Grade 12 students of the Friends of Rachel (FOR) club from Drumheller Valley Secondary School shared their anti-bullying message to the Grade 4, 5, and 6 classes of Greentree School.
    FOR started in memory of Rachel Scott, the first victim of the Columbine shooting. Her diaries and notes became the basis for an organization that aims to create a safe learning environment free of bullying and inspire everyone to make a permanent and positive change in their school.
    The FOR club began at DVSS when Shannon Kean, a student at DVSS, attended Connections Camp near Calgary this past summer. The camp helps foster leadership in schools.
    “It helps to cut down racism and bullying,” said Kean. As part of the camp, participants had to organize a leadership activity at their school.
    Kean chose to invite a FOR group to give a presentation to the school. Afterwards, Kean and fellow students started their own FOR club with the support of DVSS teachers Lynn Hemming and Cindy Karpa.
    Members of the club participate in a large number of activities, including welcoming new students, giving away gift cards to promote kindness, escorting seniors during the Remembrance Day ceremonies, and helping kids in need.
    The club has also given presentations to junior high students about prevention of bullying and counselling  to students who are being bullied. Members of the club are not afraid to confront the bullies themselves and help them change.
    “We help cut down bullying and set a good example,” said Kean.
    The FOR club spoke withstudents from Greentree School and shared their experiences and insights into how bullying can harm a person for life, how it can be prevented, and promote kindness.
    Melissa MacKinnon, a DVSS student, told her moving story of her ordeal with a pack of bullies when she was in Grade 9.
     “There was a group of Grade 12 girls that would pick on me,” said MacKinnon. “They would find me in the hallways just to make fun of me, push me, or say some rude names.
    “It was brutal,” continued MacKinnon. “It hurts to be made fun of and that happened to me everyday.”
    After the presentation the Greentree students were given a chance to ask the FOR members questions about junior and senior high school, and bullying.
    The FOR club will continue to promote kindness amongst their peers through a random acts of kindness week.
    “They’re very good role models,” said Hemming. “I’m very proud of what we’re doing.”

    The race is on to replace Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills MLA Richard Marz, and so far, three have stepped up to the plate.
    The process of nominating potential candidates for the PC Party closed last Friday, and Darcy Davis, Al Kemmere and William Stevenson have all decided to put their names into the hat.
    Davis was in Drumheller on the campaign trail last Monday, and the end of the trail is not far off.
    The first votes for the PC candidate are coming up this weekend.
    Those wishing to vote in the contest for the PC Party representative for the Olds –Didsbury-Three Hills constituency can vote November 19 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Beiseker hall, or at the Three Hills Super 8 from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.
    On November 26 voting will take place at the Cremona Hall from 10 a.m.  to 1 p.m.  and at the Didsbury Arena from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.
    Davis a third generation Acme area farmer, and with his wife raised their two daughters. He and his wife founded Lost Creek Cattle Enterprises.
 He spent seven years with the Alberta Beef Producers and was elected chair in 2004. He also spent six years on the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association serving as the finance chair and on the foreign trade committee. He has also served as president of the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance, and currently is on the board of the Agriculture Financial Services Corporation.
 He feels his experience gives him a solid background. He has a broad understanding of local issues as well as how Alberta fits on the international stage.
 While he has seen the political climate of the area and indeed the province turn, he says his principles and values lay within the PC Party.
 “We need a big picture view,” he said.
 He is focused on renewing the PC Party and says they have a strong leader and communicator in Alison Redford.
 In fact, he says communication was part of the reason the party had struggled. He wants a more open way for issues to be dealt with and emphasizes communication means listening.
 Some of the issues he foresees as being important are healthcare and education. He also sees seniors’ issues coming to the forefront, especially as the numbers are expected to double in the next few years.
 While the nomination process closed, just last weekend, all of the candidates have been busy campaigning since summer.
    Following the Didsbury vote on November 26, the ballot boxes will be opened.