It Takes a Village: Prairie Rose Celebrates Community Support in Education

Featured: The team from Western Tractor pose with trustee Graeme Dennis after receiving the Community Champion Award.

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Prairie Rose School Division came together this week to celebrate its community champions, organizations and individuals whose dedication and support continue to shape education from kindergarten to grade 12.

Board trustee Shauna VanderSpruit opened the celebration by sharing how these partnerships strengthen the division. “Education is not the work of just the school alone,” she said. “It is the work of an entire community that believes in its young people. These partnerships truly set us apart as a school division. They ignite minds, forge futures, and kindle hearts.”

That community spirit is clear in the work of the Bow Island Fire Department. Fire Chief Blaine O'Donnell recalled how their fire academy began. “The superintendent asked if we'd be interested in starting a fire academy, and our members were all gung-ho. This is our second year, and we're enjoying it immensely.” For O’Donnell, the program is about more than training. “It's the future of our town. Hopefully, some of them will stay in our town and become volunteer firefighters. That's our goal, and to make them better people.”

Cypress County Fire Manager Jason Linton agreed, pointing out that firefighting teaches students much more than technical skills. “Firefighting is such a team effort, but there is a classroom aspect to it by really working closely as a team, working with your peers, working with all different agencies, really just life skills and helping them grow at a very, very young age.” He added that those lessons prepare students to transition into the workforce and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

Beyond emergency services, local businesses also play a key role in shaping students’ futures. At Deerview Meats, co-owner Perry Deering has seen first-hand how hands-on learning transforms young people. “We focus on teamwork, responsibility, and industry-specific training,” he explained. “Many of our former students have moved on to provincial and federal careers. Working in a group setting makes that person feel like they're just part of a big adult setting, and that's part of the growth.”

Western Tractor in Medicine Hat also opens doors for students, encouraging them to see the bigger picture of agriculture. “Many students would leave this area and not come back to farm and be a part of something,” said Scott Hershmiller. “We see it where a lot of people were unaware of some of the things we do in our industry. It puts a smile on our face to see these kids succeed and come back and ask questions.”

For Hershmiller, the message is clear: agriculture is about much more than farming. “It’s technology, it’s engineering, it’s accounting,” he said. “We want students to see there’s a future here.”

That same belief guided Craig Lehr of Short Grass Ranches, who first became involved by donating cattle for a school beef project. “Initially, we were just asked to donate some steers for the beef project at Irvine School, and we thought it was a great opportunity. But quickly, it became clear this was about mentorship, education, and showing students that agriculture offers diverse and rewarding opportunities.”

Lehr hopes programs like these inspire students to explore a wide range of career paths. “We employ multiple people on our operation, and it's getting harder and harder to find qualified people who want to be in primary agriculture production. Programs like this can help bring people in and show there’s opportunity here. Even if it's not the direct primary production of beef, maybe if they have the introduction in primary production, they learn more about other aspects, being a nutritionist, working in processing, or marketing. I hope they broaden their horizons on what agriculture entails.”

As VanderSpruit reminded the crowd, these champions make a lasting difference. “These programs remind us that education is a community effort,” she said. “They ignite minds, forge futures, and inspire our students to achieve their best.”

The full list of award winners can be found here: https://www.myprps.com/news/prairie-rose-board-recognizes-community-champions-for-education-20250923214012