Alberta Cheerleading Association

AHS Enhanced Public Health Measures, November 24, 2020 On November 24th, Alberta Health announced new enhanced public health measures. Some of these measures came into effect yesterday, and others will begin on November 27th. As clarity for our cheerleading community is required, the ACA has reached out to SPAR with several questions. SPAR has advised that they are awaiting clarity from AHS and will provide answers and additional information once received. In the meantime, pl...ease ensure to review and adhere to all AHS restrictions. ACA members may continue to submit questions regarding these new health measures to the ACA at [email protected]. Thank you for your continued efforts to keep our coaches, athletes and families safe and healthy. https://www.alberta.ca/enhanced-public-health-measures.aspx

UPDATE: ENHANCED HEALTH MEASURES This afternoon, the ACA met with the Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation (SPAR) Branch and Alberta Health. SPAR has recognized that many of us have received differing interpretations of the Record of Decision released by AHS on November 12, 2020. To clarify the information received, SPAR and Alberta Health have stated that the intent of the decision is to reduce the number of potential interactions that people experience not just keeping...Continue reading

Today, Alberta Health Services (AHS) has implemented a temporary, 2-week ban on indoor team sport activities from November 13 to 27, 2020. This does not include outdoor or individual activities. From the information received, it is presumed that cheerleading team activities are included in this ban. This new health measure is effective for all communities on the enhanced list (purples zones). Additional measures apply to the Calgary area and Edmonton area, and the cities of F...ort McMurray, Grande Prairie, Lethbridge and Red Deer. During this time, we encourage athletes to continue training from home and if possible, virtually with your team. If you have questions that the ACA can bring forward to AHS for clarification, please feel free to reach out to us. Please refer to the Government of Alberta’s website for additional information and updates: www.alberta.ca/enhanced-public-health-measures.aspx#toc-1

Reminder: Masks should not be worn during intense physical activity. Ensure that individuals are part of a cohort if interacting at a distance of less than 2 metres without a mask. To review the ACA’s Return to Sport Guidelines, visit https://www.albertacheerleading.ca/covid19

Hello everyone. We have received a Record of Decision from AHS in reference to the November 12th announcement. Document Highlights: 2(a)&(b) identifies specific regions.... 2(e) - Indoor sport activity means an organized activity involving physical exertion and skill in which two or more persons come together indoors to practice or compete with each other in a structured way including but not limited to hockey, soccer, basketball, volleyball and martial arts. 3 - Except as set out in sections 4 and 6 of Part 1 of this Order, a person is prohibited from attending and an operator of a business or entity is prohibited from providing or hosting an indoor group high-intensity or low intensity fitness activity or an indoor sport activity in the Calgary Metropolitan Region, Edmonton Metropolitan Region, City of Grande Prairie, City of Lethbridge, City of Fort McMurray and City of Red Deer, in the Province of Alberta. 4 - Part 1 of this Order does not apply to a person attending or an operator of a business or entity, providing or hosting: 4(b) - an individual sport activity where participants can maintain a minimum of 2 metres distances from each other at all times; 4(e) - an indoor group low-intensity fitness activity with five or fewer participants, inclusive of the instructor or trainer. In summary, at this time, classes may continue to run if participants can maintain a minimum of 2 metres distance from each other at all times. https://open.alberta.ca//health-cmoh-order-37-2020-2020-co

Today, we honour and remember the brave Canadians who have served, and continue to serve Canada during times of war, conflict and peace. #remembranceday #lestweforget2020 #Remembrance

We have received clarification that classes may continue to run for individualized training if athletes are socially distanced and no stunting occurs. If this statement must change due to AHS updates or if there are new AHS updates, we will post on Facebook. Please note that at this time, the ACA is not putting additional measures in place outside of AHS’ requirements and guidelines. We are seeking answers for those who submitted questions and will post on Facebook once the answers are received.

Judge Training is this November! Register Now! https://www.albertacheerleading.ca/competitionsandevents

After one day of registration opening, True North is 50% sold out! Register before it’s too late! www.albertacheerleading.ca/true-north-cheer-dance-champions

Registration for True North 2021 is open! Visit our website to learn more and to register! www.albertacheerleading.ca

The ACA’s Casino fundraiser will be held February 4 & 5, 2021 at Starlight Casino in West Edmonton Mall! Members and parents are encouraged to volunteer! All volunteers will receive a credit to be used towards ACA programs and services.... More information coming soon!

