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Tag: Livingstone Range School Division

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LRSD hires mental health therapists

Written by Breeze Content on . Posted in Authors, Community, Education, Health/Wellness, Stories, William Cockerell. No Comments on LRSD hires mental health therapists

The pair will be tasked with providing culturally appropriate and evidence-informed practices in crisis intervention, assessment, referral and intervention services for students and their families. Additionally, they may support consultation and professional development activities within LRSD.

Students and their families can access this service through a referral process with a school’s family-school liaison counsellor. 

Through this process, the counsellor determines if the student and caregiver will be best served seeing an LRSD mental health therapist.

If it is determined to be the best course of action, a referral will be made and the mental health therapist will reach out to initiate the service moving forward.

Colette, who is Métis, will be working as the Indigenous mental health therapist for the division. Her focus will be primarily on the Fort Macleod and Pincher Creek areas, given their significant Indigenous populations.

Colette previously worked within the school division as the family-school liaison counsellor at Livingstone School in Lundbreck. 

She provided support to students and families experiencing hardships while acting as a liaison between families and the school system.

Holding a bachelor’s degree in psychiatric nursing from Brandon University and a master’s in counselling psychology from Yorkville University, Colette has the experience and education to excel in this role.

“I am extremely pleased to be chosen to fill this new role and look forward to gaining knowledge and sharing experiences with individuals and families in the Pincher Creek and Fort Macleod area,” Colette said in a press release from LRSD.

 

Notice of operational days for Crowsnest/Pincher Creek Landfill

 

Kristen will work in the northern and western corridors of LRSD. This includes schools in Nanton, Stavely, Claresholm, Granum, Lundbreck and Crowsnest Pass. 

Kristen previously spent over 10 years working predominantly for community agencies and Alberta Health Services. 

She holds a diploma in social work from Mount Royal University, on top of bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from the University of Calgary. 

With a diverse education background and an affinity for helping others, Kristen is excited for this new challenge.

“I am looking forward to seeing the world through a student’s lens and helping support and nurture healthy and meaningful relationships in the process,” said Kristen in the same media release.

The mental health therapist positions are temporary roles made possible through the Alberta government’s Mental Health in Schools Pilot Grant.

LRSD recognizes the importance of having therapists available to its students and felt this was an opportunity the division could not pass up. 

“Oftentimes the ability to access these supports may prove difficult due to travel logistics or financial barriers,” says Holly Stewart, clinical team lead with LRSD, in the press release.

“Having Colette and Kristen join our division and be able to provide these essential services directly and in a flexible, timely manner to our students and their caregivers in the school setting is truly exciting.” 

Colette and Kristen will hold these positions until Dec. 31, 2024, barring any changes.

Man blowing nose into handkerchief while woman wearing non-medical mask has hands in the air fending off germs

Respiratory illness outbreak at MHHS

Written by Shannon Peace on . Posted in Children/Youth, Community, Health/Wellness. No Comments on Respiratory illness outbreak at MHHS

A “respiratory illness outbreak” was announced at Matthew Halton High School in Pincher Creek on Tuesday, Nov. 22, according to Darryl Seguin, superintendent at Livingstone Range School Division. 

The outbreak came into effect at MHHS after at least 10 per cent of the 278 students stayed home with respiratory symptoms.

Schools are asked to notify Alberta Health Services’ Co-ordinated Early Identification and Response team whenever absenteeism due to respiratory illness hits 10 per cent or when there’s an unusual number of individuals (off sick) with similar symptoms.

Tuesday’s announcement came one day after an outbreak was declared at Pincher Creek’s Canyon School.

No further outbreaks were reported within LRSD as of Wednesday afternoon. A prior outbreak had been announced at the school division’s early-learning program at the Horace Allen School in Coleman. 

 

Beige and green trailer on announcement reminding Pincher Creek residents to have trailers off the street by Oct. 21.

Seguin didn’t say if LRSD has the authority to impose masking mandates. Premier Danielle Smith announced earlier this month that “Our government will not permit any further masking mandates of children in Alberta’s K-12 education system.” 

A Court of King’s Bench judge had previously ruled that a health order to this effect by Dr. Deena Hinshaw, formerly Alberta’s chief medical officer, “was made for improper purposes.”

