northlands live - Volunteer at Northlands

Volunteer Newsletter
NORTHLANDS LIVE
OCTOBER 2015
CFR 2014 Kickoff - L-R Irene Plunki, Ivy Evans
Hello Volunteers,
The weather is getting brisk and the leaves are falling, which can only mean one thing—Farmfair International (FFI) and
the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR) are right around the corner. For the second year, Northlands is excited to partner with
Edmonton Tourism to bring Rodeo Week to Edmonton. Now, locals and visitors alike can celebrate our western heritage
with events taking place at bars, restaurants and public spaces throughout the city. And while we’re all abuzz with
excitement, the action will culminate on the Northlands grounds November 11-15 with CFR and FFI!
October is shaping up to be a busy month throughout the rest of our grounds. Jason Aldean and Madonna will be
thrilling concert goers at Rexall Place, while the Edmonton Fall Home Show, Edmonton Ski & Snowboard Show, Alberta
Snowmobile & Power Sports Show and the 2015 Edmonton Fall Woman’s Show return to the Edmonton EXPO Centre.
Sadly, on October 24 we bid farewell to another successful thoroughbred season but look forward to the return of harness
racing in November.
We hope that you have had the opportunity to sign up for your FFI and CFR shifts. Thank you to those who have dedicated
their time to us throughout the summer months and will continue to do so at our upcoming events. Your dedication always
amazes us and we are so lucky to have such an amazing volunteer team.
We look forward to seeing you in action at the Canadian Finals Rodeo and Farmfair International!
Tim Reid
President & CEO, Northlands
Laura Gadowsky
Chair, Northlands Board of Director
VOLUNTEER KICKOFF
The FFI/CFR Kickoff will take place Friday, November 6 in the Alberta Ballroom, Edmonton
EXPO Centre. Doors open at 5 p.m. with a light meal served at 5:45 p.m. Training,
ETS passes, I.D’s and much more in the way of contests and displays
will be available. Remember to bring a donation for the Junior Chamber
International (JCI) Hamper Drive. The list of items you can bring is in the
September newsletter.
Don’t forget to R.S.V.P! You can do so via VicNet or contact Maret by
phone at 780.471.7339.
GET LOST IN THE CFR
On September 19, Prairie Gardens and Adventure Farm Bon Accord opened the Canadian Finals Rodeo corn maze, which
features five kilometers of winding trails carved inside the seven acre CFR logo. The CFR Corn Maze will be open until
November 1.
The process of turning an empty field into the CFR corn maze began eight months prior to the corn maze season. Prairie
Gardens worked with maze designers Precision Mazes, based out of Kansas City, Missouri to turn the design concept into
intricate and elaborate maze trails. The corn was then seeded directly into the field in May and June. When the corn was
a few inches high, Precision Mazes combined GPS technology with highly advanced corn field cutting techniques and
produced a field unlike anywhere else across the USA and Canada.
The CFR maze includes three different challenges: the Easy Path – a 10-minute walk around the outside edge of the maze,
the Kids Maze – a 15-minute mini-maze within the Mega Maze and the Mega Maze itself. Participants of the CFR corn maze
have the opportunity to take home CFR prize packs including a family pack of four tickets to the CFR and a date night
package including two tickets to the rodeo and post-rodeo concert.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
There are numerous positions available for FFI and CFR online at VicNet and they are filling nicely.
New for 2015 is the chance to sell CFR souvenir programs at Rexall Place. The funds raised will be put back into Northlands
programs in a continuous effort to see them grow.
50/50 ticket sales or working in the cash room at CFR is also a great opportunity to help raise funds—this time for The
Edmonton Rodeo Cowboy’s Benevolent Foundation.
If you love interacting with the public, are vocal and feel confident handling money, then these are the positions for you.
Do you love kids and education? Be a guide for the school children that arrive by the hundreds and help us take them
through fun learning stations within the Edmonton EXPO Centre. Some agricultural knowledge is a bonus but not a
necessity.
Please ensure that you check VicNet regularly for newly released areas. If you need help to gain access to the website
please contact Maret at 780.471.7339 or by e-mail at mlangner@northlands.com and she will forward you your password
and instructions.
A variety of spots are being held for those who do not use or have access to the internet. Please feel free to call Maret to
hear more about those shifts.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Our Northlands family continues to grow thanks to volunteer Jennifer Riggan and her
husband. On September 6 beautiful Kayleigh Ruby, 7lbs.8 oz. and 20.5 inches long,
was brought into the world. Jennifer is already making plans for Kayleigh’s visit to CFR!
