Youth turn to service industry

Grande Prairie’s youth are seeking jobs in the service industry, an industry that appears to treat them well.

“From the Youth Engagement Awards, for youth employment it seems like the service industry seems to be the most supportive of youth,” said the City of Grande Prairie’s Youth Services supervisor Cara Jones.

“A lot of the youth have fully paid for their school; it’s pretty amazing to me to hear that they’re pretty much debt free is so amazing. It’s like, ‘you don’t even know what you just did for yourself!'”

Jones says businesses such as Jeffery’s Café, Mr. Mikes and The Keg are highly sought after employers by city youth, and came out on top at this year’s Youth Engagement Awards.

“The general consensus I get from the youth is that they look for places where they can advance as they grow older and places that have a high engagement aspect, and those were the three who won this year at the Youth Engagement Awards, for those reasons,” said Jones.

Jones said many students in Grande Prairie start their careers as hosts and hostesses at restaurants, eventually moving up into different positions as they age.

She also said most of the youth she has interacted with have found jobs through online resources, such as Indeed.com.

Jones believes there are not many limitations keeping young people from finding work in the city.

“So far what I’ve seen from Grande Prairie is that it’s very supportive with the youth. When (the youth) have told me they’re going to look, they haven’t had a hard time finding work.”

There are legal restrictions in Alberta for workers under 18, but they exist to protect youth from unfair and dangerous working conditions, according to Alberta Employment Standards.

Adolescents between the ages of 12 to14 are allowed to work certain jobs including hosting, flyer and newspaper delivery, or as clerks in offices and retail stores.

They are not permitted to work between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m, and can work no more than two hours on a school day.

Young persons, between the ages of 15 and 17, can work any type of job but must be supervised by someone over the age of 18 if they’re selling food or beverages, gasoline or fuel, or working in a hotel or motel.

They must also be in the presence of someone 18 or older between 9 p.m. and 12:01 a.m. They cannot work between the hours of 12:01 a.m. and 6 a.m.

http://www.dailyheraldtribune.com/2015/06/25/youth-turn-to-service-industry

Airline comes through as NS man seeks to reunite with critically injured Alberta dad

WATCH ABOVE: A Grande Prairie man is clinging to life in an Edmonton hospital after an assault in northern Alberta this week. As Eric Szeto reports, the public and a national airline have come together to help the family in a time of need. 

WARNING: The pictures in this story may be disturbing to some readers. 

EDMONTON — A Nova Scotia man, whose father was badly beaten in northern Alberta earlier this week, has been given the chance to reunite with his father thanks to WestJet.

Dakota Mackay says his dad, John St. Jean, was at a Grande Prairie convenience store on Thursday night when he noticed a 10-year-old boy being picked on by a young man.

“My father had witnessed it and piped up and said, ‘Hey, leave the kid alone. It’s just a kid, give him a break,'” Mackay explained.

Mackay’s dad grabbed ahold of the boy and told him to run.

“Before he could turn back around the 24-year-old man attacked him and repeatedly stomped his head in,” said Mackay.

St. Jean was taken to the University of Alberta hospital in Edmonton where he remains on life support.

“As of right now he’s stable. They’ve tried to wake him up a few times but he keeps going into miniature seizures so he’s still on life support. He can’t breathe on his own. There is still a lot of swelling in his brain. There’s no bleeding at this point that they know of, but where his condition stands – he’s still pretty critical,” said Mackay.

The young man was desperate to find a way to get to his father from New Glasgow, N.S., but money is tight, so he took to social media in hopes of raising enough money to buy two plane tickets. He wanted his girlfriend to make the trip as well.

Mackay started a GoFundMe page and people quickly stepped up to help. After being contacted by a stranger, WestJet answered the plea for help.

“WestJet phoned me later that night, yesterday night, and had said we would like to help you. We are going to pay for you and your girlfriend to fly up and see your father,” Mackay said. WestJest also offered to cover any other travel expenses the couple may incur.

Mackay arrived in Edmonton with his girlfriend Saturday morning. And while it’s been a tough few days, he says the incredible rally of support from complete strangers has helped ease his mind.

“You don’t think it’s going to happen. It really made a big difference in what’s taken place and kind of makes it a little easier to know that there’s thousands of people in Grande Prairie right now that are fully behind him,” Mackay explained.

“It’s really terrible, the circumstances that led up to all the support and good things that have come of all of this, but I’m very grateful for what everyone has done.”

Mackay plans to stay in Edmonton for the foreseeable future to help his mom and dad. The GoFundMe page raised $5,300 in the first nine hours, which Mackay says will go towards his dad’s medical bills.

RCMP have confirmed an assault took place in Grande Prairie Thursday just after 9 p.m. Cpl. Leigh Drinkwater says he cannot confirm the circumstances that led to the altercation.

“It appears the 45-year-old male, John St. Jean, was struck repeatedly about the head,” said Drinkwater.

Kyle Douglas Giroux, 24, was taken into custody and charged with one count of aggravated assault and one count of failing to comply with a probation order. The Grande Prairie man is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday.

WestJet has declined comment on the matter.

Mackay posted the following pictures of his father on the Grande Prairie supports John St. Jean Facebook page.

Pictures on the Grande Prairie supports John Stjean Facebook page show Mackay’s father in hospital.

Credit: Grande Prairie supports John Stjean Facebook page

Pictures on the Grande Prairie supports John Stjean Facebook page show Mackay’s father in hospital.

