The chairman for the bid committee for the 2014 Alberta Summer Games, Oneil worked tirelessly for months in an effort to promote Airdrie as the host city of the games. On June 13, at Genesis Place, Alberta’s minister of tourism, parks and recreation announced Airdrie’s bid was successful. More than 3,000 athletes, coaches and officials will take part in the Games that will feature youth ages 11 to 17 taking part in 15 sports. Organizers are expecting to generate $3 to $5 million from the event.
Gillian Shields
2011 Miss Airdrie Pro Rodeo toured the province promoting Airdrie in the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association circuit until July 1 of this year. She obtained the title of Miss Rodeo Canada in November and will now tour the world promoting rodeo. One of her first duties included attending the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nev. in December.
Amy Stewart
The Airdrie resident spearheaded Bill C-23 B: Eliminating Pardons for Serious Crimes Act, which received royal assent in March. In April 2012, Stewart created the Facebook page “Convicted Sex Offenders Should NOT Get Pardoned.” Shortly after, Stewart started circulating a petition with the help of Wild Rose MP Blake Richards that was signed by thousands of individuals for a bill that would bar criminals from receiving pardons. She was motivated in part by Graham James, the junior coach convicted of sexually abusing his players from 1984 to 1995, did in April 2010.
Andrea Conroy
The single mother was found murdered by her boyfriend Rick Doucette in his Bayside home on Feb. 24. Doucette was found dead in the Double D Motel in Nanton. Police determined he killed himself after murdering Conroy. Participants in the Tour de Airdrie in April ran in honour of the Airdrie woman to raise more than $30,000 for local victim assistance societies.
Greg Bass
Rocky View Schools Superintendent was thrilled about the opening of Herons Crossing K-4 school in Reunion in November. Ground was broken for three other schools in the same month. The high school, middle school and Francophone school are expected to be completed by 2014. Airdrie Koinonia Christian School Principal Earl Driedger took part in the groundbreaking for the school’s new location, just north of Superstore, on March 2.
Earle Connor
The local Paralympian finished fourth in the T42 men’s 100-metre final at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London Sept. 7. Connor was hoping to capture his third Paralympic gold medal but is now determined to regain his title at the 2014 Games in Rio. Connor was awarded the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal on Oct. 9 for his achievements.
The Wourm family
Airdrie family Darren, Hayley and Cayden Wourm were found dead in a ditch alongside a Saskatchewan rural road May 28. The deaths were ruled to be a case of murder-suicide with 26-year-old Darren shooting his wife, 23-year-old Hayley, and his son, two-year-old Cayden, before taking his own life. In April, Airdrie RCMP were called to the couple’s home by a third party. Darren was taken to hospital for an assessment but he was not detained. He was scheduled to return to the hospital for a follow-up appointment the day the bodies were discovered.
Denisa Sanness
The Boys and Girls Club of Airdrie has seen a lot of change in the past year, including a recent move to the Ron Ebbesen Arena, a new $150,000 recording studio, and new executive director Denisa Sanness. This year’s AIRscares Haunted House, held in the former RCMP building on Edmonton Trail, was a huge success, raising $13,000 for programs at the club. The Boys and Girls Club of Airdrie was nominated for a Better Business Bureau 2012 Not for Profit Business Ethics Award in October. The Club’s technology centre opened in November, allowing children access to 16 Dell computers. The club is now providing programs to children in surrounding communities such as Crossfield, Irricana, Beiseker and Chestermere.
“Arizona” and family
The family of an Airdrie sexual assault victim, dubbed Arizona, launched a petition to ensure cases like theirs are not thrown out. The family of the Airdrie girl whose sexual assault case was dismissed by the courts on Oct. 3 is fighting back with a petition that will stop cases involving alleged crimes against children from being thrown out of court because of delays and if they are, victims will be compensated. Arizona reported the sexual assault in 2009, six years after the alleged abuse stopped. Her accused was arrested but her case was stayed because of the amount of time it took to expedite it. The petition will be presented to the Legislative Assembly in the spring.
Ty Rattie
The Airdrie hockey player signed his first entry-level contract with the St. Louis Blues in June shortly after he and the Portland Winterhawks lost in game seven of the WHL finals to the Edmonton Oil Kings. Rattie was selected to play for the 2013 Canadian World Junior Team in December.
