The Calgary Stampede Parade took place on July 9th, 2010 with The Glenmore Temple Band, the longest running band in the Stampede Parade, participating again in this years event. The weather was beautiful and the crowds clapped and supported the band as they played their way through the 4 kilometre parade.

Step Into The SONshine was the theme for Stampede weekend at The Glenmore Temple Band July 10 & 11, 2010 with special guest speaker Major Andrew Miller, Divisional Secretary for Program in Kansas City, Missouri.  Glenmore Temple hosted a parking lot carnival with activities for the whole family starting followed by a BBQ and an evening variety/musical program. On July 11, 2010 Sunday morning service was held with the special guest, and musical talent, Major Andrew Miller.

The Salvation Army responded to the recent flooding in Medicine Hat. Salvation Army volunteers from Medicine Hat were on hand at the Reception Centre to provide refreshment to the flood victims, as well as other aid workers and volunteers. Temporary accommodation was arranged through The Salvation Army for people displaced due to the flooding.

The Emergency Disaster Services Vehicle from Calgary was also deployed with three volunteers for two days to serve the sandbagging crews. EDS Director, Carolynn Barkhouse, returned to the Hat a second time with the vehicle for five days to provide meals to the many volunteers who were assisting in the lengthy clean up process of over 200 homes.

The Supreme Group’s 8^th Annual Salvation Army Golf Classic was held at The Highlands Golf Course on June 1st, 2010. 136 golfers came out to support the event to raise funds for The Salvation Army’s Edmonton Crossroads Community Church (E3C) on 96 Street & 116 Avenue.

Due to the age of E3C’s building, it has become necessary to rebuild the facility to ensure that much needed services including drop in centre with food assistance, referral services, warming centre and community nursing can continue.

Thanks to the support and title sponsorship of the Supreme Group and its owners, John and Sally Leder, this year’s tournament has raised a record-breaking $507,000 towards this rebuild. The amount raised has far exceeded expectations and will help The Salvation Army to undergo this building project without the need for a mortgage.

Special thanks goes to John and Sally Leder, as well as all other sponsors, donors and golfers who helped to make this a memorable event.  

On June 11, 2010, The Salvation Army held the first annual Soup for the Soul event with the Emergency Disaster Services vehicle out on Stephen Avenue in downtown Calgary, serving up soup.  A $5.00 collectable mug was sold at the event, held to create awareness and raise funds, with all proceeds going to support the feeding programs.

The EDS vehicle meets the needs of the homeless population on the streets of Calgary, sending the vehicle out 3 nights a week and one Saturday morning, serving meals and providing a compassionate ear to those in need. On an average night, the vehicle will serve approximately 125 meals, and on an average Saturday morning, will serve approximately 60 meals.

Every year on the first Saturday in December the Santa Shuffle is held in 35 cities across Canada. This year the run that started in Edmonton 19 years ago spread beyond our borders. We had some unexpected participants register from the Canadian Airbase in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Despite being overseas, MCpl Carly Hasselman, Cpl Crystal Piluke and Sgt Chris MacIntyre registered to run as part of the Edmonton Santa Shuffle.

Along with the race packages, t-shirts, a start line, kilometre signs sent from The Running Room, The Salvation Army sent some extra goodies from home and gifts for the troops. The soldiers registered as a way to maintain contact with home and participate as though they were here with us – minus the snow, of course.

“The route was strewn with boulders and you would be shocked at the terrain we run in,” Sgt Chris MacIntyre explained. “It makes us appreciate our Edmonton River Valley so much more,” Sgt MacIntyre added.

The Edmonton Santa Shuffle, postponed due to poor weather conditions on December 5 when the run took place across the country was rescheduled for December 19, where approximatley 400 runners participated in this years’ Fun Run.

The Salvation Army would like to wish all our armed forces, both overseas and at home, a Merry Christmas.

The Salvation Army has kicked off this year’s Christmas Kettle campaign.

In a very short while you’ll soon hear the sounds of ringing bells and change, coming from street corners across the city.

The Christmas Kettle campaign has been helping Canadians in need for over a hundred years and helps Calgarians access services like employment assistance, counseling and food programs.

The Salvation Army’s, Pam Goodyear, tells 660news people need to dig deep this year to help accommodate the growing number of those in need.

They hope to raise over $1.2 million this year, a goal they were unable to meet last year.

In an effort to ramp up donations, they have added more kettles around the city, 79 in total, and two of those will be at CrossIron Mills Mall.

Source: 680News

The need for donations to The Salvation Army is rising now that the holiday season is on its way, says Captain Randy Hale of Fort McMurray, AB. Read the full story

For over 50 years children have been coming to Pine Lake Camp in the Alberta & Northern Territories Division where they have learnt about the extreme makeover God can do in their lives.

This year the camp facilities also received an Extreme Makeover. On August 8, 2009 Commissioners William & Marilyn Francis opened & dedicated four new ‘state of the art’ camper accommodations. In addition to sleeping accommodations for 32 campers and program space in each, they also include a tornado shelter. The camp is located in what is known as tornado alley and each year there are several tornados that touch down in the area so when the new facilities were being designed it was determined that these should be as safe as possible.

For several years campers have been “making do” with temporary accommodations in tents, bunk houses made out of the craft hut and portable washrooms so it was exciting to see the smiles on the faces of campers and faculty as they arrived for the annual Music Camp.

The Music Camp Faculty Band and campers were all dressed in lime green t-shirts with the theme for the week “Extreme Makeover – Camp Edition”. In addition to the official ribbon cutting for the camper accommodations Majors Fred & Wendy Waters were installed at the new Divisional Leaders for the Alberta & Northern Territories by the Territorial Commander.

On Sunday, August 9th, Commissioners Francis joined with the Music Camp for their worship service where the Commissioner William Francis challenged all those present as spoke on the text “For in him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28a). During this service the Divisional Commander, Major Fred Waters installed several new members of the divisional team – Captain Bram Pearce, Divisional Youth Secretary, Major Sandra Stokes, Area Commander and Captain Pam Goodyear, Divisional Secretary for Public Relations & Development.

We rejoice for what God has done and has yet to do at Pine Lake Camp.

EDMONTON – Residents and staff of the Carrington Living Seniors Complex say thank you to The Salvation Army for their generous support and care following a fire that destroyed a wing and left 160 homeless on May 31.

The Salvation Army National Recycling Operations in Edmonton stepped in to provide clothing, toiletries, towels, bedding and furniture.

Says Maureen Stewart, NRO operations manager for Edmonton: “We are very involved in the community as it relates to disaster services. We are here to help people in their time of need.”

“With the slumping economy the demand for Salvation Army services is up 10-30% in every province,“ says Andrew Burditt, Salvation Army Public Relations Director for Canada and Bermuda. “As layoffs and plant closures occur, those who once supported The Salvation Army are now seeking assistance.” Read the full story