Serving the Communities of Black Diamond • Bragg Creek • Eden Valley • Elbow Valley • Jumping Pound Longview • Millarville • Priddis • Red Deer Lake • Redwood Meadows • Springbank • Turner Valley Volume 25 Number 10 October 2014 HIGH COUNTRY NEWS is published monthly by: HIGH COUNTRY BUSINESS SERVICES LTD. Box 476, Bragg Creek, AB T0L 0K0 Editor: Chris McLachlan Articles published in the High Country News are solely the opinion of the writers. This publication assumes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of these articles. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any way without the written permission of the editor. ADVERTISING RATES:** Full Page $540. Two Thirds Page $380. Half Page $290. One Third Page $190. One Quarter Page $155. One Sixth Page $115. Business Card $75. **1/4 hr. layout included in ad rate Back Page Listing $96./yr. Layout Charges $60./hr. Commercial Classifieds $16./4 lines minimum Discounts Available on Long Term Commitments Subscription $30./yr. GST NOT Included in Rates CIRCULATION: 10,200 403-949-3526 Fax: 403-254-9001 website: www.highcountrynews.ca e-mail: [email protected] Volume 25 Number 10 October 2014 In This Issue . . . Page Communities:Bragg Creek Redwood Meadows Red Deer Lake Priddis Square Butte Turner Valley Black Diamond Longview 8 20 26 28 32 36 39 42 Articles:Easter Seals Camp Horizon The Country Wood Rocky View County Councillor - Liz Breakey Bragg Creek Physiotherapy by Jennifer Gordon Dependable by Andrea Kidd Western Ways by Paul Hemingson Kidney March Out of the Rut by Kat Dancer 4 6 18 22 27 30 34 40 Classifieds:Free Classifieds Sponsored by High Country News Commercial Classifieds 24 46 High Country News Cover:by Horst Hackforth Sawmill Studio, Bragg Creek - 403-949-4268 NEXT DEADLINE IS MONDAY OCTOBER 27th! We accept MASTERCARD, VISA & AMEX High Country News - October 2014 3 Anonymous Donor at The Calgary Foundation Gives Green Light to Second Dorm for Kids with Disabilities at Easter Seals Camp Horizon On September 25, Easter Seals Alberta celebrated a gift from The Calgary Foundation of $3.3 million dollars to start building the second dorm. “The Calgary Foundation is proud to support the inspiring work of Easter Seals Alberta. The services that Easter Seals Camp Horizon provides are unique to Alberta and Canada,” says Laily Pirbhai, Vice President Donor Engagement at The Calgary Foundation. “Through the generosity of an anonymous donor to the Foundation this gift will ensure individuals with disabilities continue to thrive at this one-of-a-kind camp.” Also on September 25, Easter Seals Alberta officially opened the Calgary Home Builders Foundation Dorm and the Safeway Amphitheatre along with other newly created spaces and places for the over 1,200 Albertans with disabilities who come to Easter Seals Camp Horizon every year. “I thought it would be impossible to improve the Easter Seals Camp Horizon experience, but now I can hardly wait to get back to camp next summer and spend my week in such first-rate lodgings!” says Megan Fachini, the one of two 2014 Youth Ambassadors for Easter Seals Alberta. “The dorm is beautiful, with tons of natural light and so much room to move around freely.” The space and freedom of the new dorm and nearby amphitheatre was made possible by several community donors to revitalize an almost 50 year old facility and tradition for children, youth and adults with disabilities. Now all the campers who come to Easter Seals Camp Horizon can look forward to brand new facilities in the near future. “The amazing support of the community will allows us to fully empower our campers with freedom and independence, we are deeply grateful.” explains Susan Boivin, CEO, Easter Seals Alberta. BRAGG CREEK DENTAL MICHAEL D. CLANCY, D.M.D. Box 608, 35 White Ave., Bragg Creek, AB T0L 0K0 403-949-2288 • Fax 403-949-2295 [email protected] • www.braggcreekdental.ca Our patients are our most important asset. That’s why we’ve developed our practice philosophy and designed our office with you in mind. We welcome patients of all ages into our family practice. Our office is equipped with advanced technology to provide you with the advanced care you deserve. Let your smile be a sign of happiness and good health! Call or email our office today to schedule a visit. We now direct bill to most insurance companies. *some conditions apply* 4 High Country News - October 2014 THANK YOU FOR THE SHOES . . . THEY HAVE BEEN WELL USED! When we were allowed back into our home on June 22, 2013, a few things were clear. First, was that the overflowing Elbow River had made its way to our cabin on White Avenue in Bragg Creek. Many items were soggy to say the least, ...among them, most of our footwear. No worries though. Off we went, to the Bragg Creek Community Centre, which served as our community heartbeat over the next several weeks. There, we were greeted by volunteers, eager to meet our every need. We honestly couldn’t have made it through without this tremendous support! On that first day, we went straight to the donated items in the gym. We found rubber boots, a dark green T-shirt that had come from Africa (where we had been recently), and a pair of size 7 or 8 running shoes. They were blue and white and had already seen some action. Over the next 15 months those shoes saw us through the flood clean-up, our rebuild, water and sewer install and final landscaping following a community clean-up. In the end the shoes were tint- ed a funky orange color – probably a combination of dirt, mud, and some stain from the new kitchen cupboards. When you threw those shoes in the box that day, we’re sure you had no idea how many miles they would log. In addition to the shoes, boots, Tshirts, gloves, etc. there were meals for us each day. You know the kind... homecooked, made with love and shared with friends. We asked for a labor force and each day, volunteers (some we knew and many strangers) came eager to take on each grubby task. Some came with shovels and rakes, others with bobcats and still others with knowledge and advice. All came with a sense of community and positive attitude to lift our spirits. In the eight months it took to finally move back into our home, some people really went above and beyond. Shannon and Roger took care of our dog Soleo. Mom & Dad welcomed us in to their home in Calgary, complete with our two cats. Eight months is a very long time, even for animal lovers, so thank you! When the Community Centre heard that our commercial kitchen was affected, prohibiting us from running our business, they allowed us to access their kitchen until we were back on our feet. When our contractor quit the job shortly after the demolition stage, Dad and our friend Shelly stepped in to complete most of the rebuild of the cabin. Not bad for a retired firefighter and a cardiac nurse! In the midst of the to-do list, “thank you” was sometimes missed. Please know that every action and every word contributed to both our physical and emotional recovery. We are home again because of each of you. We would love to invite you to join us in a celebration! Wear your best shoes! Heather O’Bray & Suzanne Jackett The CountryWood at Bragg Creek Excavating: Backfilling, Trenching, Cat Work Landscaping: Rock Retaining Walls, Rundle Stone Patios, Rock Work, Stairs Acreage Development: Road Design & Building, Drainage, Ponds & Dams, Sewer & Water, Clearing John Lajeunesse • 949-2756 • 620-0250 TOOL TIME HANDYMAN & CONSTRUCTION SERVICES FOR YOUR HOME IMPROVEMENT NEEDS: RENOVATIONS, REPAIRS, MAINTENANCE & UNIQUE PROJECTS FOR ANY TASK...JUST ASK! Al MacDonald 403-949-2349 PROVEN QUALITY WORKMANSHIP, HONESTY & RELIABILITY 6 $75.00 / Month (+ gst) Buys This Business Card Space (Ask About Discounts for Long-Term Commitments) 403-949-3526 High Country News - October 2014 Please join us for our Open House! Your Hosts: Heather O’Bray & Suzanne Jackett When: Saturday, October 25, 2014 from 1 to 3 p.m. Where: 36 White Avenue, Bragg Creek Who: Everyone - if we haven’t met you, it’s high time we did! RSVP: 403-949-8466 [email protected] Please RSVP by October 22 so we can ensure we have enough food and drink for all. We look forward to seeing you! Care in the Creek Medical Centre Medical Home Model Modus Operandi The basis for the long-term vision for our medical centre comes from work performed by the College of Family Physicians of Canada. This describes the pillars of a model of family practice, and is the vision that Care in the Creek will use to define its future, namely: • A personal family physician for each patient • Team-based care • Timely access to appointments in the practice and for referrals • Comprehensive continuous care • Electronic records • System supports • Ongoing evaluation and • Quality improvement programs This concept has been captured in the notion that family practices such as Care in the Creek will serve as the Patients’ Medical Home. Care in the Creek Our Success Story Your generosity has made it possible for over 7,000 households in the communities to have immediate access to primary health care. Milestones: • The medical centre, celebrating its 2nd birthday in October 2014, stands as a ‘one-of-a-kind’ success model of what is possible when a community comes together in partnership with other health-care stakeholders to achieve a desired outcome. • The medical centre has become a model for other rural communities in addressing their needs for bringing primary care services to their community members • Current active patient panel is 2,233 of which 53% come from Bragg Creek, 18% from Redwood Meadows, 15% from Cochrane and the balance from Priddis and other surrounding areas. • Our medical centre suffered severe damage in the Bragg Creek Flood of June 2013. Thanks to the outstanding hard work of the medical centre staff and restoration workers, it was only unavailable for a 6-week timeframe and looked better than ever after its unsolicited ‘face lift’! • Following a community needs survey MWHS introduced a local foot care clinic to provide another service to CITC patients. These 6-week rotational clinics have proved very successful. Space for the clinics was donated by the Snowbirds Fellowship Board. Future Focus Medical Team & MWHS Doctors Les & Sara and their medical team are working very hard to accommodate the needs of all community members. Many thanks to them for the great service they are providing. Our Mountain Woods Health Services Board made a commitment to the community and other stakeholders, to ensure sustainability through effective partnerships, stewardship and succession planning. To this end, we are working with the CRPCN to attract a 3rd physician by the end of 2014. This will: • Provide greater flexibility in terms of workdays for Doctor Cunning and Doctor Wiesenberg • Enable the medical centre to expand the patient panel • Create the opportunity for extended medical centre hours beyond the current Monday to Friday 9-5 work day. Cindy Wilson Chartered Accountant Bus: (403) 949-4947 Fax: (403) 949-2252 P.O. Box 898 3 River Drive S. Bragg Creek, AB T0L 0K0 [email protected] Hilltop Wellness Centre • Hurley Osborn Technique • Advanced CranioSacral • Reflexology • Therapeutive Massage • Counselling & Body Focused Therapy Yoga Classes Susan O’Shea NHPC/RMT/R.Y.T. (403) 949-3591 Over 20 Years in the Bragg Creek & Calgary Area 8 High Country News - October 2014 BRAGG CREEK HAS SCARECROW SPIRIT and TENACITY! When I decided (after last year's flood) to proceed with harassing you all to play along with me in the ridiculous Scarecrow Festival thing I'd been batting around, I was more than overwhelmed at the outpouring of participation and joy that came to be our first and tremendously successful month-long event! What began as a conversation with my friend, Loni, grew into an amazing display of community spirit at a time when everyone was very much occupied with far more important life challenges, being freshly post-flood. The fun and frivolity of the Scarecrows lent a whimsical feel to our battered and bruised landscapes and spirits which I sincerely hope to be something that we recreate every year as an homage to us. When this article is printed, we will already be a week into this year's Scarecrow Festival, and I hope you will have all caught the bug. It's not too late to join in now! This is for anyone and everyone in the Bragg Creek/Redwood Meadows area to participate in. The festival is intended to run from the first Friday in October, through the first Sunday in November every year. Judging will begin on Friday, October 10th, and end on Friday, October 24th, with winners having ribbons pinned on them on the morning of Saturday, October 25th. Only Scarecrows displayed along White Ave., Balsam Ave., and the Shell strip are eligible for judging. Local residents who wish to have their Scarecrows judged may display them in front of empty stores along the boardwalk of the Bragg Creek Shopping Centre. Please use a name badge to say whose Scarecrow it is. Judging sheets can be picked up and returned to Moose Mountain General Store and My Favorite Store. Please refer to the Bragg Creek Scarecrow Festival page on Facebook for announcements and updates. Keep your eye on the empty space (#214) beside the Powderhorn Saloon. Rowdy and unruly Scarecrows will be jailed there and will require bail to be sprung from the slammer! All bail money is being donated to our very own Easter Seals Camp Horizon! Please be courteous and have all Scarecrows (and remnants thereof) removed within one week of the festival's completion so we can segue into the Christmas season. Last year's number to beat is a whopping 131 Scarecrows! Thank you all, from Stacia Hemmett and Heather O'Bray. (Your itty, bitty Scarecrow committee) Landscaping/Excavating • Earth/Gravel Moving • Grading • Trenching Water/Sewer & Utility Lines to Property • Septic Repairs • Backfilling Demolition • Road Building • Acreage Cleanup • Topsoil & Gravel Rock Retaining Walls • Drainage • Snow Clearing Phone: Pete or Carol 403-809-2926 10 High Country News - October 2014 High Country News - October 2014 11 Full swing into routine! There is nothing like planning hectic schedules of all sorts