Olds town council presented several members of the fire department with awards for their service to the community during a May 28 meeting .
Mayor Michael Muzychka introduced the semi-annual awards.
“Thank you everybody for coming this evening,” Muzychka said. “On behalf of the citizens, staff and elected officials of Olds I would like to thank the firefighters for their contribution and commitment to keeping our town safe.”
Awarded for 35 years of service was Dave Karpyshyn who received a bronze fire axe for his tenure with the department.
Don Graham and Lynn Roberts have 25 years of experience. Jason Kjorsvik has 20 years of experience and Phil Finlay has 10. Eric Fahlman, Casey Bateman and Jim Massey were noted to have five years experience each.
Fair Trade update
Also during the evening, Bev Toews, chair of the Fair Trade Committee in Olds and a Fair Trade advisor for Olds High School students, explained what fair trade is.
The fair trade movement calls for people — especially in developing countries – to get a better price for their products so they can move out of poverty and create their products in a sustainable way.
During her presentation, Toews outlined what's been happening with fair trade in Olds.
She noted that in 2009, Olds was the first Fair Trade town in Alberta and last year, Olds High School was named Fair Trade school of the year.
Because of her involvement with Fair Trade in Olds High School and the town in general, Toews received a Lifet Time Achievement Award from FairTrade Canada in 2017.
In 2016 she was nominated for a Red Deer and District Community Foundation Women of Excellence award.
Toews said the next Fair Trade goal is to make Olds College a Fair Trade Campus.
Summer events update
June 21, 2018 is National indigenous Peoples Day in Olds, although celebrations will also be held on Friday, June 22.
Celebrations begin at 6 p.m. June 21 at the TransCanada Theatre, then continue June 22 in Centennial Park with a variety of traditional activities. The opening ceremony is slated for 9:30 a.m.
These events serve as an opportunity for Canadians to celebrate the diversity and unique cultures of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people.
Heather Dixon, a representative of the committee planning Canada Day 2018 in Olds, provided an update on the planned festivities.
Notably, the parade route will be slightly altered this year due to the holiday falling on a Sunday and the committee wants to avoid complications with people trying to leave Sunday service at the First Baptist Church. As a result, it will turn south from 50th Street to 52nd Avenue.