Reminder: Close-contact activities are those where cohorts are necessary because participation requires being within 2 metres of other individuals. The ACA and Alberta Health strongly recommends that participants limit their involvement in a sport or recreation cohort to one. To review the ACA’s Return to Sport Guidelines, visit https://www.albertacheerleading.ca/covid19

Judge Training for Coaches Starts this Weekend! Register for Saturday’s Scholastic Session Now! https://www.albertacheerleading.ca//aca-judges-training-s8

Registration for ACA Judge Training for Judges & Coaches is OPEN This virtual training is FREE for ACA members this 2020/2021 season! Are you interested in becoming a Judge or Tabulator for the upcoming season? ... Coaches - do you want to learn more about Comparative Scoring and changes that affect scholastic and all-star teams? Read our newsletter www.conta.cc/3kB5CPu or visit our website at www.albertacheerleading.ca to learn more and to register! New this year: - Specialty Division Training (open to ANY experience level) for those interested in judging Performance Cheer, Cheer Abilities and/or Game Day! - Tabulator Training! - Panel Practice + Q&A sessions!

See you in February for True North 2021! Details coming soon! #TrueNorth2021 #TrueNorthCheer #TrueNorthCheerAndDanceChampionships... #albertacheerleading #aca #albertacheer #abcheerleading See more

Happy Thanksgiving! Wishing you a safe and joyous day. #albertacheerleading #thankful

UPDATED: Return to Sport, Stage 2 Guideline Please ensure to review the ACA’s updated Return to Sport, Stage 2 Guideline. This third version replaces the July 22, 2020 guideline.... www.albertacheerleading.ca/covid19 See more

Today, Alberta Health Services (AHS) has implemented new health measures for the Edmonton Zone. The Edmonton Zone includes the city of Edmonton and surrounding areas. Part of these measures effect sport with AHS now asking you to limit yourself to only three cohorts, with only ONE sport cohort. The ACA is working to update our return to sport document, as that document is being updated please visit https://www.alberta.ca/covid19-edmonton-zone-public-health- for details.

Safe Sport Resources Available The ACA believes that everyone has the right to enjoy the sport of cheerleading at whatever level or position they participate. Athletes, coaches, CITs, officials, volunteers and administrators have the right to participate in a safe and inclusive environment that is free of abuse, harassment or discrimination. In order to help maintain a Safe Sport environment, the ACA has developed a Safe Sport Resources page on our website at www.albertacheer...leading.ca/aca-safe. If you have a concern, or have seen a member breach an ACA Policy such as the Code of Conduct Policy, we encourage you to take the most appropriate action from the list below to report this concern or violation. Reports can be submitted by completing the Complaint Submission Form available through the Safe Sport web page or by emailing: [email protected]. Please email [email protected] if you have any questions or concerns. Alternatively, you may contact the Executive Director at [email protected].

Attention Parents, Coaches and Educators! The Expert Talk a support and resource network for parents of teens and tweens is hosting FREE online sessions about The Inner Lives of Girls. Social media use has skyrocketed and as a result, mental health concerns among youth are rising. In this talk, you will learn: - The four pillars of the teenage identity: Body Image and Self-Esteem, Social and Romantic Relationships, Media Messages and Expectations, and Family Life... - Three key parenting strategies to support your child through this difficult stage - How these strategies lead to strengthened parent-child connections & healthy futures for you both Because girls in competitive sports struggle especially hard with these pressures, understanding what they’re navigating is crucial. Sessions will be offered on: Monday, October 19 Wednesday, October 21 Saturday, October 24 Wednesday, October 28 Space is limited for each session, so secure your spot now! https://www.theexperttalk.com/alberta_cheerleading_associat

Alberta Sports Hall of Fame is Seeking Nominations! Nominate a deserving athlete, teams, sport builder, pioneer, media personnel or lifetime achievement candidate for induction into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame! No one knows whose accomplishments and contributions deserve this recognition more than those who worked alongside these individuals. Due to COVID-19, they did not induct their slate in 2020 and will be inducting them in May 2021. However, they are still seeking n...ominations for consideration for the 2021 selection process. We encourage all members to consider submitting an application for a deserving recipient you may be aware of. Please see attached nomination package for criteria and guidelines. The application deadline for nomination will be September 30, 2021.