of activities to bring on the start of Fall. We are excitedly helping you add to your busy schedules with our fantastic fall programming this year! Kelsey has done a great job organizing an array of activities for all ages – tots and seniors alike! Make sure you check out the program guide at www.bragg creekca.com and sign up today! September was a busy month at the Centre. We welcomed our new Facility Director, Luanne Murphy, in late August. She brings with her a fresh face and fresh ideas… we are happy to have her on board! September brought the Fall Family Festival and… well… snow. I know we are all happier to resume to a regular fall weather pattern! October is bringing the Bragg Creek Community Association’s Annual General Meeting, slated for Monday, October 27 at 7:00 pm. All members are welcome to attend. As a member of the BCCA you have a vote in all elections for our new board! We have a few board positions up for grabs, if you are interested in joining a team who is working at making the BCCA the best it can be. Our vacant board positions that need to be filled are: Vice-President, Assistant Treasurer, and 1 & 2 year Directorships. Everyone can bring something positive to the table, so anyone is welcome to join. All you have to do is come to the AGM on Monday, October 27 and raise your hand. We want to see an all-inclusive Bragg Creek board! As a precursor to the AGM presentation, I would like to make note that our facility is a great facility that provides all sorts of wonderful services to our community. For such a small community, we have the pleasure of having a grand facility that plays host to a variety of activities, from sports to arts, as well as being a hub for entertainment, social 12 events, trade shows, and many other things. Our intent and purpose is to become the hub of the community … where community comes to meet, in one way or another. Whether you are attending the Beatles tribute concert, the Taste of Bragg Creek, the RMES fundraiser, Performing Arts Concerts, or the Artisan Christmas Sale, it is the place where we can all come to expect to find bits and pieces of our community at any given time. To keep our doors open and our lights on, we rely heavily on the MD of Rockyview for funding each year, as our main funding source. Rockyview has 10 Recreational Districts that they provide funding to, and the Bragg Creek Community Association is the main recreational fund user within our one district. We do not get the most funding regionally, but do within our district of Rockyview West. These funds go a long way for us and help us to provide the many services and programs that we have over the years, and will continue to do so into the future. We hope to continue to strive to meet the recreational and cultural needs of our area! To find out more of what we have done over the past year, and what we plan to do in the coming year, come on out to the AGM, we welcome you! Lastly, I’d like to give a BIG shout out to the Recreate the Creek group who successfully and proudly put on a Community Clean Up Day. To the organizers … Your motivation, community spirit and enthusiasm is inspiring! We are lucky to have you in the community. “Teamwork divides the task and multiplies the successes.” ~ Author Unknown Until next time, Kristyn Schmidt BCCA President BRAGG CREEK SENIORS’ HOUSING SURVEY Rocky View Foundation is conducting a survey in the Bragg Creek area to determine seniors’ housing needs. Rocky View Foundation is a not-for-profit organization providing safe, affordable housing for seniors in the Rocky View region. We welcome you to use this opportunity to speak to the housing needs in your community. Please participate by: - completing the survey online at www.rockyviewfoundation.org - or pick up a hard copy at Bragg Creek Pharmacy or Sugar Shake Bakery. Survey deadline is October 20th, 2014. For any questions you may have, please contact Nancy at 403.945.9724. Thank you, your input is appreciated! High Country News - October 2014 Market Highs versus Your Goals As equity markets in Canada and the U.S. make new highs, many investors have expressed increasing anxiety about a possible "correction". Media headlines and commentary on BNN, speculating about a possible correction from these recent highs, has added to this investor anxiety. Let’s put this into perspective. Would these same investors be calling to sell if their home were hitting record all-time highs? No, it is likely they would be celebrating and cheering the market higher. So what makes equity investing different from other asset classes? How does markets hitting new highs affect your ability, as a consumer, to build wealth and retirement assets over time? Markets always move up and down over short periods of time. Such changes, often referred to as “volatility” (as opposed to the “loss” that most consumers label any downward market change), are normal. The important points to remember are that investment values may decline over a short time frame but more often than not they have historically recovered and do not stay down in the depths of a correction. Secondly, everyone seems to be concerned about short-term price changes which are the normal up and downs of equity investments. You can try to dampen short-term investment value changes, so that you “feel better” about owning equity investments, but doing so may also largely negate your ability to generate the potential for positive investment income and growth on your long term savings. What also can affect your views on the current record market levels is what type of correction are we talking about and what type of investor are you? For example, most market corrections (which are not the same thing as a permanent loss) happen within a strong and continuing business cycle expansion. Which means the market values may bounce around somewhat even as the economy continues to grow and recover from the previous recession. The other type of correction happens when the business cycle ends in a recession, which has been occurring roughly every 5 to 10 years since about 1990. To stay invested or Time the ‘Markets.’ When things are good, you may wonder when the other shoe will drop. But trying to time the market, to avoid corrections or short-term losses, is difficult at best. What course to take is only evident in hind sight. If you had invested $10,000 in the S&P 500 on Jan 1st, 1980 and held that investment until Dec 31st, 2013 your $10,000 would have grown to $439,394. If, instead, you tried to time the market and missed the 5 best days, between Jan 1st, 1980 and Dec 31st, 2013 you would only have $284,481. If you missed the 10 best days you would have $211,888. If you missed the 30 best days you would only have $83,906 and if you missed the 60 best days, trying to time the market you would only have $27,201. The bottom line is: ‘It is TIME IN THE MARKET that counts, not MARKET TIMING!’ Even if you are correct and can figure out when the next recession will start, will you then jump back into the investment markets to profit from the next recovery and improving profit/ business cycle? Behavioral finance demonstrates that this is unlikely. Call us today to review your goals and how we can help ensure that your plan meets your objectives! Also, visit our business website (myfinancialsolutions.ca) for additional financial information on insurance, retirement/estate planning, investments and a whole host of other financial topics. Robert Hughes, P. Eng., CFSB, CFP, CPCA Robert M. Hughes FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS INC. • Certified Financial Planner • Investment Manager • Insurance Specialist • Certified Seniors Advisor Robert Hughes, P.Eng., CFSB, CFP, CPCA • RRSPs, RRIFs, LIRAs, LIFs, LRIFs, RESPs, & non-registered portfolios • Life Insurance, Critical Illness, Disability & Long-Term Care Coverage • Financial Planning - Individuals, Professional Corporations & Small Businesses 403-949-3250 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.myfinancialsolutions.ca Box 231, Bragg Creek, AB T0L 0K0 BRAGG CREEK LADIES AUXILIARY by Carmen Solana-Martin A SINCERE THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING for their support for our Community Clean Up & Planting Day Rocky View County The Bragg Creek Ladies Auxiliary Canadian Red Cross is a service organization of caring volunIntact Insurance teers who are dedicated to raising funds Anything Grows Cochrane for our community. Bragg Creek Community Association Their AGM will be held at the next Liz and Alan Breakey meeting in October. Please attend to help The Country Wood Conference Centre shape the organization and have input Redwood Meadows Fire Department into their upcoming fundraising efforts Bragg Creek Family Foods for the year. Bragg Creek Chamber of Commerce The Bragg Creek Ladies Auxiliary Bragg Creek Excavating volunteers at the Remembrance Day ADS Development Solutions Ltd Service at the Bragg Creek Community Ron for the donation of the bobcat for the day Centre annually. If you would like to We also want to thank all of the wonderful volunteers and people help serve food and refreshments at the who believe in the heart and soul of Bragg Creek Bragg Creek Remembrance Day Luncheon please arrive at the Bragg It is your effort, time and energy that make Creek Community Centre at 9 a.m. on living in Bragg Creek Special November 11. The ReCreate Committee of Bragg Creek The ladies have planned a fun year of activities including the Christmas/ New Wednesday, October 15 at 7:00 p.m. at always welcomes new members. Year’s dinner and a pot luck next May. the Bragg Creek Community Centre. If you can help or would like to join The next meeting will be held on The Bragg Creek Ladies Auxiliary please contact Kym at [email protected]. BRAGG CREEK 403-949-3946 TAKE OUT MENU available! October 10 - Groove Demons October 17 - Spur Crazy October 24 - The Ruminants October 31 - DJ - HALLOWEEN! November 7 - Back Road Traveller November 14 - Groove Demons KARAOKE - 1st Saturday of the month! November 1, December 6, January 3 “Great Western Cheer & Great Cowboy Beer” 14 403-933-3506 [email protected] RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL Windows Cleaned to Perfection Locally Owned & Operated • Serving the Foothills & Area 40 years hands-on experience High Country News - October 2014 The Little Schoolhouse With all that snow in September and then back to summer temperatures, no wonder it doesn’t seem like September could be over already! But it is… and those first anxious days of school are gone as well. The first few weeks at The Little Schoolhouse focused on getting into routines, learning each other’s names, and how to follow all those new rules! Friends were made, previous friendships rekindled, and that wonderful teacher – student bond was established. The 3 year old class focused on routine, getting to know each other, and learning how to be at school. This is an important process as children begin to learn how to share, take turns, and speak one at a time. And all of this is accomplished while incorporating lots of fun and games. Who knew learning could be such fun! The 4 year olds jumped right into work and began to recognize, spell, and count, the letters of their names. And once the snow melted, they ventured outside to pick a tree that will be the focus of their journaling this year. The students will spend time observing, taking pictures, analyzing, recording, and discussing the visual changes their tree makes throughout the seasons. This inquiry-based learning supports early literacy skills and teaches children how their contributions make learning more fun and enriching. The first unit for the four year olds focused on their unique personalities and those traits that make each one of them so special. The Kindergarten class had a great time figuring out how to cut open coconuts and was then rewarded with a delicious snack of coconut flakes. Patterns in nature was an emphasis in September and the children also began their printing program. What an exciting time for the children as they learn to read and write. High Country News - October 2014 The Terry Fox walk was a grand success again as the children raised monies and enjoyed a walk through nature. Thank you to the parents and children for making this event a success. The Little Schoolhouse offers a Kindergarten program and preschool classes for 3 year olds and 4 year olds, in Bragg Creek. The Kindergarten class is held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00am to 3:15pm while the Preschool offers morning classes for the 4 year olds on Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The 3 year olds have afternoon classes on Mondays and Wednesdays. For more information about our programs and how to register, please check out our website at www.thelittleschool house.ca. Carmen Ryan (Parent) 15 Bragg Creek and Area Wellness Committee Canvassers engage with 34% of Bragg Creek Hamlet residents The Bragg Creek and Area Wellness Committee in association with partner agencies conducted a door to door campaign in the Hamlet of Bragg Creek this past week. Our campaign goals were to connect with local residents and give them the message that we care about what is happening with them, to collect information on perceived social and community needs and share information about social services available for all residents. The campaign was a resounding success. Residents graciously shared their homes and stories with us, often talking for 20 minutes or longer about their supportive neighbours, hopes for the future, and the value of a resilient community. Many canvassers commented that people wanted to be listened to. And listen we did; 25 volunteers con- 16 nected with approximately 30% of the canvassed households comprising 34% of residents over the course of four busy evenings. As a result of this survey we were able to reach a number of residents who are still struggling and needed immediate support for their families, health or finances. Positive changes are happening in the hamlet and will continue to happen as Bragg Creek recreates itself not only in the wake of the 2013 flood but also following