Hello, Diamond Valley. It’s been a pretty nice summer so far, albeit with some wicked lightning and thunder that shook our homes and hit close in Bailey Ridge area, damaging roofs and trees. We’ve also had our share of gumball sized hail, shredding our hard worked for gardens. I’m really hoping that this year we will have our summer linger late into the fall. It would be a treat for all we have been through this past year.
It is Heritage Day here in Alberta on August 3rd. In 1905 Alberta received its provincial status, along with Saskatchewan, on September 1st. In 1974 Heritage Day was announced, meant to celebrate the cultural and historical heritage of the province. And in 1976 the birth of Servus Heritage Festival came together with no fewer than 11 ethnic communities. This became an annual 3 day festival on Edmonton’s calendar. Now called the Edmonton Heritage Festival, this year due to COVID-19 it is online! Check it out August 1-3 at heritagefest.ca.
Lots to do in our beautiful Foothills as residents are staying close to home this summer. Kananaskis has many trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Sandy McNabb has an equestrian campground, and one of the more popular trails is the Death Valley Trail. This trail provides sweeping westward views across meadows to mountains beyond the foothills. You will also see remnants of forest fires. The big fire of 1919 was among the worst in Sheep Valley history, and there was another one in 1929. Seventy years ago, many of the forested foothills to the east were barely treed. The frequency of forest fires in the early days improved wildlife habitat by removing over mature trees and opening the way for new growth. Controlled burning and clearing have largely replaced the role of wildfire as a forest management tool. Also, fire detection and suppression has evolved from horses to helicopters. However, forest fires remain a desperate threat to our foothills and we must do everything we can to prevent them.
Oilfields Recycling Centre is open again on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 9:30-6. Please sort your materials beforehand so as to spend as little time as possible inside the building. They are not accepting plastics at this time. Some ideas to reduce our plastics in the landfill are: cut out water, pop, and juice bottles, eat fresh fruit instead and drink tap water. Avoid frozen foods as they are all packaged in plastic, and try making your own shampoo, laundry soap, and cleaning supplies, vinegar and baking soda will clean a lot. Try making your own condiments, say no to the plastic straw, and try the Foothills Salvage Centre for used plastic items. Shop your local farmer’s markets and bring your own cloth bags. And if you do nothing else, try to avoid buying plastics #3 (PVC), #6, (Polystyrene), and #7 (Polycarbonate). The #7 is “other” plastics, which can include biodegradable, a not so bad plastic, so take a little more time and check out what you are buying. These types of plastics are very toxic to the environment and also to the brain and nervous system. Try shopping one time less a month, and you will notice savings as well. And I hear that the Riverbend Colony is selling fresh vegetables, preserves, and baked goods every Saturday in both towns, so there’s a good start. They will be in Black Diamond Town parking lot from 12-4, and in Turner Valley Pool parking lot from 7:30-11:30.
Now on to some fun news. The 113th annual Priddis and Millarville Fair is already online this year. The popular Fair has been known for exhibiting farm animals, gardening, baking, arts, horse events, mutton busting, crops, woodworking, and much more. All this is now online and we will see who takes home the blue ribbons in their various categories. Go to millarvilleracetrack.com/fair and you will find online exhibits, how to become an exhibitor, judging, rules, auctions, and history of the fair. Really there is lots to see so please support our local exhibitors and enjoy reading about one of the oldest fairs around.
Also online is the Leighton Art Centre’s exhibit, Summer Salon. The LAC is a uniquely Albertan historic site, and you can drop by (admission is by donation) or go online and feast your eyes on the works of art from many local artists. It is truly a beautiful exhibit with a taste for everyone. The exhibit runs until September 6th, and you can view it at leightoncentre.org.
The Sheep Creek Arts Council is planning to hold some online and in- house art and quilting courses this fall. Alberta Health guidelines will be in place regarding distancing and sanitation, and they will be asking people to wear a mask. There will be no registration night at the facility itself this year, however, you can register online or by mail. They hope to have a general meeting this September, so watch for that on their Facebook page. For a full list of courses and clubs available, please visit sheepcreekarts.ca.
It’s good to know some of our traditions are still happening this year in the Foothills, and we thank those coordinators and volunteers for working with restrictions to make things happen. Not an easy task in these unsure times! Foothills Country Hospice is holding their Rally 4 Hospice on September 12th. New this year is a reduced entry fee, online auction, wrap- up party at High River Sunset Drive- In with dinner served to your car, live outdoor entertainment, and the featured movie at the Drive-In is Ford vs. Ferrari. The Foothills Country Hospice is a very special place and the staff and volunteers there are very special people. What a difficult job they have to make those in their last part of their lives, and their families, feel as comfortable as possible. To register or to find out more about this event, visit countryhospice.org.
The Foothills School Division will be opening schools again this fall, as long as the pandemic wanes. Students, parents, and caregivers, if you have not already done so, please check out the Foothills School Division 2020-21 School Relaunch Handbook online at fsd.38.ab.ca. to find out what to expect this fall as the students prepare to go back to school.
The Okotoks Healthy Family Resource Centre has a program that may assist families with the cost of school supplies. Families must have children under 18 that are attending Foothills Schools and meet the income guidelines. Please do this as early as possible in August so the ball can start rolling. If people need support, they can contact the Resource Centre at 403- 995-2626. Thanks to the sponsors that help make this valuable program run.
The Diamond Valley Boys and Girls Club is another valuable and special organization in our community. They provide before and after school care and summer programs for children, and are well known and respected. As of the time of writing, July 15, they have not yet made the decision to reopen in the fall, but are working on this challenging decision, so keep checking on them as well.
Being off my regular job for the past four months got my flower beds into full bloom as I had the time to work them properly. I’m excited to see the winners of the Bloomin’ Turner Valley contest as the judging started July 24th. Categories include Best Conservation and Environment Garden, Best Non- Residential Display, Home Grown Favorite, and Creative Kids Gardening. Winners will be announced August 7th.
If you have any news on your not-for- profit organization, or any events or online news that you feel our readers would be interested in, please drop me a line at elaine.w@telus.net. The deadline for this September issue is August 15.
Have a safe and enjoyable August!
Elaine Wansleeben
