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Rib race
The tantalizing aroma of 4,000 pounds of barbecued ribs entices hundreds of people to head downtown in Okotoks on Saturday to enjoy the 10th annual Okotoks Rotary Club Rib Cook-off. Coulton and Josh Karch were among many who enjoyed the beef ribs. For more photos and results, see page 22.
- photo by Cindy Ballance
New CEO appointed to Headwaters' board
By Cindy BallanceEditor
Headwaters Health Authority has a new chief.
Present chair of the authority, Courtney Rousseau announced last week that effective Nov. 19 David Richardson will become the new chief executive officer.
After a stringent search process by Headwaters, Richardson was appointed after former CEO Dwight Nelson resigned his post effective Aug. 31.
Richardson is from the Northern Interior Regional Health Board in Prince George, BC where he served as CEO since its inception four years ago.
According to Rousseau, Richardson is seen as an asset to the Headwaters team. 'He has great depth of experience and a tremendous education background that I think we can access,' said Rousseau.
The Northern Interior board serves a population of 136,000 people and brings together urban, rural and remote communities with integrated acute, mental health, long-term care and public health system.
Rousseau explained that having this background is a great benefit for Headwaters. 'We look forward to the leadership that Dave will bring to our organization in the challenging times ahead,' he said.
Richardson has been employed in health administration for 29 years, at the CEO and assistant level in health care and in a variety of settings including rural acute, pediatric rehabilitation, cancer treatment and research, geriatrics, urban acute and regional integrated health services.
'I'm excited about joining the fastest growing health region in Alberta,' said Richardson in a press release.
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Enrolment figures dip in west end schools
By Cindy BallanceEditor
Even though the Foothills School Division has seen a modest increase in school enrolment this year, numbers in the west end of the division are down drastically.
According to the preliminary enrolment figures presented to the division board at its regular meeting held Sept. 5, Oilfields High School saw a decrease in enrolment of 17 students and C. Ian McLaren saw a decrease of 37 students.
In total, the Black Diamond schools saw a decrease of 7.59 per cent over last year's enrolment numbers.
Overall enrolment in the division is up if only by 0.13 per cent.
'We have shown a small amount of growth but for some reason it hasn't happened in the west end,' said associate superintendent Jay Pritchard.
Originally, the school division projected growth in the west end schools to be about seven additional students.
Although Pritchard said there is no precise way to determine why there is a decrease in the west end, he did say that some of the students may have moved within the division.
'Knowing the choice of curriculum at the Comp (Foothills Composite High School in Okotoks) we are keeping them in the jurisdiction but better meeting their needs,' said trustee Kimberly Epp.
Pritchard explained that other students transferred to the separate school board and others moved out of the province.
What was also interesting in the preliminary enrolment figures is the decreased student count at Red Deer Lake School. Pritchard said the decrease is due to the limitations placed on Calgary students coming to the north end school.
On the positive side both the Okotoks Junior High School and Foothills Composite/Alberta High School of Fine Arts have seen substantial growth this year.
As well Highwood High School has seen similar growth.
Pritchard said some of the reasoning behind the decrease in elementary schools compared to high schools is due to a lower number of students starting in the school system and the large number moving up into the high schools.
'ECS enrolment numbers are less than 400 over the last few years and we are moving up 600 (students) from Grades 5 and 6,' explained secretary/ treasurer Murray Lloyd.
At Dr. Morris Gibson there is some question as to why enrolment did not increase as expected this year. Pritchard said it is partly due to an adjacent subdivision which wasn't constructed before the start of school.
Pritchard added that while local municipalities are experiencing rapid growth, the same is not occurring with the school division.
There is a request by the division for local schools to submit its final enrolment figures by Sept. 15. A more accurate picture of enrolment numbers will be available after that time.
Various staffing changes will take place as a result of enrolment figures, however, FSD officials were unavailable for comment before press time.
Preliminary Enrolment (as of Sept. 5, 2001)
Okotoks schools:
- Big Rock School - 415, down three students;
- Dr. Morris Gibson - 417, down 12 students;
- Okotoks Junior High School - 678, up 44 students;
- Percy Pegler - 382, down one student.
- Foothills Composite/School of Fine Arts - 984, up 59.
Oilfields schools:
- C. Ian McLaren - 206, down 37 students;
- Turner Valley School - 195, down nine students;
- Oilfields High School - 419, down 17 students.
High River schools:
- Spitzee School - 281, same as last year;
- Joe Clark - 306, up 14 students;
- Senator Riley - 389, up five students;
- Highwood High School - 753, up 41 students.
Area schools:
- Longview School - 109, down seven students;
- Blackie School - 194, down five students;
- Cayley School - 132, down 16 students;
- Millarville School - 166, down 20 students.
- Red Deer Lake - 494, down 14 students.
