Okotoks Living Winter 2013 by Source Media Group

20 CULTURE & HISTORY

Sports & Recreation

13 It’s a party First phone lines in Okotoks

27 Holding serve Volleyball returns to Okotoks

Entertainment

homes

17 Behind the scenes Town provides backdrop for major movies

31 Taking the high ground Westmount Estates lets you be king, or queen, of your castle

People 20 Hanging by a thread Aerial artist makes home in Okotoks

Business 36 Youth opportunities Local program helps youth overcome barriers to employment

Feature

One man’s dinnerware Young sculptor makes his mark Cover photography by Don Molyneaux

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SOU RCE M E DIA G ROU P: CE LE B RATING ITS 1 0TH YEAR

contents Winter 2013

SUSTAINABILITY 39 10 green tips for Christmas How to enjoy the holidays sustainably

You Said It … 46 How do you keep active in the winter?

ITEMS 8 Editor’s Message 10 Town of Okotoks Message 45 Events

@OkotoksLiving OkotoksLiving

SOU RCE M E DIA G ROU P: CE LE B RATING ITS 1 0TH YEAR

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editor’s note

Smiling in winter How do you keep active over the winter? That’s the You Said It question we asked nine Okotokians this issue. I do highland dance as a hobby, and it’s something I’ve been doing for almost a decade. I am not a competitive dancer, nor will you find me trotting out on stage in front of an audience at The Foothills Highland Games. I dance because I love it. The best part about dancing is launching myself off the ground because, for a second, it

PUBLISHER |

Source Media Group

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jim.zang@sourcemediagroup.ca E D I T O r |

Jessica Patterson

jessica.patterson@sourcemediagroup.ca A r t dire c t or |

feels like I’m flying.

Jim Zang

A sso c ia t e P U B L I S H E R |

Jean Faye Rodriguez

jean.rodriguez@sourcemediagroup.ca

It might be a similar feeling for our profile this issue, Robin Szuch. She runs Spectacle Blue, an aerial acrobatics school in town. Her journey from the stage as a dancer, to the air as an aerial acrobat has been quite the journey, across Canada and beyond. She is strong and independent, and her free spirit has come home to Okotoks, after seeking the limelight most of her career.

g raphi c desi g n ers

Lama Azhari lama.azhari@sourcemediagroup.ca

Dave Macaulay dave.macaulay@sourcemediagroup.ca

Megan Sereda megan.sereda@sourcemediagroup.ca produ c t io n c o - ordi n a t or |

Okotoks has been centre stage over the years, not only for Szuch’s Spectacle Blue students and flying trapeze, but also as the location of several Hollywood films. Our new writer Jenni O’Nyons looks into Okotoks as a filming location on page 17. In putting this edition together, we welcomed three other new writers to our pages, including David Shepard, Anne Gafiuk and Tammy Stehr. The magazine also features stories on creative individuals who like to think in three-dimensions like Kalen Wolfe, who is on our cover, a young

Colleen Leier

colleen.leier@sourcemediagroup.ca A d v er t isi n g S A L E S |

Janice Skelton-White

janice.skelton-white@sourcemediagroup.ca A CC O U NT I NG | Donna

Roberts

accounting@sourcemediagroup.ca EDITORIAL

Alyssa Burnham, Aaliya Essa, Anne Gafiuk, Sheelagh Matthews, Jenni O’Nyons, David Shepherd, Tammy Stehr

scuptor who is making his mark with a blowtorch and ingenuity. The sports enthusiasts in town will cheer on the creation of a new volleyball club,

PHOTOGRAPHY

Aaliya Essa, Don Molyneaux, Jessica Patterson

a tenacious group looking to take up residency at the new field house in the spring. David Shepard looked into the new club on page 27, and what it hopes to achieve in the new year. The issue is rounded out with our You Said It, on page 46, where Okotokians answer the question, “how do you keep active in the winter?” Answers come from former Okotoks Living cover profile, our Okotoks Fire Chief, Ken Thevenot, as well as our brand new Miss Rodeo Okotoks, Mattea Palin. Stay active this winter, Okotoks!

Jessica Patterson, Editor jessica.patterson@sourcemediagroup.ca

To w n o f O k o t o k s L iaiso n

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Media Classified, Town of Okotoks, Okotoks Welcome Wagon, Source Media Group, Wall2Wall P RINTE D IN C A N A D A

Copyright 2013 by Source Media Group Corp. Material cannot be reprinted in whole or in part without the expressed written permission of the publishers. Okotoks Living™ is published four times per annum and is available free through select distribution points in Calgary and Okotoks. Source Media Group agrees to advertise on behalf of the advertiser without responsibility for claims or misinformation made by the advertiser and acts only as an advertising medium. Source Media Group reserves the right to refuse any advertising at its sole discretion. Okotoks Living™ accepts editorial submissions and letters to the editor by electronic mail only. Please forward any submissions, including your full name, phone number and return email address, to okotoks.editor@ sourcemediagroup.ca Co n t a c t :

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SOU RCE M E DIA G ROU P: CE LE B RATING ITS 1 0TH YEAR

letters

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Email us at jessica.patterson@sourcemediagroup.ca or send mail to Letters to the Editor, Jessica Patterson, # 207, 5809 Macleod Trail S.W.,

Just wanted to thank

Calgary, Alberta T2H 0J9. Please include your name and phone number.

you for the article you wrote for the magazine on the Dark

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Sky initiative! It is

Just wanted to compliment you on the latest issue of Okotoks Living.

good for us to keep it in the news to create

This magazine has come a long way since its inception and I look

awareness and share the information because

forward to seeing each issue. The article on our fire chief, Ken, was

many of us believe it is a beautiful attribute to

especially interesting. Someone with his dedication should be

country living (and maybe some time, back in

written about as he truly is an unsung hero in our community.

the urban experience). To have the Dark Skies considered in

J. Robinson

planning will help to keep this a possibility for preserving for the future. We also have

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Thanks for the great @OkotoksWishWalk article in

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viable. Cheers!

