Today is World No Tobacco Day and organizers are taking aim at flavoured tobaccos.
    The World Health Organization created World No Tobacco Day in 1987 to encourage a 24-hour period of abstinence from tobacco. In Alberta, the theme is Flavour your Life without Tobacco.
    Martin McSween, of Alberta Health Services, says the goal this year is to raise awareness of flavoured tobacco. He says these are blatantly aimed in their marketing and packaging, at children.
    “Flavouring is a way to entice the youth and young adult market to use,” said McSween. “The more we can do to highlight that flavouring is just a mask—and it is a genius way for the tobacco industry to entice young people to start—the better.”
    McSween said there has been progress made.  Nationally, Bill 32 was designed to crack down on marketing tobacco to youth. Despite this, there are still small “cigarillo”  style flavoured cigars or sale. The legislation also excludes smoke free tobacco and menthol.
    “Cigarillos were defined by weight, so the tobacco industry reengineered their product, so they could continue to sell them individually,” said McSween. “The recommendation was to change the weight and then be sold in 10s or 20s, making them more affordable to youth.”
    In Alberta, Bill 206 received its first reading. This is also designed to ban flavoured tobacco. This includes additives for flavouring tobacco, menthol, shisha and spit tobacco.
    “We are in “chew” country, the biggest flavouring to get people started is Skoal,” said McSween. “Usually when I talk to spit tobacco users they says they started with Skoal and then graduated to Copenhagen.
    However, it has been delayed until the fall.
    “It is supported by the majority of MLAs on both sides of the house, unfortunately was adjourned and now it will languish until the fall session,” said McSween. “There has been some great inroads with both sides of the house and lots of people were talking to their MLAs about it.”
    To mark World No Tobacco Day in Drumheller, there will be interactive displays at the Drumheller Health Centre and clinic on May 30 and 31. Last Monday, McSween made a presentation to Drumheller Town council.
    Alberta Health Services offers a variety of programs and services to help Albertans quit tobacco use, including telephone and online support services, group cessation programs, and one-on-one counselling. For more information call AlbertaQuits at 1-866-710-7848(QUIT) or visit www.albertaquits.ca
    Locally you can call the Drumheller Addiction Office at 403-823-1660.

    Long time volunteer in Drumheller and beyond, Becky Kowalchuk, was named 2013 Drumheller Rotary Club Citizen of the Year.
    The annual Celebration of Excellence was celebrated on Saturday, May 25 at the Badlands Community Facility.  Kowalchuk and Bev Krabsen were the finalists for the prestigious award.
    “I feel so truly honoured by this, especially considering it’s Drumheller’s Centennial. The Drumheller Rotary Club is a highly regarded group of citizens and to be recognized by you is a great honour,” said Kowalchuk.

Becky Kowalchuk was named 2013 Citizen of the Year at the Annual Celebration of Excellence last Saturday night at the Badlands Community Facility. Marina Flater was named most Courteous Employee of the Year. At the presentation are (l-r) Most Courteous Employee Marina Flater, Mayor Terry Yemen, Citizen of the Year Becky Kowalchuk, runner-up Bev Krabsen, MP Kevin Sorenson, Rotary President Brent Pedersen and Most Courteous Employee runner–up Stacy McLean.

    John Sparling put Kowalchuk’s name forward and her resume shows a 30-year history of volunteerism in the community. This ranged from volunteering with sports clubs when her children participated in school activities, to arts and cultural projects such as Kaleidoscope Theatre and the East Coulee Spring Festival. Most recently, she was part of the Olympic Torch Relay Drumheller Organizing Committee and is part of the Dinosaur Valley Half Marathon organizing committee.
    “Becky has actively and effectively contributed by assuming various roles on community associations and projects,” said Sparling at the ceremony. “Regardless of what role Becky has in associations, she has unbridled enthusiasm and gives her all. Becky is task oriented and always does more than what is expected of her.”
    Kowalchuk is a long time employee of the Royal Tyrrell Museum and Sparling says she is often “loaned out” by the museum to contribute to community projects. She never comes single handed either, often inspiring others, be it family, friends or coworkers to support whatever the project is. Sparling quoted Colin Kloot, who worked closely with her on the Dinosaur Half.
“Becky’s list of contacts in the community is of immense worth to our committee, as it is very apparent  she has built a legion of people who are willing to give their time to her or whatever her cause may be.”
    Kowalchuk wasn’t the only winner. Marina Flater was named Most Courteous Employee. She was a finalist along with Stacy McLean for the award.
    Marina described the honour of being selected as “ridiculously amazing.”
    Flater’s enthusiasm for whatever she does is infectious. She has played many roles in the community, and most recently is part of the team at the Badlands Community Facility, working as a booking specialist.
    “She is equally skilled at meeting the needs of frantic brides as she is with corporate officers,” said her nominator, who wished to remain anonymous. “Marina makes you feel listened to and understood and then she bends over backwards to try and accommodate all the important details of your special occasion. She is a problem solver with a common sense approach.”
    This year saw a return to a partnership with the Rotary Club and the Town of Drumheller for the Celebration of Excellence. The Leaders of Tomorrow awards were presented at this year’s celebration. These awards honour the contribution of youth in the community.
     Ocean Anthony-Bossert of St. Anthony’s School, Madison Colberg and Travis Molzan of DVSS were named winners of the Leaders of Tomorrow Award, as was Rayann Soledad, who graduated from DVSS last year.

The Town of Drumheller presented the Leaders of Tomorrow Awards at the Celebration of Excellence. At the presentation are (l-r) director of Community Services Paul Salvatore, Rayann Soledad, Ocean Anthony-Bossert and Mayor Terry Yemen. Missing is Travis Molzan.

Madison Colberg was named one of the recipients of the Leaders of Tomorrow Award. While she wasn’t able to attend the Celebration of Excellence last Saturday, her proud grandparents accepted the award in her stead. At the presentation are (l-r) director of Community Services Paul Salvatore, Irene and John Kohut and Mayor Terry Yemen.