Balson family
The family’s home in Cooper’s Crossing burned down on Jan. 13. The community came together to donate blankets, toys, clothing and gift certificates right after the fire and raised $5,000, which was presented to the family on Nov. 21.
Alison Redford
The premier and several of her cabinet ministers stopped in Airdrie as part of a four-day cabinet tour, Jan. 25. Redford and ministers visited schools, met with local business people and City council. Redford and her Progressive Conservative party won a majority in the April 23 election.
Jana Jaeger
In February, the City of Airdrie director of corporate services retired after working with the municipality since 1994.
Peter Brown & Rolly Ashdown
After more than a year of planning, the government of Alberta approved the city of Airdrie’s annexation of 12,640 acres of land from Rocky View County on March 22. Brown called the move “one of the most important opportunities to plan the future of Airdrie.”
Rob Anderson
In early 2012, the Airdrie MLA witnessed a serious car crash on Highway 2 near Innisfail that killed four people and sent another to hospital in critical condition. Anderson saw headlights on the wrong side of the highway while driving to Edmonton on March 4. He kept pace with the vehicle and honked his horn and flashed his lights to alert other drivers of the danger, but unfortunately a vehicle was hit by the SUV head-on. Tyler James Stevens, the driver of the vehicle that was going the wrong way, faced 14 charges including impaired driving. Anderson won the election for the new Airdrie riding in April.
Khalid Shahid
The CrossIron Mills mall security guard was honoured by Airdrie RCMP Insp. Tony Hamori on April 30. Shahid received a Commander’s Certificate of Appreciation for his role in rescuing a woman who was assaulted and abducted by an ex-boyfriend in the mall, March 28. The victim passed a note to a mall patron in the washroom asking the shopper to call 911 because she was abducted. The person took the note to mall security office and the RCMP were called. The man, who cannot be named to protect the victim, was approached by plain clothed officers and assaulted the victim and then resisted arrest. He was charged with 15 counts including break and enter.
Kelly Hegg
The Airdrie alderman ran as a Progressive Conservative candidate in the spring 2012 provincial election. Hegg has been a member of City council for seven years. The incumbent MLA Rob Anderson was re-elected for the new Airdrie constituency on April 23.
Don Thomas
The Rocky View School trustee was reprimanded by the RVS board of trustees for a letter to the editor he sent to the Airdrie City View in April. Thomas wrote about the board’s attempt to allocate portable classrooms to Prince of Peace School near Chestermere “while asking some schools in Airdrie and Cochrane to deal with overcrowded student situations.” Thomas said he would accept the reprimand but did not feel he was in violation of the code of conduct, which states “a trustee must accurately defend and support the decision of the board.”
Aaron Braham
A member of the Airdrie Pro Rodeo Association spoke up telling residents the Canada Day Parade could be cancelled if more volunteers didn’t come forward, May 25. By June, enough volunteers had committed to donate their time to save the parade. The Airdrie Pro Rodeo Association celebrated 45 years with the highest attendance in four years.
Darryl Poburan
The City’s manager of municipal enforcement, RCMP and building inspections announced the grand opening of the new 31,000-square-foot police station on May 26. The building was under construction since 2010 and also houses municipal enforcement.
Michelle Glavine,
The president of Rocky View Local Alberta Teachers Association (ATA) filed a complaint against Rocky View Schools (RVS) on June 11. The ATA claimed the school board breached a bargaining in good faith policy when the jurisdiction posted both sides’ opening-bargaining proposals on its website. The Alberta Labour Relations Board (ALRB) ruled against the ATA Sept. 17.
Ric McIver
Alberta’s Transportation Minister introduced tougher drinking and driving legislation starting on July 1. Starting in the summer, people who drive with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of more than 0.08 were charged under the Criminal Code and received an immediate license suspension to remain in place until criminal charges are resolved. Beginning Sept. 1, drivers with a BAC of between 0.05 and 0.08 lost their car and license for three days on the first offence. Drivers with a graduated drivers’ licence faced stronger penalties if they consume any alcohol and drive.
