Saturday, March 20 is the first day of spring and if you’re not involved in any events yet, there are lots to choose from.

You can “Scrap” all weekend by registering for this Vanderwell Lodge Expansion Fundraiser.

SCRAPPIN’ FOR SENIORS starts Friday March 19 at Northern Lakes College and the $85.00 registration fee includes meals. The action packed weekend will include Great Food, a Gourmet Coffee Bar, Make & Take Workshops, Raffles & Silent Auction, Aquasize Class, Wall Climbing and Karaoke.

Registration forms can be picked up at the Town Office or Email Shirley at toozippy@telusplanet.net or Val at val@slavelake.ca. for an E-form.

If you prefer to be outdoors, how about a great sunny day at the lake? The Curling Club is holding an ICE FISHING DERBY at the west end of Slave Lake on Saturday, March 20.

Your entry fee of $100 for the main event will include a full day of fishing with a chance to win the grand prize of $2,000, and a 5:30 p.m. supper at the Slave Lake Curling Club.

Click here for REGISTRATION FORMS, rules & License.

For more information you can contact Doug Albers @ 780 805-5140 or Clayton Byrt @780 8o5-4107.

Click here for Slave Lake Curling Club Ice Fishing Derby 2009 photo gallery.

Maybe you want to try your luck at cards!

The Rotary Club TEXAS HOLD’EM FUN POKER Theme night takes place Saturday, March 20 at the Sawridge Banquet Room from 5:00 pm – 12:00 Midnight. This $100 Invitation event includes lots of fun, lots of appetizers and lots of prizes. All proceeds from the event will go to Community Projects.

For more Information contact Harry Bartlett @ 780.805.0482.

Or, Saturday, March 20 you can travel to Smith for the REGIONAL CRIBBAGE  tournament. Play starts at 10:00 a.m. and the $15.00 fee includes lunch. Everyone is welcome.

For great family entertainment, you can spend Saturday afternoon watching talented local skaters at the Arctic Ice Centre. The annual SKATING CARNIVAL will take place Saturday, March 20, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. The Lakeside Figure Skating Club Presents “So You Think You Can Skate.” Admission $2/person or $5/family.

For more information please call Lenora Wheeler at (780) 805-4872 or Pam Dodds at (780) 849-2955.

You could LEARN TO RUN a 10k. Meet at 10:00 a.m. at Northern Lakes College. The Slave Lake Running Group would like to invite beginning or re-starting runners to follow a ”Learn to Run” program with new friends. Meet every Saturday and go for smoothies at “Here’s to Your Health” afterwards.

The program, developed to help new runners prepare for the Vancouver Sun Run takes you gently from ”Walk 1minute, Run 2 minutes to be able to ”Run 10 minutes, Walk 1 minute for 10k” in 13 weeks. Just in time for the Bird Run/Walk on June 6.

For more information on the Saturday running group and the ‘Learn to Run a 10k’ you can contact Cindy Snedden780-849-5853 or Email: snedden@telusplanet.net, Edith Mackenzie 780-849-2232 or Email: potmack@telusplanet.net.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

Photo: Glenn Monahan (left) with 2009 Anglers Cup 1st place winners Ken Carpenter & Tracey Crain; and Chris Monahan and Angel Meinecke.

The 2010 Canadian Tire Anglers Cup Walleye Tournament will have a total cash prize payout of $145,000.00 and according to the organizers this represents the richest cash tournament in Canada.

The tournament will be held June 18 and Saturday, June 19 on Lesser Slave Lake and the 2 day combined team weight winner will take home a 1st place prize of $66,000. The prize for 2nd place is $15,000 and 3rd place winners will take home $10,000.

The prize payout is based on Full Entry - Prizes will be prorated on per cent of entries sold.

The Entry fee is $1000.00 per team and Entry forms must be submitted by May 1, 2010 with last year’s teams being grandfathered.

Entry forms are available on the Anglers Cup website at http://anglerscup.ca

The website also has FAQ section and CONTACT US form to submit your question. All updates will be listed on the site and Team Entries will be posted on an ENTRIES LIST. You are asked to keep checking back as the list will be updated as entries are received.

