Albertans honoured for their service to seniors
EDMONTON Seven Albertans and two organizations were honoured this week for their service to seniors.
For more than 20 years, the Minister’s Seniors Service Awards have recognized volunteers and groups that improve the lives of Alberta’s older generation.
Normally eight make the cut, but the government decided the quality of nominations this year warranted an additional award in the individual category.
Awards went to Bill Chrapko, Bill Wulff, Della Robertson, Dolores Dercach, Jim Swift, Waqar Manzoor, the Fairview and Area Seniors Check-In Line Society and The Lending Cupboard Society of Alberta. Gregory Steiner received the Alice Modin award.
“Alberta is a province of dedicated and talented volunteers who work day after day to improve seniors’ lives,” said Seniors and Housing Minister Lori Sigurdson. Award recipients were selected from 50 nominations.
ALBERTA PARTY BOSS TAKING HEAT
Alberta Party Leader Stephen Mandel is being criticized on social media for meeting with Parents for Choice in Education, a parental rights advocacy group.
The group campaigned against Bill 24 — which, in part, makes it illegal for a teacher to inform a parent if a child joins a gay-straight alliance at school — arguing it creates “enforced secrecy.”
Mandel told Postmedia it’s his duty to talk to everybody, “not just our friends.”
His take-away from the meeting?
“I can’t comprehend why people don’t understand this legislation and why it’s so important, when 50 per cent of all the children on the street are from the gay community. It’s unacceptable,” he said.
Mandel said he tried to convey that message, adding that support of GSAs is a “non-negotiable” Alberta Party platform.
Did he manage a breakthrough? “Probably not, but if you don’t try, you don’t do.”
He also pointed out Education Minister David Eggen has met with the group in the past.
“As politicians, our job is to meet with people,” Mandel said. “If we don’t agree with them, we give them our opinion and try to get across our position.”