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Councillor - Division 4 M.D. of Foothills No. 31

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mayor’s message

Message from Mayor and Town Council

n behalf of Okotoks Town Council and Administration, I extend warm greetings to all residents and hope you and your families have a joyful holiday season. I would like to take this opportunity to formally introduce myself as your Mayor, Bill Robertson.

I look forward to working together with town council members Carrie Fischer, Ken Heemeryck, Matt Rockley, Ed Sands, Tanya Thorn, and Ray Watrin. We are thrilled to be representing the Town of Okotoks and look forward to working with you, our residents. On behalf of Council, I would like to thank our previous Council for a job well done and wish them well in their future endeavours. This season, we encourage residents to shop locally and visit the many shops and boutiques in Olde Towne Okotoks and throughout the shopping districts in Westmount, Cornerstone, Southridge & Northridge Drives, Drake Landing and the Southbank and Okotoks Business Parks. Throughout the holiday season, don’t miss the opportunity to pick up an Olde Towne Christmas Passport — for every $100 spent in Olde Towne Okotoks at participating stores, you’ll be entered to win $1000 in Olde Towne Dollars! We would like to remind residents that need help or want to help during the holiday season that there are several organizations in the Foothills that provide Christmas support: Okotoks Food Bank, Oilfields Food Bank, The Salvation Army,

Councillors Ray Watrin, Tanya Thorn, Matt Rockley, Mayor Bill Robertson, Councillors Carrie Fischer, Ken Heemeryck, Ed Sands.

The Okotoks Healthy Family Resource Centre and Rowan House Emergency Shelter. Decorate the Tree of Warmth with your new scarves, gloves and toques at the Okotoks Art Gallery for local charities and more. Please visit www.okotoks.ca/holidaysupport.aspx for information on these programs and others. The Town also invites our residents to participate in the activities that occur in our community at this time of year. Coming up we have Skate with Santa on December 8 and the Kid’s New Year’s Eve Party at the Recreation Centre on December 31 and Winter Walk Day at the Centennial Arena on February 6. See the Town calendar of events at www.okotoks.ca. As 2013 comes to an end, we begin focusing on 2014, which looks to be another successful year for Okotoks. I look forward to all that is coming up for our community including continuing the annexation process and opening the Foothills Regional Indoor Field House!

Become a fan of Town of Okotoks

I wish all our residents a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

Mayor WM. (Bill) Robertson On behalf of Town Council

history Story by Anne Gafiuk

It’s a party First phone lines in Okotoks It’s hard to imagine a world without telephones, in this age of personal cell phones, texting and instantaneous information at our fingertips. But, back in the early 20th century, to connect and communicate with others via a phone line, was just starting to revolutionize life on the farm. In September 1906, the Bell Telephone Company of Canada brought the phone service to Okotoks as part of a long distance line from Calgary to Lethbridge, according to Kathy Coutts, museum specialist for the Town of Okotoks. Telephone offices were in private homes or businesses, and the first rural lines out of Okotoks appeared in 1910. Early phone lines were party lines, shared by a number of homes and/or businesses. In A Century of Memories, residents often said telephone conversations were more interesting in the days of the party line, because one could listen in on the neighbours’ conversations. In the book, Okotoks resident Barbara Fleming recalled her phone experience. “We had the old wooden telephones and you turned the crank to call the neigh-

The telephone and party line often eased the loneliness and isolation of prairie life. It was often a conference line to organize occasions such as dances.

bours. I remember our ring as two short rings and one long one...you heard several of the neighbours’ rings on the party line. You often know who was calling as you learned to recognize the style of ringing.” The phone of choice was often the Northern Electric Telephone 1317-G. Made of oak, this model had a five bar generator and two batteries, and weighed in at 30 pounds, 11 ounces. When someone wanted to make a call, they would pick up the receiver and crank the handle on the side of the box. The telephone and party line often eased the loneliness and isolation of prairie life. It was a social institution, often a conference line to organize occasions such as dances. With the neighbourhood listening, personal and business affairs could become public. Eavesdropping was a form of entertainment for children as well as for the adults in the community. The guilty party would cover up the goose-necked transmitter mouthpiece, a practice known as rubbernecking. “That is when someone listened into another person’s conversation,” says Bill Wedderburn, 89, formerly of Okotoks. “Maybe a half a dozen families were on our party line. Our ring was two longs and one short.” “Some neighbours would tie up the line for hours and if you really needed it, you’d break in and tell them, ‘I need the phone,’” says Winston Parker. “One woman would talk for hours.

SOU RCE M E DIA G ROU P: CE LE B RATING ITS 1 0TH YEAR

Though large in size, these old phones made a difference in every day life. Photo courtesy Anne Gafiuk.

It was her pastime every morning.” During the Great Depression, Alberta Government Telephones (AGT) turned the operation of rural lines over to farmer-owned mutual companies. Five mutuals formed to connect with the Okotoks exchange, including Big Rock Mutual, Allan Mutual, Big Four Mutual, Davisburg Mutual and Panima Mutual, of which Winston Parker was vice president. In 1918, AGT built an office building which remained in operation until 1963, says Coutts. The party line of yesteryear was an information highway for Okotoks residents. Though the technology has changed and shrunk in size, people still connect. OL

Phone lines in Okotoks. Photo courtesy Okotoks Museum and Archives.