Photo: 2009 Anglers Cup 1st place winners Ken Carpenter & Tracy Crain (centre) 2nd place Claudio Ongaro & Paul Daludet (left) 3rd place Ryan Johnson & Edwin Johnson.

Thanks to the partnership with the 2010 Arctic Winter Games ATB Financial has FREE LAPTOPS to donate to Non-Profit organizations.

“ATB gave 100 laptops to the Games and they are returning those computers to the community for free,” said Pearl Pearson, the bank’s manager in Slave Lake.

“Non Profit organizations have to apply and return their forms here, and we forward it to a committee who will decide which organizations receive the computers.”

For an opportunity to receive a laptop complete with all operating systems, submit an application indicating how your organization will use the computers and the benefits to your organization of having the computers.

Applications can be dropped off at your local ATB Financial Branch.

Click here for application form

As a major sponsor of the Arctic Winter Games, ATB Financial provided a cash donation of $10,000 along with a legacy donation of 100 laptops for use during the games.

After the games community groups across Northern Alberta would be allowed to apply to ATB Financial to have some donated to them.

The Arctic Winter Games were held in Grande Prairie, Alberta March 6 – 13, 2010.

*Photo may not represent actual product.

February 14th, Valentines Day, is not a national holiday, but it is one of those days that must be celebrated. There are “special someones” in your life who expect to receive romantic gifts from their lovers. Commercialism has put a tremendous amount of pressure on men to give their lovers a romantic day with all the trimmings. Women are under pressure to have a man, or they feel desperate and unloved. Valentines Day follows the lives of several couples during this day. Their stories are told through the interconnections they have with each other. Some will find romance in their relationship, and others will feel the heartbreak of ending a relationship. In this Russian roulette world of finding love, everyone in the film is asking for advice on how to find and keep true love. IMDB

Click here to view the embedded video.

Harry Bartlett (left) with the Slave Lake Rotary Club presenting cheques to the Olympic Hockey Pool winners. (L to R) Francis McDonald, Barb Carrell, Joyce Robinson, Sheri Huska, Jordon Huska, Kaitlyn Huska & George Robinson.

The big winners of the hockey pool were George Robinson, Cory Huska and Doug Smith sharing the 1st place prize with $583.33 each. See below for listing of all winners.

The Olypmpic Hockey Pool raffle represents another successful Rotary Club fundraiser with funds raised going to many worthwhile community projects. Click here for information on Rotary Club community projects.

Other Rotary Club fundraisers on the go include a spring FUN POKER Night for this weekend, Saturday, March 20; Slave Lake’s version of DEAL OR NO DEAL May 1 and a PLAYOFF HOCKEY POOL.

Jim Meldrum KAYAKING on the river at Lesser Slave Lake, Spring, 2009. Visit the Lesser Slave Lake Sea Kayaking Club website at http://www.lslskc.com/.  Photo courtesy of Tim Horsman.

Sunday, March 14 DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME begins – move your clock ahead one hour!

MARCH 16, 2010. Offered LIVE ONLINE Transform Your Yard - Living Landscapes Series is a 3 part series starting TUESDAY, March 16.Click here for registration forms and more information

St. Mary’s Graduates HOSTING THIS YEAR’S BIGGEST FUNDRAISER Tuesday, March 16, 2010, 5:00 – 9:00 p.m at the Slave Lake Friendship Centre. . This great evening will include an Irish Inspired Meal with Caesar Salad & Snacks. A silent Auction with tons of great Items ranging from $50 – $250. Entertainment by Tyrone Meyer and Talent Open Mike With great Acts! Tickets are $15.00/person; Family of 4 deal $40.00; Seniors and students deal $10.00. To purchase your ticket contact 780-849-5290 or any of the grad students.

March 17 Celebrate ST. PATRICK’S DAY!

VOLUNTEER WEEK – ARTWORK CONTEST Entry deadline March 19. Drop off entries at Town of Slave Lake office Attn. Lenny Richer. For more info call (780) 849-8000.  Check March EVENTS for details.

