The Drumheller Valley Secondary School (DVSS) Connections program is an accredited leadership program that six students are currently taking.  This leadership program has encouraged the youths to have the responsibility to undertake a project that will have a positive impact on school culture.
    Aspects such as leadership and individual skills are enhanced through this project. Connection engages the potential to become an affirmative ambassador of optimism and interdependence in the school and the community.  
    They chose a mural to be done in the school and Principal Curtis LaPierre suggested the library.  The words on the mural were hand picked by the Connections group and the basis of this project is based on self-love, self-worth and to improve the school culture. Students wrote inspirational words on the flower petals.  Partners who helped financially or artistically were Jamie O’Brien, Image Crafters and the Alberta Treasury Branch who is selling calendars on their behalf and donating 100 percent of the proceeds back to Connections to pay for the murals expenses.    
    Youth Speaker from Young Women of Power (YWOP) Alison Springer came and spoke to the students. This presentation was funded through the FCSS program in Drumheller.          YWOP is a nonprofit grass roots organization that builds the confidence of young women by providing four main pillars.  Helping girls see their beauty, teaching them street smarts for preventative measures through wisdom, showing them that they are women of great power who can make a difference globally and locally when they think big and lastly, inspiring them to be honourable woman who live out of their principles.
  

    Valri Bickerton and Jon Foran, joined the Commit to Fit Challenge at the Badlands Community Facility (BCF). Their goal was to become more fit, lose weight and be able to participate in a marathon.
    Bickerton’s original weight loss target was 12 lbs in one month however she says eight would have been more realistic.
      They try to  exercise daily at the  BCF   using the circuit training, jogging on the track and lifting weights on the stack machines.   At home they use a stationary bike while watching TV.  Bickerton  also goes to Zumba.
    Foran’s challenge  is to run 8-10 kilometers and to participate in Dinosaur Valley Half Marathon in September and he is already  half way there.   He is using the treadmill and weighted stack machines.  Bickerton said,  “I will also participate in the marathon using the run/walk/run method.”
    Bickerton also uses an App on her phone called My Fitness Pal, which keeps track of the calories consumed daily.   Last year she was able to lose 20 lbs. with help of the App.   Drinking at least 8 cups of water per day has also helped.
    Bickerton and Foran will be getting married in the Fall and  fitting for the wedding dress is a high priority.  She would like to lose up to two dress sizes.  
     BCF staff confirmed that close to 100 people have joined the Commit to Fit Challenge. You can still join up and register your goals and qualify for  winning a 3 month membership.
    If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change. (Fred Devito)