Shane Keating
The Calgary Alderman was part of the announcement of a multi-million dollar motorsports facility proposed for 500 acres northeast of Airdrie, in July. A group called the Motorsports, Arts, Racing, Culture and Sports (MARCS) Committee, including Keating, Transportation Minister Ric McIver and local businessmen are investigating land near Airdrie for a new facility, coupled with a private airport after the closure of Race City Motor Sports Park in Calgary in October 2011.
Kevin Weinberger
The Airdrie fire chief took part in the grand opening of the Chinook Winds Fire Department Headquarters in July. The facility is the first station on the west side of the train tracks and will improve response times. It is designed to accommodate 30 years of growth.
Blake Richards
The MP’s Preventing Persons from Concealing Their Identities during Riots and Unlawful Assemblies Act received three readings Oct. 31. In October, Richards was appointed to the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-food and the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development.
John Christopher Miller
The George McDougall High School teacher was charged with sexual assault and sexual exploitation in October. Police say Miller had an alleged relationship with a 17-year-old female student at the school. In December, Miller was charged with breach of recognizance and one count of sexual interference after he was seen leaving the school in his car.
Jessica Ridely
The former Airdrie resident won the Bud United presents: The Big Time in January. The singer/songwirter, who now lives in Nashville, Tenn., competed against two other artists for the chance to open for the iHeartRadio Music Festival at the MGM Grand Arena.
Laurel Holmes
The 2011-2012 World Vision Youth Ambassador was named one of the Top 30 Under 30 in Alberta by the Top 30 Under 30 magazine in February.
Covy Moore & Chris Phillips
The two Airdrie residents created the motorsports documentary Life at 45°, which was released in March. The movie details the final weekend of motorcycle racing at the now-closed Race City Speedway in Calgary.
Amie Nelson
The student organizer of the Ride of the Mustangs at George McDougall High School helped raise $72,000 for the Alberta Children’s Hospital in April. More than 600 students received donations for riding stationary bikes for 48 hours in the gymnasium of the school.
Jen Ruklic
The founder of Carter’s Quest for the Cure has raised thousands of dollars for the Southern Alberta Region Hemophilia Society with a number of fundraisers throughout the year including Coins for Carter’s Quest for the Cure, Mall in the Hall, bottle drives, and a fundraiser at a local school, where her daughter raised more than $700.
Nadine Low
The president of the board of the Airdrie Rotary Festival of Performing Arts helped organize the inaugural festival, which ran from April 23 to 27 and hosted 607 participants. It featured choirs, pianists, and singers from Airdrie and the area. The festival was unanimously voted a part of the Alberta Provincial Music Festival Association (APMFA) in May.
Mike Watkins
The owner of Airdrie’s UPS Store was appointed the president of the Airdrie Chamber of Commerce on May 23.
Anna Low
Airdrie resident, 12, placed second at the Provincial Music Festival in Edmonton May 23. In addition to singing, she plays the piano and is learning to play the French horn.
Rob Van Biezen
The Airdrie resident received the Soul of Airdrie Award at the 2012 Volunteer of the Year Awards in May. Van Biezen chaired the 2009 Airdrie 55-Plus Games and was appointed to the nine-member board of the Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation in June.
Dianne Wittner
In early May, it looked as if the Alberta Institute of Wildlife Conservation (AIWC) was going to have to close its doors because of a “financial crisis.” By June the Institute had raised enough money to keep afloat. In October, the founder of the AIWC, Dianne Wittner, was included in a group of 100 Albertans who received the prestigious Calgary Stampede Western Legacy Award for their promotion and preservation of western values and heritage.
Tanya Mark
The commanding officer lead the 3016 Airdrie Army Cadets to the top. The group was voted the top corps in Alberta for the second year in a row, June 9.
Good Shepherd students
Andrew Reimart, Sean Kriwokon, Jamie McKinnon and Kayla Soetaert were named winners in the ATB Financial Young Artists Competition. The students’ projects were displayed at the Alberta Art Gallery in Edmonton in June.
Pat Elliott
The chair of the Airdrie Relay for Life helped organize an event that despite being cold and rainy, raised $61,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society on June 23. The event included 15 teams, 100 participants, 22 survivors and more than 40 volunteers.
Audessa Parafina
The Airdrie teen danced in a McDonalds commercial in Toronto, June 22 to 26.
