Breakfast is a great way to start the day

Members of the Bonnyville-Cold Lake PC constituency got together Saturday morning over breakfast to plan for their Annual General meeting slated for Thursday, March 11 at Ardmore Community Centre starting at 7 p.m. Guest speaker will be the Honorable Jack Hayden, newly appointed Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Our MLA Genia Leskiw outlined some of the many events that are upcoming in the region and you might want to mark them down on your calendar as well. Here are a few of them.

Events dates:
2nd Sunday of each month-Ardmore Senior's breakfast
3rd Sunday of each month-Fort Kent Senior's breakfast.
 March 5, 6 & 7th  Bonnyville Ag Societies Farm Home and Leisure Trade show - Centennial Centre

THURSDAY, MARCH 11-PC AGM - 7 p.m.

THURSDAY, APRIL 29 -Teacher Appreciation-Meet and Greet the Minister of Education - the Honorable Dave Hancock.

May 28, 29 and 30th - Bonnyville Pro Rodeo, Parade and Queen contest
May 29, Bonnyville Ag Society's Pro Rodeo Dance - Centennial Centre - 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
FRIDAY, JUNE 11-First Nations and Metis Showcase- Bonnyville Centennial Centre 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
FRIDAY, JUNE 18-2nd Annual Commercial Truckers Barbecue Hoselaw Corner Scales 10-2PM

And, shown here is an excellent example of regional cooperation as hosting partners celebrate the conclusion of a very successful Alberta Winter Games in the Bonnyville and Cold Lake communities.

L-R back row: Col. David Wheeler 4Wing Cold Lake base commander, Ed Rondeau, Reeve of MD of Bonnyville. Seated L-R Craig Copeland- Mayor of Cold Lake, Genia Leskiw - MLA Bonnyville-Cold Lake and Ernie Isley - Mayor  - Town of Bonnyville.

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Don't forget, the Pontiacs are in Action tonight against the Calgary Canucks at the RJ Lalonde. Our lads won 2-0 in Ft. McMurray so be there to cheer their accomplishment.
Talk to you later. Dave

He'll get by with a little help from his friends

Here's a story I'm pleased put up and I hope it brings in a scad of money to help out a friend. Here's the story as sent to me plus some pics as well.

To All Concerned:

As you all know Ray Murphy has experienced a devastating spinal accident and is currently undergoing extensive therapy.  It has also impacted his family and is going to continue to do so for sometime to come.  Ray's day to day activities before the accident were normally quite intensive from what most of us know of him as fellow neighbors, friends, and business associates.  Ray will be
confined to a wheelchair and will therefore be limited to his home.   Ray will be released
from the Glenrose on or about early to mid March.

We have known Ray for quite a number of years, as well as most of you know that are receiving these
letters.  We all know that Ray has been a great neighbor and friend  -  all ways willing to help and go out of his way to do so.  Pasturing next to Ray, where fences would get broken down and cattle
would get mixed up was never a problem with Ray.   He would always say don't worry about it, we will deal with it in time, we will just fix the fence for now.  Good neighbors like Ray are hard to come
by, as we all know.   Enough said, you've got the idea.   What we are proposing, in order to give
Ray more mobility so he will not be confined to the house is a 4X4 all terrain wheelchair.
(picture enclosed).

To make this short, we will be canvasing business, neighbors, and friends for donations for the
purchase of this chair.  We feel this is an excellent cause, as we had first anticipated a wheelchair
lift for his house, but that was donated by Ray's cousin in Edmonton.

The cost of the 4X4 all terrain wheelchair will be @ $18,000.00 us.  (+ freight).

In closing, if you plan to donate, please give what you can afford.  Any left over money will
be donated to Ray & Leona Murphy to renovate their house to accommodate Ray's needs.
We believe this is the least we could do for a good neighbor, friend, and business associate.

If more information is required, please call:
     Calvin & Lori Sales        - 780-826-4481
     Ed & Shirley Persley      - 780-826-2992
    Emil & Lorry Leguerrier – 780-826-5151
    Western Pride Auction (Mark Jubinville) – 780-826-2233

We would appreciate all donations made by February 22, 2010.

          Please make cheques payable to :   Ray Murphy Wheelchair Fund

          Mail to:   Emil Leguerrier
                          Box 7993
                          Bonnyville, Alberta
                          T9N 2J3

OR can give donations to the above names mentioned.


Here's a story and photo of the chair for Ray.

 Call any of these folks today and give what you can.
Regards,
Dave

Bonnyville loses a pioneer

Our condolences go out to the family of Valere Roy who passed away on Sunday, January 31. Valere was a pioneer in the spirit of being an entrepreneur in the construction industry and business in Bonnyville. I'll never forget the first time I met him and his helicopter. That was quite a machine and I'm sure he thrilled quite a few folks with rides in the Alouette.  Valere was generous to the community and supported many fund raising efforts throughout the region.  Adieu Valere, Via Con Dios.

Prayer services for Mr. Roy will be held on Sunday, February 7 at 8 p.m. in the St. Louis Roman Catholic Church in Bonnyville. His funeral service will be held the following day in the same location beginning at 10 a.m. Memento Funeral Chapel is in charge of all arrangements.  They can be reached at 780-826-3113 or on their website at www.mementofuneralchapel.com

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Well, its Alberta Winter Games weekend in Bonnyville and Cold Lake. From the 4 to the 7th of February we'll see a huge number of visitors to the region. Make sure they feel welcome and help out where you can. I'm sure anyone with time to volunteer will be greatfully accepted.
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Had a great visit with our MLA Genia Leskiw the other day regarding the upcoming Annual General Meeting. There was a change in guest speaker following the recent cabinet shuffle and the new speaker is none other than our newest Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development - Jack Hayden. Jack is from a farm back ground and still farms today with his family near Endiang. Minister Hayden represents the riding of Drumheller-Stettler and its one of the largest ridings in the province stretching all the way to the Alberta and Saskatchewan border in the east.

The Annual General Meeting of the Bonnyville-Cold Lake constituency is slated for Thursday, March 11 starting at 7 p.m. in the Ardmore community hall. This is an open meeting to members and non members. It's an opportunity to meet with your MLA, ask questions, participate as a member or even on the board. There will be an election of officers and memberships will be available for sale at the meeting.

I had an opportunity to meet with Jack Hayden at the Alberta Ag Societies AGM in Edmonton two weeks ago and he's very approachable. See you there.
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Well, just three home games left for our Pontiacs as they get ready for the play offs. I've missed a bunch of games due to work commitment and meetings so I've got to catch up.  Their next home game is Tuesday, Feb 9 at 7:30 in the RJ Lalonde versus the Spruce Grove Saints.  Be there. Go Pontiacs.
That's it for now. I've got to get back to work. Have a great Week. Dave