Now taking registrations for our October 17, 2020 Scholastic Coach Certification Session! Register at: www.albertacheerleading.ca//aca-coaches-certification-calg

We’re celebrating the coaches who have been there through thick and thin! This week, join us to say #ThanksCoach to an important coach in your life! #Coaching #NCCP #coachesweek #Sports #AlbertaCheerleading

Free Webinars are available at @EdmontonSportCouncil! Visit the Sport Council's Webinar page for opportunities. https://www.edmontonsport.com//workshops_conferences_webin #Webinars #Opportunity #Learning

Attention All-Star Coaches! Register NOW for Virtual ICU Credentialing sessions!

National Coaches Week is September 19-27! Alberta Sport is offering an extensive selection of NCCP modules leading up to, and during, Coaches Week. Visit their website to learn more. https://albertasport.ca/nccp-module-calendar/ #Coaching #NCCP #coachesweek #Sports #AlbertaCheerleading

We are excited to introduce our updated Scholastic Coach Certification program! Register now for the September 12 or October 17 virtual sessions! Visit https://www.albertacheerleading.ca/coach-credentialing for more information and to register.

Return to Sport Stage 2 Guideline Updated! We are pleased to provide you with our updated Return to Sport, Stage 2 Guideline. This version (version 2) replaces the June 11, 2020 guideline. Updates are in green text within the document.... https://static1.squarespace.com//20-07-22+ACA+Return+to+Sp

Cheer Canada is looking for dedicated individuals to fill upcoming positions on the Board of Directors. Are you interested in helping shape the future of cheer... in Canada? Do you have the experience and time to commit to a board position? Check out the attached information and nomination form. https://conta.cc/3hmaSUY Cheer Canada est à la recherche de personnes dévouées pour occuper les prochains postes au conseil d'administration. Êtes-vous intéressé à contribuer à façonner l'avenir du cheer au Canada? Avez-vous l'expérience et le temps nécessaires pour vous engager dans un conseil? Consultez les informations ci-jointes et le formulaire de nomination. https://conta.cc/3hmaSUY

And the winners of the True North Gear Giveaway are... Aleaha Dvorak Alexis McIntyre Allora LeBlanc... Alyta Mckain Ana Sommers Annabelle Morgan Christine Bullen Courtney Hogg Dana Prystupa Erin Lewis Georgia Potter Izzy Humphries Jason Hamlett Jayd Girling Jordyn Tucker Kelly May Korbi Ressler Kyra Foreman Lore Pasaran Maddison/Ashley Macleod/Smith Makena Hales Marie Rain Melissa Dixon Nikki O’Connor Paige Yates Peyton Hershmiller Quinnley Vanderzyde RaeAnne Hallisay-Hetchler Rory Shak Rylea/Jeralyn Daniels Sara Yaremko Sarah Schultz Savannah Rodgers Sophia Morrison Taylor Siltala Twyla Ashworth Voula Fourlaris CONGRATULATIONS! Thank you to everyone who "liked" and "shared" our post and "followed" our page! Winners will receive their item by post, personal delivery, or through your club within the next couple of weeks! #cheer #canadiancheer #albertacheerleading #TrueNorthCheerAndDanceChampionships #totalspiritcheerleading

GIVEAWAY TIME!! Attention Alberta Cheerleading Association Members AND visiting teams that attended the 2020 True North Cheer & Dance Championships! Want the ...chance to win a 2020 True North t-shirt or hoodie? Our Platinum Sponsor, Total Spirit Cheerleading has kindly donated gear to giveaway to the ACA’s cheer community!! How to enter: 1Like this post! 2Follow us @truenorthcheeranddance 3Share this post with your friends! 4Complete the entry form here: https://forms.gle/QjxtkKvaBswfPGi19 Giveaway ends Monday, July 13, 2020 at 12:00pm. Winners will be contacted by Monday, July 20, 2020 at 5:00pm. Open to ACA members registered in 2019/20 and visiting teams that attended 2020 True North only. Limited quantities and sizes available! We will try our best to accommodate size requests, however, a different size may be issued. Shirt type or colour cannot be requested. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with Facebook. The information you provide will only be used for the purposes of this contest. GOOD LUCK! #cheer #canadiancheer #albertacheerleading #TrueNorthCheerAndDanceChampionships #totalspiritcheerleading