March is a busy month, especially the weekend of March 20. Check March EVENTS for detailed information on The Curling Club Ice Fishing Derby, Scrappin’ For Seniors, the Rotary Club’s Annual Texas Hold’em Fun Poker Evening and the Annual Skating Carnival.

Rotary Club TEXAS HOLD’EM FUN POKER Theme  Saturday,March 20, 2010 Sawridge Banquet Room 5:00 pm – 12:00 Midnight. Invitation Event $100 per invitation - Appetizers – Lots of Prizes Profits to Community Projects. For more Information contact Harry @ 780.805.0482

ICE FISHING DERBY Saturday, March 20, 2010 – 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Doug Albers @ 780 805-5140 or Clayton Byrt @780 8o5-4107. Click here for REGISTRATION FORM, License & Rules.

SCRAPPIN’ FOR SENIORS Friday to Sunday, March 19 – 21 Friday 6 pm – 1:30 am; Sat. 8:30 am – 1:30 am; Sun. 8 am – 2 pm At Northern Lakes College. . A fundraiser for the New Vanderwell Lodge Expansion. Meals included. Make & Take workshops, Raffles & Silent Auction, Aquasize Class, Wall Climbing & Karaoke. Registration forms can be picked up at Town Office or Email Shirley at toozippy@telusplanet.net or Val at val@slavelake.ca. for an E-form.

Annual SKATING CARNIVAL Saturday, March 20, 2010, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. The Lakeside Figure Skating Club Presents“So You Think You Can Skate.” Come out and watch talented local skaters at the Arctic Ice Centre, Admission $2/person or $5/family. For more information please call Lenora Wheeler at (780) 805-4872 or Pam Dodds at (780) 849-2955.

Saturday, March 20 at 10:00 a.m. REGIONAL CRIBBAGE will be held in Smith. Fee: $15.00 includes lunch.  Everyone welcome.

Slave Lake ADULT EDUCATION Courses coming up; VINTNER’S DINNER Thursday, March 25, at the Sawridge Inn & Conference Centre. POSSESSION ACQUISITION LICENSE (Firearms Safety)March 27 & 28 and other dates in May.  Click here for details and a listing of all Slave Lake Adult Education courses. To Register call (780) 849-8625 or email kinneek@northernlakescollege.ca.

Northern Lakes College is offering a variety of courses for March and April in Slave Lake, Wabasca and High Prairie.  BUSINESS/PROFESSIONAL Development Course BUSINESS WRITING – Clear, Concise, Successful is offered April 15-16 from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. .Click here for more information and registration.

For course listings and details or to register see NLC Workforce Development in the DIRECTORY and the WorkForceDevelopment CALENDAR on myslavelake.com.

Minor Soccer EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION will start March 22. Register ONLINE at www.slavelakesoccer.com between March 22 and April 4, 2010 and receive a $10 discount for each child. (Only online registrations qualify for early bird discount.) Regular fees will apply starting April 5th. For more information, visit www.slavelakesoccer.com and click on 2010 Soccer Season on the menu.

Fire Permits will be required for any burning in the FOREST PROTECTION AREA. You can get a FREE PERMIT by contacting your local Sustainable Resource Development Office. Click here for new office location in Slave Lake.

WINTER BURNING - Our area of the province has received LESS THAN HALF of average annual snowfall. It is important to CHECK your winter burning. Click here for WINTER BURNING TIPS.

GRAND OPENING CELEBRATIONS Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at 12:00 noon Northern Lakes College will be hosting Grand Opening Celebrations for the INDUSTRY TRAINING ANNEX in Slave Lake.  12:00 noon speeches, 12:15 pm tour and demonstrations  Northern Lakes College Industry Training Annex,   Slave Lake, at 924-8th Street NW.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010 The Slave Lake & District Chamber of Commerce and its partners are proud to present the 12 STEPS OF SUCCESSION PLANNING program, by the University of Alberta School of Business at The Sawridge Inn & Conference Centre. COST: $35.00 each for first 2 persons, $20.00 for each additional family member Cheque or money-order only.