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feature Story by Alyssa Burnham Photos by Don Molyneaux

One man’s dinnerware Young sculptor makes his mark

here have been times when Kalen Wolfe wanted to throw in the towel and call it quits, but a love of the artistic process always draws him back. The 17-year-old Foothills Composite High School grad says he has always been creative. Like a lot of kids, he spent a fair bit of time sketching, doodling and the like, but formal art classes were never for him. “I never like to approach with a plan. I can’t sit there with a plan. I have to have materials in my hands,” Wolfe says. These days, the materials most often found in his hands are kitchen utensils and a welding torch. While it may sound a little unrefined, Wolfe’s work is anything but. Wolfe is carving out a niche in the fine arts community. His technique involves welding common cutlery into uncommon designs, including crocodiles, dragonflies and wolves. He is beginning to sell some of his work and currently has a piece showcased at reWORKS, a Calgary store featuring goods made exclusively from recycled materials. The teen has come a long way since the high school assignments that first ignited his passion for the versatility of three-dimensional art. In Grade 9, he received a paper maché assignment in art class. While his classmates dutifully worked on standard-issue masks and bowls, Wolfe set to work on a four-foot paper maché monster that went above and

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beyond anything his teacher had been expecting. Two years later, Wolfe took a welding class at school and discovered a new way to bring his inventive ideas to life. Shunning the mundane in favor of something more intricate, he began collecting old kitchen utensils, bent them into shape and welded them together in the likeness of a crocodile. It was a long and laborious process, but Wolfe says the sense of satisfaction he received was well worth the effort. Nearly two years after turning in that initial assignment, Wolfe is still hard at work. “The process drives me nuts, but I love it,” Wolfe says. “I get frustrated and want to quit, but I always come back the next day and get going again. It’s too much fun.” Wolfe has welded a total of five crocodiles, each one taking more than 15 hours and approximately 90 different forks, knives and spoons, to complete. He has started experimenting with other figures as well, including a stunning dragonfly whose metal body is offset by wings made of stained glass and a remarkable life-sized wolf for the Town of Vulcan’s centennial celebration. Last year, in an effort to gain more exposure for his work, Wolfe approached the Okotoks Art Gallery to inquire about showcasing student work. Then, he put out a call to students from his own school and from Holy Trinity Academy to participate in workshops led by Jan

“I never like to approach with a plan. I have to have materials in my hands.”

SOU RCE M E DIA G ROU P: CE LE B RATING ITS 1 0TH YEAR

feature Wolfe has welded a total of five crocodiles, each one taking more than 15 hours and approximately 90 different forks, knives and spoons to complete. Below: Wolfe holding one of his crocodile pieces.

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feature

“He has a great work ethic. And he’s got the talent, there’s no doubt about it.” Robinson, education program specialist for the Town’s Cultural and Historical Services, who walked the students through the process of submitting ideas and items for exhibition. “We were already leaning toward giving (the students) a show because we were thrilled that they had put in all of this work, but we said from the beginning that it would have to be done right or we wouldn’t do it,” Robinson explains. The submissions exceeded all expectations, and the exhibit was approved. Wolfe and 13 other students’ work was displayed as part of the extremely well-received “Serendipity” art show that took place earlier this year. From the very first email to the close of the exhibit, Robinson was impressed not only by Wolfe’s talent but by his quiet determination as well. “I really admire his patience as an artist,” Robinson, a former high school art teacher, says. “At a young age, most students usually want instant results from their work, so for him to get involved in such a complex kind of work is incredible. “He has a great work ethic. And he’s got the talent, there’s no doubt about it.” Though he hopes to gradually build a name for himself within the arts community, Wolfe says that art will remain a part-time pursuit for now. He is enrolled to begin Engineering at the University of Calgary this fall. A seemingly-odd major for someone so passionate about his art, Wolfe explains that the engineering program is a chance for him to marry his creative interests with the practical, process-oriented side of his personality. “My plan has always been to go to university. I don’t know for sure if I necessarily want to be an engineer, but it’s something that can lead to other opportunities. For now, it will keep me moving forward.” OL

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Wolfe grinds, welds and shapes cutlery into incredible sculptures.

SOU RCE M E DIA G ROU P: CE LE B RATING ITS 1 0TH YEAR

entertainment Story by Jenni O’Nyons

Behind the scenes

Town provides backdrop for major movies Okotoks was Hollywood North this fall, as the cast, crew and hundreds of local extras shot scenes of an upcoming feature film in town. Okotoks embraced the film industry in September during the filming of sci-fi movie Interstellar, produced by Warner Brothers and Oliver Arrows Films. Interstellar is set four years in the future, and stars A-list actors Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway. The film is expected to hit theatres November 2014. In Okotoks, Interstellar scenes were shot at Tourmaline Field and the Old Town Plaza. Okotokians welcomed the production with open arms, particularly the business community, accord-

ing to Shane Olson, Economic Development Team Leader. Olson says all of the surrounding businesses were surveyed prior to filming and were 100 per cent on board with the project, even providing letters of support, which encouraged the town council to approve filming. The $100 million production benefitted Okotoks economically, Olson says, adding that there was a $3.5 million impact on the town. Okotoks profited from the fact production offices were located in Aldersyde. Spinoff included procurement of lumber, accommodation and food provided through Okotoks vendors.

…surrounding businesses were surveyed prior to filming and were 100 per cent on board with the project.

