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2 Red Deer Express HEALTHY FAMILY LIVING, Wednesday, June 3, 2015
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Wednesday, June 3, 2015, HEALTHY FAMILY LIVING Red Deer Express 3
BY MARK WEBERRed Deer Express
Local seniors have all
kinds of informative, en-
tertaining, recreational
and thoroughly enjoyable
activities and events to take
part in at the Golden Circle.
Seniors’ Week runs June
1st-7th.
“The doors opened in
1977 right here on this lo-
cation,” said Monica Mor-
rison, executive director.
“Originally, it was a silver
jubilee project for the Ki-
wanis Club of Red Deer.”
Previous community
needs assessments had
been carried out, and had
indicated the City needed
to have a seniors’ centre.
First off, the Senior Citi-
zens Downtown House was
formed, but they eventu-
ally were outgrowing their
space, said Morrison.
“So the Kiwanis Club
wanted to leave a legacy in
the community and they
thought, ‘Let’s build a se-
niors’ centre’. Ultimately,
the Golden Circle was built
and established as a thriv-
ing hub for local seniors to
get together for a range of
functions each week.
“They had a naming
contest, and that’s how the
name ‘Golden Circle’ came
about. And it’s been mov-
ing forward ever since.”
Morrison said the Golden
Circle provides drop-in pro-
grams onsite which vary
widely depending on the
interests of the member-
ship. These run the gam-
ut from dancing groups,
games, outdoor activities,
bands and musical enter-
tainment, various exercise
groups from yoga, line
dancing, Dancercize and
Zumba to Tai Chi. “There
are also computer classes
to help seniors learn to use
the computer and stay con-
nected to family, because a
lot of extended families live
all over the world.”
Themed dinners and
travel clubs have also been
featured over the years as
well.
“We’ve also started an in-
house concert series – live
music four times a year.
Bill Bourne sold out in Feb-
ruary, and we had Maria
Dunn last year. We have
Kat Danser coming in this
October as well.”
Morrison said offering
such a range of activities
came about after a mem-
bership survey was com-
pleted. “What is it that
the members want? So we
implemented a lot of the
feedback.” Upon her ar-
rival from Ontario in 2011,
she noticed that staff were
planning much of the pro-
gramming. Morrison said
she felt that ultimately, it
should be member-driven.
A program committee
was formed that was com-
prised of members. “They
plan the calendar now, and
the new programs. And the
members themselves can
communicate their own
ideas to the committee, too.
If you are going to get peo-
ple to buy into something
and be part of something,
they should be the ones be-
hind the planning and or-
ganizing, too. That way of
doing things has certainly
helped to expand member-
ship. “Our membership
has gone from 950 in 2011
to 1,736 at Dec. 31st of this
past year. It’s huge.”
Morrison said the Golden
Circle also has an outreach
department. Workers aim to
help folks remain indepen-
dent in their own homes.
“The Golden Circle has
programs that are in-house;
non-medical services. But
our outreach workers can
also connect members to
Meals on Wheels, or Alber-
ta Health Services home
care, or Mental Health ser-
vices. It’s also about help-
ing people on the journey
to fi nd new housing, and
giving them the tools to
make the decisions that
they need to make,” she
explained. “And it’s been
working really well.”
Staff have also been
working on such programs
that are aimed at prevent-
ing elder abuse.
“One of the areas of con-
cern is crisis housing for
people that are experienc-
ing elder abuse and need to
get away. So there is some
community dialogue that is
going to be starting – we de-
veloped a protocol last year
and launched it on June
15th which was Elder Abuse
Awareness Day. Now, we
are moving to the next step
– what is it we need to do to
support our seniors?”
Ultimately, one of the
most important initiatives
the Golden Circle under-
takes is tackling the whole
issue of social isolation.
“As people age, their sup-
port systems often get
smaller and their social
networks get smaller due
to deaths. It’s the whole
disconnect from family. So-
cial isolation is one of the
reasons that seniors’ cen-
tres exist, to bring people
together.”