ANNUAL MURDER MYSTERY DINNER Saturday, March 27, 2010, 6:00 p.m. Town Foyer New Government Centre. Contact the Rotary Club of Slave Lake Library.

2010 CANADIAN TIRE ANGLERS CUP June 18 & 19, 2010. The richest cash tournament in Canada will provide a total Cash Prize Payout of $145,000. 1st place prize will payout $66,000.(Prize payout is based on Full Entry). Submit your ENTRY FORM by May 1st, 2010. Check out the 2010 Canadian Tire Anglers Cup Website http://anglerscup.ca for Entry forms, FAQ, Entries List and more….

Check EVENTS calender for information on up coming EVENTS for March. April… and to plan your events.

“ROLL UP THE RIM” to Win starts March 1

Check your winter burns- wildfire season is just around the corner

Alberta’s fire season starts on April 1st. In preparation for warmer weather, Albertans are reminded to use extreme caution when conducting any spring burning, and to re-visit any winter burn sites to ensure those fires have been completely extinguished.

Leah Lovequist, Wildfire Information Officer for Alberta Sustainable Resource Development

“Many people aren’t aware that improperly extinguished wildfires can actually burn underground for months on end,” said Leah Lovequist, Wildfire Information Officer with Alberta Sustainable Resource Development.

“These smouldering holdover fires can resurface during the spring months on hot, dry and windy days, quickly becoming an out of control wildfire,” said Lovequist.

When checking your winter burn sites, spread around any remaining debris so you can probe the area for hotspots.

If you see smoke or feel any heat, the fire is still burning beneath the surface. Douse any remaining hot spots with water and stir up the ashes. A fire is not completely extinguished until there is absolutely no heat emanating from the ashes.

During the fire season, fire permits are required before starting any type of burning activities (excluding campfires) within the Forest Protection Area.

Fire permits are free and available from your local Sustainable Resource Development office.

Slave Lake/Red Earth  (780) 849-7400

Wabasca                       (780) 891-3860

High Prairie                (780) 523-6619

“Conducting a safe burn is as simple as following the conditions on your permit,” said Lovequist. “And remember to always check on the status of fire bans in your area by visiting www.albertafirebans.ca.”

For more information about wildfires in Alberta, visit www.srd.alberta.ca

Photos courtesy of Sustainable Resource Development

Northern Lakes College is offering a variety of courses for March & April in Slave Lake, Wabasca, High Prairie and LIVE ONLINE Training. To register or for detailed information see NLC Workforce Development in the Directory or check out the WorkForce development CALENDAR on myslavelake.com.

BUSINESS/PROFESSIONAL Development Course BUSINESS WRITING – Clear, Concise, Successful offered April 15-16 from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. This course will emphasize business writing (letters, memos, emails, documents, web material) with the reader and readability in mind. In 2 days you will focus on new formats, writing style and more… Click here for more information and registration.

Offered LIVE ONLINE Transform Your Yard - Living Landscapes Series is a 3 part series starting   Tuesday, March 16. Click here for registration forms and more information

Session 1 -Tuesday, March 16 will help you develop a vision to transform your outdoor space. Session 2 - Water-Wise Gardening Tuesday, March 30 and Session 3 – Abundant Harvest – Creating an Edible Landscape is offered Tuesday, April 20.

Starting March 24, 2010 register for the “ALTERNATIVE ENERGY & ENERGY EFFICIENCY series LIVE Online . Click here for registration forms and more information

Bring Your Own Electricity Bills Wednesday, March 24, 2010.

Making Your New House Solar Ready Wednesday, April 14, 2010

How to Connect to Alberta’s Electric Grid Wednesday, April 28, 2010

FIRST AID SPECIAL FOR VOLUNTEER WEEK – April 24 & 25, 2010.  If you are a volunteer with a non-profit group then you can sign up for the Standard First Aid course at a greatly reduced price – just $40 per person (includes GST). Limit of 2 per agency. Call 780-849-8623 Click here to register online now.

