Close to 900 members of the community recently participated in the first annual West Islip Health and Wellness Alliance Color Run, held at the high school. Proceeds from the event will support health and wellness initiatives as well as substance abuse prevention.  

In addition to providing a fun day and a chance for the participants to give back, the Color Run is intended to help the Alliance fulfill its goals of reducing substance abuse among local youth, creating a strong collaboration within the community, and cultivating healthy attitudes and behaviors. Regular participation in wellness-oriented events has been shown to reduce the risk of obesity, heart disease, diabetes and some types of cancer, and family participation can also deter children’s use of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs.

“The Color Run was a tremendous success,” said Tim Horan, the district’s director of health, physical education, athletics, recreation, and family and consumer science. “Children, parents and families had a blast, and the smiles on their faces were priceless. We are already looking forward to next year’s Color Run.”

 

IMG_1635, IMG_1677, IMG_5731: Close to 900 members of the community recently participated in the first annual West Islip Health and Wellness Alliance Color Run.

 

Photos courtesy of the West Islip School District

Dressed in pink, the varsity and junior varsity field hockey teams participated in Suffolk County’s inaugural Field Hockey Breast Cancer Tournament on Oct. 1 at Veterans Park Complex in Northport. Schools from throughout Suffolk came together to help raise money for the cause. West Babylon will be hosting their own breast cancer field hockey fundraiser during their home game against Southampton on Oct. 10 at 4:30 p.m.

The high school’s varsity softball team again volunteered at the East Islip Athletic Booster Club’s annual Redmen 5K race, held on Nov. 5 at Heckscher State Park. Team captain Katie Burk and assistant coach Theresa Magnani organized the volunteering event this year.

“We feel that it’s a good idea to volunteer our time here every year because the Booster Club has been very good to us these past few years,” said Burke.

The high school’s varsity softball team again volunteered at the East Islip Athletic Booster Club’s annual Redmen 5K race, held on Nov. 5 at Heckscher State Park. Team captain Katie Burk and assistant coach Theresa Magnani organized the volunteering event this year.

“We feel that it’s a good idea to volunteer our time here every year because the Booster Club has been very good to us these past few years,” said Burke

Red Deer, October 27, 2017 – The Red Deer College Queens Hockey team always plays with a sense of purpose, but on Thursday night, that purpose and determination took on a special meaning when the team hosted their second annual Pink in the Rink fundraiser, in support of the accessible playground project at École Barrie Wilson Elementary School.

 

Strong fan support was a critical element at Pink in the Rink, and 892 hockey fans attended the game between the RDC Queens and the MacEwan University Griffins at the ENMAX Centrium. This set an Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Women’s Hockey attendance record. With the help of Scotiabank matching funds, a total of $21,715 was raised at the event.

 

After regulation time and two overtime periods couldn’t decide a winner, the Griffins eventually edged the Queens 3-2 in a shootout. But the big winners on the evening were the children and the accessible playground project at École Barrie Wilson Elementary School.

 

“When we have the opportunity to use our game to raise awareness or funds for the community, it is a great opportunity,” says Kelly Coulter, head coach of the RDC Queens. “We want to give back to the community that supports us.”

 

Supporting the accessible playground project is a great fit for the Red Deer College team. “Many student-athletes work with people with disabilities, and we want to make sure that all kids have access to the same play areas,” says Coulter. “The accessible playground project is a very worthy local cause that the Queens can go see for themselves, and they are very proud to be a part of it.”

 

Kaely McMurtry, a fourth-year Bachelor of Education student, sees the importance of community involvement. “It’s about giving back as best that we can. The Queens volunteer in many different areas,” says McMurtry. “Some of my teammates play floor hockey with children, they read to kids, referee in the community and teach the game of hockey.”

 

McMurtry and the Queens see the need for the local accessible playground project. “This project is important because it’s inclusive and collaborative,” says McMurtry. “It will allow children who aren’t able to play on a regular playground to still participate.”

 

“Community outreach is important to our student-athletes. From attending schools, to participating in reading programs, to lending a hand, to raising funds for local charities, our student-athletes are committed to making Red Deer and central Alberta a better community. This is the second year that Pink in the Rink has given back to the community that gives so much to them and Red Deer College,” says Diane St-Denis, Athletic Director. “This year, RDC and Scotiabank chose to raise funds to help

 

the École Barrie Wilson Elementary School accessible playground project. Providing accessible learning and physical activity space is important to Red Deer College, as it is one of the core design elements of RDC’s new building.”

For more information on Queens Hockey and RDC Athletics, please visit rdcathletics.ca

–  – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 

 

About RDC Athletics: Red Deer College has an impressive athletics tradition. RDC Athletic teams and individual student-athletes have won 24 National Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) titles, 151 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) team and individual titles. Our student-athletes and coaches have received countless individual honours both for academic and sporting achievement. This year, the College has more than 200 student-athletes competing in 8 sports on 17 teams.

 

For more information on RDC Athletics, please visit: rdcathletics.ca | twitter | facebook | instagram

 

About RDC: For over 50 years RDC has been proudly serving our learners and our communities. RDC offers more than 100 different programs (including full degrees, certificates, diplomas and skilled trades programs) to 7,500 full- and part-time credit students and more than 36,000 youth and adult learners in the School of Continuing Education each year. Named by Alberta Venture magazine as one of Alberta’s most innovative organizations for the Centre for Innovation in Manufacturing, RDC is a key location for applied and industry-led research. Our main campus is strategically situated on 290 acres of Alberta’s natural landscape along Queen Elizabeth II Highway. We have also expanded our learning and performing arts space into the heart of downtown Red Deer through our Welikoklad Event Centre and the Donald School of Business.

 

For more information on RDC, please visit: rdc.ab.ca | twitter | facebook | instagram

For additional information contact:

Brent Forster

Communications Strategist

RDC
403.342.3389

Shelley Newman

Communications Strategist – Corporate

RDC

403.342.3299

 

Erin Forbes
Communications Strategist – Corporate

RDC

403.342.3401