Eckville Echo

by Carson Papke
Special to Eckville Echo

Next year’s Alberta Provincial Rural Crime Watch Association calendar will feature three first place drawings created by students from Benalto School.
Four students from Benalto School were recognized with awards for posters they created as part of the association’s 2008 contest at a ceremony on Tuesday.
Grade 1 student Jorja Budd, Grade 2 student Taylor Bredy and Grade 6 student Tayler Vick all received first place for hand drawn posters in their age groups and Grade 5 student Sara MacAhonic received third place for her computer created poster. The three first place winners received a $65 each and a plaque. MacAhonic received $30 and a plaque.
“We are very proud of the students,” said Betty Brassard, Grade 3 and 4 teacher from Benalto. “We wanted our students to feel they are an important part of our community and we think the best place to promote good citizenship is right here.”
The entries were picked out of 250 submissions across the province. Prize money was donated by Alberta Beef Producers and the plaques were provided by the Alberta Solicitor General’s department.
Last fall the school held an assembly so students could learn about Rural Crime Watch and the ways in which they could help keep the community safe. Interest in entering the provincial contest grew from there.
“We were starting to have some vandalism in the community and around our school last spring and fall, and I haven’t heard any more about it since our school became more involved in the Rural Crime Watch program. I believe it’s having an impact,” said Brassard. “We’re teaching students that residents in a community can’t be complacent. We all have to be aware and we all have to care.”
Benalto School has an enrolment of approximately 60 students in Kindergarten to Grade 6. The students and staff were joined by several community partners to present plaques from the Solicitor General for the winning entries. Present at the assembly, Tuesday, were Lee Kasper (director for Zone 2, Alberta Provincial Crime Watch Association), Corporal Callihoo (Sylvan Lake RCMP), Peace Officer Levi Simcoe (Red Deer County Patrol – Protective Services), Jackie Swainson (Chinook’s Edge School Division No. 73 trustee) and Yvette Brideau (president, Benalto Rural Crime Watch Society).
“We all work together to protect one another and keep our community beautiful,” said Brideau. “Rural Crime Watch is about awareness, about reporting something that doesn’t seem right, and about watching out for one another. This all helps make our community safe.
“We want them to watch out for each other, write down anything they see, and communicate it to an adult.”