Scotty Cartwright of Scotty's Burger Shack in Crooked Creek (left) teamed up with Freson Bros. IGA in Valleyview and Sysco to provide a hot lucnh to the students at Sturgeon Lake School Wednesday for their awards ceremony (Photo supplied by Scotty Cartwright)

By Shaun Penner

Community

Student achievements, community unity celebrated at Sturgeon Lake school Wednesday

Apr 1, 2021 | 2:10 PM

Students at Sturgeon Lake School were celebrated for their achievements Wednesday, while local businesses teamed up to provide a catered lunch to the students and staff.

The students at the school of Sturgeon Lake First Nation were celebrated for achievements like strong attendance, academic excellence and extra curricular projects that benefit their community.

Those awards also came along with a hot lunch courtesy of Scotty’s Burger Shack in Crooked Creek, Freson Bros. IGA in Valleyview and Sysco.

The offer to provide the lunch was originally that of Scotty Cartwright, who is the owner of Scotty’s Burger Shack. He says he simply wanted to provide the lunch to the school as a showing of unity with his neighbours.

With that, he approached principal Brian Richardson, who told him having it on the awards day on March 31 would be the perfect time.

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“And he thought that would be a wonderful opportunity for us to collaborate and have a unified day of investing into these children and the recognition for their hard work,” said Cartwright.

He adds it was also important to celebrate the students for their perseverance through what has been a trying year with COVID-19.

“We see how much and how hard these children, and in every community this year with COVID, have worked and struggled to keep each other safe and follow all the protocols,” said Cartwright. “I mean, it wouldn’t be an easy year in school for anybody.”

Principal Richardson says it was very gracious of Cartwright to approach him about the offer to provide a lunch to the students.

But he says he was more taken back by how Cartwright approached him.

“First Nations, it’s all about relationships. And a lot of people don’t go to the Nation’s home fire,” said Richardson. “They phone in and they do everything from afar.”

“What I liked about what Scotty did… the fact that he came to our home fire, to our school and offered this, that was very amazing.”

Students also heard virtual speeches from Chief Clyde Goodswimmer and members of council, Central Peace-Notley MLA Todd Loewen and Elder Barb Goodswimmer, who provided inspirational messages for the students.

Both Cartwright and Richardson said the speech from Elder Goodswimmer was quite powerful.

“When Barb said her words, my body, just the energy. I was overcome. The kindness in her words and the messaging she gave our kids about hope.”

After a tough year with COVID-19, Cartwright adds the smiles on the kid’s faces and the event as a whole “was what the doctor ordered”.

“It reignited some hope, in my Fight for Hope, in my heart.”