as I can, and to do the things I want to do while I can. It has given me a reason to get involved in ways that I probably would not have done before.

Thanks to all of the fund-raising and awareness campaigns being done for MS, it is not quite as scary as it used to be. There are now treatments becoming available for Progressive MS. It is only a matter of time before there is a cure! ”

-Vicki Livingstone, MS Golf participant

Related Topics:

The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada is the source of accurate, up-to-date information about MS, the most common neurological disease affecting young adults in Canada.

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

Published on February 14, 2025

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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

Published on November 27, 2024

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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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