Congratulations to the Riggan Family from all of Northlands volunteers and staff!
And our congratulations don’t stop there! Celebrating wedding anniversaries are:
Vera and Doug Brown – 60 years of wedded bliss on November 5!
Karen and Don Clipperton – 52 years of sheer pleasure celebrated September 14!
Glenna and Wes Puchyr will celebrate the most important day of their lives, their 31st Wedding Anniversary on October 20!
Congratulations on these milestones and wishes for many more years of happiness and good health to celebrate future
anniversaries!
Are you celebrating or know someone who is celebrating a special milestone? Please let us know. Photos welcome.
NORTHLANDS HISTORY
As a 136 year-old organization, we have many stories to tell. In this edition of the newsletter, we are deviating a bit. Rather
than referring to Edmonton Exhibition - The First Hundred Years by Tony Cashman, we have the following:
With Remembrance Day approaching, this article gives additional reasons for us to be thankful for our soldiers and shines a light
on the early generosity of Northlands. Thank you to Holly Peterson for the following article.
“My name is Holly Peterson, and I am a third-year undergraduate History Major at the University of Calgary. I have been the City of
Edmonton Archives’ clerical assistant with the Young Canada Works program for the summer of 2015. History has long been a passion
of mine, so being able to play a role in the preservation of Alberta’s heritage has been a fascinating and invaluable experience.
One of the projects I completed this summer was a finding aid designed to provide researchers with resources on the First World War.
As I perused government records, manuscripts, photographs, and newspaper clippings related to this event, I was impressed by just
how much Edmonton had contributed to the war effort on the home front. The example I found the most notable was that, a century
ago, the Edmonton Exhibition Grounds—famous as the home of K-Days—was used not only for fun and games, but as a training
ground for soldiers.
A bit of the battlefield was brought to the home front with this display of trench warfare at the Exhibition Grounds.
The 1914 City Council Meeting Minutes book records that,
on October 20, Alderman Driscoll asked on behalf of the
101 Regiment Edmonton Fusiliers if the Stock Pavilion at the
Exhibition Grounds could be used as a drill hall during the winter.
A week later, City Council not only approved this motion, but
extended their invitation to cover the entire Exhibition Grounds
and all other city property. On December 1 of the same year,
the City pledged to provide the Stock Pavilion with as much free
light, water, and heat as Calgary was supplying to its own troops.
It seemed that Edmonton refused to be outdone by its southern
rival even in matters of war!
January 14, 1915, according to the Edmonton Bulletin, around 2,500 men of the 49 and 51 Battalions and the 101 Fusiliers called the
Exhibition Grounds home. More regiments would join them over the course of the war. A formal agreement between BrigadierGeneral Cruikshanks, head of Military District 13, and Mayor Henry of Edmonton lent the grounds to the Militia Department “for
as long as the present war, in which the Empire is engaged, shall last.” The Exhibition’s stables, poultry, and dog buildings became
barracks, the dining hall an officers’ mess, and the livestock area stables for the Fusiliers’ horses. Colonel Griesbach of the 49 Battalion
reported that the troops themselves – many of whom were carpenters, architects, or engineers – were responsible for making
and moving the bunkbeds, tables, benches, and other furniture necessary for their stay. Cruikshanks arrived from Calgary the next
morning to inspect the fair grounds and recruits.
A series of letters (MS-322.6) between various commanding officers and W.J. Stark of the Exhibition Association, all dating from
1916, reveal interesting tidbits of day-to-day life for the troops. For example, the 194 Battalion was granted permission to hold sports
competitions and bet on horse races as a Victoria Day celebration. The 233 Battalion was allowed to use a corner of the pavilion as
a pool room, provided it first moved the “poultry equipment” housed there to a new location! The letters also divulge mishaps like
a late payment for horse feed, the theft and damage of two fire extinguishers, and the vandalism of a roller coaster. In spite of this, it
seems that the soldiers greatly appreciated the Exhibition’s hospitality, with several battalions sending letters of thanks.”
WHAT VOLUNTEERS WERE INVOLVED IN RECENTLY
Our volunteers were busy in September freely giving their time and passion to other not-for-profit organizations here in
Edmonton. Two returning events they took part in were Walk Now for Autism Speaks Canada in Rundle Park and the Light
the Night Walk for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, which took place in Hawrelak Park. Both events raised money for
great causes close to people’s hearts. Two new events that our volunteers supported were Winspear’s Symphony in the City
and Nuit Blanche, a new and unique event that brought local, national and international artists to our city for a very special
overnight festival of art.