important but disruptive upgrades to water and sewage services. Bragg Creek is a forest of tranquility, beauty and kinship where trees and neighbours alike stand tall. Thank-you to all the door knockers and door openers; you own this success. Thematic results of the campaign will be shared with the community and be used by various stakeholders to help direct service planning and delivery. Preliminary results of the survey will be available later this fall and consultation with the Bragg Creek residents on these early results will take place before a final report is completed later in the winter months. If we missed you in our door knocking and you would like to get in touch to share your thoughts with us, you are encouraged to do so by contacting Eric Howey through Alberta Health Services at 403-851-6100 or eric.howey @albertahealthservices.ca. REMINDER! DEADLINE for the NOVEMBER ISSUE of the HIGH COUNTRY NEWS is OCTOBER 27th High Country News - October 2014 COUNCILLOR’S UPDATE Rocky View County Liz Breakey, Councillor, Division 1 Hamlet Flood Mitigation and Recovery Provincial Task Force for Long Term Flood Mitigation and Community Resilience is presently undertaking detailed engineering and environmental assessment reviews on two projects: 1. The Springbank Offstream Reservoir (SR1) and 2. the Calgary Tunnel. However, on September 26, Premier Prentice issued a news release indicating that the newly termed “Springbank Dry Dam” has been greenlighted. The Alberta Transportation website and advertisement in the Cochrane Times indicated public input until Nov. 14, 2014 on the proposed Terms of Reference. Details will hopefully be forthcoming to better address the uncertainties of process. It is important for Bragg Creekers to understand that the third project, McLean Creek is not on the priority list at the present time. There is no scheduled environmental assessment for McLean Creek dry dam. That is why it is more important than ever to support local mitigation measures within the Hamlet. A group of landowners from Springbank, Don’tDamnSpringbank presented at the County Policy and Priorities Committee on Oct. 7, together with a citizen’s action group, headed by Gloria Wilkinson. EPAC will be working in partnership with the Elbow River Watershed Partnership (Co-ordinator, Flora Geisbrecht). contribution to the decision making process that the Province and County are going through – not what we don’t want but what we do. Constructive recommendations generally trump negativism most days of the week. Cost Assessment, preliminary engineering and financial assurances between the County and Province are presently underway for local mitigation. When an agreement has been reached between the Province, County and riverfront landowners and early proposals are available, they shall be brought to the community for their information and input. Co-ordination with the Province Letter of support, organized by Gail has gone very well, to date (and that is a Gold, for the two levels of flood mitiga- quote from our engineering department). tion that would best protect Hamlet resi- Homeowner and Business dents and businesses: Tie-ins to Servicing 1. Immediate and comprehensive The municipal portion of construclocal flood mitigation measures within tion of water and wastewater pipelines Hamlet boundaries which might include for Phase 1 for Bragg Creek Hamlet engineered forms of dikes (not berms for servicing was completed by the end of those areas where spatial constraints do July and most of the road and ROW not allow for berms to be built), French restoration was completed by early drains, cement wall structures, groynes, September. Private tie-ins are now gabions and land restoration when possi- underway, with five certified contractors ble. MPE Engineering will do the engi- listed. neering analysis, once funding has been The Provincial grant money of finalized with the Provincial authorities. $25,000 per lot is available until March 2. Expression of support for head- 31, 2014 which is the Provincial year waters mitigation should either of the end; if arrangements have been made first two mitigation projects for Calgary with the contractor and County to extend not pass regulatory or economic past that deadline then accommodation approvals. will be made. This letter was meant as a positive The LIT will not be charged until Bragg Creek Insurance Services & Registries Office Registry Services Include: Motor Vehicles, Corporate Returns, Land Titles and Vital Statistics (Birth Certificates, Marriage Licenses, etc.) 1 River Drive South, PO Box 537 www.braggcreekinsurance.ca 18 Phone: 403-949-2599 Fax: 403-949-5646 High Country News - October 2014 completion of the project. There are some homeowners within the zone of the contaminated alluvial aquifer choosing not to tie in to the servicing who plan on staying on septic and well systems. This will have to be assessed at the onset of the LIT activation as the project was calculated on cost of full tie-ins, based on grants to address health and safety and liability for cleaning up groundwater contamination. The calculations would then have to be re-addressed and some tough decisions may have to be made as to whether all septic systems need to be decommissioned with the option to go to pump and haul or whether the system needs to be mandated. Again, accommodations can be made by Council for cases of financial need. Rocky View County 3 Year Strategic Plan Following 8 months of work and considerable discussion, the County 3 Year Strategic plan was passed by a vote of 7 to 2; I supported it. The three pillars are: 1. Fiscal Responsibility including budgeting for major future investments, full cost recovery from developers, fiscal impact analysis of all projects, prioritization schedule for major capital projects, a commercial to residential development ratio to protect ratepayers to be determined but in the range of 35%:65% and an Economic Development Strategy. 2. Community Sustainability including an assessment of the effectiveness of the 10 to 20 year County Plan, a disaster recovery strategy, development and implementation of a County Utility and a water management strategy including stormwater, water and wastewater planning, levies and policy. 3. Service Standards including well maintained transportation network, effective fire and enforcement services and fully integrated recreation amenities. Streamlined communication as well as design of the new municipal building in West Balzac is part of this strategy. The three year corporate strategic objectives are available on the County website. The key addition would be the inclusion of metrics to measure success of the goals. High Country News - October 2014 Hamlet of Bragg Creek Community Revitalization Plan: Preliminary planning is in process by two senior planning consultants to the County for a “Community Revitalization Plan” as a follow-up to the damage from the flood of June 2013 and the potential opportunities brought to the community through implementation of the water and wastewater servicing. The focus of the Plan will be the main corridors of White and Balsam Avenues and will recognize and enhance the natural gifts of the community such as access to the Elbow River, the rural character of the Hamlet, access to the Provincial Parks and trail network, the excellence of the local school and community center. The Request For Proposals will soon go out to Planning Groups with work scheduled to commence in January. Community Cleanup and Comprehensive Re-Greening of the Hamlet of Bragg Creek: September 13 saw over 70 volunteers from all over the region show up to address remaining flood and construction debris as well as damage from the recent snow storm. Over 5 bins were filled and many, many truckloads of wood and branches were taken to offsite stock piles. In addition, numerous small bushes were planted, predominantly along private property lines as part of a comprehensive planting program that is in the planning and approval stages through the generosity of Pam and Ken Wright of Bow Point Nurseries in Springbank (all their plant material is seed sourced in the mountains and grown locally, without irrigation). They have even devised a Bragg Creek Wildflower mix! Thanks also to Anything Grows in Cochrane who supplied dozens of bushes at discount rates. Congratulations to all those who organized this ongoing initiative and to all of you who participated. If I can answer any of your questions, please contact me at lbreakey@ rockyview.ca or 403-630-3522. If you wish to subscribe or to have your name removed from these updates, just let me know. Regards, Liz Breakey 19 • unique mentorship opportunities available with our award-winning Canadian sports ambassador and likeminded community leaders organization. Complete and return the form below and plan to join us throughout the year for fun, friendly, family-oriented activities! Look for our schedule in next There is no fee to join the RM Team in support of Right to Play Canada, an month’s High Country News! Learn lots international, humanitarian, charitable more at http://www.righttoplay.ca. Congrats to the Berry family of Wolf Drive who won the Redwood Meadows Open House draw and free entry into the 2015 Fun Run scheduled for Sunday June 7th! (Value $25.) JOIN THE Redwood Meadows RIGHT TO PLAY TEAM Our Mission is: “To improve the lives of children in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the world by using the power of sport and play for development, health and peace.” (http://www.righttoplay.ca) Right To Play’s values reflect the best practices of sport and play. Co-operation Hope Integrity Leadership Dedication Respect Enthusiasm Nurture • Unique opportunities to help the world’s most unfortunate children • leadership development • team-building skills • open to all residents of Redwood Meadows and nearby communities, all cultures, ages and skill levels 20 NOTICE Annual General Meeting October 27, 7 p.m. at the Bragg Creek Community Centre Join the BCCA Board of Directors and staff in celebrating 2013-14, and welcoming 2014-15 SPRI RINGB BANK CH HRI RISTMA AS MA ARKET 31st FALL SHOW & SA ALE Hosted by The Springbank Creative Arts Club NOV 1 & 2, 2014 - SATURDAY 9-5 & SUNDAY 10-3 SPRINGBANK COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUM # 1 Highway Exit 169, 1.5 Miles South off Calaway Park Use the Red Dutton Arena Entry FEATURING: The newest trends frrom the crafting and arts world New Vendors & Old Favorites FREE ADMISSION - FREE PARKING - ATM Available For complete vendor list and preview, find us on Facebook www.fac a ebook.com/springbankchristmasmarket Email: [email protected] High Country News - October 2014 15 15 being injured in a fall increases as people age. Other factors come into play, such as eyesight, decreased activity level, strength, coordination, balance, illness, poor nutrition, medications, lack of social support, and lack of transportation to name a few. Research conducted by the Alberta Centre for Injury Control and Research estimates that 1 in 3 people over the age of 65 is likely to fall at least once a year. Alberta seniors’ falls were the leading cause of injury hospital admissions. A 2010 study on Alberta seniors 65 and older, showed that every DAY in Alberta there were 21 fall related hospital admissions and 55 emergency visits. Every HOUR, there were more than 2 fall related emergency Watch Your Step! It’s fall season – so what better time of year to chat about preventing an accidental fall! Any time of year can pose a risk of falling. Winter is soon on the horizon and with that comes ice, snow, puddles and cracks in the road. Not to mention the risk that surrounds us in our own homes – stairs, rugs, slippery floors and furniture. The risk of falling and visits. Almost 1 out of every 3 fall related emergency visits resulted in an admission to hospital. When comparing seniors’ falls hospital admission rates for reporting provinces, Alberta had the second highest rate. A 2009 study showed that in Canada, 38% of all seniors who were hospitalized because of a fall, sustained a hip fracture and 39% sustained other types of fractures. Those are some astounding statistics and this is quite a concern for our health care system and the family and friends that we care for. Falls can have a devastating and lasting impact on an individual and are the most common cause of injury for seniors. Having a fall can cause a loss in confidence and subsequently a reduction in activities. Many people accept that aches, pains, and weakness are an inevitable part of “old age”. Yet many of these symptoms are not the direct result of ageing, but of the physical inactivity that often goes hand in hand with getting older. Studies are showing that many aspects of the ageing process are avoidable and even reversible, by staying Attention Seniors! Protect your health and longevity! Join us for a Fall Prevention Class REMEMBRANCE DAY Tuesday, November 11, 2014 Service at 10:30 a.m. Bragg Creek Centre Lunch to follow, prepared by the Bragg Creek Ladies Auxiliary 22 November 20th, 2014 from 12 to 1 p.m. at Bragg Creek Physiotherapy We are offering a 1 hour introductory class to empower you to improve your strength and balance. You will be taught how to correctly perform exercise to strengthen your leg muscles and balance retraining, and be provided with a handout to take home. Visit www.braggcreekphysio.com for further details and to register. Working together to meet your health and lifestyle needs 403-949-4008 High Country News - October 2014 active. Whatever your age or ability, physical activity has an important role to play in raising and maintaining your quality of life. Several programs around the world are being implemented that specifically target fall prevention in seniors. The Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging (CCAA), based at the University of Western Ontario, developed a program in the 1990s. This program is called Home Support Exercise Program and is an evidence-based, in-home exercise program consisting of 10 simple exercises designed to enhance and maintain fitness, mobility, balance and independence. The