Better get your Ducks in a Row

The 20th Annual Ardmore Duck Race is all set to go on Sunday, June 5, 2011. Duck race huh.? Yup and its in the river. The Beaver River that is just a few klicks north on highway 892 from the junction with Hwy 28. All the proceeds go to the Ardmore School for Technology, equipment and the library and the event itself is operated with a dedicated group of volunteers.

This group sells tickets that entitle buyers to own a duck for the day and this duck races other ducks down the river a set distance. There's 2,000 of them so it's quite a sight. The first one under the bridge is the winner and there's also 2nd, third, fourth and fifth place prizes. Once the ducks finish, they are scooped from the water by volunteers and safely stored away for next years event.  Oh, no actual ducks are used, just tiny, little, yellow rubber replicas with a number painted on their bottoms.

Not one single duck has ever been lost in the 20 years of the event. Its great fun for the whole family as they gather near the river to witness this spectacular event. The fun starts at noon at the Bridge.

If you'd like to volunteer, go to the Ardmore school and ask for Leona or Janice and they'll find you a job.


2000 rubber ducks!
Onsite raffle!
Onsite concession!
Free kids games & face painting!

 Look at these prizes.
1st Prize: *TROPICAL TRAVEL VOUCHER
$3000 - Gala Travel (Bonnyville), A.P.A.A.

2nd Prize: LG 50􀀀 PLASMA T.V. &
LG BLU-RAY HOME THEATER SYSTEM
$1,832 - Step Up Audio Video, A.P.A.A.

3rd Prize: FUEL CARDS
$1000 - Northern Lights Truck Stop 2005

4th Prize: FREEZER MEAT PACKAGE
$750 - Hamel’s Meat Market Ltd., A.P.A.A.

5th Prize: XBOX 360 250GB
KINNECT BUNDLE
$420 - Angling Lake Drilling, A.P.A.A.

CORPORATE SPONSORS
Badger Daylighting Services
Northern Lights Truck Stop 2005
P J’s (Cold Lake) Liquor Store Ltd.
Skyhawk Enterprises Ltd.

HOSTED BY
Event: Ardmore Parent
Advisory Assoc. (A.P.A.A.)
Concession: Ardmore Community Society
PROCEEDS TO
Ardmore School:
technology & equipment

Have you ever been to the Opry?

You may never have been to the Opry but we're going to bring it to you. Well, at least The Opry Boyz. Yep, Bonnyville's own Opry Boyz and they are playing for the Bonnyville Pro Rodeo Dance on Saturday, May the 28th in the biggest dance hall around - the Centennial Centre Field House.

The Bonnyville Ag Society took on the dance part of Rodeo weekend about four years ago when volunteers were tiring out from being spread too thin. They were working all day at the rodeo grounds and then having to come over and put on a dance till 2 or 3 in the morning. Not a lot of fun and it was burning out volunteers pretty quick so the Ag Society stepped up and its been working pretty good ever since.

Anyway, back to the Opry Boyz and the rodeo dance. The doors open at 8:30 and the band kicks off at 9 with their brand of real danceable country tunes that everybody recognizes and can sing along with or dance holes in the soles of your boots. They have been growing in popularity for the past couple of years and folks just won't let them stop playing.

Tickets are available at the Centennial Centre Box office (Main Desk) for $20 in advance or $25 at the door. You can also order by phone toll free if you're from out of town at 1-877-812-2740 or 780-826-3400 if you're in town. You can even order online at www.centennialcentre.ca and just click on tickets on the left hand sidebar.

A big thanks goes out to the Bonnyville Oilmen's Society who are providing drivers for the shuttle vans that will help get you home safely. Also to Bonnyville Chrysler, Ducharme and Tercier Motors for providing the shuttle vans. Remember if you can to tip these drivers, they are volunteers and their group does a great deal of good in the community.
****

Here's another event the Bonnyville Ag Society is working on that will set your heart pounding. They have just inked a deal to host the Canadian National Truck and Tractor Pulling Championships this September 16th, 17th & 18th and its going to be a doozy. Three days of intense competition with a spectacular fire works display on Saturday night and you'll be able to watch the show in the comfort of grandstand out at the exhibition grounds.

There'll be everything from  high-powered minis running 500 plus horsepower up to a five engine monster putting out about 6,000 horsepower. There'll also be modified and super modified two and four wheel drive pickups and tractors along with a diesel wheel standing Semi. If you like motors, motion and power, you won't want to miss this event. Keep checking this column for updates and ticket information as we get closer to the date.  For more information or to volunteer for the event contact the Bonnyville Ag Society at 780-826-3240.
****

Puppies and Kids are always fun to watch

These are certainly more than puppies and certainly more than kids and I commend all these young people for getting involved in 4H. Thanks to Charman Alm for passing along this information.

Lakeland Scruffy Puppies 4-H Club: 2010 – 2011 Summary

It has been a fun year to be a member of Scruffy Puppies! The year started off with a focus on agility training as we worked outside with our dogs in a riding arena. Our dogs learned how to go through tunnels, up and over A-frames, and how to polebend. As the weather grew colder we changed to indoor meetings and began our fundraiser selling “Cookie Crumbles” products. We learned the difference between showing our dog in a Showmanship class verses an Obedience class. While making homemade dog cookies, we were taught about nutrition. Members competed in 4-H’s mandatory communication event with a variety of interesting speeches and one presentation.

