HELLO DIAMOND VALLEY
Hello, Diamond Valley. Well, it was a fairly warm January after we got over the cold snap at the beginning. We’ll see if Mr. Groundhog sees his shadow on February 2 to find out when spring comes! There’s lots to do in our community to keep you warm this month, the month of love, as Valentine’s Day is February 14.
The word love comes from old English “lufiar” and means “to feel love for, cherish, show love to, delight in, and approve”. There are, of course, many different kinds of love besides marriage. Love for your family is right up there, and it just so happens Family Day in Alberta falls on February 21. Alberta offers a free family fishing weekend on February 19 and 20, no license is needed, so why not take the family ice fishing on Chain Lakes, or strap on the skates and take advantage of the Lion’s Campground ice in Black Diamond or one of our other rinks, there’s one in Turner Valley and two more in Black Diamond up at the Arena.
Love for our community is another type. I celebrated my 20th year of moving to Diamond Valley in January, and even though I’ve seen some changes, the community dynamics have remained the same. You’ll find this sense of comradery at our local Legion, where local Veterans, families, and children gather for a meal and some company. The Legion has been a part of our community since 1929, and has counted on revenue generating activities such as weddings, celebrations of life, and dances. Because of COVID-19 restrictions the last couple years, they have not been able to host these activities and therefore had an emergency meeting to discuss their current financial situation. With a great deal of thought, they are asking for pledges and memberships to help pull them through while they find new ways of generating revenue for their monthly expenses. If you can make any kind of donation, either a one-time pledge or a monthly one, sign up for a $55 yearly membership or renew your old one, it would be greatly appreciated. The Legion and the Ladies Auxiliary work tirelessly to help our Veterans and others in the community so your contribution would mean a great deal. Drop by the Legion Wednesdays-Fridays from 4-7 or give them a call at 403-933-4600 to make your pledge.
Love for our fellow man is another kind of love, which in the past few years has been a bit shaky due to the pandemic. Instead of buying gifts for a birthday, why not donate to a local charity, give blood, or register to be a tissue and organ donor. Organ donation can save 8 lives, and tissue donors can enhance the lives of 75 people! For full details, visit UltimateGiftAlberta.ca or blood.ca.
Love for Nature and animals is a kind of love I can relate to. Pet lovers, please consider fostering a pet or two, and if you are looking for a pet, please adopt! Pound Rescue, High Country SPCA, Heaven Can Wait, are just some of the Rescue Organizations in our community, so take some time to check them out and help save the lives of innocent animals in our area.
Love for our Foothills is probably the main reason people visit us and the main reason many of us make our homes here. There are tons to do right here in the Foothills without the stress of international travel. Beneath the Arch Concert Series presents Jonathan Byrd on February 26. Jonathan is a folk musician from North Carolina with record breaking record sales, for tickets, visit beneaththearch.ca.
We also have local classes and workshops for glassblowing, blacksmithing, arts and crafts, music, you name it, through our Library, Sheep Creek Arts, the Leighton Centre, Firebrand glass blowing, and more. The Saskatoon Berry Farm is a great place to go for lunch and a walk around, and Granary Road is a great place to take the kids for the day. My buddy and I went to Nanton for the day and had a great time checking out the Bomber Museum, the Miniature Museum and the local model train store. We checked out the candies and antiques on Main Street and had a great lunch at the historic hotel. And don’t forget High River, they have such a neat downtown with the historic buildings and train stations and there’s lots of neat stores there as well. Or take a weekend and head down to the Crowsnest Pass, you will find a plethora of things to see and do there, such as exploring old mines and contemplating Frank Slide.
We’ll end with a poem from local cowboy poet Konstantin Yevtoshenko, edited here for space:
You are my island, I am your shore, I do love you more and more.
You are my basement, I am your roof, I do love you with proof.
You are my thunder, I am your rain, I do love you with a brain!
You are my river, I am your boat, I do love you like a moat.
You are my arrow, I am your bow, I do love you like wow!
I hope your month is filled with love! If you have any events or news for the month of March, please drop me a line at elaine.w@ telus.net, the deadline for this issue is February 15.
Elaine Wansleeben