To help counter that, the
Golden Circle staff makes
sure to host a number of
themed dinners. And these
events run through the
summer as well. There are
also activities and meals
set for over the Christmas
season, as well.
“Seniors need to have a
place to go to, and we are
open for those who feel
they need to connect. It’s
just about being here.”
There is also a Christmas
Eve function as well, plus
a New Year’s Eve celebra-
tion. Meanwhile, only the
outreach programs receive
some government fund-
ing, which comes through
FCSS. The United Way also
supports some outreach
programming as well.
“We have to fundraise
our own dollars. That’s
why, as an association, we
trying to advocate for oper-
ational dollars for seniors’
centres.”
Grants can be applied
for too, but as Morrison
said, an organization still
needs a consistent, reli-
able stream of funding to
be able to properly plan
for programs. Costs are
covered through activities
like bingos, for example,
or membership fees, too.
They also generate revenue
through renting out the
Golden Circle for various
activities, as well.
Morrison has been in the
industry for 25 years. She
recalls, many years ago,
seeing patients in long-
term care facilities, lined
up in wheelchairs along
walls. “That emotionally
hit me so hard. It was then
I investigated what kinds of
qualifi cations I needed to
work with people, and en-
sure they have fun right up
until the end. That’s what
took me on this journey.”
After her education in
the fi eld, she worked at a
Toronto seniors’ centre for
13 years. She later worked
for a community-based or-
ganization that provided
outreach services.
Family living here in Red
Deer were part of the rea-
son she and her husband
relocated to the west. When
the job opportunity sur-
faced, she knew the Golden
Circle was the ideal place to
apply her skills.
“Working with seniors
has been my life – I love it.”
For more, call 403-343-
6074 or visit www.golden-
circle.ca.
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FATHER’S DAYFATHER’S DAYis
Sunday, June 21st
FANCY FEET – Members of the Golden Circle enjoy a square dancing session – one of the many activities that run regularly at the seniors’ facility. Jenna Swan/Red Deer Express
Golden Circle provides range of activities for seniors
4 Red Deer Express HEALTHY FAMILY LIVING, Wednesday, June 3, 2015
BY KALISHA MENDONSARed Deer Express
Yoga is a practice that focuses on well-
ness in body and mind and has a lot to
offer young people in terms of skills and
benefi ts.
There are social development and con-
fi dence benefi ts, physical skills such as
balance and coordination, patience, stress
relief and self-awareness. Kids’ yoga has
become increasingly more popular over
the last several years. In Red Deer, sever-
al facilities offer mom and tot yoga, kids’
yoga classes and sessions for teens.
“If you Google benefi ts of yoga for kids,
you will get a huge, huge list. I’ve been
teaching kids for about fi ve years now, and
the main thing that I see is that kids just
shine brighter after yoga. They are hap-
pier, they are calmer and they gain confi -
dence because it’s not about being perfect
in a pose, it’s about expression,” said certi-
fi ed kids’ yoga instructor Jamie De Koning
of the Breathing Room in Red Deer.
“Even if they can hold something for
one second, they get so excited. Confi -
dence is built because of that – we aren’t
about perfection. They’re calmer because
of the resting poses. When I fi rst started, I
thought the kids would like the wild, crazy
poses but the majority of them prefer the
resting pose.”
The other major benefi t that De Koning
recognizes in kids’ yoga is the aspect of
stress relief. She says not many people un-
derstand that children feel stress as well,
and there is a great deal of children who
enjoy having to do nothing but lay still and
rest.
“We live in a fast-paced world, and even
kids are going from one activity to the
next. For them just to lie still is usually a
big deal. The stress relief and the calm that
I see in the kids are defi nite benefi ts.”
Many of the skills developed in yoga are
transferrable to other aspects of life. For
example, a child must focus to be able to
fi gure out a pose or movement, and that fo-
cus will develop over time and help them
in class. For kids who like to move around,
yoga gives them an activity to do physi-
cally, but with a mental component as well
that slows them down a little bit.
Breathing is a major component of yoga
and De Koning said many of the kids fi nd
those techniques useful when dealing with
day-to-day stress.