Cesar Millan (the Dog Whisperer

During the past year, our club also went on three outings. We enjoyed a wonderful informative tour of the Bonnyville Vet Clinic thanks to Dr. Benoit and his beautiful dog Maggie. We all visited the seniors at Extendicare and introduced our dogs and had them show their tricks. We went to the Cesar Millan (dog whisperer) Concert in Edmonton.

Club members would like to thank Georgena Graham and Lindsay Graham for all their work with the club again this year.  We invite everyone to come watch us and meet our dogs at the club’s year end Achievement Day Show on Saturday, May 7, 2011. Beginning at 10 am there will be classes in Obedience, Showmanship, Agility and more! We will be at the Ardmore School parking lot in Ardmore.

Submitted by: Club Members

Lakeland Scruffy Puppies 4-H

Now make sure you get out and support them. 

Learn to do by Doing!

Here's Cesar Millan in action.

****
Don't forget the upcoming Annual General meeting for LICA or Lakeland Industry and Community Association. It will be held on Wednesday, May 4th at the Bonnyville Senior Citizens Drop In Centre at 4813-47 avenue beginning with a meet and greet at 5 p.m. This will be followed by their 10th anniversary dinner at 5:30, a guest speaker at 6:30 then the AGM at 7:30. For more information, or to confirm your attendance please call them at 780-812-2182.

Get involved in your community and the environment by volunteering for one of their many committees.  Visit their web site at http://www.lica.ca/
****

****

I can't believe how quickly time flies

I can't believe that it was more than 20 days ago that I was last on here. Things have been quite busy and I guess its just a matter of ach, I'll do it tomorrow.  Well buddy, tomorrow is here, now. I've got a few things to share with you so here goes.

Thursday, May 5th, at 7 PM, out at the Ardmore Community Centre, the Bonnyville-Cold Lake PC Association is holding a final Annual General Meeting and founding meeting for a new association at the same time. This occurs when they redraw the constituency boundaries as they did when four new constituencies where added to the mix last year - one each in Edmonton and Ft. McMurray and two in Calgary. 

The biggest problem I'm running into is I can't find a map of the new divisions. Oh there's one for Edmonton and one for Calgary but the rest of us are in the dark. As near as I can figure we lost about a mile off the south end of this constituency so it doesn't affect us that much but we'd like to know.  I tried searching different ways and always ended back up at the Elections Alberta web site with their Edmonton & Calgary maps but nothing on the rural ridings. What a bunch of horse shit. Here's more of the blah blah blah from another site that tells you all about the reasons why. Enjoy. I'm going to have some scrambled eggs!

OH, please come out to the meeting, help elect a new executive and talk to your MLA about where to find the map. 

The difficult decisions surrounding an election are not all made by voters.  One of these decisions is how to divide the province into voting districts or constituencies, each of which has one MLA.  Constituency boundary lines are normally determined by a special body called the Electoral Boundaries Commission.

The commission draws the boundaries on the basis of population, common community interests, geographical area, natural boundaries such as rivers, and other considerations.  Its decisions are guided by a law called the Electoral Boundaries Commission Act.  According to the Act, the commission must evaluate and recommend any changes to the present boundaries following every second provincial election.  These changes must become part of a new Act before they can take effect.  This Act is introduced in the Assembly; then members debate it and finally vote on it.

One of the busiest offices around election time is Elections Alberta, the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer.  This office divides constituencies into polling districts (so that voters don't have to go a long way to cast their ballots), hires enumerators to count the voters and returning officers to count the votes, makes sure voting is conducted according to the rules, takes care of all election paperwork, and, finally, issues the official election results.

Constituencies and boundary rules are constantly changing. For the most current information on Alberta's constituencies and boundary rules, please visit the Elections Alberta website!

Singing In the Rain

I don't know about you but I'm starting to get a little cabin fever and was going a little squirrely until this appeared in my email. I've always known that music and singing is good for what ails you so I was delighted to see that the Bonnyville Society Singers are mounting a spring concert at the Lyle Victor Albert Theatre on April 28, 29, 30. For more info on this event, check the poster. You can click on it to make it bigger.

If you haven't heard these folks yet, you'll want to mark it in your calendar and get your tickets bought. The theatre only holds about 160 people at a time so don't delay or it'll be sold out and you'll miss it.  I'm singing in the rain tra la la. Oh, just watch the video.



****
Another event that is sure to usher in spring is the EASTBOURNE HALL ANNUAL CRAFT,
ANTIQUE AND GARAGE SALE
 Friday April 15 - 10 to 8 pm and Saturday April 16: 10-3 pm.

