Happy New Year to everyone

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I hope your holidays were great. Once again we are all off to a brand new start, hopefully setting some goals or renewing a New Year's resolution.

I went back to Fort Chipewyan for Christmas holidays to spend somet ime with my grandparents. It was great-quiet, and very nice, with no traffic noise and no rushing about. I felt like I had to keep doing something. I was not used to just sitting back and enjoying a good cup of coffee and visiting. So here I am, back to the old grind. It's wonderful to be back in my own space, but it's nice knowing I have a place where I can get away from it all and enjoy peace and solitude.

I was pleased to hear that Ottawa has officially unveiled a new compassionate care component to it's employment insurance package. The compassionate care program will allow people to take time away from work to care for a parent, child or spouse who may be dying. People who are eligible for EI benefits can collect a total of eight weeks over six months, which is great. When I heard this I was really pleased because when my mother was first diagnosed with cancer I decided to help her out as much as I could so most of the time I was out of work. I would escort her to her appointments and attend healing ceremonies. Needless to say I was able to do this with the help of a number of close friends, some of which I still say thank you to as much as I can. If anyone is interested in this particular program, call your local EI office, produce a letter with verification from a doctor about the patient's condition, and that he or she requires the care and support of one or more family members.

FORT MCMURRAY-I spoke to Margo Vermillion who is the Aboriginal liaison for Keyano College. She is excited about a new course that she hopes will see a large number of Aboriginal people climb to higher positions within the oil industry. The Shapotowak program, which began on Jan. 13, will see 12 students attend classes in the evening three times a week. People who are employed with 2000 Plus, a Mikisew Cree First Nations company, will attend. "Instead of the Aboriginal employees always pushing brooms, they will be able to get into other jobs. Hopefully once they do some upgrading, they can challenge writing their apprenticeship exams in such trades as welding, electrical or whatever their interests might be in. A lot of them are good workers and some of them have been with the company for as long as 12 years," she said.

Vermillion said the program is expected to be an ongoing initiative.

"This is like a pilot project, but there will probably be other opportunities stemming off of this one. Right now it is just the beginning. Who knows? Other communities might want to take this course there for their members."

BUFFALO LAKE-Gail and Trevor Cardinal of Buffalo Lake are excited about their son Dylan competing in Germany as part of Team Canada. A goaltender in the peewee division, 11-year-old Dylan will leave home at the beginning of April for 10 days.

Gail said that although the family has come up with more than half of the $3,100 fee for Dylan's trip, they still need to raise $1,300 more. She said that they have a lot of support within the community, but they still have to fund-raise for some of Dylan's meals while there.

"I guess the prices in Germany are a bit more expensive than here-$3,100 is all inclusive. It will cover his hotel for 10 days, transportation on a bus while there, his Team Canada jersey, his track suit and breakfast, but he still needs money for his lunch and supper, and to cover his insurance costs while there," Gail Cardinal said.

Gail and Trevor have four children, with Dylan being the eldest. Dylan will have a supervisor while there, but Gail said that Trevor would also like to go. She said her son was really lucky when he was asked to join Team Canada. She said he did not have to attend any tryouts.

"It was actually by word of mouth. He is on a hockey team in Lac La Biche and his coachknew about this lady who is a well-known power skating coach for an NHL hockey team who lives in Surrey B.C. Her name is Audrey Blakewell. It was kind of a last minute thing. They had their goaltender drop out, so Dylan was recommended to her. He was chosen that way. She called my husband at the end of December and she said that they chose Dylan as one of the goalies. So we as his parents agreed," she said.

So how does Gail feel about being a parent of an up-and-coming hockey star?

"I'm excited and proud of him and we support him. He actually has two cousins who play in the WHL league-Chris Houle and Darren Reid. They are both from Buffalo Lake, so he has them as role models and he's been looking up to them for a long time. That is why he knows he loves hockey. He is excited that he is going to Germany and he talks about it to his friends," she said.

Gail said that her son attends the Dr. Swift school in Lac La Biche and is an honor student.

"He had an 89 per cent average for his first term," she said.

On Jan. 24, the family is hosting a fundraising dance and jamboree. The evening will begin with a supper of soup and bannock, and entertainment will include a comedy skit, local musicians and a dance group and fiddle players. Gail said they are still waiting for a few confirmations on other entertainers who might perform for the fundraising event.

As a parent, Gail said that it is important to be involved with your children at a young age in their education, as well as in recreational activities. She said that it keeps them on the right path.

"Dylan hopes to be in the NHL some day. For me, it is just great seeing him involved in something that is positive and in something that he loves. And he has wonderful friends," she said.

We here at Alberta Sweetgrass hope everything goes well for your family, Gail. And that your fundraising jamboree turns out great.