“Mindful breathing to be present and to
help calm the mind is a big thing. It also
regulates emotions. I always give the kids
lots of little fun breathing techniques and
they know that they can use them later.
I have asked them when they think they
should use it, and they say, ‘When you’re
angry, or sad, or frustrated.’ I had a stu-
dent who was maybe fi ve and she said once,
‘I’m really sad the session is ending be-
cause I’m just so stressed.’ A fi ve-year-old
knows that yoga can help her when she’s
feeling stressed.
“It really melts my heart when I see it
working for the kids, or when they say, ‘I
had a stressful day but I did the breathing
like you showed me.’ The other reason I
like it so much is because it’s fun and you
get to be a kid yourself.”
De Koning was very clear that kids’ yoga
varies within age groups, but as a whole it
is very different from yoga for adults.
Poses are not held as long, and usually
there are games and themes that promote
discussion and communication, unlike the
quiet, zen environments of adult yoga.
Children’s anxiety could also be helped
through yoga because of the practice of
mindful breathing, a technique that has
been shown to help reduce the feeling of
anxiety. Children are able to gather the
skills to cope with stress in a safe, fun way
and then are able to use those skills later
when they feel panic or stress.
De Koning said, “Some people might
think it’s all poses and ohms – I don’t think
there’s a large understanding of kids’ yoga.
It’s not like adult classes – we are teaching
so much more than just poses. It’s fun and
we’re teaching them skills to live a happy
life. And that is universal to kids’ yoga.”
Benefi ts to incorporating yoga into the lives of children
PARTICIPATION - Noah Doucette, 3, takes some time to rest after a playful yoga session at the Breathing Room during the Yoga Playground program.
Kalisha Mendonsa/Red Deer Express
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Saying “I love you” is not
nearly as meaningful if our
actions don’t match our
words. Combined, words
and actions have a power-
ful effect.
Here are some sugges-
tions for families on show-
ing love all year round:
1. Disconnect from
technology. Connect with
each other. One way of do-
ing this is to deposit your
Blackberry, iPod, DS and
any other distracting elec-
tronic device in a bowl at
your front door. Retrieve
when you leave to go out
again.
2. Do the unexpected.
Prepare a snack, make
someone you love a cup
of tea or breakfast in bed.
Clear the dishes in the sink
without being asked.
Don’t wait for an occa-
sion such as Valentine’s
Day or a birthday to plan
a special event or reserve a
table at your favourite res-
taurant.
3. Make someone else
happy. On occasion, going
to see a movie of his choice,
even though it’s last on
your list says, “I love you.”
Hopefully, this show of love
will be reciprocated.
4. Schedule family time.
As opposed to having each
family member off in his
or her own corner of the
house, doing his or her own
thing. It’s these times that
they will remember when
they are on their own.
5. Say hello and goodbye.
It’s easy, as you rush out
the door in the morning to
forget to say goodbye. Try
to remember. Saying good-
bye and offering good wish-
es for a great day ahead
says that you care. When
you come back home, take
time to connect with your
family members. Catch
up on the news of the day.
These points of connection
are vital.
6. Take care of one an-
other. Massage aching feet,
offer a hot water bottle or a
blanket when someone you
love is cold, run a bath with
bubbles and make sure that
you family eats nourishing
food.
7. Work as a team. When
each family member knows
that they have a role to play
at making sure that proj-
ects get completed, that
routine runs smoothly at
home, he or she feels an in-
tegral part of a family unit.
When you sit down as
a family to discuss an up-
coming family vacation or
a diffi culty that the family
is facing, and then ask for
everyone’s input, you are
showing that you love them
enough to include them in
your discussion and that
you value their input.
8. Say “I love you” with
conviction. Instead, cup
your partner’s face in your
hands, look into his or her
eyes and say “I love you”
with expression and emo-
tion.
Said at the right time
and not over used, these
words, combined with acts
of caring, will convey their
intended special message.
Sara Dimerman, C. Psych. Assoc. is registered with the College of Psychologists of On-tario. Visit Sara’s web site at www.helpmesara.com.
