Pubdate: Tue, 07 Oct 2001
Source: Cold Lake Sun, The (CN AB)
Copyright: 2001 The Cold Lake Sun
Contact:  http://www.coldlakesun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1421
Author: Chris Miller

TAKE THE 'WINDOW CHALLENGE'

COLD LAKE - In a brief telephone interview on the weekend, Constable Luana 
Giroux of the Cold Lake RCMP detachment had nothing but kind words to say 
about Barb Spilchuk.

"She is vice-principal of the (Grand Centre) middle school in Cold Lake, 
and she gets involved in the community a lot for as long as I've known her. 
She's got a doctorate, she teaches university courses, and has a PhD as 
well. She's a very smart woman," said Cst. Giroux.

Not only is she smart; she's also extremely generous. Just how far does her 
community involvement go? All of the work she does outside of school, she 
wants donated to Cold Lake RCMP Victims Services and the DARE program.

Spilchuk is on a mission to decorate as many windows in this city as possible.

"She wants to challenge all of the businesses downtown to have their 
windows decorated by her for Halloween and for fall to raise money for the 
DARE program," said Cst. Giroux.

DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) is an RCMP initiative for Grade 6 
students, aimed at keeping these young people from getting involved with 
alcohol, tobacco and other harmful drugs.

The program costs about $20 per student per year.

Business owners getting their storefront windows decorated are actually 
helping kids in the community.

"There are so many kids who smoke and drink. If we can prevent this is in 
any way, that would be perfect," said Cst. Giroux.

Any doubts about the professionalism of Spilchuk's windows will quickly be 
laid to rest after seeing Images Foto Source in downtown Cold Lake.

Images manager Susie O'Connor wanted her windows decorated, so she asked 
Spilchuk how much this would cost.

"She said she wouldn't charge anything as long as I gave a donation to the 
RCMP Victims Services and the DARE program," said O'Connor.

Spilchuk decorated the windows - and they looked magnificent! O'Connor 
donated $50 to Victims Services and DARE.

"Now I am challenging other businesses to hire Barb to get into the spirit 
of fall," said O'Connor, referring to this as a sort of "Decorate to 
Donate" campaign.

Any business owner wanting their storefront windows decorated by Spilchuk 
is asked to contact either O'Connor at Images or Cst. Giroux at the RCMP 
Victims Services.

"I am challenging every business to meet or beat the $50," added O'Connor.
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MAP posted-by: Beth