ENOCH CREE YOUTH NOW HAVE THEIR OWN BMX-STYLE LOOP
Eight-year-old Maddie Morin-Gladue was one of the first youngsters to try out the BMX-style “pump” track last week at the Enoch Cree Nation.
“I’m excited,” she said, tightening her pink bike helmet while sitting on her saddle. “I think I’m going to be good.”
The track on the western outskirts of Edmonton is the size of a football field and the idea of Don Patterson.
Patterson, a former lawyer, was as excited as the more-thana-dozen kids who tried taking big air for the first time as they pedalled over the bumps.
“You’ve got to be thrilled to see kids enjoying themselves so much,” said Patterson, now the manager and commercial director of a Royal LePage office.
The track idea came last year while chatting with Alex Stieda, Edmonton’s former cycling Olympian and winner of a Tour de France yellow jersey.
Patterson is a bit of a cycling nut and strongly believes all children should have the opportunity to lead a heathy lifestyle.
In 2012, at age 58, he completed a self-supported solo bike ride of 7,200 km from Vancouver to St John’s, N.L. in 28 days, averaging more than 250 km a day.
“The objectives were to increase awareness on the importance of physical activity for our youth and to raise funds for YMCA programs across Canada,” he said.
“Following the ride, I was asked by an indigenous sports organizer to help with their youth and for the past four years, I have attended numerous indigenous sports events, health conferences and cultural celebrations.”
This spring, Patterson got the go-head on the pump track from Enoch Chief Billy Morin. The band’s enthusiastic education director Patsy Steinhauer said: “Let’s make it happen.”
Called in from Revolution Cycle to spend hours designing the track’s berms and the space between was bike mechanic Len van Ooyen (L.J.).
“The community spirit and involvement has been incredible,” says Patterson, “The school, the band office, the recreation centre all came on board.
“And then the Enoch operations guys hauled in more than 100 loads of soft clay. They spent weeks shaping the track with heavy equipment and packers.”
Meanwhile, Patterson reached out to Amy Stecyk, a YMCA grant writer.
Together they crafted an application to Canadian Tire’s Jump Start charity, which helps kids of families in need access sports equipment and physical activities.
“We were most grateful when we received 42 bikes and 52 helmets,” said Patterson. “They will service up to 150 youngsters.”
Kalan Morin, 11, nephew of the chief, said, “All the kids want to come and try the track. They have never seen anything like this before.”
Added Enoch’s recreation centre director Jordan Courtepatte, “In my 10 years here, many people have made promises to help our youth, but Don is the first one to deliver.”
Good news for the kids from Patterson: the youngsters who cycle through fall and spring can keep their bikes next summer.
Two other communities have already expressed interest in having a similar track.
COMPETING WITH THE PROS
Eight excited and nervous NAIT students fly to Erfurt, Germany, this week to compete in the Culinary Olympics.
“They are our top students selected in a cook off and they have been practising vigorously,” said Vinod Varshney, NAIT’s culinary arts program head.
“Like other Olympics, the Culinary Olympics are held every four years.
“Our students will compete against professional chefs from 65 nations.”
NAIT sent four students to the competition four years ago, where they won two golds and two silver medals.
“We enjoy an excellent reputation and our hopes are high that we can bring home a good medal haul,” said Varshney.
All NAIT culinary students seeking jobs upon graduation are hired, 10 per cent overseas and the remainder in Edmonton or throughout Canada.