Showing ‘I love you’ as a family
Sara
DIMERMAN
Wednesday, June 3, 2015, HEALTHY FAMILY LIVING Red Deer Express 5
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BY JENNA SWANRed Deer Express
For the ninth consecutive year children
will be able to experience the magical
world within the Central Alberta Chil-
dren’s Festival.
The annual event takes place on Friday
June 5th and Saturday June 6th in Rotary
Recreation Park and is hosted by Family
Services of Central Alberta.
This year’s event will be host to a wide
variety of activities for children including
performances from a number of storytell-
ers, acrobats, jugglers and even a circus
act from Flyin’ Bob.
As Rotary Recreation Park transforms
into the magical realm that is the Chil-
dren’s Festival, activities will be available
for children in the form of activity tents
explained Executive Director for Family
Services Judy Scott.
“What we’ve tried to do over the year is
give children a lot of diverse activities with
everything from scientifi c and cultural ac-
tivities to very educational activities and
just plain fun activities.”
She explained the festival began nine
years ago when staff at Family Services
noticed a growing trend in families not
fi nding enough time to play together,
“We as a family service agency see fami-
lies struggling to take the opportunity to
engage, play, connect and have fun - life is
so busy and we’ve really become a 24/7 so-
ciety even more so over the last nine years
that we’ve been doing this.
“So there’s never been a better time to
take the time and have families take the op-
portunity and have a venue where they can
just play.”
Not only is the Festival a great place to
play, but the low cost of admission makes
the event a must-see for the summer with
family passes boasting a low price of only
$20.
“We know there are families who maybe
don’t have the money to be able to travel
to places like the Telus World of Science so
why not bring things like the World of Sci-
ence to them,” she said of the scientifi c vis-
it held on the Friday of the Festival. “It’s
an opportunity to give families the chance
at a reasonable cost.
“That’s why we make it so you pay at
the gate and the only time after you’ll open
your wallet is if you wish to make a dona-
tion in the donation jar.”
Activity stations are set to include but
are not limited to bubbles, box city, a multi-
cultural diversity corner, face painting,
obstacle courses, imagination stations, the
Maxwell amazing maze, wacky hair and
nails at the Marvel College booth, Scooter
the roving mascot, special stops for tod-
dlers, as well as booths from Red Deer Col-
lege and Sylvan Learning Centre.
The safe family-friendly fenced loca-
tion allows children the chance to explore
their environment without intense paren-
tal supervision and involvement allowing
children to delve into the experience of the
festival.
Scott added the Festival is a great way to
encourage the community to be involved
in the lives of local families and can help to
foster partnerships.
“If a person is engaged in a station and
their child is having fun or learning some-
thing benefi cial at that station, people are
going to remember who they are and often
times connect with that organization later
outside of the Festival.”
The Festival is based on the idea and
philosophy of never having to grow up and
guarantees parents will have just as much
fun at the non-profi t event as their beam-
ing children.
Attendees are reminded the Festival
does provide access to a nutrition station
free of cost with admission to the Festival,
however attendees are asked to bring their
own water bottles for use at the hydration
stations as no cups or bottles are provided
with sunscreen also being recommended.
Annual Central Alberta Children’s Festival set for this weekendEvent offers an excellent chance for local families to have lots of fun together
FAMILY FUN - Sophie Macleod, 2, makes herself a box fort at the Central Alberta Children’s Festival last year. The festival is hosted by Family Services of Central Alberta. Express fi le photo
Wednesday, June 3, 2015, HEALTHY FAMILY LIVING Red Deer Express 77 Red Deer Express HEALTHY FAMILY LIVING, Wednesday, June 3, 2015
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8 Red Deer Express HEALTHY FAMILY LIVING, Wednesday, June 3, 2015
BY KALISHA MENDONSARed Deer Express
Not every family can afford to put chil-
dren through sports, with high costs of
equipment and registration fees – enter
KidSport.
KidSport is a national non-profi t organi-
zation that provides fi nancial assistance to
open the doors for children to participate
in sports. KidSport helps to cover or covers
the costs of registration for sport teams for
low-income families.