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entertainment

Okotoks’ Tourmaline Field was perfect for shooting as the production called for a baseball field near Longview, where a large amount of filming took place. “The makeup artists, costume designers and production people were actually staying and renting houses in Okotoks, that’s really good for the economy,” Olson says. The town also directly benefitted from film fees of $5,000. Olson says the fee is being used to improve power in the Old Towne Plaza for future art performances. This wasn’t Okotoks’ first brush with Hollywood as scenes from 1975 comedy-thriller “Silver Streak,” starring Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor were also filmed in town. In 1993, the movie “Medicine River” starring Tom Jackson and Graham Green was filmed on McRae Street. Okotoks Museum specialist Kathy Coutts said James Caan was known to work out in the old Greg’s Gym, while starring in the 2001 film “Viva Las Nowhere,” which was shot just outside of town. Okotoks and surrounding areas are popular filming locations as area offers the rugged elegance of the foothills, breathtaking mountains, wide open prairie and urban areas. Add to that, the town’s proximity to Calgary, and Okotoks provides a wide variety of backgrounds. There is a process to finding the right backdrop, said Lazlo Uhrik, the Canadian location scout. “The location has to encompass the production designer’s vision,” says Uhrik, who was the assistant location manager on Interstellar.

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Okotoks’ Tourmaline Field was perfect for shooting as the production called for a baseball field near Longview, where a large amount of filming took place. Uhrik says the Old Towne Plaza was chosen because it is near the baseball stadium and had the perfect “small town square look” required for a scene in the movie. Olson says the economic development team hope that through the credits of the movie and through good customer service the town will get some repeat business of this nature of the future. “At this point we’re not developing film guidelines because we don’t have a long line up of films who want to shoot here, yet,” said Olson. “But, the easier you can make it for the film industry to shoot the better.” OL

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people Story by Jessica Patterson Photos by Don Molyneaux

“I like that I have the ability to amuse people, for whatever length of time I’m able to amuse them for. I like standing there, with everyone watching me, asking, ‘what is she going to do now?’” 2 0 O koto ks Livi n g W i nte r 20 13

SOU RCE M E DIA G ROU P: CE LE B RATING ITS 1 0TH YEAR

people

Hanging by a thread Aerial artist makes home in Okotoks For Robin Szuch, all the world’s a stage. “I like the idea of entertaining people,” says, Szuch, 41, from her Okotoks studio. “I like that I have the ability to amuse people, for whatever length of time I’m able to amuse them for. I like standing there, with everyone watching me, asking, ‘what is she going to do now?’” Her fascination with the performing arts started when she was five-years-old, at the Jubilee Auditorium in Calgary where she had her first ballet recital. “I was in a little ballet piece, called the teddy bear’s picnic. My mom made the costumes, they were little brown and pink suits with little hoods with ears on them.” That moment, when Szuch went on stage for the first time, hooked the girl for life. She was comfortable on stage, with eyes on her every move. “I knew from that point onwards, the direction of my life,” she says. Ballet classes once a week mushroomed into a fully-fledged dance career. Szuch danced tap, jazz, ballet, modern, performed musical theatre, and went through the competitve stream in elementary, junior high and high school. She jumped into the arts at the University of Calgary, with a major in drama and minor in dance, and a parttime job at a dance studio for two more years. But, by the time Szuch turned 20, halfway into her university career, she realized there was no way she could do everything. “I was involved in dance, and in plays, and university, and that was time-consuming, so it was time to let go of the studio world,” she says. After graduating university, Szuch moved to Montreal, to a bigger city with a bigger dance community for a year where people danced because they loved it and could make a living at it, she says. From there, Szuch moved to Toronto, an even bigger centre, where she got an agent, some theatre and acting gigs, and danced on the side. Szuch had a lot of ideas on where to take her combined dancing and theatre skills, trying to make

SOU RCE M E DIA G ROU P: CE LE B RATING ITS 1 0TH YEAR

it bigger, more three dimensional. It was circus skills, and aerial acrobatics in particular, that turned Szuch on to a new world of movement. “I liked to combine what I learned from theatre with what I’d learned from dance,” she says. “I was really interested in physical theatre.” The summer she moved to Toronto, the Harbourfront Centre, a non-profit organization that provides world-class programming in the arts and culture, offered a circus program, with a flying trapeze, silks and hoops. “I was like, my gosh, that looks like so much fun,” Szuch says. “The following year, for my birthday, I got flying trapeze lessons.” With these new cirque skills, Szuch could fly. It was in Toronto, during her circus training, that Szuch met her future best friend and fellow circus performer, Stacy Clark. Clark had been a gymnast when she was younger, and she and Szuch became fast friends.

Robin Szuch performing in 2004 at Vidspark, Waterloo, Ontario. Courtesy Robin Szuch

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people “There’s an art to being a successful busker. People come to street theatre to be entertained. They don’t come to see high art… If people don’t feel interested enough to stay and talk to you, there’s always another act down the street.”

Stacy Clark, who has been good friends with Szuch for 14 years, says their relationship was part friendship, partner and sibling. “We always had this great, symbiotic relationship as working partners,” Clark says. Three years of training together, coaching at the Toronto School of Circus Arts, and Szuch’s life took another twist. “I said to Stacy, ‘I think we can do a better job of this if we started our own company.’ Starting in 2000, Szuch and Clark took summers off to busk, and over a couple of years, the busking season started to get longer. They took on corporate gigs, and pretty soon, were working full time as performers, with their company, High Strung Aerial Dance. With High Strung, Szuch and Clark did corporate videos, music videos, Christmas parties, and in the summer months, festivals across the country. “It’s a skill,” Szuch explains. “There’s an art to being a successful busker. People come to street theatre to be entertained. They don’t come to see high art. They want to laugh, they want to feel some

