Support pours in for attack victim
By Darlene Casten
Staff Reporter
 Turner
Valley RCMP Cst. Tom Christie said the concern and support he has received
from foothills residents, since a beating that left him with a concussion
and loss of memory, has buoyed him up during a dark time in his life.
“When you are in a traumatic situation you are buried in your
own little world,” he continued. “It has been really traumatic
for the whole family.”
Christie works at the Turner Valley RCMP detachment, but lives in south
Calgary, where he was swarmed and beaten. Two teens, aged 15 and 17,
have been charged with aggravated assault.
Since the beating the well wishes of neighbors, colleagues and residents
have been pouring in to the Christie household.
“It was nice to see that people were thinking of us,” Christie
said from his Calgary home where he is recovering from his injuries.
Christie and his three boys were biking home from the Shawnessy YMCA
on July 23 when they encountered a group of youth in the alleyway. His
sons continued on their way home and Christie confronted the group,
asking them to clean up their mess.
“I was on my bike when the attack happened,” Christie recalled.
“I remember bits and pieces. I didn’t start coming back
to the world until Saturday.”
Christie’s wife was called to the hospital after her husband failed
to return home.
“It has been very difficult for my family,” he related.
“My wife was called to the hospital and had to deal with that
emergency situation.”
When Christie was first admitted the doctors thought he might have suffered
a skull fracture. The final diagnosis was a severe concussion and the
hope of a full recovery.
“I feel very lucky that I can return to full health — that
was music to my ears,” he said. “I have seen these things
turn ugly with lifelong repercussions.”
In the meantime, Christie is still dealing with dizziness, poor balance
and memory loss. He expects to be off the job for a couple months while
he recovers.
“I am looking forward to that time,” he said, adding that
safeguarding the community will always be a priority in his life.
“They (his attackers) still haven’t deferred me from protecting
and keeping my community safe in the way I feel fit,” Christie
said.
However, if faced with a similar circumstance Christie said he would
call the police immediately.
The Turner Valley detachment has only been fielding calls from concerned
residents. Sgt. Tyler Bray said the outpouring of concern for his colleague
is impressive.
“Public support has been phenomenal,” Bray said. “People
have been dropping off flowers, children have made posters and cards
and we are getting phone calls from citizens. It is nice to see that
people still have respect for the uniform.”
Christie has been inundated with the same well wishes during his recovery.
“It has been very heartwarming,” he said. “I have
received cards and flowers. I have also had well wishes from the community.
I’ve gotten phone calls from Turner Valley, Black Diamond and
Eden Valley.”
The boys charged in Christie’s assault will be in court March
21 for a preliminary inquiry.
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In this issue...
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UNCERTAIN FUTURE
Downtown
merchants in transition
See News
KICK OFF
An early look at high school football
See Sports
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Back to Class
St. Mary's students Katie Hughes and
Michaela Chiste stroll the hallways of St. Mary's school in Okotoks.
Monday was the first day back to class for Christ the Redeemer School
Division students while Foothills School Division students head back
today. photo by Jordan Verlage, Special to the Western Wheel
Okotoks - Council has unfinished business
Present
councillors
each seeking re-election
By Cindy Ballance
Senior Reporter
Each member of the present Okotoks council has decided to let their
name stand in the upcoming civic election.
Just prior to nomination day the councillors felt it was important
that the community know their intentions to run this October.
For many of the present councillors, if re-elected, this will be
their fourth term as a community politician and experience, they
say, is their edge.
Councillor Bill Robertson has been a councillor for nine years and,
if re-elected, will begin his fourth term.
Robertson said while he has the experience and knowledge behind
his name, he still must retain fresh ideas.
“I find that with the growth in this town there is always
a new dynamic. (Being a councillor) is still very interesting and
challenging,” he said. “If it wasn’t fun I wouldn’t
do it.”
For Robertson, an elementary teacher, one of his main focuses in
the next term, if elected, will be to see the upgrades to the Okotoks
Recreation Centre come to fruition.
Sharing his sentiments, Ed Sands, also a town councillor for nine
years, said he hopes to continue working on and see to completion
various projects that have been started including the rec centre
upgrades and library expansion.
“There are still some development issues and I worry about
our sustainability concept and Municipal Development Plan. I am
fully in support of it, but there may be folks in the community
who may not support it,” said Sands.
The local chiropractor said he would like to shepherd the concept
further to meet today’s needs.
Sands would also like to continue looking at the future of policing
in Okotoks. Should the town’s population numbers increase
to more than 15,000 the cost of policing is going to be a difficult
situation, he said.
Sands has been a part of a number of boards and committees such
as the Foothills Regional EMS commission which he would also like
to continue.
“In general we’ve done a good job,” said Sands
of the past council. “And I am confident one can take that
record forward.”
Linda Boychuk has also been a part of council for the past three
terms and, at present, the only female representation. She is hoping
to seek re-election due in part to unfinished business.
“They are a great group to work with and I would like to continue
on and accomplishment some of the goals we set out to do and haven’t
met yet,” said Boychuk.
Laurie Hodson agreed with Boychuk’s sentiments and wishes
to continue his position as councillor as well.
Hodson, who recently turned 65, is hoping to retire from his business
and will be able to seek public office on a full-time basis.
“I believe my community should know my intent (for re-election)
prior to nomination day,” he said.
Hodson’s drive for seeking re-election is a passion to leverage
the light industrial areas of the community.
“I have some real concerns with the direction of the light
industrial in this community,” he said. “This is one
compelling thing council needs me to press.”
Being a full-time councillor is also a benefit for Ralph Wilson
who is retired from the RCMP. Wilson said he would like to continue
his position with council and feels he can offer the time and commitment
the position requires.
“I feel like I have a lot of unfinished business on council,”
said Wilson, who if re-elected will be entering his second term.
Wilson hopes that he can continue to work with the residents in
the Lineham East Sub Area to resolve some ongoing issues of development
and the flood plain.
“I have taken it upon myself to champion the cause and get
a final answer from the Alberta government (on the floodway issues),”
said Wilson.
Wilson would also like to see the completion of the 32nd Street
extension and second river crossing, the completion of the rec centre
and equitable funding throughout the division for policing.
Jamie Tiessen, the youngest member ever to sit at the council table,
is also letting his name stand for this fall’s election.
Tiessen is seeking his second term as councillor and said while
the first term was a learning curve he is hoping to inject positive
changes in the next term.
“There is still a lot to be done. There are a lot of projects
this council has started that I want to see completed,” he
said. “I’m pretty excited about another time around.”
Tiessen said one of the town’s biggest challenges is dealing
with growth and finding ways to provide continued services to handle
the population increase.
Mayor Bill McAlpine has already announced his decision to run for
another term this fall.
Nomination day is Sept. 20.
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