“When the current board took over in
2011, we were able to help out 85 kids regis-
tering that year. “Last year, we helped just
over 250 kids. There is obviously some good
fundraising support and more awareness in
the community,” said chairman of the Red
Deer KidSport chapter, Mike Jaillet.
Jaillet says that often, it’s the registration
fees that create a barrier for children to join
sport teams.
“A sport like soccer is relatively easy on
money for equipment – you need shorts and
shoes. It’s not a high equipment cost, but
registration fees are often the barriers that
keep kids from playing. That’s a big reason
why so many kids miss out on sports – the
families simply can’t afford to register.”
As a non-profi t, KidSport relies solely on
donations to continue the service. Jaillet
said that most of the funds come from gen-
erous community donors, but KidSport also
tries to maintain a presence in the commu-
nity. For example, during the 2015 Junior
Stamps Kids Camp hosted by the Calgary
Stampeders and Red Deer Minor Football,
there will be a booth for KidSport to take in
donations and give out information.
KidSport will also be represented dur-
ing Westerner Days and seeking sponsor-
ship there. “Donations are always our big-
gest obstacle. We need roughly $50,000 a
year just to fund the 250 kids we have now.
People can get involved by donation or by
volunteering, and information for that is
available on our web site,” he said.
Jaillet said programs like KidSport are
important because they provide opportu-
nities that may open other doors in life. He
says the benefi ts of sports are seen in other
aspects of children’s lives.
“I think the greatest benefi t of kids get-
ting into sports is just getting them up and
active. There’s a lot of literature right now
regarding how kids are so involved in social
media and everything electronic – I think all
of us, kids and adults, need to be more ac-
tive,” he said. “I think studies have shown
that kids who participate in sports do better
generally in school and socially. Some of
the long-term benefi ts are watching some
kids go through the program and then con-
tinue to play sports in college and univer-
sity and beyond the youth programs.”
Youth sports are a way for kids to learn
how to interact with others, develop skills
like teamwork and hand-eye coordination
and to better their motor skills.
Teams encourage group participation
and can help develop self-esteem and lead-
ership skills. In leading an active lifestyle,
fi nances can sometimes become obstacles
but there are a number of activities that are
free around Red Deer. There are bike and
walking trails, outdoor fi tness centres and
a variety of parks and playgrounds to keep
families active as well.
KidSport provides many opportunities
FAMILY FUN - Amie and Derek Cotter take daughter Brinley, 7, and son Cohen, 6, on a bike ride through Red Deer’s many trails on a sunny afternoon. Jenna Swan/Red Deer Express
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BY ERIN FAWCETTRed Deer Express
Families can enjoy live the-
atre in Red Deer via Calf Skit – a
branch of Bull Skit Comedy.
The family-friendly shows re-
tell classic fairy tales and offer a
chance for the audience to get in-
volved and to tell the story.
Calf Skit is recommended for
kids 10 and under. They take
place once a month – starting
again in the fall – at the Scott
Block Theatre downtown.
This is the second season Calf
Skit has ran and Jenna Goldade,
artistic director of Bull Skit, said
it has proven to be a success.
“The reason for us doing Calf
Skit was that we saw that there
weren’t a lot of opportunities for
young kids to see theatre in Red
Deer – there isn’t anything con-
sistent for kids and families to
enjoy together,” she said. “There
is something to be said about see-
ing live theatre as a young person
and experiencing that type of en-
tertainment.”
Some of the shows Calf Skit
has put on include the classic
tales of Cinderella and The Three
Little Pigs.
“We always take a classic fairy
tale and we improvise it to try
change it up a little, so it’s a little
bit different and we infuse it with
improv. This way the kids can get
involved in helping to tell the sto-
ry and we really wanted the kids
to be part of the theatre and help
create the theatre that they are
seeing,” said Goldade. “We have
done some shows that are not as
improv-based as other ones – Cin-
derella was pretty classic but for
The Three Little Pigs we had three
ninja chicks fi ghting the big bad
wolf instead of the pigs, so that
was fun.”