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connection with the busker. If people don’t feel interested enough to stay and talk to you, there’s always another act down the street.” Szuch and Clark’s show, called “Impressed,” was a highlyskilled, family friendly show. Over the course of 45-minutes, the two performers would ramp up the intensity of the show with routines that got increasingly difficult. But, they weren’t bringing in as much money as other buskers, who repeatedly got $50 bills in their hat. “By the time we figured it out, four years later, we didn’t need to busk anymore,” Szuch says. By 2004, Szuch and Clark were veterans on the busking scene. “We were living in hotels on the festival circuit and carrying our lives in a suitcase,” Szuch says. “I had more gear than I had personal belongings, then.” At about the same time, a couple of life-altering events happened to Szuch. Her mother passed away from cancer. Szuch was devastated. “For most people when they have something like that happen, they ask, ‘am I really living my life?’ For me, I was already living my life. I was travelling with my best friend, on tour, I was already doing the things I loved. I was already chasing my dreams. “I think those moments, the good, bad or otherwise, reminded me of the path I wanted to be on and the path I belonged on,” she says. “Those moments helped me redefine my trajectory, or served as confirmation that I was doing the right thing.”

SOU RCE M E DIA G ROU P: CE LE B RATING ITS 1 0TH YEAR

people C

G Physically, Szuch and Clark were beginning to wear down. During a festival, the two would do four or five shows a day, for 10 to 14 days. At that point, Szuch felt it would be good to move back to Calgary, to be closer to her family. Szuch’s father, as well as her two brothers, Mike, 48, who owns his own auto upholstry company, and Greg, 44, an engineer, live in Calgary. Her eldest brother, Phil, 49, who works for IKEA in new store development, lives in Philadephia. “We were ready to start moving into different parts of our careers,” Szuch says. “Suddenly, I had no income, and the few gigs Stacy and I were still doing weren’t adding up to much. What was I going to do with my life, if I wasn’t going to perform?” Szuch worked as a receptionist at a vet clinic in Turner Valley for a couple of years, moved up to a larger veterinary hospital in Calgary, and loved the big projects she’d get to work on. “I had a super-great mentor, who taught me all about strategic planning and budget making,” she says. “I took a lot of leadership training. Part of that leadership fed into my desire to coach, as the second part of my career.”

Her enterpreneurial spirit took hold and with silks, hoops and trapezes hanging from the ceiling, an arial acrobatics school called Spectacle Blue was born. SOU RCE M E DIA G ROU P: CE LE B RATING ITS 1 0TH YEAR

In 2009, Szuch started teaching students aerial acrobatics in a space in Black Diamond that she shared with a dog groomer. Soon, she started looking for a bigger space and found a bay in the industrial area in Okotoks, on Fisher Crescent. There, her enterpreneurial spirit took hold and with silks, hoops and trapezes hanging from the ceiling, an aerial acrobatics school called Spectacle Blue was born. At her Spectacle Blue studio in Okotoks, Szuch has found her happy place. She teaches students the art of aerial acrobatics, with a good dash of silliness thrown in for fun. Szuch also has been teaching adult students for the last four years. They learn silks, hoop and trapeze. “My youngest class is three to fiveyears-old,” she says. “They learn tight rope, basic aerial, tumbling and body movements. We have a lot of fun and it’s about being silly.” It was over the last couple of years that Szuch decided it was okay to give up the spotlight. “I never thought I’d get to the place where I didn’t want to be the one on the stage anymore,” she says. “I had been teaching adult students and I had two or three girls who are in their 20s, who are living for dance and cirque. They could take over the performing. I could still choreograph, I could still create, I could run the contracts, sew the costumes and teach.” OL

A Robin 2013 B 1979 Christmas recital. C Robin in costume for a recital, age 9. D Robin, in tap dance shoes for a recital, age 11. E Robin and partner, Stacey Clark. F

Front Rosalie and Chuck. Back (left to right) Greg, Robin, Phil and Mike.

G Robin and Stacy doing a double back straddle on a swinging ladder, 2009. Photos B – F courtesy Robin Szuch.

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| Advertising Feature |

Okotoks Ford Lincoln — Growing to Serve Customers Better

fter almost a year of construction, Okotoks Ford Lincoln is proud to be opening the doors on their amazing new home designed to offer the best in customer service. More than triple the size of the existing facility, the new dealership features a spacious 10-vehicles showroom, an amenityrich waiting area, a community room, and a drive-through service area. “Customers can pull up to our drive-through service area, with highspeed doors that automatically open, meet with a service advisor and talk about what their vehicle needs for servicing,” says Okotoks Ford Lincoln Sales Manager Ken Brown, adding that customers can point out all of their service needs in climate-controlled comfort. Okotoks Ford Lincoln has also increased it’s service area to 20 active service bays from 10. “We’re doubling our service capacity,” Brown says. “The new shop is going to be state-of-the-art, with all of the latest technology.” This dealership will improve the customer experience and is more comfortable for customers as well as staff. New car owners can explore and learn about their new vehicle’s features without facing the elements, in the dealership’s two new delivery pods. Gone will be the days of standing in two-foot snow drifts with your sales person as they try to show you the exciting features of your brand new vehicle. “Our new customer lounge has a fireplace, comfortable chairs, and a 60-inch television mounted on the wall,” Brown says. “There is also a great new coffee bar for customers.” The old dealership building will be given a new life, with renovation and a facelift. It will be home to our new Quick Lane which will offer speedy oil change and lube service. This will also be home to a much expanded detail center which will offer complete automotive detailing services. The current sales area will also be renewed and will become home to the Okotoks Ford Lincoln used vehicle sales department.

