On March 5 and 6, 2010 the ACFA Regionale de Red Deer is bringing Red Deer its very first Carnaval! In the spirit of Quebec’s Carnaval, volunteers will run activities and games or serve food and beverages during the event. All shifts are 4 hours in length and you are welcome to join us for more then one if you like. Be a part of this fun and unique event! To volunteer, please contact Marilou at 403-986-4350 or email acfardprojet@shawbiz.ca

Cheryl volunteers for Women of Excellence, Red Deer Olympic Torch Relay Community Celebration Task Force, and the Festival of Trees. She has been volunteering for 7 years.

Cheryl volunteers because she believes that volunteering enables you to be part of what helps to make Red Deer a great place to live, work and raise a family. She also believes that by helping in areas that assist local community efforts she is able to give back to the community that has benefitted her so much.

Two of the people who have mentored Cheryl in her volunteer efforts are Heidi Dandurand and Lyn Radford. By introducing Cheryl to new opportunities with increased challenges and guiding her along the way, they both inspire and encourage Cheryl.

Watching the excitement in the eyes of the little girls and the pride in their father’s eyes as they enter the Mistletoe Magic Father & Daughter Dinner and Dance is Cheryl’s favourite volunteer memory and that makes planning the Mistletoe Magic event for the Festival of Trees Cheryl’s very favourite volunteer activity!

The ACFA (Association Canadienne-Francaise de l’Alberta) Regionale de Red Deer promotes the French culture and represents and supports the French community of the Red Deer area.

Our biggest event will be the Red Deer Carnaval, happening for the first time on March 5 and 6 2010.

The ACFA runs workshops (arts, literature, internet, etc.) and discussion groups, Story Time, Halloween Night, a food support program and participates in International French Day, Canada Day, Sugar Shacks and Music Festival.

Francophones volunteering with the ACFA enjoy volunteering because they know they are supporting the French community of Red Deer. For both Francophiles or Anglophones, volunteering with ACFA gives the opportunity to immerse themselves in another language and culture. All our volunteers have a lot of fun at events that are well organized and secure. Volunteers come away from an event knowing that the French community in Red Deer is really vibrant.

We work a lot with immigrant and youth volunteers during our events. They help us in many ways by participating in any kind of task, wherever they are needed, during all of our events.

Last year, during our Christmas Concert Event, two of our volunteers were dressed as Santa Claus and the Christmas Fairy. They were inviting the children to tell them what they wanted for Christmas. The children were really happy to see Santa Claus and the Fairy!