Hello, Diamond Valley! Well the new year is almost upon us. The earliest recorded New Year dates back to some 4000 years ago to ancient Babylon, when the first new moon following the vernal equinox – the the spring day with an equal amount of sunlight and darkness- heralded the start of a new year.
Diamond Valley invites all to our New Year’s Eve Celebration, a starry night spectacular! There will be star gazing and planetarium by the Royal Astronomical Society, and fireworks at 8 pm. Also on the menu are wagon rides, ice skating, face painting, and a dance party! Pack up the family, dress for the weather, and head on down to the Flare and Derrick and Millenium Park in Turner Valley from 5-8 and help to ring in the New Year.
Turner Valley Legion will be open again in the beginning of January. The Legion is such a family friendly place, good reasonably priced food, and a great atmosphere. You don’t have to be a member to come to the Legion, and they have pool nights, meat draws and 50/50s, special senior’s dinners, wing night, and much more. Right now they have a beautiful Merrimack canoe up for raffle, valued at over $5000, with 2 secondary cash prizes. This canoe is carbon fiber and kevlar cherry wood and is signed by all the crafters. Draw date is April 12, get your tickets for a chance to win this gorgeous watercraft. The Legion is located in Turner Valley.
January marks Robbie Burns Day. Rowan House Society would like to extend their invitation to their Robbie Burns Night fundraiser on January 27 at the Centennial Centre in Okotoks. There will be a dinner, dance, live music, and a silent auction, and an opportunity to help those in need of the Rowan House Shelter. There will also be a 50/50 raffle in which you could up to $10,000. For tickets and more information, go to rowanhouse.ca.
The new year’s concert series begins in January with Mariel Buckley and Band, playing at the Beneath the Arch Concert Series. Mariel is a Canadian country singer songwriter who is a trailblazer in the business, and she is backed by some of Canada’s best musicians. For tickets, go to beneaththearch.ca, and the show will be held at the Flare and Derrick in Turner Valley on January 27.
The Rotary Performing Arts Centre, or RPAC, in Okotoks is proud to present Always – Patsy Cline, on January 17. Find tickets and more information at OkotoksCulture.ca.
The Sheep Creek Arts Council is hosting their Open House on January 6 from 1-3. Many of the instructors will be there and will showcase their classes for the winter season. For full details and to register for classes, please go to their website, and they are located at 133 Sunset Blvd. In Turner Valley.
Friends of the Bar U Ranch Society are pleased to host their annual Stockmen’s Dinner on January 28, at the Highwood Memorial Centre in High River. Pioneer Family Honorees this year are Adams/ Paul- Dayment-Dingreville. This is a lovely evening featuring a prime rib dinner, and a silent auction, for more information, go to friendsofthebaru.com.
Oilfields Regional Arena has free skating on Sundays thanks to our local sponsor, Pharmasave. Visit bitly/ORA_ice for the schedule. The Oilfields Arena is home to the High Country Minor Hockey and Foothills Figure Skating Club. The Oilfields and the Scott Seaman Arena have rinks available for youth and adults, and the Oilfields Curling Club is open for business as well. Visit the above website for the two rinks and occcurling.com for schedules.
Diamond Valley is trying a new way of coordinating people who need help shoveling their sidewalks after a snowfall. It’s called the Snow Angels program, and the way it works is that people can ask for a sign if they truly need help shoveling, at fcss@ diamondvalley.town If you see a sign in your neighborhood, you can be a snow angel and shovel the snow for them.
The program runs until April 30.
Finally, a heartfelt gratitude and condolences to the family and friends of Dr. Gabriele Barrie, the founder of Pound Rescue. Gabi, as most people knew her as, was an amazing advocate for literally tens of thousands of stray and abused animals. Her passing is felt by many. Thank you to all the volunteers who are continuing on her legacy. If you can help this wonderful not for profit organization in any way, such as donations, volunteering, or especially foster care for animals, please go to poundrescue.com.
Have a wonderful New Year everyone!
Elaine Wansleeben