Other SAFETY Courses offered for March & April; H2S Alive March 16, April 7 & 20 in Slave Lake and March 23 and April 27 in Wabasca. Standard First Aid March 17-18 and April 8-9 & 21-22 in Slave Lake. TDG/WHMIS is offered  March 15 and April 6 & 19.

For more information and to get a complete and up-to-date listing of all SAFETY courses click on NLC WorkForce Development in the DIRECTORY or check out the WorkForce Development CALENDAR on myslavelake.com.

COMPUTER COURSES – Microsoft 2007 Excel Level 2 March 23 in Slave Lake and March 23-24 in Wabasca. Microsoft 2007 Word Level 1 offered March 22 in Slave Lake.

Microsoft  2007 Powerpoint Level 1 offered April 13 in Slave Lake - In just 6 hours you will be introduced to the basic operation of a presentations program using MS Powerpoint XP. Click here to register online now.

For more details, information on upcoming courses or for registration information and forms, check NLC WorkForce Development in the Directory and the WorkForce Development CALENDAR on myslavelake.com.

Phone: (780) 849-8623 Fax: (780) 849-8704 or   Toll Free 1-866-652-3456

or email wfdev@northernlakescollege.ca

Directed by Lasse Halström and based on the novel by best-selling author Nicholas Sparks, DEAR JOHN tells the story of John Tyree (Channing Tatum), a young soldier home on leave, and Savannah Curtis (Amanda Seyfried), the idealistic college student he falls in love with during her spring vacation. Over the next seven tumultuous years, the couple is separated by John’s increasingly dangerous deployments. While meeting only sporadically, they stay in touch by sending a continuous stream of love letters overseas—correspondence that eventually triggers fateful consequences. IMDB

Click here to view the embedded video.

Photo: Taking delivery of the fire truck last summer is Grand Prairie Rotary Club representative Allan Kuechle with Slave Lake Rotary Club President Ali Mouallem and Lesser Slave Regional Fire Service chief Jamie Coutts.

Fleet in Idaho Falls March 7, 2010

With the help of the SLave Lake Rotary Club, a used yet re-furbished fire truck from Slave Lake is on its way to help communities in Mexico and should reach its destination this weekend.

The 2010 Highway to Mexico crew set off from Grande Prairie at 6:15 a.m. Friday, March 5 for their annual 5,000-kilometre road trip to Mazatlan.

The Slave Lake truck is one of four fire trucks that is being delivered this year along with an ambulance and a handicapped-accessible bus.

The Grande Prairie and Edson Rotary Road Crew- Las Vegas, Nevada March 8, 2010

The vehicles are being driven from Alberta to Mazatlan by a team of volunteer Rotarians from Grande Prairie and Edson with 2 drivers per vehicle. They are expected to arrive in Mexico around March 11 and once there, the vehicles will be driven to the communities.

You can follow the progress of the trip by clicking on to the ROTARY TO MEXICO 2010 blog.

Dinner at Timberline, Beaver, Utah March 7, 2010.

For 8 years the Highway to Mexico program has donated and delivered fire trucks, school buses and ambulances to Mazatlan.

Last summer Rotarians from Grande Prairie picked up the fire truck that the Slave Lake Rotary Club had procured from the regional fire service and the Town.

“When the Grande Prairie Rotarians were here they told us about their last fleet delivery that also included a used school bus,” said Mouallem.
The big yellow school bus was clearly a big hit in the village where some students walk as many as eight kilometers – one way – every day. It’s a distance that makes some parents keep their daughters home – and consequently uneducated, he added.

“One of the Rotarians offered to take some kids for a quick ride around the village, and when the ride was over another counted 150 kids getting off the 48-passenger bus!”

In fact, the arrival of the school bus also prompted officials in that area to actually build a road to the remote community’s school, he added.

Mouallem said the emergency vehicle fleet program in Grande Prairie has been going on for several years.

He applauded the Town of Slave Lake for donating its used fire truck to the local Rotary club. He also said Regional Fire Service Fire Chief Jamie Coutts indicated that some members from his volunteer squads had offered to go to Mexico to help train volunteer firefighters there.