R.C.M.P. members lace up their skates with Whitecourt youth for the first Winter Skate Party

Last summer, the Town of Whitecourt, P.O.W.E.R. Group (People of Whitecourt Encouraging Resiliency), Whitecourt Crime Prevention, and generous sponsors brought forward Park Parties. The Town held three events at three different parks in June, July and August. The events brought neighbours out to play games, eat food and meet others from their area.

Residents enjoyed the events, coming out in droves, resulting in the Town of Whitecourt to creating Winter Parties. In February, they held a Light Up Toboggan Party at the Dahl Drive toboggan hill, and last week, on Thursday, March 16, they had a Winter Skate Party at Percy Baxter rink.

As with every party event, members of the Whitecourt R.C.M.P. attend, along with various front-line heroes, including firefighters and paramedics, and the P.O.W.E.R Group. R.C.M.P. officers Belan, Goulet and Amponsah were on hand last week and laced up their skates. Crime Prevention Coordinator Tina Prodaniuk explained that the skating party was initially set for March 9 but that they decided to bump it by a week in hopes of getting better weather.

“It’s a great turnout, and the sun is shining, finally! People are enjoying themselves, and we couldn’t have asked for a better day.” Prodaniuk said getting people out of their homes and doing something positive is the whole point of the event. “We want to encourage families to get together. Pembina Pipeline has sponsored hot dogs, and we have coffee and Timbits for everyone. We couldn’t have done this without their support. There is lots of skating happening, and our R.C.M.P. members are giving out Positive Tickets. When kids get a ticket, they get an extra ticket to go to the Red versus Blue hockey game coming up next month,” said Prodaniuk.

Positive Tickets are just like they sound. R.C.M.P. members write tickets when they see a kid riding their bike or skating with a helmet, recycling, volunteering, making positive choices, or using a crosswalk. R.C.M.P. officers handed out tickets during the skate party for much funnier reasons. One kid received one for being dressed too warm for the weather, while another was written up for being a Calgary Flames fan.

The Red versus Blue hockey game will feature the Whitecourt fire department (red) and the Whitecourt R.C.M.P. detachment (blue). The game is on April 15 at the Scott Safety Centre on the Athabasca rink. “Each kid gets to bring a guest with their ticket,” explained Prodaniuk. Though everyone in the community is invited to watch and support the players, kids with tickets will get down onto the ice surface for a picture with the firefighters and police officers. “We will even have red and blue bangers to pick which team you’re cheering for. It’s going to be really fun. We are encouraging people to come out,” said Prodaniuk. She said they haven’t typically gotten too many spectators in the past but are hoping to see lots of people attend this year. “We would like to see people come out and watch our heroes battle it out.”

With heavy sadness throughout the province and within the tight-knit protective services community following the deaths of two Edmonton Police Services officers earlier that day, Prodaniuk said the skating event helped bring smiles to the faces of the officers. “Today was a heavy day, so I think this was the perfect way for them to start their shift because that’s what these guys are doing. Some even came out early to put their skates on and practice. They’ve definitely got some smiles on their faces here today.”

A.H.S. Health Promotion Facilitator Courtney Koopmans said promoting a healthy community is important for several reasons. “It helps as a protective factor for many things out there. Everybody is experiencing some financial strain at this time or is feeling down and maybe lonely, so we are showing that we can come together and be a community and protect ourselves from family violence, against self-harm, and negative mental health.”

She said it also shows families that physical activity can happen, regardless of the weather. “It’s about promoting those factors that keep us healthy.” Koopmans said one of the items promoted at the event was the story of Jacob’s Heart. “It’s about a fictional character, a twelve-year-old boy, that lives in Whitecourt. The story is about how every interaction that he experiences can make or break what he feels and experiences. Nothing really bad happens to him, but nothing builds him up, and slowly his heart breaks apart until there’s nothing left.”

There were cups and pins on hand with the saying “Drink Coffee & Do Good,” which ties into an initiative that Whitecourt P.O.W.E.R. has. “It’s the P.O.W.E.R. motto. We base it on getting to know your neighbours and having a coffee with them. Get to know those around you,” explained Koopmans.

Park Parties will continue this summer. Prodaniuk said they have three dates set and will be sharing those with the public as soon as they can. “They have been an absolute hit. We are switching it up with different parks, and this was part of it, just grabbing one of the rinks. The ice was a bit soft today, but it worked out.” Koopmans said this summer, the park parties will feature a graffiti wall.

When asked why it’s important for police officers to hang out with the community’s youth, Koopmans said it’s good for both the officers and the youth, especially because officers tend to move around to different communities. “This shows them that they matter to the community and that they are part of it.”

Prodaniuk agreed. “That engagement piece is so important because we want them to make sure that they know that the police are there to help and that when they need them, they will be there. This is the part of society that the officers want to see. It’s happy and good, and these officers need to see that.”