exercises focus on balance retraining, strength training and a walking program. The Otago Exercise Program, developed in New Zealand and now performed in several countries around the world, is another strength and balance retraining program. This program is a set of leg muscle strengthening and balance retraining exercises designed specifically to prevent falls. Since the implementation of this program, New Zealand found a 35% reduction in the number of falls and a 35% reduction in the number of fall related injuries. There are other falling risk factors to consider. Dizziness is a common cause of falls for example. If you experience dizziness or being lightheaded, this may be caused by dehydration, medication, blood pressure changes or inner ear dysfunctions. Mention this to your doctor so these issues can be addressed. Vision changes – ensure you get your vision checked on a yearly basis. Clutter in the home – keep pathways clear in halls and stairways, keep areas well lit and free of clutter. Area rugs can be a hazard! Wear supportive shoes and watch for ice, cracks and uneven surfaces while out walking. Avoid rushing and trying to do too many things at once. Vitamin D deficiency has been related to muscle weakness, disability, poor physical performance and cognitive impairment. So there is some evidence that vitamin D may reduce the rate of falls in those with low vitamin D levels. In order to reduce the risk of a fall in High Country News - October 2014 your future, exercise is a proven fall prevention strategy. Increased muscle strength, improved balance, and improved confidence have been found to significantly reduce both the rate and risk of falling. Walking, dancing, Tai Chi, group exercise classes or individualized home programs can boost your strength and balance, making you safer and stronger! We would like to provide an exercise class for seniors in our community at Bragg Creek Physiotherapy. If you are 65 or older, or due to other reasons would benefit from basic balance and leg strengthening, this class is for you. An hour introductory class with a warm up, basic leg strengthening exercises and balance retraining - you will learn some skills to then continue, as appropriate, in the comfort of your own home. Please contact the clinic for dates, times and further details, check out our website or Facebook page. Jennifer Gordon Bragg Creek Physiotherapy www.braggcreekphysio.com 23 — FREE CLASSIFIEDS — A Community Service Provided by the High Country News ARTICLES FOR SALE Woman’s Specific 50cm Cannondale R500 CAAD 4 road bike, $650; 4.5’x8’ utility trailer w/tailgate ramp, hardly used, $700; Craftsman 27” Snowblower, $350. 403-949-2829 or 403651-5247 (leave msg) Moving Sale, West Bragg Creek. Pine Table/6 chairs, Teak Wall Unit, 2 Loveseats, Dark Olive Green Couch/matching Large Comfy Arm Chair, Antique Roll Top Desk, Single Bed/Box Spring/frame, 2 Antique Teak Occasional Chairs/matching Rocking Chair, Pictures, Mirrors, Kitchen, Books, Christmas tree and decorations, Crystal bowls, Wine glasses, Antique Glass Punch Bowl 8 cups, Silver Plates/Trays Snow blower etc. Nadene at 403-701-0754 Glenn Edward flute used by student for school band. $200 with leather case and instructional DVD. 403-949-3844 Hardly ever used AB Twister, c/w 2 workout DVDs and original instruction book. $50. OBO 403-813-4745 Lady's Motorcycle jacket, custom made at the Bragg Creek Leather Shop, size 12, grey with black accents, lots of custom features, c/w matching grey chaps. Asking $300. 403-949-2903 2 person Infrared sauna, 110 power supply, cedar construction, AM/FM CD player, all-weather protective cover for outdoor use. Asking $1,600. 403-949-2903 Very Rare & unique vintage doctor's cutter wagon. This wagon rolls & includes the seat. A very cool piece of yard art or restoration project! 403-256-3192 2 new plaid flannel shirts, 1 new western shirt, Arizona Jean Co., boys size 14-16, asking $10 ea.; Swim flippers, youth, adjustable, size 2½ 3½ or 35-36, as new, pd. $75, asking $30; Rondine full foot fins/flippers, size 4-5, exc. cond., pd. $58, asking $35; Wet suit, blue/black, 14 yrs., great cond. $15; Ski jacket, Columbia, black, boys size 10-12, exc. cond., $10; Glass top, brass base table, 42”dia., 19”h, very sturdy, asking $48. A few paintings left, original art, ‘Flowers of Mexico’, framed, from $125 - $175. 403-949-2703 MALM single bed frame, black. Used twice. Paid $179 at Ikea. Asking $99. 403-949-3844 Antique Electric Wash Machine (1927) Maytag Model 90, $150 OBO; Antique Kitchen Wood Stove, restored, mfd by Moore & Co. in Hamilton, Ont., $1,500 OBO; Antique Piano & Bench (late 1800s) mfd by Bell in Guelph, Ont., $1,500; Pine Wardrobe, custom built, light coloured stain, 7 ft tall, $800 OBO; Bird Play Stand, $50; Wood Table, seats 6, light coloured, $50. Pictures available. 403-703-2589 VEHICLES, ETC Blue Ford Ranger 1990, 4 cyl. truck, 158,000 kms., well maintained, no rust, stored inside, have maintenance records. $600. 403-242-9080 MISCELLANEOUS Seeking Log Splitter, capable of splitting large diameter logs, gas or electric. 403-949-2703 Looking for someone for Yard Maintenance and Snow Removal. 493-933-3929 E-mail ([email protected]), FAX (403-254-9001), or MAIL (Box 476, Bragg Creek, AB T0L 0K0) your ads by the deadline listed on page 3. - FREE CLASSIFIEDS NOT ACCEPTED BY PHONE - Information contained herein, while not guaranteed, is thought to be correct. FOR COMMERCIAL CLASSIFIEDS, SEE INSIDE BACK PAGE ELBOW RIVER EXCAVATING & LANDSCAPING Serving Bragg Creek & Area for 22 Years Bob Cat • Hoe • Trucking • Landscaping • Road Building Rock Walls • Loam • Gravel • Trenching Water Lines Utility Lines • Site Preparation Tree Removal • Tree Planting Post Pounding • Drainage Snow Removal Joe - 949-3227 Cell - 899-4886 24 High Country News - October 2014 RED DEER LAKE UNITED CHURCH www.rdlunitedchurch.org 403-256-3181 WOW! What a great start to the year. Tough Mudder - a church Outreach project in support of the “Tough as Her” and “Wounded Warriors” campaigns saw a team of 12 (Congregants and friends) tackle the Tough Mudder race in Drumheller AB on the first weekend of September. Eric Frans, CFRE, who joined the team commented: “Tough as Her” became an opportunity to show what the church is supposed to be about - loving your neighbour. Sometimes that looks like strengthening your brothers and sisters through training. Sometimes that is pooling resources and donating cash to help others across the globe. Sometimes it’s helping people overcome the obstacles 26 they face in life. And sometimes it is celebrating together in the joy that comes from surviving ‘possibly the toughest event on the planet!’ During the Tough as Her campaign, the community that Red Deer Lake United Church created showcased every aspect of what Christ intended the church to be and do.” Welcome Back - September 14th was the kick-off with our Welcome Sunday and a wonderful BBQ provided by our Men’s group. Then September 21st was a great chance to check out the Welcome Fair with displays from programs and groups showcasing the activities everyone can look forward to this year. We’re back to our usual time of 10:30, and the coffee’s on before and after church. Grab a cup and something to eat and head into the service. The Board has introduced our new statement of Vision for the Future. Integrating words from our message “tree” and many surveys and conversations with our church family, they have put together a statement of Purpose that describes what’s at the centre of our faith and spirituality and says how that shapes who we are and what we feel called to do together. It states: “We are an inclusive community of works-in-progress who want to participate in something more than ourselves through faith, love, grace, and compassion. We believe this is what Jesus is all about. Together we worship, live in community, explore what it means to be human, live life to the fullest, and strive to make this world more like the one God made it to be.” Kidz Zone - We had to say goodbye to Laura who is heading to Africa to teach, but are so pleased to have her sister Pam take over the older group. Kidz Zone provides a safe and exciting place to have fun and learn about Jesus. Our Youth Group is looking at tough questions about God and their lives, as well as planning some exciting get-togethers. Sounds like Hallowe’en will be a blast! Seeger Goes to Church – Songs of Faith and Justice - Check out the New Sermon Series now till Advent. Explore some influential protest songs from the American and Canadian songbooks. Each week we’ll hear what God is saying through the great prophets like Dylan, Seeger, and Bono and ask what our faith has to say about those issues of war, poverty, environment, divided humanity, and consumerism among others. Faith about escapism, but about engagement, and we hope this series will help us see what our role can be in making this world a better place. On the Edge Concert - Oct. 24: with Foothills Brass Quintet Concert Series Season Tickets on Sale. There is a stellar line-up of performers for the 2014-15 series of ‘On The Edge’ concerts, and Season Tickets for all 4 are on sale now. Buying all 4 tickets will save you $15 off the regular price of $80, and tickets are transferable to a friend if you are unable to attend. And looking ahead for November November 8 - Fall Lunch & Sale - this year will also feature the Okotoks Artists & Friends Art show & Sale. November 22 - Annual Turkey Supper. Please join us for any or all of the upcoming events and programs. You will be welcome! High Country News - October 2014 bered to blot our work before smudging it with our sleeves. On Wednesday my teacher paused by my desk and said, quietly, “Andrea, I want you to use pencil from now on.” My Lancaster is a far superior piece of workmanship to those dip-in nibs we were given in school. Now as I write with ink, there is not one blot, and I have no inky middle finger. Today I cannot depend on my Dad when panic side-swipes me, but my I tested a Lancaster this summer. I Heavenly Father is never too busy to lisfound it at a garage sale during Longview’s Little New York Daze. The long, stocky barrel of its sturdy body spoke dependability. Never used, still in its original strong cardboard box that springs open and shuts with a satisfying clap, snug in a cellophane sheath, a glossy paper proudly proclaimed it as a “Lancaster”, made in Italy. A fountain pen! The vendor encouraged me to try writing my name. I rested the pen, firm and weighty in my fingers, and the ink flowed freely, smoothly. I felt assured, confident, at peace. I bought that Lancaster. Writing in real, free-flowing ink did not always spell dependability and peace. When I was eight years old it spelled panic. One Saturday morning my Dad was trimming the grass edges in our backyard. Slowly, I approached him, daring myself to voice my fears. “Dad,” I ventured. “Yes, dear,” he said as he continued trimming the grass. “On Monday... at school...we have to write with ink!” I blurted out. I do not remember his response. I do remember my panic. I knew that writing in ink would be a disaster. I didn’t trust myself; I didn’t trust the school pen; and I certainly didn’t trust ink. Dad remained unruffled. My panic did not pierce the peace of his enjoyment of a Saturday at home to tend the garden. I could depend on Dad. Monday came. Ink wells were filled. Pens were distributed. We dipped, we scrawled our numbers and tried to add them, struggling to distinguish them from ink splats. Sometimes we remem- Dependable High Country News - October 2014 ten. He’s always somewhere to be found in His garden, waiting for me to tell Him my joys, my fears, my concerns. He never echoes my panic, always quietly gives words of wisdom, and peace pervades my soul again. He is dependable. The Lancaster’s smooth, shiny weightiness reminds me of God’s steadiness. I have tested both and found them reliable. Andrea Kidd, Longview 27 PRIDDIS NEWS Get out and enjoy the spectacular colours of Fall. This is a great season for hiking and biking. With the kids back at school, make sure to slow down in the school zones, and watch for bikers along the highways. Let’s keep everyone safe! Priddis Outdoor Rink Maintenance Person for 2014-2015 season: The Priddis Community Association is looking for a rink maintenance person for our outdoor community rink for the 2014-2015 season. This will involve clearing snow as required, flooding as required, and keeping the bench areas clean. Hours are dictated by snowfall and start of season based on when it is cold enough for the initial flood. This position does offer some flexibility of hours but the ice needs to be playable for hockey practices Mon – Thurs evenings. If you are interested please forward your payment expectations and availability to start to Kim Carlin at [email protected] or mail your proposal to: Priddis Community Association, Box 77, RR1, Priddis, AB T0L 1W0 The next Men’s Breakfast will be Saturday, October 11th from 8:30 10:00. The cost is $6.00 per person. Come out and enjoy some fellowship with your neighbours. Workshop - Riparian Restoration in Alberta’s Foothills: Learn about Riparian Restoration & Stream Bank Rebuilding. Learn technical aspects of harvesting and replanting willows to stabilize the riparian area. Work alongside community leaders, local volunteers and restoration specialists to repair the landscape of our Foothills Watersheds. Hear from Bow Point Nursery on how to raise a healthy watershed. BBQ lunch is provided. Fee: $50. Two dates: October 18th, 2014 - Turner Valley & October 19th, 2014 - Turner Valley. For information & to Register, visit: www.sustain abilitycircle.ca The Priddis Fire Hall cancelled the Open House scheduled for September 13th due to weather. The 1st Priddis Scouts had their registration night in September but are still open for anyone interested to join Beavers, Cubs or Scouts. Meetings run every Wednesday. If you have any questions contact Stan and Raelene Prokopishin at 403.201.0438. It is hard to believe that hockey season is almost here. Priddis Panther Hockey Association has registration open to all area boys and