Goldade said the cast has a
great time re-creating these clas-
sic tales.
“Kids are really honest. They
will respond when they like it,
but they won’t really respond
when they don’t like it. We get
honest reactions from kids,” said
Goldade. “That is really exciting
for us because it’s something new
and we adapt in different ways
and tell stories in a different way.
“Of course we are geared to-
wards kids, but I think anyone of
any age can enjoy it in some ca-
pacity. We try and sneak in some
fun stuff for the adults although
the majority of it is for the kids.”
In addition, Goldade said she
encourages families to come
check out Calf Skit.
“We have a good following of
families who come every month,
which is great and which is what
we wanted,” she said. “But for
people who haven’t checked us
out, the shows are so fun and we
want to be able to bring entertain-
ment consistently to Red Deeri-
ans. Theatre should be enjoyed
by all ages. Calf Skit is such a
fun, honest show that it’s a really
great time for everyone.”
Shows are $20 per family with
tickets being purchased at the
door. Admission includes free
popcorn. The setting is unique in
that there are pillows for kids to
sit on that are right close to the
stage so that they feel part of the
show as well.
Before next season, Calf Skit
can be found at various events
throughout Central Alberta in-
cluding the Children’s Festival
this weekend and at Lacombe
Days in July.
For more information, visit
www.bullskitcomedy.com.
Calf Skit offers live theatre for families
HAPPY SWINGING – Jayden Pupetz, 4, gets a push on the swings from grandmother Tammy Wong at the playground at Bower Ponds. Jenna Swan/Red Deer Express
10 Red Deer Express HEALTHY FAMILY LIVING, Wednesday, June 3, 2015
BY JENNA SWANRed Deer Express
With more than 85 kms
of trails in and around the
Red Deer City limits the
Waskasoo Park network is
the perfect way to get out-
doors and explore local na-
ture and history.
The expansive trail sys-
tem offers stunning views
of the Red Deer River,
Piper Creek, Waskasoo
Creeks, as well as the
Gaetz Lake sanctuary.
During your journey
through the Waskasoo
system, whether you are
walking, cycling, or hiking
– you may venture freely
through as many as 18
parks each with their own
insightful sets of interpre-
tative signs explaining the
history of the site as well
as information on nearby
fl ora and fauna.
“Every park has its own
set of interpretive signs
explaining the signifi cance
of the location,” explained
Kathryn Huedepohl, pub-
lic programmer and spe-
cial events coordinator
with Waskasoo Environ-
mental Education Society.
“Some places like Barrett
Park and Coronation Park,
which are named after peo-
ple, will have the history
of those people for you to
learn about on their inter-
pretive signs.”
Popular sites along
the way include Heritage
Ranch, where people can
use the interpretative
signs to look for wildlife
along the paths and learn
about the history of the
original ranch. Here one
may visit with the Heri-
tage Ranch horses, play
on one of two playgrounds
and enjoy a stunning view
of the river.
With a pedestrian bridge
across the river connect-
ing Heritage Ranch to the
Bower Ponds site it’s easy
to hop across the rapids
where you can rent paddle-
boats, canoes and water
balls. This time of year al-
lows patrons to visit with
the many baby geese while
exploring the history of
the previous rock quarry,
which once graced the
grounds along the river-
bank.
Bower Ponds is also
home to the Cronquist
House, an important local
heritage site and one of
Red Deer’s oldest homes.
The Victorian-inspired
farmhouse, built in 1911
by Emmanuel Cronquist,
was later relocated to the
site in 1976 by its current
operators, the Red Deer
Cultural Heritage Society.
Nearby is the Kiwanis
Picnic Park where people
can stop for lunch and en-
joy full immersion into the
beauty of nature. Easy ac-
cess to Maskepetoon Park
is also available from this
site, and is the newest ad-
dition to the Waskasoo
system and is dedicated
to Chief Maskepetoon, a
renowned Cree chief from
the 1800s.
