Drumheller’s own Carmanah Olbrich has been awarded her Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award.
 The 17-year-old St. Anthony’s student travelled to Edmonton to receive the award from Her Honour the Lt. Governor of Alberta Lois E. Mitchell at a ceremony last Friday, April 28.
    “It works on different aspects of your life, Carmanah told the Mail. It helps me become more well rounded.”
    Carmanah completed her bronze award about a year ago and quickly filled the requirements of the silver medal. The program challenges young people to take on a number of challenges. Carmanah has been an active soccer player in the community and her volunteer experience was coaching youth soccer.
    “It was really cool. You have to be creative,” she said of her coaching of U6 players.
    Another exciting challenge for young people pursuing the award is an adventurous journey.  Last summer Carmanah took on the grueling Westcoast Trail. This is a weeklong, 75-kilometre trek along the west coast of Vancouver Island.
    It was amazing and really good weather, she said.
    She says the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award has inspired her to become a more active member of my community.
    “Since starting the Award, I have become a founding member of the yearbook committee, started coaching and mentoring children with the Drumheller Minor Soccer Club, and have become a member of both the Drumheller Citizens Advisory Committee and the National Youth Advisory Committee,” she said. “Through the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, I have been able to develop new skills, learn the value of helping others, and push the limits of my abilities.”
    The Award, now in 144 countries, and established in Alberta 40 years ago, is a non-competitive youth development platform that deepens self-awareness, builds confidence and broadens skills and experiences to further their growth as active, responsible citizens.

Executive Producer Dean Kohut’s film ‘She Has a Name’ won the Alberta Film & Television Award for Best Production Design on the weekend.
Red Deer-based Production Designer for the film, Shari Aspinall, was on hand to accept the award in Edmonton.
"The acknowledgment of an established community of creatives such as Alberta Film & Television is not only satisfying but affirming of the heart and hours invested into independent films like She Has A Name,” notes Aspinall who shares a production design credit on the film with UK-based Donna Abraham.
The film was produced in Red Deer, Alberta, filmed in Thailand, and features an international cast and crew. Key creative team and many crew members originally hail from Central Alberta or were professionally trained in the province. Aspinall, also one of the film’s producers, hails from Red Deer.
She Has A Name exposes the $150 billion global human trafficking industry that sells children, women and men as commodities. The film’s visually rich style, vibrant colours and gritty cinematic look has been receiving acclaim around the world, including four other nominations at the weekend’s award ceremonies, including Best Dramatic Feature.
"My hope as both producer and designer is that the visual grit and beauty allows our audience to emotionally encounter the humanity of the characters and to attribute value that shifts paradigms currently facilitating child slavery,” says Aspinall.
For any craftsperson to be eligible for the awards, he or she must have been a resident of Alberta for the 2016 calendar year. Affectionately known as the Rosies, the award ceremony took place at a gala event on Saturday, April 29 at the SHAW Conference Centre in Edmonton.
She Has A Name was released in December 2016 in select theatres globally and is currently expanding to exclusive screening engagements across North America. In May 2017, the film has select engagements at theatres in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Blackfalds, Alberta, Folsom California and Ottawa, Ontario.
The new feature film by Unveil Studios was directed by Matthew and Daniel Kooman from the screenplay by Andrew Kooman. The Kooman brothers, along with Donna Abraham and Shari Aspinall are producers. Lance Kadatz and Dean Kohut are Executive Producers.
Unveil Studios produces original stories that impact audiences. It is owned and operated by Kooman brothers Matthew, Andrew, and Daniel. Unveil Studios’ films include She Has A Name; E for Everyone: The Mouse and the Elephant; The Ladder of My Life; The Story; and A Filmmaker’s Search for Revival.
Unveil produces a wide range of media across platforms including the web, film, TV, video, books, print media, and the theatrical stage.

To learn more about She Has A Name, visit the website here: