Hello, Diamond Valley. Well June was a pretty nice, sunny month, sure nice to be outside on a regular basis. We could use some more rain for sure. Parade Day was a great success, tons of people in both towns, and the weather was fabulous for it. The kids are out of school now, and there’s lots to keep you all busy this summer in our Foothills community.
The Boys and Girls Club of Diamond Valley and District have Summer Camps available for ages 5-12. They run from 7-6 during the week, and some of the theme weeks include Carnival, Science, Swim, Art, and Master Chef Weeks. There is also a free youth drop in on Friday nights (excluding holidays) from 6-8pm for ages 11 and up. The drop in includes free roller skating, air hockey, access to computers and wifi, and there’s also a shuttle bus from Turner Valley to get your kids there. The drop in is held at the Club, upstairs from the Oilfields Arena. For more information or to register for Summer Camps, call the Boys and Girls Club at 403-933-4066.
Ann and Sandy Cross Conservation Area offers Summer Day Camps as well, for ages 6-15. They have a Leadership Camp and also a Nature Safari Camp. The Day Camps run from 9-4 during the week. For more information or to register, call 403-931-2042 or check out crossconservation.org.
The Leighton Art Centre puts on Summer Day Camps as well, the theme for these camps is Art and Nature. These camps are for ages 6-14 and they run from 9:30-3:30. For more information or to register, call 403-931-3636 or check out leightoncentre.org.
Crystal Solomon is having Children’s Art Camps through the Sheep Creek Arts Council for the four weeks starting July 8 til August 23. There is a chance for partial subsidy for a few students, and classes are filling up. To register or find out more, call 403.708.6602 or visit crystalsolomon.com. The Arts Council is also having a Quilt Retreat from August 6-9 from 10am-9pm. This is a chance to finish any projects you got stuck on, and Joyce Brown will be on hand to help with any problems or questions. The cost is $50 for all 3 days and please register soon. SCAC is located at 133 Sunset Boulevard in Turner Valley, and to register call 403.931.3989. Their mandate is to provide low cost classes in the visual arts.
Also our Sheep River Library has their Summer Reading Program. It’s a free program for kids aged 4-10 that meets once a week over the summer. They read stories, play games, make crafts, and this year’s theme is Natural World. The Program starts July 10 and runs for 6 weeks. There will be separate sessions for 4-6 year olds from 10-11am and 11:10- 12:30 for 7-10 year olds and both will take place on Wednesdays. Registration is open now, drop by our beautiful library or call 403-933-3278.
Our community offers some outreach programs and support groups for parents. The Foothills Parent to Parent Support Group can help if you’re worried about your teen or young adult. It’s confidential, for more information, call 403-995-2626. Or the Parent Link Centre offers outreach programs for our towns, for more information on this program, call 403-652-8633.
The annual Diamond Valley Music Fest will be held on Canada Day, July 1. There will be live local bands all day long, market vendors, and fireworks at dusk. The Legion will be running the beer gardens and the restaurant will be run by the Legion’s Bunker 78. Also kids activities will be part of the Festival. For more information, visit town.blackdiamond.ab.ca. The Music Fest will be held in Erma Brown Park at 611 3 Street in Black Diamond, that’s behind the Oilfields Arena.
The annual Black Diamond Car Show will be held on July 28 from 10-2. This is a huge car show that Marv’s Soda Shop started years ago, and has been taken over by a lovely group. Very glad that the tradition continues! Admission is by donation, with proceeds going towards the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada. There will be a pancake breakfast at 11:00 put on by the Turner Valley Legion, and tons of cool cars, trucks, and bikes to see. You must register your vehicle if you want to participate in the Car Show, for registration or more information, call 403-931-2081, or email thumbsupassociation@gmail.com. Check them out on Facebook at Black Diamond Car Show.
Our neighbours to the South, Longview, are having their annual Little New York Daze on the weekend of July 20 and 21. Festivities include a Parade, slo pitch tournament, car show, church in the park, pancake breakfast, kids activities, and much more. For more information, visit longview.ab.ca.