“It’s amazing, it’s been a long time coming,” Brown says. “Okotoks’ growth has led our growth, and the time has come for our dealership to reflect that. We won’t forget our humble roots however and will continue offering a real personal approach ensuring our customers get the service they deserve.” New to the dealership is the addition of a community room, Brown says. This space will be available for clubs and organizations to use, free of charge. This fall, Ford celebrates a century of producing cars on the assembly line. From the classic Model T, which customers will see proudly displayed high above the showroom floor, to the latest industry leading vehicles; Okotoks Ford Lincoln will continue to serve Okotoks and the surrounding Foothills for many years to come. n

This dealership will improve the customer experience and is more comfortable for customers as well as staff.

www.okotoksford.com

sports Story by David Shepherd Photos by Don Molyneaux

Holding serve Volleyball returns to Okotoks It’s hard to compete with the bright lights of the big city. Okotoks, Turner Valley, and High River all struggle with watching their premiere talent leave for better opportunities in Calgary. After the Okotoks Volleyball Club shut down, Tony Canevaro had a decision to make: brush the dust off and try again, or abandon the dream of building a volleyball club capable of competing with the big city. Giving up wasn’t an option. “Since I became involved in volleyball out here, I’ve seen the best talent make their way to Calgary because they felt they couldn’t find a quality program locally,” he says. “A group of us started the Peak Volleyball Club to fill that void and grow the sport in the community.” While provincial rules prevent try-outs from starting until the end of the high school volleyball season, the staff at Peak Volleyball are already laying the groundwork for a successful future. The club expects to feature around 110 players between the ages of 13 and 18. According to Canevaro, the key to growing the sport will be the younger players. “Our primary focus is on our younger age groups,” he says. “We feel that if we provide a quality program for younger players, they’ll stick around and grow into our program. The 13-16 age range is where we expect our future players and coaches will come from.”

SOU RCE M E DIA G ROU P: CE LE B RATING ITS 1 0TH YEAR

Tony Canevaro

“We feel that if we provide a quality program for younger players, they’ll stick around and grow into our program.”

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sports

With that strategy, Peak will be following in the footsteps of the two major sports in Okotoks — hockey and football. Both focused on developing younger players and building loyalty, and the results are evident years later, with the Okotoks Oilers being ranked as one of the top 20 teams in the Canadian Junior Hockey League, and the Foothills Falcons being a perennial contender for the provincial championship in football. As both of those programs have relied on public support, so will it be with Peak Volleyball, Canevaro says. “We’re always looking for high-quality volleyball people who are passionate about the game and who can bring their experience to our club. There’s always a need for help.” Just as the Oilers and the Falcons brought in outside help to improve their programs, Peak Volleyball is doing the same. This January, the club is bringing in John Kessel, who will be working with parents and children on volleyball skills. Kessel is an internationally-known volleyball coach whom Canevaro calls “most

Peak Volleyball Club hosts an open gym every Monday and Thursday at Westmount. The cost is $2 to participate. Times: Monday 6:30-8:00 p.m., u13-15 Monday 8:00-9:30 p.m. u16-18 Thursday 7:00-9:00 p.m. u15-16 Girls

» To find out more about Peak Volleyball Club, check out PeakVolleyballClub.com

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“We’re always looking for highquality volleyball people who are passionate about the game and who can bring their experience to our club.” influential” in the volleyball world. And, that’s just the start of what Peak Volleyball hopes to accomplish. “We look at it as having two types of goals,” Canevaro says. “The first goal is measurable, and that is the teams’ performance on the court.” In the next three to five years, Canevaro would like to have two provincial champions in division two on the girl’s side, “and be competing at the upper levels of division one for our boy’s teams,” he says. However, even more important than onthe-court success, is the growth of volleyball itself. “We want to promote the game on a grass-roots level,” Canevaro says. “We’re offering a Peak house league for players who aren’t ready developmentally for our performance stream. Our goal is to keep the players in the game as long as possible — because that’s where future Peak players and coaches will come from.” One of the difficulties in growing volleyball is that players enter the sport late. “It’s not like hockey,” Canevaro says. “Kids put on skates at three or four-years-old and are playing on teams by the time they’re five or six. Volleyball develops really late, a lot of these kids won’t start playing until junior high. Opportunity is one of the most important things you can provide to the community.”

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sports

“We’re offering a Peak house league for players who aren’t ready developmentally for our performance stream.”

Peak Volleyball hopefuls practice at Westmount School in October.

As the volleyball club grows the game in Okotoks and the foothills, they’ll provide several opportunities for the general public to get involved in the sport. “We’ll be hosting open gyms every Monday at Westmount, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. for the 13 - 15 age group,” Canevaro says. “It’s non-coached. It’s an opportunity to come play the game, have fun, and gather experience.” It’s this type of experience that will help determine Peak’s future. Competing with the powerhouse clubs in Calgary won’t be easy, but if the Peak Volleyball Club has its way, it’ll happen sooner than later. OL

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SOU RCE M E DIA G ROU P: CE LE B RATING ITS 1 0TH YEAR

homes Story by Aaliya Essa

Taking

the high

ground Westmount Estates lets you be king, or queen, of your castle

On a clear day, you can see forever. Well, maybe not forever, but it sure seems that way. Lots in Westmount Estates, a community within a community in the southwest corner of Okotoks, are simply the best in town, says Gabriel Chou, director of planning and design, at Prominence Development Corporation. “These lots, especially the ones that back onto the escarpment, are second to none,” Chou says. “They have amazing views overlooking Okotoks and out onto the prairie beyond. There’s nothing comparable anywhere in the Okotoks region. In Westmount Estates, there are mountain views on one side, and views high above the town on the other.” Taking full advantage of the spacious location, Westmount Estates is spread across 15 acres and features a limited supply of estate size lots of 10,000 to 14,500 square-feet. That’s about triple the size of the average residential lot in town with lot prices starting around $250,000.