Justice G.S. Dunlop ruled that the chief medical officer has the authority to mandate school health measures, but that Hinshaw had based her order on a political decision by cabinet.

Custodial staff at Canyon and MHHS are taking extra care to clean surfaces, while teachers are being encouraged to rearrange classrooms to allow for more social distancing, Seguin said. 

The outbreak seems to have spared teachers at MHHS, with Seguin saying staff absences due to illness have been normal for this point in the school year.

The division is home to about 3,750 kids in K-12.

 

Orange and blue flames on SGB Fitbodies ad promoting Fire and Ice classes

 

People stand in line outside Pincher Creek council chambers waiting to vote

Municipal elections wrap up for another four years

Written by Shannon Peace on . Posted in Local News.

The ballots have been cast and counted and the unofficial results are in.

As municipal elections wind to a close, new councils start preparations for the next term and some of the results look much different from the last four years.

Four new councillors have been elected to Pincher Creek town council and MD council has seen a complete turnover, with the exception of incumbent Rick Lemire from District 2.

One new councillor will serve alongside five incumbents on Crowsnest Pass council.

Livingstone Range School Division has seen no change in trustee positions while Holy Spirit Catholic School Division has gained a new local representative.

Town of Pincher Creek

Don Anderberg will return as mayor for another term. He captured 729 votes (59 per cent) on Monday night. Scott Korbett was second with 319 votes (26 per cent) and Jim Litkowski finished with 185 (15 per cent).

Incumbents Mark Barber and Wayne Elliott are returning to council as well, with Elliott receiving 676 votes (10.8 per cent) and Barber capturing 603 (9.6 per cent).

Of the newly elected councillors, Wayne Oliver came out on top, with 701 votes (11.2 per cent). David Green received 679 (10.9 per cent), Brian Wright 629 (10.1 per cent) and Sahra Nodge 577 (9.2 per cent) to fill the remaining positions. 

Not making the cut were incumbent Brian McGillivray with 513 votes (8.2 per cent), Judy Lane with 481 (7.7 per cent), Tammy Carmichael with 478 (7.6 per cent), Corinne Payne with 417 (6.7 per cent), Jocelyne Sheen with 315 (5.0 per cent), Blaise O’Rourke with 127 (2.0 per cent) and Mike Chaput with 58 (0.9 per cent).

MD of Pincher Creek

As lone candidates in their ridings, Anthony Bruder of Division 1 and Rick Lemire of Division 2 were elected by acclamation. Lemire is returning for a second term and Bruder will serve his first.

David Cox captured the majority of support in Division 3 with 165 votes (73.3 per cent), defeating Garry Marchuk, who had 60 votes (26.7 per cent).

In Division 4, Harold Hollingshead won the seat, finishing with 118 votes (63.8 per cent), while Jim Welsch had 67 (36.2 per cent).

John MacGarva carried the vote in Division 5 with 193 (58.1 per cent), while Chuck Lee came in with 139 (41.9 per cent).

Municipality of Crowsnest Pass

Blair Painter was elected mayor by acclamation and all incumbent councillors are back for another go.

Serving another term are top vote-getter Doreen Glavin with 1,293 votes (16.2 per cent), Dave Filipuzzi with 1,263 (15.8 per cent), Dean Ward with 1,217 (15.3 per cent), Glen Girhiny with 1,182 (14.8 per cent) and Lisa Sygutek with 1,147 (14.4 per cent).

Securing the final spot was Vicki Kubik, who captured 1,081 votes (13.6 per cent).

With 794 votes (10 per cent), Tara Lynn Fletcher was unsuccessful in her bid for council.

Cowley

The Village of Cowley did not hold an election as all three candidates were acclaimed.

Barbara Burnett, Dave Slingerland and Paula Watson will decide amongst themselves which of them will step up as mayor. The decision will be announced in next week’s paper.

Livingstone Range School Division

Three candidates were in the running as trustees for Ward 3 and incumbents Lori Hodges and Lacey Poytress have retained their positions.

Hodges took 1,333 votes (45.9 per cent) and Poytress 1,145 (39.4 per cent), while challenger Purdy Martodihardjo won 425 (14.6 per cent).

Holy Spirit Catholic School Division 

Blake Dolan won a Ward 4 position on the Catholic school board, taking two-thirds of the vote.

Dolan amassed 190 votes while Bart Denie had 94.