girls born from 1997 to 2009. Cost is $225 per child plus a family $25 Priddis Community Association membership. The Priddis Panthers participate in the Foothills Pond Hockey League with teams from Turner Valley/Black Diamond, Millarville, Bragg Creek, Okotoks, Cochrane and Canmore. It is a non-contact, no slap shot league with Saturday games only. Hockey begins in mid-October and runs to mid-March, played on both outdoor and indoor ice. The objective is to let all ST. JAMES ANGLICAN CHURCH Priddis Valley Road in the Priddis Hamlet Rector: Rev. Alan Getty October 12 - Morning Prayer - 9:15 a.m. October 19 - Holy Eucharist - 9:15 a.m. October 26 - Morning Prayer - 9:15 a.m. November 2 - Holy Communion - 9:15 a.m. November 9 - Morning Prayer - 9:15 a.m. REMEMBRANCE DAY SERVICE November 16 - Holy Eucharist - 9:15 a.m. 28 High Country News - October 2014 kids play hockey for the fun of the game, regardless of skill level so there are no league standings or pressure to win. If you have any questions, please contact Dave and Carmen Urquhart, Priddis Panther Hockey Association Coordinators at [email protected] Priddis Early Learning Program: Get your little one registered with Kim Popiel as the teacher. This program is for four year olds with lots of great kids and parents. Check out the website at www.priddispreschool.blogspot.ca. For more information on this program, please call Mary Ann Kroeker at 587.999.4828. The Events Committee is planning the next Jelly Bean Dance. This dance will have a Halloween theme and is on Friday, October 24 th at the Hall. Come out for some fun and games and show off your spooky costume. The cost is $5.00 per child. Call Kim for details at 403.969.6416. It’s not too early to book your table for the Christmas Craft Sale on November 1st. We are still looking for local vendors to bring their special items to sell. Give Kim a call at 403.969.6416. The Annual General Meeting is November 6th at the Hall. Some PCA Board appointments are up for renewal so we expect to have a number of vacancies. If you are interested in becoming a PCA Board member and be an active part of our community, we would love for you to be part of the Board. The Board generally meets once a month to carry out the Board mandate and business. If you have any questions or interest, please feel free to contact any of the current Board members as listed on the Priddis Community Association website. The Events Committee is looking for someone to coordinate the Fall Turkey Supper. If you are interested please contact Kim at 403.969.6416. The next community social event will be a Mystery Dinner Theatre on Nov 22nd. More details to follow. The Foothills Continuing Education Council (through the support of Alberta Advanced Education & Technology) has been providing adult MILLARVILLE education courses for over three decades in the MD of Foothills. Most of the fall programing has started at the Priddis Community Hall but some classes are taking drop-ins. Check the fall and winter edition of the Foothills Continuing Education Guide or www.foothillscon tinuinged.org. The representative for the Priddis area is Lynne Osborne at [email protected] or phone 403.931.2923. Check out our updated website at http://www.priddis.org There is a monthly calendar of events and if you need to book the Hall, call Irene Smith at 403-931-2517. Membership: It’s that time of year again to renew your annual membership with the Priddis Community Association. To participate in any program at the hall you need to have a membership, which is only $25.00 per year for the entire family. The form can be found on the website or at the Priddis Store. You can mail in your cheque or drop it off at the Priddis Store. Thanks in advance. WOMEN OF THE WILD WEST PRESENT ANNUAL COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE Saturday, October 11, 2014 Millarville Racetrack Riding Arena 1o a.m. to 2 p.m. INDOORS - RAIN OR SHINE Please be advised there will be a $3 parking fee as this event is held in conjunction with the last day of the Millarville Farmers Market for 2014 A FUNDRAISER EVENING OF HUMOUR (2 Hilarious Poets!), MUSIC (2 AwardWinning Bands!) & GREAT FOOD! OCTOBER 18, 2014 BULL HORN SALOON - COCHRANE EVERYONE WELCOME! Doors Open at 5 p.m. Supper at 6 • Entertainment at 7 LIVE AUCTION - GREAT PRIZES Tickets: $50 each Christa - 403-397-2642 If you would like a spot at the garage sale, contact [email protected], or call Jean Whyte at 403-933-3331 for information. High Country News - October 2014 29 Western Ways by Paul Hemingson Look Both Ways . . . Twice, or More If I have learned anything in life, it is that the winds of change are always blowing, and that our lives can change in seconds. Further, these changes often come about when we least expect them. On the afternoon of August 7th of this year, I looked to the west and saw an unsettled sky, but it didn't look that threatening, so I went to town to pick up a few things. A half hour later on the return trip home I noticed some particularly vicious swirly gray scuddy looking clouds not more than a few hundred meters above the ground. Home lay to the west of these formidable clouds and I would have to pass under them, ‘to run the gauntlet’ so to speak. It was either that, or turn around and head back east to find somewhere to ride out the 30 approaching storm. I chose to push on ahead. It wasn't long before a light rain, turned to a heavy rain, and then the first thunderous bomb of hail hit the windshield, creating a lacey webb of concentric cracks. The next hailstone, the size of a tennis ball bounced off the hood. More ball sized hail hit the roof and with each impact I was jolted by the noise. I slowed to help prevent more serious damage and within a few minutes I broke through to the other side of this hailstorm, where the ditches were filled with hailstones. By this time my windshield, while not punctured, was spiderwebbed and difficult to see through. I made it home, unloaded my groceries and had a closer look. Hundreds of hail dents on the hood and roof. I phoned the Insurance company and was told to get an estimate. I did. $8,200. A few weeks later, early in the evening, with a bright low sun in the west, on August 23rd, I was enroute to town again. Travelling north, I approached the intersection to the high- way, looked both ways and saw nothing coming. This is a dangerous intersection and I have been telling the locals for years, or at least those willing to listen, that someday there is going to be a fatal accident there. The side road approaches the Highway at a lower elevation, making sight lines difficult, as well as the highway having dips both to the east and west where oncoming vehicles can lie hidden from view. It is also a busy intersection with traffic counts showing that more than 500 vehicles per day use this intersection. The highway has no wide shoulders or a turning lane, and many vehicles have been rear-ended here because of traffic behind not suspecting anybody to turn off the highway. Consequently, over the years, I have learned to be wary of this intersection, and my head is on a swivel whenever I approach it. But on this day, whether my sight line was impeded, or I was distracted, or my view blocked by the window-roof pillar, I entered the highway and got about half a lane width onto the highway High Country News - October 2014 when I noticed a car approaching from the west. I shifted to reverse, to back up, but then noticed the oncoming vehicle was heading toward the shoulder, and if I backed up I might be T-Boned on the drivers side. So, I just stayed still, thinking the oncoming vehicle would swerve around in front of me, since no oncoming traffic was present. The other driver tried this at the last second but clipped the front of my vehicle, removing the vinyl bumper and plastic grill. Nobody was hurt. Both vehicles were still driveable and we moved off to the side road, exchanged paper work, and phoned the RCMP, and waited. After some time the RCMP phoned back, and said they would not attend if there were no injuries, and both vehicles driveable. We were instructed to report to them on the following Monday to file accident reports. That done, I had to get another estimate to repair the front end damage. I have replayed, and re-lived this accident a hundred times in my head. What could have I done differently? What should have I done differently? It all happens so fast at the time, but reflecting on it does add to your wisdom. I have more than 50 years of driving experience, millions of miles, in all kinds of weather and road conditions, highway driving, gravel road driving, busy city driving and commutes, and all done with never having scratched the paint on another vehicle. Not no more. Luckily, nobody was injured or killed, but it could have played out differently. My pride was bruised more than the vehicle. Obviously, I entered the highway when it was unsafe to do so. And I learned, or re-learned a lesson. Do not ever let complacency set in with confidence and familiarity. Statistics show that most accidents happen close to home. Look both ways, several times, to ensure that nothing is coming. A quick and lazy look against the sun, is not enough. A glance either way is not enough. Look several times before you enter a highway. A small car, or motorcycle, can be hidden in your blind spot, behind the window pillar, a dip in the road. Adding a few seconds for that extra look, both left and right, is not going to delay your trip much. Driving is serious business. Being nonchalant or insouciant about it could ruin your whole day. Mountain View Building Materials Ltd Cedar, Fir, Kayu Hardwood, Composite Decking and Pressure Treated Lumber Specializing in: • Timbers - Any Size • Fencing and Decking • Panelling and Sidings • Messmers Wood Finishes 125 Commercial Court, Calgary, AB T3Z 2A6 (East of Callaway Park) Phone: (403) 242-0404 Hours: Monday - Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. www.mountainviewbm.ca High Country News - October 2014 31 The Square Butte Ladies Group annual Community Potluck was held on Sunday September 21st, at the Square Butte Community Hall. Our event kicked off with games and races that were enjoyed by all ages. We had gunny sack races, three-legged races, egg-on-a-spoon races, and a water balloon toss. The adults had just as much fun as the kids, as they let go of any reservations, and joined in the fun. Afterward the men had a sledgehammer toss, and the ladies tossed a garden pitchfork, pitting their skills against each other. We then went into the Hall for a delicious Potluck supper, enjoying the culinary skills of everyone in our community, and having a great visit with neighbours. After dinner we drew the name of this year’s Quilt Raffle winner. Joan Lawrence, of Calgary, AB, was the lucky winner of this year’s Quilt made by our group. Congratulations Joan! Thank you to everyone who supported our Raffle. We then finished off the evening with a Cakewalk for the kids. Similar to musical chairs, this game is much loved by the kids in our community. The winner of each round gets to take home a cake. I think nearly every family got to take home a cake this year, which is so wonderful for everyone. Our event was well attended, and enjoyed by all. It’s wonderful to see our community spirit so alive and well. The Square Butte Ladies Group has been operating as a charitable organization in our community since 1941. It all began when local ladies gathered during 32 High Country News - October 2014 the uncertain days of the Second World War to spend the otherwise lonely days together, and knit socks for the soldiers overseas. After a few lively meetings, the ladies of Square Butte decided to make it a monthly occurrence. It wasn’t easy in those days, fording creeks and traveling over muddy roads on horseback, but the ladies were determined to gather, while doing what they could to help others, all the while having a bit of fun and enjoying each other’s company at the same time. When the War finally ended the Square Butte Ladies had become an institution, with our motto being “United together to help others”. Over the years the Square Butte Ladies Group has continued to raise funds and help in the community by holding teas, walkathons, selling baking, and quilted items. In this day and age there are so many in need, and so many places and organizations requiring volunteers. In many instances volunteering and charity work have become big business. It’s nice to know that there is a group committed to providing support locally. And as many institutions have taken on a big business attitude, it can be difficult for a small group such as ours to continue to operate. In that regard, we owe the Square Butte Community Hall and their members our gratitude and a big thank you for helping us out this spring, when big business expenses threatened the survival of our groups’ operations. Our dedicated members continue to raise money for charity and local families in need by selling our home baking at the Millarville Farmers Market and raffling off a quilt made by our group, each year. Some of the local charities and nonprofits we support include: STARS Air Ambulance Priddis & Millarville Agricultural Fair Easter Seals Camp Horizon Oilfields Food Bank Rowan House Women’s Shelter Literacy For Life Foundation DARE Works Society Foothills Search and Rescue Developmental Disabilities DDRC Sheep River Health Trust Okotoks Family Christmas Hampers SMILING CREEK ENTERPRISES LTD. Home Renovations & Repairs DAVE SOURISSEAU C PH: 403-949-2969 CELL: 403-830-2968 FAX: 403-949-2923 BRAGG CREEK, ALBERTA [email protected] Interior and Exterior Projects • Free Estimates • References Available High Country News - October 2014 When you support our group by buying some baking, purchasing some raffle tickets, and coming to events hosted by our group, you’re helping the entire community. We thank everyone so much for your support over the years. To any local ladies who enjoy sewing, baking, charity work, and getting to know your neighbours, our members would love to have you on board. We meet the third Tuesday of every month in one of our members