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homes

“Here, you get a generous sized lot, with all the privacy and elbow room that comes with that,” Chou says. “People usually have to be on an acreage to get this kind of room, and then you get stuck with all the maintenance that goes with that. At Westmount Estates, just down the street is basically every amenity you may need. There’s a brand new school literally just down the hill.” Having a large selection of amenities is just another one of the many bonuses that comes with buying in Westmount Estates. In Westmount, there is a growing commercial area, with shops and grocery stores, a school and urgent care centre nearby.

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In addition to the large lot sizes, Westmount Estates has five full acres of open green space on the escarpment — guaranteeing adjacent residents an unobstructed view forever. This is a great feature that is uncommon now-a-days. Knowing that the gorgeous view will always be the same as the years pass, is what makes coming home to Westmount Estates a dream come true. “There will also be a one-acre park in Westmount Estates, with a small gathering gazebo,” Chou says, adding that some lots will also back or side on to the open space. This great outdoor space allows familes to spend quality time with each other, build snowmen in the winter, or have a family picnic in the summer. The space is yours to play in. Westmount Estates homes will be custombuilt, estate-style homes. “It’s not your normal house,” Chou says. “It’s for somebody with their sights set on a dream home, customized to their tastes and desires.” Chou believes homes in Westmount Estates will appeal to multi-generational families as well. Many of the lots have walkouts or walkout splits, he says. “If you’re a multi-generational family with

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homes

grandparents or in-laws you could really design a house to meet your family’s needs,” he says. “This is an emerging trend in house design and makes a lot of sense.” Multi-generational homes, he says, work best when there’s enough space to have some rooms that are shared, and some rooms that are private. With the ease of designing dual master suite homes onto the large lots, it’s actually possible to live in the same home and still have some separation and privacy. Which is ideal for all members in the family, allowing the kids to have their space, and yet still have enough room for the entire family to hangout and spend time together as a whole. The builder, Cornerstone Homes, builds a great product, says Chou. “We’re really excited that they’re our first show home builder,” he says. “We might add another builder or two as time goes on.”

With the ease of designing dual master suite homes onto the large lots, it’s actually possible [for multi-generational families] to live in the same home and still have some separation and privacy.

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homes

At Cornerstone, custom means custom, and home owners are involved every step of the way, from floor plan design to interior and exterior finishings. Cornerstone Homes is, of course, no stranger to those familiar with the Okotoks and High River area, with a well-deserved reputation for attention to detail. At Cornerstone, custom means custom, and home owners are involved every step of the way, from floor plan design to interior and exterior finishings. Homes will range in size from 1,800-square-foot bungalows to 2,400-square-foot two-storey models, all with triple attached garage, says Justin Dallaire, president of Cornerstone Homes. Pricing starts in the mid $700,000s including lot and GST. The show home will be under construction soon, but would-be kings and queens who would like to see a completed show home can visit 116 Green Haven Court. Westmount Estates is a community that is set apart from others, with exceptional homes to exceptional views. Homeowners are guaranteed that what they see is what they get, which is a dream home come true. OL

» For more information, visit www.westmountokotoks.ca,

www.prominencedevelopment.com, or www.cornerstonehomes.biz

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business

Story by Alyssa Burnham Photo by Don Molyneaux

Local program helps youth overcome barriers to employment

Youth opportunities Alberta’s booming economy brings many benefits, but has also created a challenging labour shortage felt by many local businesses. Yet, at the same time, many youth and young adults are finding it as difficult as ever to break into the labour market. At McBride Career Group, a national pilot program called Youth Links is working to bridge this gap by pairing youth in need of experience with businesses in need of good employees. Youth Links is funded by the Government of Canada as part of their Youth Employment Strategy. Open to youth (defined by the government as between 15 and 30-years-old), Youth Links provides job search assistance, ongoing job coaching and a $500 bonus to participating youth at the completion of their 12-week work placement. For employers, Youth Links provides a cost-free recruiting service, support for new employees and a reimbursement of $9.75/hour for the duration of the youth’s 12-week placement.

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“It’s a win-win situation,” says McBride Job Coach Renee Story, explaining that the response to the program has been strong. September, the program’s busiest month to date, saw more than 30 job placements in industries ranging from accounting to construction to food and retail services. “That’s a huge testament to the need and demand there is for labourers, as well as the need for that (job coach) support piece,” Story says. “I actually have far more opportunities with employers than I have youth. I am in need of youth.” That fact comes as no surprise to Karla Fitzgerald, owner of the Okotoks Pizza Hut. She says her colleagues with restaurants in other parts of the country can hardly believe that it’s employees, not customers, who are hardest to find. “We have lots of resumés come in, but not always the quality we’re looking for,” she says. When Fitzgerald heard about the Youth Links program, she jumped at the chance to add to her restaurant’s staff. Through Youth Links, Fitzgerald hired Nathon Tibble, going out on a limb to hire an 18-year-old with little to no work experience on his resumé

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business

Job coach Renee Story with Karla Fitzgerald and Nathon Tibble of Pizza Hut.

