TIME FOR KIDS

Boredom is a state devoid of imagination. Ask many kids in rural
communities who are meth addicts or methamphetamine users and this is a
fairly common answer as to why they do it.

Put a bunch of bored kids together, introduce some predatory drug dealers
with a marketing plan along with their gang-related networks, let peer
pressure take its course and you've got the recipe for a drug problem.

Political leaders in the County of Leduc have been actively speaking out
about the issue of drugs and drug use amongst area youth.

Naturally, nobody wants the region to be perceived as a den of inequity.
But recognizing serious problems and talking about them is essential if
these problems are to be solved.

Although problems related to drugs, teens and crime grab the headlines, and
so they should, they're not the only stories to be told. Teens in
particular are involved in many productive, beneficial and encouraging
activities that provide positive alternatives to the short-term high of the
crack pipe as our recent experiences show.

The more rurally-inclined 4-H club, for example, provides kids with an
opportunity to work together at beef sales, fundraisers and speech
competitions -- the next such competition for Leduc and District 4-H will
be at Strawberry Hall (10 minutes north of Thorsby), Feb. 13 at 1 p.m.

With Alberta's flagging agriculture sector, these young leaders will be
integral to eventually seeing it return to form.

Capital City Savings' Leaders of Tomorrow awards honours area youth through
for commitment to volunteerism and contributing back to the community.

The event has grown steadily over the years. There were 13 nominations in
2003 and 22 nominations in 2004.

The keynote address at last year's event came from late Lt.-Gov. Lois Hole
and this year should be similarly dignified.

For more information on the Leaders of Tomorrow awards, call (780) 980-4785.

Most recently, the Rep had an opportunity to attend a 'dining in,' a formal
mess dinner for Canadian cadets and military personnel.

The event, a first for Leduc's 831 Royal Canadian Air Cadets Squadron, was
held at Telford House in Leduc, Feb. 4.

Drawing cadets from across the region, respectful greetings of "sir" and
"ma'am" were in full effect at the engagement.

However, as one cadet confided, the dinner, not unlike being a cadet, is a
lot of fun. And, of course, few things offer as much structure as military
service can.

For more on the dining in, see Pages 12 and 13.

There are many other great opportunities for local kids to participate in.
Hopefully, your family can sit down together and discover those options.