homes, where we cleverly plot how we will help out in our community, get to know one another better, and have some fun. We hope you’ll consider joining us. For more information on becoming a member, please call Rachel at 403-931-1319. Thank you to everyone who worked hard to make this event a success! And a big Thank You to everyone who attended. You’re the reason we put this event on every year. We love to see our community alive and well. Rachel Imrie Square Butte Ladies Group NOW OPEN IN SPRINGBANK Posh Pups Dog Grooming Ltd. www.poshpups.ca 403-681-3749 Just off Old Banff Coach Road - Artist View Pointe 33 100 km Walk a Success Thanks to Your Support Kidney March thanks you for hosting us in your community and for keeping our Marchers and Crew safe! The Kidney Foundation of Canada is proud to share that the 5th annual Kidney March surpassed all of our goals including community engagement and funds raised. While donations are still being accepted, the $763,000 already received will make great strides in support of kid- 34 ney disease prevention, lifesaving research, patient support programs, and organ donation initiatives. “This is truly inspiring,” shares Joyce Van Deurzen, Executive Director, Kidney Foundation of Canada, Southern Alberta branch. “Kidney March asks Marchers and Crew to do the most they can do for kidney disease and organ donation, and they certainly have. This is our second highest amount raised in the five years of Kidney March.” The need for funds is great though. Each year, promising research projects, evaluated through an extensive peer review process and recommended for funding, are left undone. Since 1964, the Kidney Foundation’s investments in research and services provided to individuals living with kidney failure have changed this diagnosis from little chance of survival to being able to lead a full and fulfilling life. Join us to plant the boldest flag humanity has ever attempted in the fight against kidney disease and the appeal for organ donation. Registration to join us as a Marcher or Crew Member is now open for 2015. Visit bit.ly/KidneyMarch to learn more. Thank you for your continued support to keep the Kidney March community safe! High Country News - October 2014 SHEEP CREEK WEAVERS Imagine your Christmas gifts being lovingly handmade by local artisans! Sheep Creek Weavers holds their annual sale on Saturday, October 18 from 10 am to 4 pm at the Millarville Racetrack, just 30 minutes south of Calgary and just outside of the funky little town of Black Diamond. Traditionally a place to buy beautiful and useful handmade Christmas gifts, the Sheep Creek Weavers annual sale raises money to provide workshops and scholarships for their members, in order to further the learning and development of traditional fibre art skills. While you shop, you can enjoy fibre arts demonstrations and free tea and goodies as well as a fun fashion show. If you would like to join the Sheep Creek Weavers, our meetings take place on the first Thursday of every month at 9:30 a.m. - September through June, at the Millarville Race Track. Beginners are welcome! Please see our website at www.sheepcreekweavers.ca for more information. High Country News - October 2014 Redwood Meadows Community Centre Wedding Facility for big or small events Commercial & Corporate Meeting Areas Private Parties & Special Occasion Events Please call for for rates rates Please call 403-949-3563 949-3563 Email: Email: [email protected] [email protected] 35 Turner Valley Times Hello, Turner Valley. Well we got a bit of a surprise with the heavy snowfall in the middle of September. Most thought it would just be a light snow that would be gone by morning, but Mother Nature had other ideas, and our trees bore the brunt of the heavy white stuff. It was nice to see everyone helping out their neighbors with the cleanup of all the broken branches. Remembrance Day is November 11th. There will be a Remembrance Day Ceremony at 10:30 at the Oilfields High School. Then head on over to the Turner Valley Legion for brunch and fellowship, some coffee or a beer and meet some of our military people. The School is in Black Diamond at 511-3rd St. SW. Halloween is coming up and with that it’s the sixth annual Spook House brought to you by the Legion. Called The Legion of Monsters, it’s grand opening is October 25th and they run every night including October 31st, All Hallow’s Eve. There will be a children’s costume party on October 25th from 6:30 – 10:30 with DJ Kool and prizes for all. Everyone is welcome to the Spook House, they have different scare levels and will turn it up or down according to your wishes. We asked for the extreme scare last year and I’m still recovering! Every night has new actors, animatronics and much much more! All ghosts, goblins, and ghouls are invited, the cost is well worth the scare at $2 for 12 and under, $4 for ages 13-17 and $5 for 18 plus. For more information please call 403-933-4564. The Turner Valley Braves slo-pitch mixed team returned home from the Canada 55 plus National Games in Sherwood Park with a bronze in the 55 plus mixed division. Coach Harry Cowan’s philosophy is “it’s not only playing ball, it’s about team bonding, friendship, enjoying each other’s company, and having fun. The ball’s secondary.” Mickey Getten keeps the team organized and Shelley Getten is a num36 ber one scorekeeper and cheerleader. Turner Valley Fire Hall, located on Main Team players are: Harry Cowan of Street, to register or for more informaTurner Valley, Pat Drinnan of Cochrane, tion, please cal Deanna Hintze at 403Rick Stauffer of Strathmore, Bruce 651-7092 or email at deputyfirechief Young, Jackie Stickel, Linda Nelson, @turnervalley.ca. The Leighton Art Center is pleased Shelley Young, and Stewart Thomson, of Black Diamond, Phil Paul, Mickey to present “Formative”, featuring the Getten, Dean Younggren, Randy Irwin, works of Julia Reimer, Tyler Rock, of High River, Linda Schaal of Red Deer Jamie Gray, Melanie Long, Elisabeth Lake, Deb Morrison of Olds, and Ray Cartwright, and Katherine Russell. The Minue of Okotoks. A well rounded show encompasses learning, growing, Southern Albertan Team and they look and developing a lasting experience that forward to representing Zone 2 in is captured within the fragility of glass. I Strathmore at the provincial competition looked at some of the work online and was amazed, one of the creations was a in 2015. Way to go Braves! The annual Pumpkin Patch Quilt horse’s head spun of glass. That takes Show and Tea will be held on Saturday, talent. Formative runs from September October 18 from 1-4. There will be a 27 to October 26 at the Leighton Art lovely display of quilts and fabric arts. Center, which is a really nice place to Some of the quilts will be donated to the take a lunch and walk around, and their Children’s Hospital, Rowan House, and number for more information is 403other charities. There will be door prizes 931-3153. One of our local animal rescue and a delicious tea. The Show will be held at the Griffiths Centre in Black organizations, Pound Rescue, is in need Diamond located at 122 Government of clean old blankets, quilts, and sleeping bags, (no down please). They’ll also Road and everyone is welcome. Attention, Lego enthusiasts! Eight accept your Canadian Tire money and of year old Sol Hazenveld wants to start a course monetary donations. You can Lego Club at the Library. The Lego Club drop off donations at the Western Wheel, will run on Fridays after school, the 9 McRae Street, in Okotoks, and it helps Library closes at 5:00 so people would have to be picked up before then. If it’s a PD Griffiths Senior Centre Day from school, 122 Government Road the Club will start (in the center of Black Diamond) after the Library’s PD Day movie, so Monday Nights: 7 to 9 p.m. the Lego Club TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED would start around Black Diamond & Turner Valley Areas 12 and go til about 2. So on these days No experience necessary: Teaching Provided bring a lunch, watch the movie, and have $3.00 per night; 6 Game Maximum; Tables of 4; some fun. Please Winners Move; Change Partners bring your own PRIZES: 1st, 2nd, Lowest Score & 24 Hand Lego. Good luck on your Club Sol! Coffee & Tea served There will be an Emergency or Questions: Call Leslie (Les) Miller Standard First Aid 587-439-4748 Course available in Griffiths Senior Center has Wheelchair access our area on Saturday, October 18 from 9-5. It’s At the Griffiths Center we provide programs and activities nice not to have to for seniors in Black Diamond and Foothills area to meet their recreational, health and social needs. The Griffiths go to Calgary for Centre is also known as the Griffiths Memorial Community these courses. It will Centre and the Griffiths Senior Centre. be held at the CRIB NIGHT High Country News - October 2014 to purchase pet food and supplies. For more on Pound Rescue and/or to find a pet please visit poundrescue.com. Please get your pet spayed or neutered. According to the Turner Valley’s pamphlet for pet owners, animal owners who do not and allow uncontrolled mating are directly responsible for the suffering of surplus animals in our community. These surplus animals live terrible lives – dodging vehicles, terrorized by other animals, feeding on garbage, suffering from diseases and freezing in our severe winters. If they survive until they are six months old, then they breed and create a greater problem. I apologize if this sound awful, but it’s awful to see innocent animals suffer for no reason. We need a spay/neuter program in the Foothills, if anyone knows of how to get one going that would help with the cost of fixing your pet. Yay Bob Barker! The Sheep River Library is hosting a very interesting sounding event. Robert Greenwood in “Shakespeare”. During World War I, the troops received performances from theatre companies performing Shakespearean plays. In this solo performance, 22 characters from 17 plays will be presented. Shakespeare will be performed on Saturday, October 25th at 7:30 pm. Another good show at the Library will be “The Wardens”, which is original music and stories from the backcountry of the Canadian Rockies. This show will be held on Saturday, October 18 at 7:00 pm. Due to the anticipated popularity of these events, admission will be by ticket only. You can pick up your FREE ticket at the Library after September 15th. If you have any events happening November 12 – December 10 that you would like to see in the High Country News, please call Elaine at 403-9333807 or email at [email protected]. The deadline for this issue is October 27th. Happy Thanksgiving October 13th! Elaine Wansleeben Hotel History in the Foothills drink, to play a game of pool, buy a smoke, meet a friend, or sit around and gossip. To families, hotels were a place to go for Sunday or Thanksgiving dinners. Clubs regarded them as meeting places. Many non-homeowners, rich and poor alike, called them home. Sometimes the town doctor, optician or lawyer made his office in the hotel. In all these capacities, hotels served a vital role in the community. This was not fulfilled by the building alone—it was the people who lived, worked, and socialized within that helped define the role of the hotel. Above all others in making it an important social institution was the proprietor, who as often as not was a prominent member of the community and a booster extraordinaire. Harry Sanders, a Calgary historian (and the son of a Drumheller hotelkeeper), has been working on a book about Alberta hotels for many years. His extensive experience includes working at the Calgary Public Library, the City of Calgary Archives, the Jewish Historical Society of Southern Alberta, and the Glenbow Library and Archives. Since 1995, Harry has been a self-employed historical consultant, contract researcher, and freelance writer. From 2006-09, he appeared on CBC Radio as “Harry the Historian,” and he served as the Calgary Heritage Authority 2012 Historian Laureate. Harry has written several books on local history. Join Harry on Monday, October 27 at 7pm for a look back at hotels from Calgary to Nanton and from Turner Valley to Mossleigh. Call the Sheep River Library at 403-933-3278 to reserve a free ticket or sign up next time you are in the library. with Harry Sanders Monday, October 27 at 7 p.m. The hotel was an essential cornerstone in the frontier western community. Henry A. McGusty, who travelled across the prairies in 1889, noted in his book Two Years in Manitoba and the NorthWest Territory: “This is one of the most noticeable things about Canada. The smallest village, even when only boasting one store, usually has one or more hotels, and they are better than would be expected. They are boarding-houses, clubs, and saloons, or at least combine the three.” To weary travellers, hotel beds and meals provided a welcome sanctuary from the rigours of travel. For cowboys and labourers, the hotel was a place to High Country News - October 2014 37 WHAT HAPPENS TO ALL THOSE BOOKS? “Books are everywhere; and always the same sense of adventure fills us. Second-hand books are wild books, homeless books; they have come together in vast flocks of variegated feather, and have a charm which the domesticated volumes of the library lack. Besides, in this random miscellaneous company we may rub against some complete stranger who will, with luck, turn into the best friend we have in the world.” Virginia Woolf, Street Haunting age goes to support the literacy organization, Room to Read, which works to improve literacy for girls in Asia. This is a win/win for everyone. Our books are shipped at no cost to us; they find a new home outside of a landfill and both we and Room to Read benefit financially. Some items cannot be used by Better World Books, such as textbooks, magazines and Readers Digest condensed books. So, if you are wanting to donate books to the library please leave This past summer five staff from these items out of the box. Otherwise, Marigold headquarters came to the please feel free to bring us books you no library to weed out the Adult Non longer wish to keep. Fiction and Juvenile Fiction sections. Books were removed