Credit: Grande Prairie supports John Stjean Facebook page

Dakota Mackay’s father, John Stjean.

Courtesy: Dakota Mackay

Dakota Mackay’s father, John Stjean.

Courtesy: Dakota Mackay

© Shaw Media, 2015

http://globalnews.ca/news/1921544/airline-comes-through-as-ns-man-seeks-to-reunite-with-critically-injured-alberta-dad/

Disney’s Tarzan The Broadway Musical

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http://www.paradiseinngrandeprairie.com/10/09/2014/Disneys-Tarzan-The-Broadway-Musical

Kick Start Your New Year in Good Shape in Grande Prairie

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http://www.paradiseinngrandeprairie.com/12/29/2014/Kick-Start-Your-New-Year-in-Good-Shape-in-Grande-Prairie

Rowney re-signs with AHL Penguins

Sexsmith product Carter Rowney has re-signed with the American Hockey League’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

The 26-year-old centre, who grew up playing minor hockey in Grande Prairie and suited up with the Junior A Storm from 2006-2009, signed an AHL contract with the Penguins – the Pittsburgh Penguins’ affiliate –  for the 2015-2016 season, earlier this week.

After playing for the Storm, Rowney suited up for four seasons (2009-2013) with the University of North Dakota, collecting 73 points (32 goals and 41 assists) in 150 games. 

Twitter: @DHTLogan 

http://www.dailyheraldtribune.com/2015/06/18/rowney-re-signs-with-ahl-penguins

Missing quadder rescued after 2 days in the elements near Grande Prairie

EDMONTON – A 28-year-old man who was separated from his group while quadding near Grande Prairie Thursday night has been safely located after spending two nights alone in the wilderness.

Late Thursday night, five people were quadding near the Canfor haul road, about 10-20 kilometres south of Grande Prairie, when they realized Drysdale was missing. After searching for him for four or five hours the group notified police.

RCMP say the experienced outdoorsman lit a small fire and spent Thursday night in a densely treed area. While walking Friday morning Drysdale came across the Wapiti River and spend the next day-and-a-half walking along the river bank.

During his travels Drysdale came across a trapper’s cabin where he spent Friday night. He was able to dry his clothes and found a can of chicken noodle soup to eat.

Saturday morning Drysdale continued walking along the river bank until he was found by the search helicopter.

Officers say Drysdale was wearing a helmet and was dressed for the conditions. He was checked out by medical staff and determined to be in good health.

© Shaw Media, 2015

http://globalnews.ca/news/1976604/missing-quadder-rescued-after-2-days-in-the-elements-near-grande-prairie/

Tour of Alberta

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http://www.reachfm.ca/connect/blog/item/1126-tour-of-alberta

Xcessive Force Fighting Championship-Battle of the West

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http://www.paradiseinngrandeprairie.com/10/09/2014/Xcessive-Force-Fighting-Championship-Battle-of-the-West

Armed robberies in Rycroft

Spirit River RCMP are asking for the public’s help in identifying two individuals suspected in two separate armed robberies in Rycroft last month.

The first occurred in the early morning of May 9 at the Tags gas station in Rycroft. The individuals were seen leaving in a light grey or silver F-150, heading northbound on Highway 2.

The second incident happened on May 12 at the Rycroft Hotel Pub. At close to 11 p.m., two men entered the pub and took the VLT cash drawer, which held around $800 in cash.

Spirit River RCMP believe one of the suspects was captured on surveillance video approximately 15 minutes prior to the robbery. The man came in looking for a washroom and appeared to be checking out the layout of the bar.

They believe this suspect was the same person who threatened a staff member with a knife while his accomplice left with the cash drawer during the robbery.

Anyone with information regarding these thefts is asked to contact the Spirit River RCMP detachment at 780-864-3525 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

http://www.dailyheraldtribune.com/2015/06/15/armed-robberies-in-rycroft

CCA benefit launches Friday

Seasoned and emerging artists have a chance to shine this month during the Centre for Creative Arts’ Art Squared exhibit and fundraiser. 

From June 5 to June 26, visitors can bid on 32 pieces of art created on 32 16-by-16 inch canvases by 32 local artists. 

“It’s a really good chance to come in and get a glimpse of the fine arts spectrum of Grande Prairie and area because we have such a good variety of really talented artists showing,” said Candace Hook, executive director for the Centre for Creative Arts. 

The artists who created pieces for the exhibit were invited by the centre and had around three months to create their pieces in whatever style they wanted to use. 

Bids will start at a $50 and can be placed at the centre or over the phone.

Pictures of the artwork will also be available online through the Centre for Creative Arts Facebook page and bids can be made over the phone. 

Throughout the month, the bids will also be updated daily on the centre’s Facebook page. 

The opening reception for Art Squared is on June 5 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Centre for Creative Arts.

The closing reception runs from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on June 26, with the auction ending at 8 p.m.

An exhibit called “New Beginnings,” also opens in the Wall Gallery on June 5. The show features the work of the Grande Prairie and District Golden Age Centre painting group. 

For more information, call 780-814-6080, visit http://creativecentre.ca/ or https://www.facebook.com/TheCentreForCreativeArts?fref=ts

alexa.huffman@sunmedia.ca

Twitter: @DHTAlexa 

http://www.dailyheraldtribune.com/2015/06/04/cca-benefit-launches-friday