WHAT’S UP IN THE COMMUNITY?
Clean Out Your Closet in support of Hope Mission and Coats for
Kids and Families
Do you have a pair (or two or three) of jeans that have miraculously
shrunk a size or perhaps you have moved on to another style or the kids have grown out of them? We have a home for those jeans
if they are clean and free of rips or holes. Hope Mission is a not-for-profit Christian social care agency caring for impoverished and
homeless men, women and children. Basic and emergency care is provided to hundreds of people daily.
Coats for Kids and Families is a United Way initiative that began in 1992 due to overwhelming requests from families and
individuals with limited resources in need of winter jackets. Many families continue to deal with sharply rising living expenses and
simply don’t have the means to purchase the clothing needed to stay warm during Alberta’s harsh winters. The most vulnerable
among us are children. Without adequate winter clothing, a child will have a difficult time reaching their full potential.
Bring those jeans and coats to the FFI/CFR Kickoff on November 6 and drop them in the appropriately marked boxes “Thanks for
your jeans!” or “Coats for Kids & Families”. The same boxes will also be available in the Volunteer Centre during FFI/CFR. Thanks in
advance for helping our less fortunate Edmontonians.
Friday, September 18, kids and adults alike enjoyed the 2nd annual Northlands Neighbours Movie Night. Members of the
community, volunteers and staff brought lawn chairs and blankets to watch E.T. -The Extra-Terrestrial! Before the movie began the
kids burned off some energy through various activities and everyone enjoyed the delicious food from Truck 1879 and the community
league concession selling cookies and popcorn. Volunteers and staff were spotted with their grandchildren or friends and even a pet!
L-R: Nick & Marie Ewanchuk and their grandchildren Ava & Alex
TICKET WINNERS:
Congratulations to the following volunteers
who won tickets from various draws:
MEMORY MAKERS
Congratulations to Eileen Purschke who won a free nonalcoholic beverage. Eileen was responsible for connecting
Northlands with the Salvation Army who will be accepting
all of the out of date volunteer uniforms and sending them
offshore to give to those in need. Great job Eileen!
Lorelei Baquiran had a blast at the Janet Jackson concert
on September 4 with her sister Hershey Sheene.
Bill Webster shared the excitement of watching WWE Live
on September 11 with his father, Roger Webster who is also
a Northlands volunteer.
Veronica Mok and her father, Paul, enjoyed the cheese making
event during our Northlands Open Farm Day on August 23.
WHAT STAFF ARE SAYING
Working with volunteers during our first ever Northlands Open Farm Days was another awesome experience! Every time I put out a
call for volunteers I am always pleasantly surprised. Open Farm Days was no different. Terry Rogucki was incredible as he went above
and beyond the call of duty, did everything in his power to make sure the guests had the best experience possible and was willing to
lend a hand in any way. Eileen Purschke was up for anything! She worked hard all day, was professional about her job, had agreed to
do much more than what she initially agreed to do and even stayed to enjoy the actual event. Overall, I could not have been happier
to work with Northlands collective of volunteers and appreciate their support in times of need.
Jacob Onyschuk
Events Coordinator, Agriculture
WHAT VOLUNTEERS ARE SAYING
I like volunteering at Northlands. I love it there!
Eileen Purschke
Northlands Volunteer of Seven Years
I absolutely had a blast volunteering during FIBA. I was doing a bit of everything and helping wherever Shaun needed me. Yes
they were long days as we were the first ones there and the last ones to leave as we had to ensure that all officials and such all had
transportation back to their hotels. Everyone was so nice and appreciated everything we did. Canada basketball said that without us,
they could not have pulled this off. They told us that we were always there ready and willing to help out in whatever capacity. They
wish we could come with them to other tourneys to help out and I told them one day that may be possible. We told them that if they
ever come back to Edmonton for another tourney, to call Shaun Pope and we would volunteer again. It was a fun 10 days for us and
we can’t stop talking about it.
Ollie Sluzar
Northlands Volunteer of Six Years
VOLUNTEER CORPORATE ORIENTATIONS:
Did you join us as a volunteer in the past year? If so, have you attended an orientation session (not to be confused with a kickoff)?
Please call Maret at 780.471.7339 to register for an upcoming session:
October 27, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
November 25, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Northlands Remembers
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Aron Froese on August 31. Aron
volunteered with us for nearly 17 years and loved anything tied to agriculture. We send our
deepest sympathy to his wife Mary and entire family.
We extend our deepest sympathy to the following volunteers on their recent loss of a loved one:
Peggy Louis on the loss of her Mother. Shaun Pope on the loss of his Grandmother. Karen
Herzog on the loss of her Mother.