Eastbourne Community Hall is located on Hwy 28, 1 mile
west of Hwy 41 – the Elk Point turn off and 8 miles east of
 Glendon turn off. 
If you are interested and would like to reserve a table for your crafts, household goods, antiques, coins,
 stamps, sporting and fishing equipment, collectables baby items or anything you would like to sell or trade.  Tables are $10 for the first two.  Additional tables are available.  Please call Marci at 780-826-3816 or Roger at 780-826-6816.
****

Bonnyville sends Pontiacs off with a standing ovation

In their final game of the 2010-2011 season, the crowd was on its feet to thank the Bonnyville Pontiacs of the AJHL for an exciting year filled with good memories. Unfortunately with a 3-2 loss in the sixth game of a best of seven against the Ft. McMurray Oil Barons the trip to the cup was cut short with the loss. The year finished with several awards for a couple of the players and the head coach Chad Mercier who won coach of the year. Julien Laplante won goal tender of the year with a record nine shutouts and Kevin Carthy picked up the Don McNab Memorial trophy as the most dedicated player who played all 60 games of the season and scored four game winners.

l-r Carol Vasseur, Laplante and Greg T. Cripps League President

Until next year Thanks Pontiacs for some great hockey action.
****
Don't forget the Hospitality job fair at the Centennial Centre Hub on Wednesday, March 23 from 5 until 9 p.m. A great way to find out what's happening in the restaurant, hotel and events industry.  There might even be a new career opportunity.
****

To end the hockey season here's a little funny for you. And I do mean little. Enjoy.

A hockey hooligan appeared in court charged with disorderly conduct and assault. The arresting officer, giving evidence, stated that the accused had thrown something into the canal.
"What exactly was it that he threw into the canal" asked the magistrate.
"Stones, sir."
"Well, that's hardly an offence is it?"
"It was in this case, sir," said the police officer. "Stones was the referee".

Overtime goal foils Pontiacs home ice advantage

The long trip up highway 63 can be rewarding or real drudgery and its proving to be the nemesis of Bonnyville's Junior A Pontiacs as they dropped another game to the Ft. McMurray Oil Barons in overtime by one goal. The final score was 4-3 for the MOB who now leads this round of the playoffs by three games to two.

The Pontiacs return home for the next game in the RJ Lalonde arena on Monday night at 7 p.m. and its a do or die situation. In fact, if they want to advance to the next round, they'll have to win the next two games, one here at home and the final back up in Ft. McMurray.

Can they do it? The odds aren't great for them although each game has only been decided by one point so if they can come together and play as a team they may be able to pull it off. But, they will have to adjust their style of play a bit and try a few different strategies.

Over the playoff series a few of us have noted that a lot of rushes have been wasted because there doesn't seem to be a plan when they get there. It's like a dog chasing a car who finally catches up to one and then wonders OK, what do I do with it. There still seems to be too much dump it in the corner then chase in after it, fight like hell for it, then try to fire it through the crease hoping it'll bounce off someone. There needs to be someone out front in the slot causing a disturbance, setting up a screen or there to poke in an errant puck. That can't happen with all three forwards fighting for the puck along the boards. Someone needs to be the centre man working the triangle in front of the net. You can't depend on those long passes out to the point or all the way across to the other point to work.  There's too many opportunities for the opposing team to pick one of those up and clear the zone or start their rush to the other end leaving our forwards in the dust and defense men struggling to get back to defend their goalie.

In this strategy, the pattern at left shows the relative positioning for the centre man. The triangles at either end allow him or her to be out front if a pass comes out of the corners or cut down the lane of opposing teams to get out of their zone. If the action in the corner gets too much for the wingers, the centre man could pinch in and help but the other winger should come over to the centre position to be prepared for the clearing pass. The defensemen on either point will block any sideline clearing passes and are still able to make goal shots from those positions. Does it work every time? Perhaps not but it is an alternate to having too many players scrambling for a puck along the boards leaving the entire front of the net clear and nobody there to take a shot or cut off the lanes for the opposition.  I picked this idea up from my friend Brian Conacher who played for the Maple Leafs the last year they won the cup (1967) so it's an old tactic but sometimes that's what you need.

I'd certainly be trying it out in practice with a full scrum.
At least it would be something the other team wasn't prepared for. Just a thought.
The sixth game goes MONDAY night at the RJ Lalonde. Puck drops at 7 p.m. Fill the rink and come prepared to make some NOISE! Go Pontiacs.
****
In the meantime, I see the Cold Lake Ice Junior B's are on a tear in their league. They swept round one against the Titans in three games scoring 45 goals against two for the opposition. Round two was a four game sweep against the Wainwright Bisons with 28 goals score versus six for the Buffalo Bunch. The finals are now underway and the ICE has a two game lead over the Lloyd Bandits with wins of 4 -1 and 3-2 in their last two outings. The next two games are in Lloyd on Wed, Mar 16 and Friday, Mar 18. Both games are 7:30 starts.

Congratulations to netminder Dustin Hyde who picked up his second NEAJBHL league award as the 2010-2011 Goaltender of the Year while Dallas Ansell who has also seen time in a Pontiacs uniform won Rookie of the Year.
****
This entry has been dominated by hockey so I'll take a short break, take of the team shirt and be back with more general information and I've got lots.  Dave.