WELCOME TO THE MAUI AND VATICAN NEWS RADIO NEWS____________________________________________________________________________________Posted: Tue, 06 Jul 2010 13:42:00 +0000(Rosebud School of the Arts and Canadian Badlands Passion Play Founder, LaVerne Erickson)

The Alberta Tourism (Alto) Awards Committee has named LaVerne Erickson, founder of the Rosebud School of the Arts, Rosebud Theatre and the Canadian Badlands Passion Play, as the recipient of the 2010 Alto Ambassador award for his outstanding contributions to Albertas tourism industry. Erickson will receive his award at the Alto Awards Gala, October 25, 2010 in conjunction with the 10th annual Travel Alberta Industry Conference at The Fairmont Banff Springs.

Simply put, Rosebud Theatre, Rosebud School of the Arts and many other arts and culture icons in the Alberta Badlands would not exist today without the vision, passion and tenacity of LaVerne Erickson, says Bob Davis, Executive Director of Rosebud Theatre. Through his unbridled enthusiasm and optimism, LaVerne has attracted support and cooperation for ideas and dreams that have influenced thousands of tourists in Alberta, building a legacy that will endure for generations to come."

Davis adds, LaVernes career achievements started with the founding of Rosebud School of the Arts (1973) from which the popular Rosebud Theatre was born in 1983. Using the model of Rosebud Theatre, he went on to be a founding member of Vancouver Islands premier classical theatre, The Chemainus Festival Theatre (1993). Recognizing the unique topography of the badlands in Drumheller, LaVerne pursued a dream for an outdoor venue to tell the story of the life of Chris t by establishing the Canadian Badlands Passion Play (1994). Encouraging cooperation between the Passion Play, Rosebud School of the Arts and local school divisions he established the Canadian Badlands Performing Arts Summer School in Drumheller, a credit-granting program for high school students. Later, LaVerne encouraged the use of the infrastructure created by the Passion Play to host Beethoven in the Badlands, a partnership with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, EnCana, and Drumheller Rotary Club. He was also instrumental in laying the foundation for the establishment of the Canadian Badlands as an alternative tourism icon to the Canadian Rockies, and now the Canadian Badlands Limited is a non-profit corporation of over 60 municipalities.

LaVerne is a visionary who has demonstrated how big ideas can make small towns in rural Alberta huge tourism destinations, explains Emilia Hovorka, member of the Strategic Tourism Marketing Council and Chair of the volunteer industry committee, which oversees the awards program and selects the Alto Ambassador recipient.

A commitment to the growth of the tourism industry has earned LaVerne Erickson several other awards including the AGT Community Champions Award and the Champion Spark Plug Award for Economic Development in Alberta.

Like a true visionary, his energy, passion, cooperative spirit and innovative ideas create synergies that would not otherwise materialize, notes Davis. LaVerne can see, feel and believe what might be possible. His favorite saying is A rising tide lifts all ships a phrase that inspires people to this day to continue the work he helped start.

A bright yellow, massive, bridge-like structure that's taken months to assemble will be a key component to helping assemble the west leg of Calgary's LRT line.

The launching truss, which weighs 450 tonnes and stretches the length of a football field, has been taking shape at the west end of downtown.

"Essentially you can think of it as a crane," said Dave Weatherby, project director at SNC-Lavalin, which is building the new line.

"It's a good method when you're working in heavy urban areas, when you're working over top of streets, buildings where you can't necessarily get to with conventional cranes," he explained.

The truss will be used to hoist and place dozens of pre-fabricated concrete sections that will make up the elevated two-kilometre section of the LRT line from Millennium Park west to Crowchild Trail.

"A piece of the truss will come and lower down and pick up the piece of the guideway off the truck and then raise it up to where it's supposed to be in line with the piers underneath and that process will continue over and over again as it works its way west to Crowchild Trail," said Ryan Murray of the city's west LRT office.

The Italian-designed launching truss weighs 450 tonnes and stretches the length of a football field. (CBC) The Italian-designed truss has been used to build Vancouver's Canada Line, as well as a transit project in Seattle.

The truss is expected to start installing 12 pieces a day later this month after testing is complete, said Murray. The elevated section is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year.

The metal machinery has been creating a big shadow over Millennium Park in the past few months.

"Yeah, I'm actually kind of scared if it falls on me," said Jojo Barrientos as he skateboarded in the park.

One other miscommunication occured when it was announced the drivers dropping off carts would be available for questions by customers. In fact, the crew delivering the carts had no idea about the program itself but were still cornered by some irate customers. Kendrick said if you do have questions about the program, call the town at 403-823-1358.

The idea of the program is to provide a safe, efficient and cleaner way of handling garbage here in our community. When putting your carts out on the curb be sure there is enough clearance for the truck to access it. If unsure about the measurements, consult the information package delivered with your cart. Kendrick said for now, warnings will be issued for those who put their cart in an improper place, but down the road, carts will not be picked up at all.