Although originally
an undisturbed river val-
ley, it was later bisected
by the Hwy. 2 overpass in
1959. An increase in hu-
man activity and develop-
ing neighbourhoods left
the delicate ecosystem at
stake, leading Waskasoo
to take Maskepetoon Park
under its protection and
begin the process of rees-
tablishing the diverse nat-
ural area.
“It was great for it to be
made an offi cial park two
years ago because the area
has a very sensitive eco-
logical area in it that was
getting slightly trashed by
off-roading,” said Huede-
pohl. “Now there is no off-
roading allowed and the
environment is recovering
beautifully.”
Another popular des-
tination along the way is
the Gaetz Lake Sanctuary
located at the Kerry Wood
Nature Centre. The unique
location of the sanctuary
provides the eco-diversity
necessary to host a variety
of wildlife and is a great
spot to bird watch and
hike; however no running,
jogging, biking, strollers,
or dogs are allowed on the
trails of Gaetz Lake.
If you’re hoping to take
Fido along for the trip try
visiting one of Red Deer’s
incredible maintained dog
parks including the Ox-
bows Off Leash Dog Park
available via the trail sys-
tem or the Three Mile
Bend Recreation Area.
Three Mile Bend offers
stunning views of the river
alongside a trail system
often frequented by a num-
ber of wildlife species.
Hidden gems along Red
Deer’s trail system include
Barrett Park, located in
the downtown core across
Ross St. The trails here
boast a number of public
art installations from com-
munity members and also
offer unique integrations
of culture into one’s daily
activity.
Another often-over-
looked location along the
extensive network of trails
is the Michael O’Brien
Wetlands located near the
Michener Centre in Clear-
view.
Named after a commit-
ted local environmentalist,
the constructed wetlands
was built by the City to
capture and fi lter storm
water before it gets to the
river and offers a number
of environmental and edu-
cational opportunities.
For more information
and to view a map of the
system visit www.reddeer.
ca/recreation-and-culture.
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NATURAL SPACES - Lesley Gallant and Andrea Letourneau enjoy a stroll through Bower Ponds recently. Red Deer has an exten-sive trail system which connects many parts of the City. Jenna Swan/Red Deer Express
Wednesday, June 3, 2015, HEALTHY FAMILY LIVING Red Deer Express 11
AdventuresSummer Get Out & Have Fun!
BY MARK WEBERRed Deer Express
Nestled in a picturesque stretch of land
near Spruce View, the Danish Canadian
National Museum offers visitors a multi-
layered experience of learning about Cen-
tral Alberta’s historical connections to
Denmark.
People come from all around to visit the
popular site – including from Denmark.
“It’s like their little Denmark,” chuck-
led Joanne Nielsen, cultural events and
volunteer coordinator at the Danish Cana-
dian National Museum, which is open May
and June (Wednesdays to Sundays) from
10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. “I hope we can instill
a bit of ‘Denmark’ in our visitors. Hope-
fully they will come back to have a cup of
coffee and a pastry, and learn more about
the Danish and Canadian immigration or
come and see our events.”
Hours through July and August are
(Sundays to Thursdays) from 10 a.m. to
5:30 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from
10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
To get there, take Hwy. 54 west of Inn-
isfail, turn south on RR 31 in Spruce View
and go straight through the four-way stop
in Dickson. The Museum is located just
less than 1 km from there on the right.
According to the Danish Canadian Na-
tional Museum Society, immigrants from
Denmark came to North America primari-
ly during three distinct eras. The fi rst wave
took place 1860 to 1914.
“Danes typically emigrated in groups.
Most went to the United States. However,
a group of dairy farmers settled in New
Brunswick in 1872 and 40 Danish butchers
arrived in Ontario in 1893.
“In 1903, the fi rst group of Danish home-
steaders came to Alberta from the United
States.”
The second wave took place from 1919 to
1930.
“About 1920, Danish immigration to the
Unites States was halted. But Canada was
now actively seeking experienced farmers
from Europe. Danish and Danish-Ameri-
can farmers arrived. Many purchased CPR
land in Nova Scotia, Ontario, Manitoba,
Saskatchewan and Alberta.”
The third wave started in about 1945 and
ran through to the 1970s.