Attention All-Star Coaches! Virtual ICU Credentialing sessions for August & September, 2020 are open! Visit our website to register www.albertacheerleading.ca/competitionsandevents

President's Message 2020 has been a rollercoaster of a ride for all of us and is turning into what will be one of the most challenging times for our sport. With these challenges come opportunities for the ACA and our members, and I am grateful to lead the ACA in the role of President. I want to thank our outgoing President Kaylynn McCormack and Vice-President Trevor Robertson, for their dedication, commitment and contribution to the ACA over the past year. They continue to ...be a tremendous asset to our board, and I look forward to collaborating with them over the next year. I am also excited to welcome two new board members, Holly Elliot and Melissa Kirkendall, who are incredibly knowledgeable and dedicated to our sport. They will be a valuable asset to our board. The ACA board and staff will continue efforts to improve and enhance the development opportunities provided to coaches and officials. Coach and official development will be one of our top priorities to ensure our sport’s continued success. The ACA is committed to further enhancing our ongoing relationship with Cheer Canada. We will strive to be more actively involved with Cheer Canada and ensure that Cheer Canada updates are communicated to our membership. We will continue to seek opportunities to improve the ACA membership experience in the 2020/21 season and welcome feedback and ideas from you. I want to thank all coaches, volunteers, and judges. The growth of our sport is directly tied to your efforts. I especially want to thank the ACA’s staff, Michelle Morrell, Kim Houle and Melissa Kolodenko, for their continued efforts to grow the sport we all love. Not everyone knows the time and energy these ladies put into making the ACA successful, but I do, and I want to thank you personallyit truly is a great team to work with! We do not know what cheerleading will look like for the upcoming season; however, we are committed to working with the all-star and scholastic communities to help transition our sport to the new normal. We will ensure to have open lines of communication, transparency and continue to provide the resources and support needed during this difficult time. Sincerely, Deanna Kibblewhite | President

#nipdcanada2020 #nipdcanada #indigenousathletes

Announcing the 2020/21 Board of Directors!

Ticket Refunds | 2020 Edmonton Elementary and Junior High Zones For those that have purchased spectator tickets in advance for the 2020 Elementary and Junior High Zones Competition, please review the information below to receive your refund. Location: St. Oscar Romero High School 17760-69 Avenue... Dates/Times: June 25 & 26 from 8:30am-3:30pm. An alternate date will tentatively be scheduled for September Process: - Enter the school through the front doors - Ring the doorbell when you arrive, and let us know why you are at the school - Enter the school, and turn to your right to find the bookstore window - Please do not enter the main office Bring: - Your wristband(s) - Your ID - The card you purchased the wristbands with (if applicable) If you are a group representative, please bring your ID, the names of the people you are representing, and all the wristbands you are claiming a refund for. Wristbands are required in order to receive a refund. No exceptions. Refunds: - Refunds will be in cash (only) - You must have your wristbands in order to receive a refund regardless of how you paid for them - Wristbands must be surrendered in order to receive the cash refund - This is only for those who purchased tickets directly from the school. If you placed an order using our Google Form (for teams only), then you were never invoiced nor charged for these items and therefore are not eligible for a refund. Your wristbands are void. - This is only for the Elementary and Junior High portion of the competition (Session 2 & 3 - red & gold). Senior High (Session 1 - blue) must contact Metro to be reimbursed as previously advertised. Questions may be directed to Melissa Kolodenko at [email protected].

Cheer Canada has released a one-page document to inform members of the ACA and Cheer Canada!