May you draw comfort knowing you are in our thoughts and prayers.
A JOB WELL DONE!
Below are a few kind words from organizations who expressed their gratitude towards our dedicated volunteers.
The Northlands volunteers were an integral part of the success of Symphony in the City. From providing information and handing
out water, to selling 50/50 tickets, the Northlands volunteers were professional and courteous throughout. If we are ever in a situation
where we need additional help, Northlands will be on the top of our list.
Jeffory Magson
Volunteer Coordinator
Edmonton Symphony Orchestra | Francis Winspear Centre for Music
Thank you to all the Northlands volunteers that helped out at the 2015 FIBA America Women’s Championships. Without their
hard work and dedication, the event would not have run as smoothly as it did. They helped offer teams assistance at the hotel with
directions to local food establishments and banks. Some were also at the venue and assisted with selling tickets, taking tickets at the
front door and selling merchandise to the numerous fans that attended the games. Without them the event would not have run as
well as it did. Thank you all.
Shaun Pope
Volunteer Coordinator for FIBA America Women’s Championships
Northlands volunteers have consistently been part of our walk year after year and are indispensable in making the walk
a success with their passion.
Linda Ding
Volunteer Lead for Walk Now for Autism Speaks
SEPTEMBER ORIENTATION
Front L-R: Lois Kennedy, Noella Desaulniers, Yaneth Chavarro, Lindsey Routledge
Back L-R: Chau Le, Carol Brassard, Doug Taylor, Allan Lam, Rachana Bindiganavily
VOLUNTEER ADVISORY COMMITTEE CORNER:
As mentioned in the September newsletter, we would like to introduce our new Advisory Committee members. Colleen
Prefontaine, Chair, Bryn Jones, Vice Chair, Mahlon Weir, Past Chair, returning members Wes Puchyr and Don Clipperton
and our newest members Eileen Purschke, Katherine Huising and Barry Newcombe.
Look for the Advisory Committee table during the FFI/CFR Kickoff on Friday, November 6. They want to hear from
you! Please feel free to address them with any questions, comments or concerns you may have.
IMPORTANT VOLUNTEER
SERVICES DATES
November 6: Kick Off for Canadian Finals Rodeo and
Farmfair International
November 11-15: CFR
November 11-15: Farmfair International
MAKING YOUR MEMORIES SOCIAL
Join the conversation, get up to date information and see
pictures from our events and community initiatives. Best of
all, you don’t have to be a member of Facebook, Twitter or
Instagram to view any of Northlands social media pages.
Visit one of the links below for up-to-date information on all
of the exciting things that are going on, including our next
major events – Farmfair International and CFR!
Facebook
NorthlandsEdmonton
To keep volunteers in the loop on all upcoming events at
Northlands, we supply the calendar below. For these types
of events, volunteers are seldom required. When they are we
will advise you by email, phone or in the newsletter.
OCTOBER
11-12
Madonna Rebel Heart Tour
Rexall Place
16-18
Alberta Snowmobile &
Powersports Show
Edmonton EXPO
Centre
17-18
2015 Fall Edmonton
Woman’s Show
Edmonton EXPO
Centre
18
Slipknot
Rexall Place
23-25
Edmonton Fall Home
Show
Edmonton EXPO
Centre
24-25
Edmonton Ski &
Snowboard Show
Edmonton EXPO
Centre
2
Capital Region Event
Summit
Edmonton EXPO
Centre
11-15
Canadian Finals Rodeo
Rexall Place
11-15
Farmfair International
Edmonton EXPO
Centre
20-21
Harness Opening Weekend
Northlands Park
Racetrack & Casino
27
Shared Christmas Gala
Edmonton EXPO
Centre
30
The Weekend-Madness
Rexall Place
12
Motley Crue: The Final Tour
Rexall Place
17
Shared Christmas Festive
Luncheon
Edmonton EXPO
Centre
31
New Year’s Eve Celebration
Northlands Park
Racetrack & Casino
CanadianFinalsRodeo
Twitter
@Northlands
@NorthlandsAg
@CFREdmonton #CFR42
Instagram
NOVEMBER
EdmontonNorthlands
Northlands Blog
blog.northlands.com
VOLUNTEER SERVICES CONTACTS
Please visit our website:
northlands.com/volunteers
Email us: volunteer@northlands.com
Volunteer Hotline: 780.491.3400
75% of all ingredients served by our food truck, Truck 1879,
are locally sourced.
DECEMBER
Dates subject to change; check northlands.com for schedule.