PENHOLD - Red Deer educator Everett Tetz is stepping up to help Penholders make their skatepark dream a reality.
Tetz has been involved in a number of area skatepark projects and is the founder of the newly formed Central Alberta Skateboard Association.
He was in Penhold recently for a donation presentation made to the Penhold skatepark committee.
“It's a recently formed association. We're going to be committed to helping Penhold get a skatepark, along with some of the other municipalities in Central Alberta,” said Tetz. “We're going to help with some grant writing and making sure Penhold gets the attention they deserve for skateboarding.”
“I don't think there's been a better time for skateboarding in Central Alberta,” he added.
In addition to the skateboard association, Tetz noted another important project he helped create.
“Three years ago at Glendale School in Red Deer we started the first accredited skateboard program in Canada,” he said, noting the optional course for students and what they can learn from it.
“(The skateboard program) creates an environment that's safe for kids to explore skateboarding and some of the physical aspects that come along with it,” explained Tetz. “It's a great way to engage kids and get them active.”
In addition to the outdoor aspects of the program, they also offer indoor learning and training opportunities for children in the course.
“The nice part about skateboarding is there's a whole culture attached to it that we can apply in the classroom as well,” said Tetz, noting subjects such as creative arts, design, photography and video editing. “All of those aspects are explored in the course.”
He said he was pleased to see skateboarding added as an official sport in the next Summer Olympics in Asia.
“I think it means a lot for us to have it universally adopted into the Olympics,” he said, adding it will provide more opportunities for children who want to learn to skateboard.
“People are going to start looking at what programs could look like, what facilities should look like,” said Tetz. “Hopefully we're going to get more Skateparks in Central Alberta and kids are going to have more access to skateboarding as an activity growing up.
“I think our goal as adults (still involved in skateboarding) is to see skateparks become inclusive communities that are safe and accepting for everybody that uses it,” Tetz concluded.
Everett Tetz
"I don't think there's been a better time for skateboarding in Central Alberta."
