Hello, Diamond Valley. Well we sure had some crazy snow the end of September and the first week of October. A good three feet of snow fell and had us all scrambling for the snow shovels. However it melted fairly quickly and allowed our farmers to get their hay baled up. We’ll see what this winter brings.
It is Remembrance Day November 11th. There will be a Ceremony at the Oilfields High School Gym at 10:30 sharp, please be on time so as not to interrupt the Ceremony. Further ceremonies and fellowship will be at the Turner Valley Legion afterwards. Wear your poppy. They represent the supreme sacrifice of our Veterans and is the symbol of Remembrance. The basic purpose of the Poppy Fund is to provide immediate assistance to Veterans and their families in financial need. Also, bursaries are granted to children, grandchildren, and great- grandchildren of Veterans. They can also use the Fund for Care Facilities for the elderly or disabled Veterans, community medical equipment and research, meals on wheels, food, shelter, or medical attention for Veterans, and the list goes on. So please wear your Poppy proudly and donate!
The High Country SPCA will be hosting their annual Christmas Market on Saturday, December 7th at the Flare and Derrick in Turner Valley. The Market runs from 9-4 with arts and crafts from local artisans. Also featured is Melissa’s award winning baking, games, draws and raffles, food for hungry shoppers, and best of all funds raised go towards emergency care for animals in need in our community. For more info, check High Country SPCA out on Facebook.
Oilfields Hospital will be holding their famous Basket Raffle, Bazaar, and Bake Sale again this year. The Baskets to be raffled off are just incredible, very generous baskets from local donors. They will be on display at the front entrance of the Hospital from November 21 at 10am, where you can buy raffle tickets on them. All draws for the Baskets will be held on December 5 at 3pm. All proceeds from this very special event go to enhance the Patient Care Experience at the Hospital.
United Church in the Valley invites you to their annual Christmas Tea and Market on November 30 from 1:30- 3:30. There will be a Silent Auction, baking and books, jewellery and crafts, and a new-to-you table. The delicious tea is only $5 for adults and $2.50 for kids 6-12. The United Church is also home to the Oilfields Food Bank, and the Church does a lot for our community. They are located at 125 Royal Avenue in Turner Valley. The Church also hosts Family Fun Night on the last Tuesday of the month, November 26. This is a free night of fun for kids and their families (kids must have a parent with them) at the Turner Valley School, with physical fitness, games, and fun, from 6-7:30. For more info, the United Church’s number is 403-933-4114.
The Ladies Auxiliary at the Turner Valley Legion will be hosting their annual Shopping Spree at the Legion on November 23 from 10-3. There will be bucket raffles, 50/50 draw, and Christmas raffle. Also of course loads of vendors and crafters, baking, and the kitchen will be open as well. Welcome to the Legion’s new chef, Jason. The Ladies Auxiliary supports the Legion and Veterans, the Food Bank, Boys and Girls Club, Rowan House, the Cancer, MS, and Diabetes Societies, just to name a few, so come out and support them on their biggest fundraiser of the year, the Shopping Spree. For more info, or to book a table, call Judy at 587-830-4827.
St. George’s Church in Turner Valley invites all to attend their annual Christmas Tea and Bake Sale. It will be held on November 2 at the little red and white church just south of the 4 way stop. For info, email Janet at janbal@telus.net or drop by.
The Leighton Art Centre is having their annual Christmas in the Country Sale on Nov. 2-3, and Nov. 9-10. Featuring thousands of pieces of fine art and crafts by local artists, the event is free with complimentary treats. For more info, visit leightoncentre.org. Christmas in the Country runs these two weekends from 10-4. Leighton Centre is a not-for- profit historical organization.
Save the date for the annual Millarville Christmas Market, November 8-11. Indoor and outdoor events, free hay rides, Santa’s workshop, pony rides, photos with Santa, a kids only shopping tent featuring Mrs. Claus and photos with reindeer, and of course a fabulous Christmas Market with all kinds of gift ideas, decorations, food, and more. For more info, millarvilleracetrack.com. The Market runs from 10-5 each day.
Our local Firefighter’s Food Drive will take place November 4 and 5. The 4th will be Turner Valley and the 5th will be Black Diamond. Both town’s departments will have their trucks going, along with volunteers, to go door to door collecting dry goods for the Food Bank. They generally start coming around after supper, and go quite late, so have your Food Bank donation ready and your outdoor light on for them. They accept financial donations as well, so the Food Bank can buy perishables. This is a huge boost to the shelves of the Oilfields Food Bank, so please give generously.
Also volunteers are needed and much appreciated for our annual Diamond Valley Light-Up, which is coming up on December 7th. This is a family friendly fun event held in Downtown Black Diamond, where businesses stay open late, and Santa comes to town with his reindeer, with lots to see and do. More details next issue, but if you can help out for a couple of hours, please give the Town of Black Diamond a call at 403-933-4348 or drop by.
Jacket Racket is back for the season. This is a program run by the United Church in Turner Valley. Please bring your clean, gently used winter clothing to the Church on Tuesdays from 1-3, or come and pick some up, or exchange. Winter clothing includes kids and adults coats and jackets, ski pants, mitts and hats, and boots (no other clothing, please). If you can’t make it to the Church on a Tuesday, there will be drop off boxes at both Town Offices, Koop’s Auto, and ATB. Jacket Racket runs until December 31.
Foothills Philharmonic Society was started in 2014 with a simple vision “to bring beautiful music to the Foothills”. They have expanded into a full orchestra, choral and jazz companies, and have partnered with the Calgary Concert Opera Company as well. November 2 they are hosting a Vocal Jazz concert, a Chorus show on Nov. 11, and a Chamber Chorus “Beginnings” on Nov. 23. For more info and venues, visit foothillsphiloharmonic.com.
The Rocky Mountain Symphony Orchestra is a not for profit society whose members and concerts are generally held in the small towns under the Rockies. Now based in Balzac, they have played in Turner Valley, Okotoks, High River, Bragg Creek, and other towns in the Foothills. They will be presenting Sounds of the Season, a Spruce Meadows Christmas Concert, on Dec. 7 at the Spruce Meadows Riding Hall. The Concert runs from 6-10, for tickets or more information, visit rockymountainsymphony.ca
And our very own Beneath the Arch Concert Series is pleased to present Sultans of String’s Christmas Concert on December 1st at 3pm. Their annual matinee concert features this super energetic and exciting band. Three time Juno nominees Sultans of String will have a guest vocalist, Rebecca Campbell, and will perform seasonal music both familiar and new from cultures around the world. Rush tickets go on sale November 4th. For more info, visit beneaththearch.ca.
If you have any events happening in December that you would like to see in the High Country News, please email me at elaine.w@telus.net. The deadline for the December issue is November 15.
Happy Shopping!
Elaine Wansleeben