Attention coaches! NCCP has released their June course calendar. As a reminder, all coaches must complete NCCP's Making Head Way in Sport, Make Ethical Decisions, and Planning a Practice (new for the 2020-21 season) to be certified to coach. Visit their website to register!... https://albertasport.ca/nccp-module-calendar/ See more

Return to Sport Stage 2 Guideline Available Now! We are pleased to provide you with this resource to assist ACA members as our province begins to loosen COVID-19 restrictions during Stage 2. https://static1.squarespace.com//20-06-11+ACA+Return+to+Sp

2019/20 Annual Report

Words cannot thank you enough for your continued commitment and excellence as The Voice for so many years. We will miss you, we appreciate you, and we are not the only ones... thank you Troy Locke !

Congratulations to all 2019/2020 ACA award winners and nominees! Each and every one of you plays an important role in the development of cheerleading in Alberta. Thank you for your continued dedication to our sport! WE HAVE ONE MORE ANNOUNCEMENT TO MAKE! STAY TUNED!!

The ACA is pleased to announce the winners of the Athlete of the Year Award for Scholastic and All-Star! Congratulations!

The ACA is pleased to announce the winners of the Coach of the Year Awards for Scholastic and All-Star! Congratulations!

The ACA is pleased to announce the winners of the Novice Coach of the Year Awards for Scholastic and All-Star! Congratulations!

The ACA is pleased to announce the winner of the Teacher Advisor of the Year Award! Congratulations!

The ACA is pleased to announce the winners of the Scholarship Awards! Congratulations!

The ACA is pleased to announce the winner of the Team Sportsmanship Award and those receiving the Supporting School and Community Spirit Award! Congratulations!

The ACA is pleased to announce the winners of the Rookie Judge of the Year Award and Judge of the Year Award! Congratulations!

Annually, the ACA recognizes the outstanding work and achievements of individuals and teams who have contributed to the sport of Cheerleading in Alberta. Although we will not be presenting awards in person this year, the ACA is pleased to announce the 2019/20 award nominees. Winners will be announced over the next few days. Good luck to all nominees!

2020 AGM Voting Delegate & Proxy Information

Happy Mothers Day

Light up the Fields! In support of the ASAA's effort to recognize Grade 12 student athletes who will not get to complete their high school athletic careers, the ACA is encouraging schools across the Province to participate in #BeALightAlberta and light up fields and gyms in recognition of their graduating athletes on Monday, May 4 at 9:30pm. Please review the ASAA's promotion for more information.... #albertacheerleading #aca #albertacheer

Are you interested in advancing the sport of cheerleading in Alberta? The ACA has 3 Director positions open for the 2020/21 season. The election will take place during the 2020 Annual General Meeting to be held virtually on Saturday, June 13, 2020. Learn more at www.albertacheerleading.ca/agm

Don't forget to nominate! Be sure to view our NEW Teacher Advisor of the Year Award as well! Visit www.albertacheerleading.ca/awards #albertacheerleading #aca #albertacheer

Did you know that the ACA offers multiple awards each year? Nominations close April 30th. Learn more about our awards and nominate a deserving candidate now! Visit www.albertacheerleading.ca/awards #albertacheerleading #aca #albertacheer #abcheerleading #ABCheer #acacheer

2020/21 Director Nominations - OPEN!

Scholastic Scoring System 2020/2021

All-Star Gym Owners: Here is some useful information from the Canadian Government for businesses affected by COVID-19. Response Plan: https://www.canada.ca//departm/economic-response-plan.html... Wage Subsidies: https://www.canada.ca//economic-r/covid19-businesses.html

ACA Award Nominations Open!

Hello Scholastic Coaches! The ACA would like to connect with Scholastic Coaches via a video meeting to assess our provincial situation and collaborate on solutions to help coaches and athletes in our cheer community through this unprecedented time. Please let us know when you are available on Wednesday, March 25 to connect and if you have topics you would like to discuss through our Doodle Poll: https://doodle.com/poll/y84ef7sy9ntuvnqk

Update: ACA Coaches' Conference, Awards Gala & AGM

ACA Zones & ACA Provincials Status

Please see an important note from Double Up Productions regarding the Stampede City Showdown in Calgary this weekend.

ACA Statement: Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Looking for a team to coach? Visit albertacheerleading.ca/aca-coaches-wanted to see all postings.

Cheerific Western Cheer Challenge Visit albertacheerleading.ca/results to see the final standings for all the teams that competed on March 7, 2020.