(L-R) Jodi Smith, RDCRS Associate Superintendent; Cindy More, Smiles Thru Lindsey Foundation co-founder; Rick More, Smiles Thru Lindsey Foundation co-founder; Marcie Perdue, CESD Associate Superintendent; Kurt Sacher, CESD Superintendent. (Supplied)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

Smiles Thru Lindsey Foundation

Chinook’s Edge and Red Deer Catholic school divisions receive $20,000 for suicide prevention

Jun 1, 2023 | 3:15 PM

Chinook’s Edge School Division (CESD) and Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools (RDCRS) have been named the recipients of a $20,000 donation from the Smiles Thru Lindsey Foundation.

Officials say the funds will be shared to develop supports for youth who are struggling with suicidal ideation and self-injury.

They state the school divisions will be working together to develop two protocols:

1. A non-suicidal, self-injury protocol
2. A suicidal ideation protocol

“Our goal is to ensure staff have the resources and procedures in place to ensure support for youth who are self-harming or have suicide ideation,” said Marcie Perdue, CESD Associate. “We are excited to work collaboratively with Red Deer Catholic to make a significant impact for students.”

Last seen March 31

Missing: Eugenie Headman, 66, of Maskwacis

Apr 04, 2026

mayor hopes to meet housing minister this month

Alberta demands Ottawa back off on housing funding stripped from Red Deer

Apr 02, 2026

Last seen Jan. 15

Missing: Courtney Cattleman, 17, of Maskwacis

Apr 02, 2026

Perdue says work will include training for designated school staff to ensure they know how to help students, and when and where to refer them for additional support from community partners.

“We have learned through the work we are already doing together with Chinook’s Edge, that collaboration has power, and the beneficiaries are our students,” said Jodi Smith, Associate Superintendent of Inclusive Learning at RDCRS. “Between our two school divisions we serve 20,000 students, and in this work we are reminded that they are all our kids.”

The Smiles Thru Lindsey Foundation started after Red Deerian Lindsey More died from suicide almost eight years ago. Her parents, Rick and Cindy More, are active, through the foundation, in building suicide prevention awareness and programs for youth.

“When Chinook’s Edge and Red Deer Catholic first approached us with this idea, Rick couldn’t stop smiling,” said Cindy More.

The $20,000 donated to Red Deer Catholic and Chinook’s Edge came to the Foundation from the Penhold Bullarama event, a bull riding fundraiser, dedicated to Smiles Thru Lindsey. The Mores thanked Kyle Daines and his committee, as well as the community, for the fundraising effort.

“Teachers have so much of an impact with kids. It’s possible students will first confide in a teacher before they talk with their parents about their concerns in this area. Also, teachers experience pressure with everything that is expected of them in their work. We are excited about this project because we can see it making a difference,” said Rick More.

The school divisions plan to have both protocols complete by the end of the 2023-24 school year.