Hello, Diamond Valley. Well it’s been a bit of a wet summer this year, but still some lovely warm days and I didn’t have to water the garden much at all. With fall coming the music scene in the Foothills picks up, and there’s some awesome entertainment coming up.
The Foothills Philharmonic Society invites youth to join the Junior Singers Group. The Prelude Ensemble is for ages 6-7 and runs Thursdays at 5:30. The Cantabile Ensemble is for ages 8-12 and runs Thursdays as well at 6:45. Rehearsals start on September 6 and they are all held at the Grace Lutheran Church in Okotoks. To register or to find out more information, go to footphil.com.
Our very own Beneath the Arch Concert Series is pleased to present Secondhand Dreamcar on September 13. This nine piece soul/roots/blues band is based in Edmonton and is one of CKUA Radio’s favorite acts. The show will be held at the Flare and Derrick in Turner Valley with the show starting at 7:30. To get your very reasonable priced ticket, go to beneaththearch.ca.
Also on September 13 is a Waylon Jennings Tribute Band, featuring Robert Rowan and his band Drinkers and Dreamers, playing at the Black Diamond Hotel. The doors open at 5:00 with the show and dance starting at 7:00. Tickets go fast for these shows, you can get yours at the Hotel or Okotoks Sobey’s for cash, or e-transfers at 403-612-7046.
The Sustainable Life Repair Café will be held on September 13 at the Griffiths Centre in Black Diamond. Volunteers help fix broken small household items if at all possible. Sustainable Life was created as a source to help you better understand things like water conservation, energy efficiency, local food, and how to work towards and create a sustainable community. To find out more and to book a repair time, visit itsasustainablelife on Facebook. The Griffiths Centre is located at 122 Government Road and the Café runs from 11-3.
Sheep River Health is running another Brain Health and Memory workshop on September 13. I attended one of these earlier this year and found it most enlightening. This Diamond Valley Memory Workshop will cover resources, skills, and strategies for Brain Health and Memory. Please register for this workshop at bookwhen.com/2025-diamond-valley-memoryworkshop, or call 403-995-5400 for more info. The workshop will be held at the Valley Neighbours Club in Turner Valley, located at 133 Sunset Boulevard, from 1-4.
Priddis Greens author Katherine Matiko launches her debut novel, Eden’s Daughter, at Sheep River Library on September 19 at 7pm. Set in rural Saskatchewan, it is the story of a young woman’s search for the child she was forced to give up for adoption in 1974. Everyone is welcome to attend this free event, featuring a 70’s trivia contest, author reading and book signing, and refreshments. Book proceeds benefit Louise Dean Centre, a Calgary school for pregnant and parenting teenagers. More info: katherine.matiko.ca.
The Sheep Creek Arts Council is celebrating Alberta Culture Days in September. They are also hosting their annual Open House on September 25 from 7-9. Come see their newly renovated space and see what classes and courses they have to offer, as the instructors will be there to chat about their classes. Complimentary coffee and desserts and door prizes for members. Membership is only $20 per year at the SCAC. Come check them out at 133 Sunset Boulevard in Turner Valley, more info at sheepcreekarts.ca.
The annual Terry Fox Run for Cancer Research will be held on September 14 in Sheep River Park in Okotoks. Workplaces, sports teams, community groups, families and friends are encouraged to form teams and gather pledges. You can run, walk, rollerblade, or cycle. Terry Fox did his amazing run across Canada in 1980, the Marathon of Hope, and we have kept up his tradition all these years later. There will be a BBQ afterwards for participants, sponsored by Fountain Tire, Sobey’s, and Save-On Foods. To register or find out more, go to terryfox.org/terry-fox-run.
Lastly, my friend and I took the Turner Valley Gas Plant Tours a few weeks ago, and what an amazing place this is. The tours run during the summer on weekends and stats, so if you are any kind of history buff this is a must to visit here in our own backyard. I will write more about the Plant next season, but I learned how the Plant was started and run and it was quite the operation during its day, and a little fun fact was that several movies have been filmed there including Ghostbusters.
If you have any events happening in October that you would like to see in the High Country News, please drop me a line at elaine.w@telus.net, before Sept. 15.
Hope we have a nice warm sunny September!
Elaine Wansleeben
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