“After World War II, Danish farm work-
ers and skilled tradesmen arrived. Most
settled in towns and cities. After more
than a century of immigration, countless
Canadians can proudly identify a Danish
branch in their family tree.”
To really help visitors understand the
richness within Danish culture, plus all
the incredible history of both the country
itself and the experiences of immigrants
that settled in Central Alberta, there are a
number of fascinating artifacts and exhib-
its on display. A bequest from Karen and
Kresten Sommer enabled the Museum to
acquire a Gokstadfæring (small boat) rep-
lica which was built at the Viking Ship Mu-
seum Boatyard in Roskilde, Denmark. It
was eventually christened Freydis Joanna
and shipped to Halifax.
The boat is now part of the Danish Ca-
nadian National Museum’s permanent col-
lection.
“It traveled through Canada to Alberta,
stopping at different locations – a replica
of an authentic boat the Vikings would
have used. We have beautiful housing for
the ship as well.”
There are also gardens to explore and re-
lax in - the Pioneer Garden has traditional
vegetables, herbs, small fruit and apples.
Flowerbeds and gardens feature fl owering
bulbs and colourful annuals, biennials and
perennials and several types of roses and
Linden trees.
The Children’s Garden of Imagination
celebrates well-loved Danish fairy tales
and the world of make-believe.
The Dagmar Pioneer Church is a minia-
ture version of a popular Danish church
design and experience the good old days in
Elmer Thomsen’s log cabin.
There are all sorts of exhibit rooms to
explore at the Museum as well, from the
Hans Christian Andersen exhibit room
and the Heritage Exhibit Room to special
rooms dedicated to immigrant history and
a library featuring some 3,000 books.
Meanwhile, there are all kinds of events
to take part in at the Museum over the
summer, starting off with a Father’s Day
lunch on June 21st, a Danish Service and
Old-fashioned Picnic on June 28th and
Canada Day celebrations on July 1st which
includes coffee and cake. The Museum is
also featured in the nearby Spruce View
parade that day as well.
During the June 28th picnic, there will
also be a pie auction to help raise funds for
the museum, a fashion show which falls in
line with this year’s theme of Danish cos-
tumes, a sing-song, old-fashioned games.
“We have congregations come from Cal-
gary, Edmonton, Dickson and Craig. And
it’s open to the public as well. They can
come and picnic on the grounds, or order
the lunch that we make,” she said.
Other summer highlights include
æbleskiver and Jam Day on July 12th.
Enjoy these Danish pancake dumplings
topped with Saskatoon jam and sprinkles
of icing sugar. Staff will also have an on-
going demonstration on how to make
æbleskiver. “We have demonstrations on
how to make them,” she said. “We also
have entertainment – musicians doing
musical jams, for example. This year, we
are having artisans come to show off their
crafts as well.”
Viking Days run Aug. 15th-16th as well
– a very popular annual event and the Mu-
seum’s major fundraiser, said Nielsen.
Viking Days features a look at Viking
history, including reenactments and an
up-close look at how Vikings lived 1,000
years ago. Visitors can learn how they
made their crafts and tools, cooked their
food and set up their tents.
Demonstrations on armor and battle
skills also offer visitors a chance to mingle,
interact and experience Viking ways, said
Nielsen. People come from across Canada
to take part in the very special event, she
added.
“We have an authentic Danish meal, and
will feature some ‘Viking’ foods too.”
Admission to the Museum and grounds
is by donation (except for special event
days); staff rely on the generous contribu-
tions of visitors to assist them in keeping
this wonderful facility open for all to enjoy.
Tax receipts are available for donations
of $20 or more. The Danish Canadian Mu-
seum closes for the regular season on the
September long weekend.
For more information, call 403-728-0019
or visit www.danishcanadians.com.
Museum offers look into Danish culture and tradition
HISTORIC SCENE - Actors take part in a battle reenactment as Vikings at the Danish Canadian National Museum. Viking Days, one of the Museum’s most popular events planned for the sum-mer, runs Aug. 15th-16th. photo submitted
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