Brian Jackson
Ralph McCall teacher won the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta Award for math and science, June 27. The award honours teachers who ‘make school cool’ for students, focusing on mathematics and science, two important subjects to those who pursue engineering and geoscience careers. He was also the recipient of the Prime Ministers Teaching Awards Certificate of Achievement, Nov. 14. This award recognizes outstanding K-12 teachers who strive to use technology to instill a love of learning in their students. Jackson was recognized by Rocky View Schools Board of Trustees Dec. 6.
Stephen McPhee
The local charity Stephen’s Backpack Society teamed up with Starbucks for the Footprints Campaign in June. The coffee shops collected pairs of new shoes donated by local residents and gave donors a free grande cup of coffee for their efforts from June 8 until Aug. 15. The Footprints campaign gives two pairs of new running shoes to children in need in Calgary and the surrounding area. McPhee also received a Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Award from Lieutenant Governor Donald S. Ethell, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and MP Blake Richards, Oct. 9. For the 2012 backpacks campaign, the organization collected 3,000 bags to give to children in need across the province.
Linda and Laurence Ray
The founders of the Airdrie Faith Build worked with Habitat for Humanity to construct a duplex in Bayside to house two single mothers with children. The families moved in to the houses in August. Each recipient family is required to contribute 500 volunteer hours towards the construction of their home, which is then sold to them with no down payment and financed with affordable, no-interest mortgage. The fourth annual Airdrie Faith Build Diamonds and Denim Gala raised a total of $20,000 for future Habitat for Humanity projects in Airdrie.
Run Romeo Run
The local band was named the winners of the Support Local Area Musicians (SLAM) SLAM on AIR competition, Sept. 22. The group beat out five other music acts for a $500 cash prize, a full-day recording session, airtime and publicity in local media, as well as a headlining slot for the 2013 AirdrieFest.
Linda Bruce
The executive director of Creative Airdrie helped put on the second annual ARTember celebration from Sept. 17 to 30. The event attracted hundreds of people and included dozens of arts and culture related events in a number of locations in Airdrie, including Alberta Culture Days Culture at the Creek in Nose Creek Park from Sept. 28 to 30.
Grace Pound
Little Miss Calgary 2013, an Airdrie resident, was crowned in Calgary on Oct. 21. The eight-year-old impressed the crowds and judges with a speech about her relationship with her grandfather, a triplegic. Pound says she is looking forward to raising awareness about people with disabilities during her year as Little Miss Calgary. In December, she wrote letters to the parents and friends of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting victims in Connecticut.
Greg and Dallas Lammiman
Airdrie residents released a full-length feature film Remember, in October. The father/son duo formed their own production company in 2006 and put hundreds of hours into the film, which is set in the year 2050 when society is recovering from a catastrophic economic disaster and population implosion. The movie was filmed in Drumheller and was screened there in front of an audience of about 350 people. The movie has since been screened in Calgary’s Plaza Theatre.
Keith Wilkinson
The member of the Santa Claus Parade Committee helped to bring the beloved tradition back to the city after a four-year hiatus. The parade included 20 floats and took place in downtown Airdrie on Dec. 1 to kick off the Festival of Lights.
Carol Smith
Bert Church High School physical education teacher spearheaded the school’s entry into the Under Armour Finding Undeniable competition in November. The school has the chance to win $100,000 for the purchase of new sporting uniforms and equipment by completing challenges that show the school’s community spirit. The school was in second place in the competition and made it to the finals in December. The winner will be revealed in January 2013.
Shalayne Lammiman
Airdrie resident was chosen to perform for two Christmas pieces on breakfast Television, Dec. 8. Lammiman, a singer with the Calgary-based New Like Acappella Choir, sang two songs with the 25 other choir members.
Art Krusel
Former Airdrie Thunder coach lost his battle to cancer on Aug. 17 at the age of 61. Krusel coached the Thunder for 10 years before his declining health forced him to step down as the team’s bench boss during the 2011-2012 season. Krusel was born and raised in Vancouver and had a long career as both a player and a coach. He played in the AHL as part of the New York Islanders system and was a semi-pro golfer before becoming a hockey coach. He coached the Calgary Royals and Canucks Jr. A teams before taking charge of the Thunder in 2002.
