Emergency Services Card Collection Ends with Prize Draws at Our Lady of Wisdom Elementary School

A contest aimed at students in grade 3 to 6 ended with a draw being held at Our Lady of Wisdom Elementary School for 4 Nintendo 3DS gaming systems.
The object of the contest was to collect all 13 Emergency Services cards issued from the joint efforts of the Chestermere RCMP detachment and Chestermere Fire Service. Cards highlighted pictures of local police officers and full time firefighters.
Staff Sergeant Glenn Henry said children from the 4 local schools were offered a chance to participate in the “Emergency Services Card” collection contest to encourage interactions between the youth and the emergency responders.
“The idea is to get out in the community and to be known by name. This was a huge success from our standpoint,” he said. The amount of cards issued was doubled from the original number in the 2011 campaign.
A presentation was held the end of April to lay out the 3 ground rules. First thing was that the students must meet the officers and firemen in public – not at the fire hall or RCMP station. Approach was not to occur when the officers were on active duty. The officers also made themselves available at the schools throughout the contest. Secondly the goal was to keep this a “kids only” venture, without parental help. The last rule was being of the target grade.
Staff Sergeant Henry said, “Prairie Waters students were the most active group with many kids using social media to keep track of and trade their cards.”
The schools themselves were very supportive and kept track of the collectors as it was considered their contest if they chose to participate.
Successfully collecting all 13 cards enabled the kids to enter in a draw for a Nintendo 3DS gaming system. Four lucky recipients from Our Lady of Wisdom claimed the prizes. .
“The Chestermere RCMP and Chestermere Fire Service would like to thank the Town of Chestermere for their encouragement and financial assistance to make this contest possible. The valued assistance provided by the staff of Our Lady of Wisdom School also made this contest possible and successful. It has been mentioned the students are looking forward to another contest next year. We just have to wait and see if it will happen,” said Staff Sergeant Henry.