from the collection based on their age, condition and how often they circulated. By the end of the day 2,600 volumes had been removed from our shelves, freeing up some much needed space and making room for new material. So, you may ask, what happens to all those books? Also, what happens to any books that get donated to the library? Donated books go through a screening process. Items are assessed primarily by their condition and age. If a book is five years or newer and is in good condition, it makes it to stage two of the process. We then determine if we already have it in our collection. We then decide if we need another copy, which is often the case with popular items that have a large number of holds on them; or perhaps we will exchange the item we already have for one in better condition. The books that do not meet the criteria to go in the collection, or have already been removed from it, we save for our book sales in June and December. Some go right out onto the book sale carts that are by the fireplace in the library. All items are sold for a quarter. Books left over from book sales, along with volumes in great shape that we already have, are boxed up and sent to Better World Books, an organization that reuses or recycles the books. We receive a percentage of the profits of the sale of our books and a further percent38 Of course, we are not only about books at the library. By the time this article is in print, our Out Loud 2014 festival will be in full swing. We are very excited with our line up this year and look forward with much eagerness to hosting Richard Wagamese (October 17), The Wardens (October 18), Terry Fallis (October 23), Sun Ergos Theatre (October 25) and Harry Sanders (October 27). Don’t forget Afternoon Tea with the Duchess (October 19). For free tickets to these please drop in or call the library. For more information about any of these events check the website or pick up an Out Loud brochure at the library. High Country News - October 2014 Black Diamond Digest Hello, Black Diamond. Well we sure had a bunch of snow in the middle of September. Mostly people thought, oh, it’ll just be a little skiff of snow, it’ll melt by morning. Ha ha said Mother Nature, I’ll remind my Southern Albertans that you never know what the skies may bring. Such a lot of branches were broken from the heavy snowfall, but it was good to see everyone helping their neighbors clear up the tree debris and the kids got to make some snowmen too. And we all appreciated the beautiful plus 20 weather afterwards. Remembrance Day is November 11th. There will be a Remembrance Day Ceremony at the Oilfields High School at 10:30 am. The School is located in Black Diamond at 511-3rd St. SW. Afterwards there will be brunch and fellowship at the Turner Valley Legion. The Annual Pumpkin Patch Quilt Show and Tea will be held on Saturday, October 18 from 1-4. There will be a lovely display of quilts and fabric arts. Some of the quilts will be given to the Alberta Children’s Hospital, Rowan House, or other charities. There will also be door prizes and a delicious tea. The Show will be held at the Griffiths Center in Black Diamond at 122 Government Road. Yes it’s getting to be that time of year to think about Christmas shopping, for those of you who actually get some shopping done before December. The Annual Millarville Christmas Market will run November 7-9 at the Millarville Racetrack. Lots to see and do including Santa’s workshop, free hay rides, lights, crafts, and many of your favorite seasonal vendors. One of a kind items for that special person on your list. For more information, visit millarvilleracetrack .com. The Market runs all three days from 11-4. Some great concerts are booked for the fall season. Beneath the Arch Concert Series presents Ray Bonneville High Country News - October 2014 on Saturday, October 25th. Ray Bonneville is the quintessential Canadian blues dude, a master of the slow burn, the gentle lyric that suddenly grabs you. A multi-award winner, he captures the blues vibe of Eric Clapton meets JJ Cale. Local sponsors to thank are James C. Lozinsky Law Firm, James Lee, Windridge Construction, and an anonymous sponsor. To find out how to get season’s tickets or rush tickets for the concert, visit beneaththearch.ca or call 403-933-7040. The Arch celebrates 26 years of great music.Doors open at 7:00 with the show starting at 7:30 and will be held at the Flare and Derrick Community Center. On The Edge Concert Series presents The Foothills Brass Quintet on Friday, October 24th. They are comprised of five versatile musicians and this superb Canadian quintet is dedicated to exceptional artistic presentations, featuring music from the classics, jazz, ragtime, Bourbon Street, swing and some country and western to boot. Thoughtful artistry with toe tapping excitement. For tickets or more information, visit rdlunitedchurch.org or call 403-256-3181, ext. 5. Doors open at 6:30 with the show starting at 7:30 and will be held at the Red Deer Lake United Church, 7 km. west of Macleod Trail on 22X. Foothills Country Hospice will be hosting their annual gala fundraiser on Saturday October 25th. The Great Gatsby Gala 2014 will be held at the Foothills Centennial Centre in Okotoks and for tickets or more information please call 403-995-4673, or visit foothillshospice.ca. There will be no school for the Oilfields High Students on the following days: October 13 and 31, and November 10 and 28. The students will be putting on performances of Alice in Wonderland November 2-5. Tuesday and Wednesday’s show will run from 10:30 to 2, and the Thursday and Friday shows will run from 7 to 9. This promises to be great entertainment from our very own local young talent, for tickets please call the Oilfields High School at 403-938-4973. The Government of Alberta offers a program called Alberta Aids to Daily Living. The program helps Albertans with a long-term disability, chronic illness or terminal illness maintain their independence in their community through the provision of medical equipment and supplies to meet their basic medically assessed needs. Some of the equipment they help supply are oxygen and/or respiratory equipment, orthotic braces, prostheses, hearing aids, walkers, compression stockings, and more. They also offer RAMP, or Residential Access Modification Program, which is a grant program available to eligible wheelchair users to modify their home to be more accessible. There is a percentage of costs and you must be eligible, but for more information, visit seniors.alberta.ca/AADL or call toll free at 1-877-427-5760. If you have any events happening November 12- December 10 that you would like to see in the High Country News, please call Elaine at 403-9333807 or email at [email protected]. The deadline for this issue is October 27. Happy Thanksgiving October 13, Elaine Wansleeben St. Georges Anglican Church in Turner Valley CHRISTMAS TEA AND BAKE SALE November 8, 2014 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. in the Church Hall (St. Georges is just south of the 4-way stop in Turner Valley) 39 OUT OF THE RUT Chapter 50 In Ayni art gallery in Santa Barbara, surrounded by skins painted in native American designs, conches and dangling feathers. A darkly gleaming skull festooned with feathers, leather strands and beads, an obscure icon. A turtle shell above the great splayed feathers of a wild turkey. Dream catchers, mysterious masks, rattles, Sage, Palo Santo wood, shells, stones and bowls... I am surrounded by history, by art, by a sensation of great potential and many lives passed through this place. Beyond the earth-red wall, Fantuzzi sings “pen up your heart, open up your soul” I can hear people moving, dancing, singing, shouting. Chester, a Native man, receives dreams from animals who are about to die. They tell him who they are and where, they share their stories. Chester travels out into the woods to find their bodies and retrieve them. Everything in this room has been created by Chester from the found remains of animals that spoke to him in his dreams. The paintings on the hides that hang before me and the decorations around this space are illustrations of their stories. Just after I wrote the first paragraph, a woman called Jennifer entered the room. I asked her about the things that surrounded me and she told me Chester’s story, I was profoundly moved by her shedding light on the energy I had sensed when I entered and sat in solitude. She is a healer and offered me healing. I sat in this powerful peaceful room while she worked her magic; a minimalist touch, giving space, time for meditation. The tension that had been tightening around my head and neck for the past ten days eased a little. The temporary sensation of lightness and relief was profound. I took a break from you, but here we are again, that treatment worked wonders. The heat of the past few weeks lay across my shoulders and melted through me. I have been in dust and desert for days, flitting between air-conditioned rooms and baking sunshine, earth too hot for naked feet. From Denver we 40 At Marina Del Ray headed to Los Angeles, then Joshua Tree, back to LA, Santa Monica, Malibu, Irvine, Topanga, Santa Barbara, then a gruelling six-hour drive north through the emptiness of the night to arrive north of San Francisco at 5 a.m. We slept in the car a couple of hours until civilized people began to stir, then decamped into a house and the decadence of horizontal rest until late in the day. A while back I was in the presence of death again. This time temporary. But closer. I was staying with a friend... whose child has struggled for many years with addiction, addiction that is in fact a symptom of a much deeper-seated issue; managing pain that went disregarded if not aggravated by an addictive unstable mother and an unsympathetic system. My friend has been estranged from his child for decades, not by choice, but recently found a way to bridge that divide and invest his current existence in the well-being and rebuilding of his child’s life. Said child is like a teenager in the body of a thirty-year-old. I gave - such as I could - emotional and physical support in touch and listening, but the trauma of existence was so painful that an over-dose took place. My friend was in the awful situation of dragging his child’s lifeless body across the floor and performing CPR. I found myself squatting at their side, holding a phone with the disembodied voice of an EMT counting down the pulses and breaths as I watched blue skin return to pinkish hue and a rattling breath push through temporarily stilled airways. Several enormous firemen/EMTs turned up, inserted a magical syringe and restored full awareness before whisking the reanimated body off to hospital. Hospital turned out to be the best possible place as layer after layer of issues were illuminated by the ensuing tests. Tubes and machines surrounded High Country News - October 2014 the bed, examinations one after the other, various prescriptions and plans ensued. Still in hospital, but hopefully heading for home, on a long and challenging path to recovery and a new life, before you, my friend, read these words. Despite these literally heart-stopping events, my friend’s attitude is such a startlingly graceful one it is hard to appreciate how comparatively minor trials can loom so large in our own lives. He sees this work with his child as a blessing, a true opportunity to give himself in service. “after all...” he says, “there are only two reasons to get up in the morning - one is to Love and the other is to Serve. But Service is a form of Love, so I guess there’s only one.” Today I walked around the streets of Berkeley after a 30 minute meditation that seemed so very short. Today there are rallies and marches around the globe, meditation and meetings, people focusing on peace and health for the planet. A good thing to do. I saw roses, blue-purple trumpet flowers, yellow irises, lemon trees, cascades of green, humming birds, children bouncing on pogo sticks (twice!), roller skates, skate boards, a plethora of activity and harmony, merely from wandering a few blocks. Everyone else went off to the big march, but after sitting in meditation I felt such stillness that the prospect of being surrounded by thousands of people’s energy was too much to bear. This is good enough - I visualize just one person, only one, laying down their weapons, laying down their anger, their greed, their fear. For after all, every negativity our endlessly creative human race inspires is fed at its root, by fear. If we can lay down our fear, one by one, even- sinking and give us a lift back into the tually we will transcend the difficulties light. and hurdles we cast before us every day. Metta Just twenty-four hours ago I was Kat Dancer myself consumed by angst and trauma, www.kat-dancer.com the root of which was of course fear. 415 525 2630 With the graceful help of the woman whose house we were in, we were able to build a positive space, to create something gentle and forgiving from a place which at that time seemed irrevocably dark to me. Transformation in every day. Sometimes we just need a little help to clarify the murky waters in which we’re We encourage you to join our Church services, where you will find a warm welcome and a community of people who enjoy their worship together. The Church serves the Bragg Creek & Redwood Meadows area and welcomes people from a wide variety of backgrounds. Services are usually held at 10 a.m. on Sundays in the Bragg Creek Community Centre. You can check for location changes or check us out by visiting www.braggcreekchurch.ca or contacting Pastor Dave by emailing [email protected] or calling 403-949-2887 BRAGG CREEK HISTORICAL SOCIETY Invites Everyone to attend an information and introduction OPEN HOUSE November 6th at 7 p.m. Bragg Creek Seniors Chalet Come and swap stories, learn about our past, and have a coffee... High Country News - October 2014 41 LONGVIEW LIBRARY Our library's mandate is to provide a life long learning experience for the community of Longview. To ensure this, we encourage our patrons to use the inter-library loan system. This interlibrary loan system is