Dana Tyrell
He signed a two-year contract extension with the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning in November 2011 and was hoping to return to the team’s lineup after a knee injury cut his 2011-2012 season short. However, the 2012-2013 season is still on hold due to ongoing Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations.
Joel Hamilton
The former Airdrie Xtreme player returned to the Red Deer Rebels’ lineup for the 2012-2013 season after a back injury ended his rookie season in February. The 18 year old fractured his L1 and L2 vertebrae after being checked into the boards in a game against Moose Jaw, Feb. 12, but made a full recovery and is now in his second season with the team.
Sarah Deveau
This derby girl created the Rocky View Roller Derby Association’s Honour Rollers, a women’s roller derby league that meets three times a week at Genesis Place, team in March. The team has since held a number of fundraisers to put toward the purchase of uniforms and equipment.
Jack Lumley
The Airdrie Regional Recreation Enhancement Society (ARRES) chairman and the Society raised more than $10,000 for phase three of Genesis Place at the Winter Challenge Hockey Game in March. The game included Calgary Flames alumni and local celebrities. Construction of phase three of the recreation centre started on April 13.
Cameron Aplin
He was named head coach of the Airdrie Thunder in April. Since taking over the position, Aplin has led the team to a 11-7-3-2 record as of Dec. 21 and the team is sitting in third place in the HJHL’s North division after the first half of the season.
Ken Dixon
The president of Pete Knight Days, helped organize the 2012 version of the Crossfield rodeo, which was the most successful yet. The event was held from June 15 to 16 and celebrated the rodeo’s 35th anniversary and the 75th anniversary of Pete Knight’s death. The event drew 3,000 spectators and 343 rodeo entries.
Coda Gordon
Former Airdrie Xtreme player was drafted by the Calgary Flames 165th overall in the sixth round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft in June. Gordon returned for his season with the Swift Current Broncos and is currently third in team scoring with 23 points in 30 games.
Zach Boychuk
This hockey player signed a one-year, two-way contract with the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes in July. Since the NHL has been locked out since September, Boychuk has been playing on the team’s AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, and as of Dec. 4 was leading the team in scoring with 19 points in 21 games.
Sara Black & Taelyr Patton
The duo represented Airdrie and Canada at 2012 World Baton Twirling Championships in Paris, France, in August. Black finished 12th in the semifinals of the competition, while Patton and Team Canada finished fifth in the team event.
Chad Swain
Airdrie Motorcycle road racer claimed multiple championships in the Master of the Mountain Series in Utah in June. He was then approached by a AMA road racing team to test a motorcycle at the Infineaon Raceway in California in November and was subsequently offered a position on kneedragers.com Silver Crown Industries Racing team. Swain will be kicking off his AMA racing career in March 2013 at the Daytona International Speedway.
Darrell Belyk
This fighter cruised to the arm wrestling World Championships, which were held in Brazil in September. Belyk began his ascent with a win at Provincials in July and advanced to Nationals, which were held in May. He won both a gold and silver medal, which sent him to Brazil, where he took third place in his division. Belyk retired from 25 years of competitive arm wrestling after the World Championships.
Chase Kelln & Spencer Rosko
These riders both brought home medals from the BMX Nationals, which were held in B.C. in September. Kelln won his fourth consecutive gold medal while Rosko won his first national title.
Jamie Atkin
The Airdrie Edge coach was named Coach of the Year by the Alberta Gymnastics Federation at the organization’s annual awards banquet in October. A host of Edge athletes were honoured and the club was also awarded the federation’s top hosting award for the international and national-level competitions it hosted over the course of the year.
Brent Legault
He coached the George McDougall Mustangs to its second consecutive and fourth overall Airdrie Bowl title, Oct. 4. The Mustangs defeated the Bert Church Chargers 24-7 in the annual cross-town rivalry game. This year’s game, held at Genesis Place’s football field also featured a fundraiser for the Rocky View School’s Food for Thought program and raised $300 in cash and about 30 bags of food items.
Emily Lambert
The Grade 12 student at George McDougall High School, was named a recipient of the 2012 Elite Athlete award by the City of Airdrie in November. Lambert is a first-degree black belt in Shotokan Karate. She has been ranked No. 1 in Alberta for four years and is a member of the Canadian National Team.
