Central Alberta is full of promise and potential, and our young people are the evidence.
Many extraordinary young people hail from this region.
Today, the Red Deer Advocate celebrates the next generation of movers and shakers in its 2015 edition of Momentum.
The young people we feature have followed their dreams to such places as the racetrack, the tennis court and performance halls. Some have excelled in research, business or music. Some remain in the Central Alberta. Others have moved elsewhere to follow their passion and develop their expertise.
The people are as diverse as our area.
Andrew Phypers is an Aboriginal man who was a father at 17. He pulled himself out of poverty and put himself through law school to support his family. Phypers now operates his own Red Deer law firm that includes many Aboriginal clients.
Growing up, Serena Bos didn’t need a teddy bear. She had real black bears to play with. She is now zookeeper and animal trainer at Discovery Wildlife Park in Innisfail.
Parker Thompson is a Red Deer motor sports phenomenon who has taken his passion for fast cars to the next level. The 17-year-old is racing formula cars. He plans to be on Indy car circuit one day. In the meantime, he finds time to pitch his safety message to Alberta teenagers about the dangers of distracted driving.
Nadine Overwater has plowed her childhood passion for ATVs and the outdoors into becoming one of the few females in the world of professional backcountry snowmobiling. The native of Rocky Mountain House now teaches other women at her La Nina Sled Camps out of her home base of Revelstoke, B.C., and is sponsored rider.
These are just a few of the successful young people whose stories and photos we share with you today.
This is the second edition of Momentum, our annual offering of features on Central Albertans. This is the 15th edition of what was once known as Report on Central Alberta. Momentum will be distributed with our Friday Forward publication to all Red Deer households. Rural subscribers will get Momentum with their Red Deer Advocate newspaper. If you didn’t get a copy and would like to request one, or want extras, you can contact Scott Williamson, Advocate special section/trade printing co-ordinator, at 403-314-4392 or swilliamson@www.reddeeradvocate.com.