provided by the Marigold Library System, situated in Strathmore, Alberta. Under it's umbrella, individual libraries in the surrounding areas are organized in a network serving the residents of south-central Alberta. This system allows the user to order books not available at our library. I hope, too, that you are all aware that we have several computer terminals in the library, which all card holders are encouraged to use. Via Videoconference on Wednesday, October 15, 2014, there will be an author talk with Sandra Joyce. She is the author of The Street Arab, which is the story of a British Home Child. Ranging in ages from 1-18 years, impoverished children came from all parts of Britain to Canada in hopes of a better life. Their stories are a huge part of Canadian history, which to this day remains largely unknown.This will be a fascinating evening, so mark your calendars and sign up at the library or the bulletin board. Library cardholders can now access the 3M Cloud library, a new downloadable eBook service. You can choose from over 2,000 new titles, including fiction, non-fiction and titles for young adults and children. Browse the collection anytime at www.tracpac.ab.ca. 3M works on a variety of mobile devices, PCs and Mac. You can download up to 10 titles at a time. One of our many fundraisers is the collection of bottles and cans. Please drop your used ones off in the bin at the foot of the stairs, just outside the library door. We would very much appreciate these donations. New books to the library are Driving With The Top Down by Beth Harbison, That Summer by Lauren Willig, Canada in the Great power, 1914-2014, by Gwynne Dyer, (NF) and Death of a Texas Ranger by Cynthia Lea Massey (NF). There are several more, so come in and check them out. If you are looking for a guaranteed good read, try the author Jodi Picoult. She is a master of domestic/courtroom drama and her books are carefully researched.They are thought provoking, but best of all, they are page turners. They deal with both medical and legal matters and moral issues of our day. Happy Reading Sylvia Binkley [email protected] REMINDER! DEADLINE for the NOVEMBER ISSUE of the HIGH COUNTRY NEWS is OCTOBER 27th MOUNTAIN VIEW DENTAL HYGIENE Keeping your smile healthy and bright through oral health prevention and teeth cleaning services. Magee Place 4-220 Centre Ave. W Black Diamond AB 403 933 7722 ‘Keep Your Smile For a Lifetime!’ 42 High Country News - October 2014 ATTENTION: WATER WELL OWNERS Did you know that the Alberta Government recommends that all Well Owners chlorinate their water well once per year plus test potability of water bi-annually? Don’t know where to get your water tested? Two Options for Testing: 1. FREE METHOD: Local Provincial lab available twice per year for Well Owners in vicinity. Initial test result is given as “satisfactory” or “unsatisfactory”; no specifics. 2. PRIVATE LABORATORY: Sample can be tested for any number of different types of bacteria, parasites, contaminates, etc. Cost is minimal per year and will give you specifics of what EXACTLY is in your water. Two Options to Sanitize and Clean your Well: 1. CHLORINATION: Most popular and widely known method. Procedures vary from Well to Well due to differing plumbing and pressure configurations, well depths and flow rates. Each Well and pressure system must be looked at individually and performed so as not to damage sensitive components such as water treatment equipment, plumbing fixtures, boilers, heating systems, copper pipes, etc. 2. FOOD GRADE HYDROGEN PEROXIDE: Little known method, but can be more effective and safer for the environment and humans. Basically, Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide is water plus oxygen, or more technically: Water with an active singlet oxygen molecule attached to it. This makes it an oxidizer/killer of microbes and toxins when the active singlet oxygen molecule breaks off and turns back in to water. Used as an old folk remedy that goes back to the 18th century, peroxide has a remarkable ability to kill bacteria, and is unique in its simplicity. Standard Water System Maintenance Schedule: Equipment/ System Reverse Osmosis Membrane/Filters Water Softeners Maintenance Required Membrane, carbon & sediment filters replacement Ion Resin Replacement & Control Valve service Recommended Frequency Annually Every 5 years Iron/Sulphur Filters Mineral Bed Replacement & Control Valve service Every 3 – 5 years Ultra-Violet Sterilization System UV Lamp & Sleeve Replacement Annually Well Shock Chlorination Correct dosage of chlorine injection into well & flush Annually Raw Well Water Testing (Provincial Lab) Obtain water sample & submit to lab Twice per year (as per Alberta Environment) (as per Alberta Environment) Risks/Results if Neglected Excess waste water, low volume or pressure, bacteria/bio-film build-up and bad taste Hard water, scaling on fixtures, white film on glassware, dry skin/hair, mineral bed channelling, reduced efficiency & control valve jamming Sulphur smell, red-brown staining in toilets, sinks, showers/tubs & appliances, metallic taste, stained laundry, plugged/channelled mineral bed, build-up & bio-film, mineral bed solidification & control valve jamming Contamination of distribution system with micro-organisms, bacteria, e-coli, coliforms, etc. Reduced well yield, bio-fouling, incrustation, bacteria build-up, sulphur smell & black slime on surfaces Contamination of distribution system with micro-organisms, bacteria, e-coli, cryptosporidium, giardia, coliforms, etc Can You Feel It? “Snow & Cold Make A Comeback” Canada Winter Weather Forecast 2014, Says AccuWeather “Winter Temperatures Will Be Colder Than Normal” 2014 Farmers Almanac “Expect Extreme Weather As The New Norm” National Geographic Not happy with the floods? Try frozen pipes or no heat! We have the solution for you! An Automatic natural gas powered emergency back-up generator An emergency power generator monitors your acreage’s power supply 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When there is a power outage, the generator detects the problem and automatically goes to work. You don’t need to flip a switch or even be home for the emergency power generator to shift into gear: it is self-activated. The unit is installed in a discreet place outside your home, runs on your existing natural gas line (or propane for backup) and provides years of maintenance free dependability. These automatic standby power systems consist of a generator and a transfer switch: in the event of an interruption in the electrical supply, the automatic transfer switch safely disconnects the utility line and connects the standby power line from the generator. Your power is restored within seconds, whether or not you’re home. When primary power is detected again, the transfer switch reverts the power supply back to the primary source, returning the generator to standby mode. Local family owned business for over 25 years For More Information Contact Us IN PRIDDIS 403-931-3733 C ommercial lassifieds ED O’REILLY. Licensed, bonded livestock dealer. Buying saddle horses, canner horses, buffalo and cattle. Tradeins accepted. Call 403-931-3382 Long time local completing Construction Estimating Certificate through SAIT. Over 15 years experience in the flooring industry/tile setting. Looking for a competent estimator? Please call Patricia Sterling at 403-614-1184 ATTENTION HORSE OWNERS If you have any old hay, bottom bales, moldy bales, etc. that are no longer suitable for horses, please give me a call. I may be able to pick it up and use it for cow feed. Call Don at 403-931-2457. EDITOR’S NOTE: If you are a Beatles fan, you must see this show! This Calgary group will have you dancing and singing along, as they play through the various styles the Beatles had over the years. The first section is all about the ‘mopheads’ rock and roll era. This is followed by a very colourful psychedelic section, and some terrific guitar licks. For the third section of the concert, you might want to have your candles or phone lights ready as you sing along to Hey Jude and Let It Be. The costume changes for each portion of the concert are amazing. Enjoy!! Chris McLachlan, Editor Commercial Classifieds. . . Are $16. for a minimum of 4 lines, $4. each additional line (plus GST). Visa & Mastercard & Amex accepted. 46 High Country News - October 2014 DEBORAH CLARK, REALTOR - CENTURY 21 BAMBER REALTY LTD. ....................835-3385 DAZA ROOFING LTD. ..................................................................................................542-2592 CENTURY ROCK MASONRY - DAVID ANDRUKO ......................................................819-5303 CRABAPPLE COTTAGE CLOTHING COMPANY ........................................................949-4264 COUNSELLING, BRAGG CREEK - DR. KAREN MASSEY, R. PSYC. ........................390-1815 CAM EVANS CONSTRUCTION....................................................................931-1543/818-8457 BRICO PLUMBING INC. - DAVE HODGKINS ..............................................................998-5580 BRAGG CREEK TRADING POST ................................................................................949-3737 BRAGG CREEK PLUMBING & HEATING LTD.............................................................931-0486 BRAGG CREEK PHYSIOTHERAPY ............................................................................949-4008 BRAGG CREEK INSURANCE SERVICES & ALTA REGISTRIES ..............................949-2599 BRAGG CREEK FAMILY FOODS ................................................................................949-3747 BRAGG CREEK EXCAVATING ....................................................................949-2756/620-0250 BRAGG CREEK CHIROPRACTIC CLINIC ..................................................................949-3953 BLUE RIBBON BOARDING & TRAINING ....................................................................949-2963 BIG DRIPPER WATER HAULING INC. ........................................................................851-1003 BELCOURT PET SPA & SUPPLIES ............................................................................949-3355 BED & BREAKFAST - EVERGREEN COUNTRY ........................................................949-3951 BAVARIAN INN ..............................................................................................................949-3611 BANDED PEAK VETERINARY HOSPITAL AND CANINE CENTRE............................949-3249 ATB FINANCIAL - BRAGG CREEK AGENCY ..............................................................949-3513 ARMSTRONG ELECTRICAL ........................................................................................932-9289 ANIMAL HOSPITAL, BRAGG CREEK ..........................................................................949-2650 ACTION SEPTIC/ACTION SEPTIC PRESSURE WASHING........................................286-1142 ACCOMMODATIONS - KRUGER’S GUEST HOUSE..................................................949-3770 A-B-C SEPTIC TANK CLEANING SERVICES ..............................................................288-9500 ZABA — ROYAL LEPAGE BENCHMARK ....................................................................949-3400 THE LITTLE SCHOOLHOUSE - BRAGG CREEK ........................................................949-3939 SUTTON GROUP CANWEST - WILLIE PREBUSHEWSKY ........................................949-4100 SUBWAY - BRAGG CREEK ..........................................................................................949-5654 SPIRITS WEST WINE & LIQUOR MERCHANTS ........................................................949-2497 RE/MAX MOUNTAIN VIEW BRAGG CREEK ..............................................................949-3220 PRIDDIS FAMILY DENTAL............................................................................................931-0082 POWDERHORN SALOON ............................................................................................949-3946 P & C TREE & EXCAVATING SERVICES ....................................................932-1189/809-2926 - LUCY CURTIS, DOMINION LENDING CENTERS ..............968-7840 MORTGAGE BROKER - CANDACE PERKO, COUNTRYSIDE FINANCIAL ..............949-4129 MOOSE MOUNTAIN GENERAL STORE - HARDWARE WITH SEARS ......................949-3147 MAVERICK LAW............................................................................................................949-3339 MARRIAGE COMMISSIONER, JULIE ANN DERER ....................................................949-4235 LINDA ANDERSON LAW OFFICE ................................................................243-6400/949-4248 LAMBERT BROS. PAVING............................................................................................287-3252 JARI LOVE FITNESS ....................................................................................................273-7450 JAPCO PEST CONTROL LTD. ....................................................................................949-4906 INSURANCE (LIFE, DISABILITY, CRITICAL ILLNESS, LONG TERM CARE) ............949-3250 INSURANCE (LIFE, CRITICAL ILLNESS, LONG TERM CARE) & INVESTMENTS....949-3272 HIGH COUNTRY NEWS ..............................................................................................949-3526 HARDER AND SONS EXTERIOR MAINTENANCE SERVICES ..................................949-3442 - PEGGY’S AT PRIDDIS ......................................................686-1095/931-3142 HAIR STYLIST - DAKOTA HAIR, PRIDDIS ..................................................................931-3109 GARBAGE BIN GUYS ..................................................................................................333-8460 FIREWOOD TIM ............................................................................................................333-8462 FINANCIAL PLANNER, RISK MANAGEMENT - BOB HUGHES ................................949-3250 — BUSINESS DIRECTORY — DIAMOND FITNESS & WELLNESS..............................................................................933-4141 ELBOW RIVER EXCAVATING & LANDSCAPING ........................................949-3227/899-4886
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