because she knew he would be receiving extra support from the McBride Career Group, and that the restaurant would receive the $9.75 subsidy. “(Youth Links) is an opportunity to take away some of the risk in hiring a new person,” she says. “At the end of 12 weeks, that investment of our time, we got it back 10-fold.” As for Tibble, he has nothing but good things to say about Youth Links, summing up his experience with just one word — “Fantastic!” “I didn’t really know how to do a proper resumé or approach an employer,

so Youth Links seemed like a good opportunity to get the support I needed,” he explains. “They helped with the most difficult parts and all the stuff that might scare you about looking for a job.” Tibble plans to stay on as a regular employee at the end of his 12-week placement. There are only a few more months left for youth and employers to take advantage of the incentives offered by the Youth Links program as funding is scheduled to expire at the end of March 2014. Interested applicants and prospective employers can contact McBride Career Group. OL

September, the program’s busiest month to date, saw more than 30 job placements in industries ranging from accounting to construction to food and retail services. SOU RCE M E DIA G ROU P: CE LE B RATING ITS 1 0TH YEAR

Youth Links Eligibility To qualify for Youth Links, youth must be: • between the ages of 15 and 30 years; • out of school and not planning to return to school; • willing to work a minimum of 30 hrs/week; • unemployed; • cannot have accessed Employment Insurance in past three years, or, if medical, five years.

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SOU RCE M E DIA G ROU P: CE LE B RATING ITS 1 0TH YEAR

sustainability

Dreaming of a green Christmas

10 tips on how to celebrate the season sustainably

Shop Locally

Shopping locally can be one of the greenest ways to celebrate the holidays, and definitely one of the friendliest. Supporting local businesses helps out the economy, contributing to the overall sustainability of the community. It also saves shipping/postage fees, uses less wrapping and packing materials, and greenhouse gas emisions as there are fewer fossil fuels used in the whole process.

Recycle

Recycle your boxes, bows and wrapping to keep it out of the landfill. Save it for next year, or take it to a proper recycling station. Even items like old computers, phones and TVs can be recycled.

Buy Wisely

Look to purchase items with minimal packaging. Or try gift experiences rather than items. Who wouldn’t like a spa package instead of new socks or slippers? Tickets to a concert, movie, sporting event or theatre performance come without any waste and can be personalized to the gift recipient’s tastes. Who knows, a lottery ticket could just end up being the best present you ever bought someone.

Reduce Clutter

Follow the four Rs: rethink, or think twice about your buying habits; refuse or say ‘no’ to waste; reduce the number of items you buy; and reuse, some of the best gifts are personally crafted using repurposed materials already in your home. Maybe email cards instead of sending them out, saving paper and postage.

Be a creative wrapper

Fabric gift bags are great as they can be used for years to come. Reusable gift boxes and bags are good too. Old newspapers and magazines also make for a unique and often entertaining gift wrap. Or, be the other kind of creative rapper, and send someone the audio file of the song you wrote especially for them.

Make a donation

Instead of buying a gift for the person who already has everything, make a donation to their favourite charity on their behalf. Get involved with putting together food hampers, adopt a needy family, or volunteer at a non-profit organization.

SOU RCE M E DIA G ROU P: CE LE B RATING ITS 1 0TH YEAR

Do a good deed

Shovel someone’s sidewalk, bake them a cake, or offer to drive them to church or another Christmas program. Or maybe even invite them to dinner, small gestures can make a big difference.

Re-gift

Once thought to be tacky, re-gifting is now downright acceptable as long as the item is new and not one-of-a-kind. And you’re not accidently re-gifting it to the person who gave it to you. A perfect way to get rid of that tie you’ve never worn or accumulated unwanted (but tasteful) office Christmas party gifts.

Use LED lights

LED lights on both your home and tree pose less fire hazard and use less energy. Remember not to turn them on until after the supper energy rush hour and turn them off again when you go to bed. Make sure plug-ins and extension cords are safe.

Give the best gift of all

You. Send a photo. Pick up the phone. Skype. Take the time to visit family and friends. Because that’s what it’s really all about. OL

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| Advertising Feature |

Service with a smile Carstar service aims to exceed customer expectations

eeping up with new technology in an industry that is constantly changing is a pledge Mark Kharfan at Carstar in Okotoks makes to his customers. “We offer service at the highest level, and exceed the customers’ expectations,” Mark says. “We aim to make it easier for our customers, and comforting, when they are in a situation no one wants to be in.” In 2001, Mark drove into Okotoks and it was love at first sight. It was here, that he would raise his family. Mark, his wife Shannon, and three daughters recently welcomed the latest family addition, his newborn son. Community is priority for Mark, and he wants to teach his children that giving to the community helps everyone. He is a proud Okotoks Rotarian, chairman for the soap box derby and a member of the Okotoks and District Chamber of Commerce. Carstar strives to get families back into their vehicles and safely on the road again. New car technology makes repairing vehicles challenging, but keeping up with that technology allows Carstar employees to hold their head high because they have the proper training and tools to repair these vehicles back to OEM standards. Staff members at Carstar in Okotoks have a strong commitment to learning new technology and their technician courses are always up to date.

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“We are there for our customers to help them out, any time they need us,” Mark says. “We have loyal customers,” Mark says. Customers keep coming back because they know that Carstar has respectable relationships with insurance companies coupled with technicians with extensive, current training. Carstar customers can also rest assured that their insurance companies have partnered themselves with Carstar, for a successful and seamless repair process, and backed by Carstar’s Nationwide Lifetime Warranty. n

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| Advertising Feature |

Find what you’re looking for at

Okotoks Motion Fitness

hatever your health and fitness goals, Okotoks Motion Fitness can help you reach them. With a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, seasoned athletes and exercise rookies alike will find everything they need to become their healthiest self. “We know that coming to a new gym can be intimidating for some people, and we want to do everything we can to get rid of that idea,” says manager and trainer Robin Willems. “Our gym is a welcoming place with a real community feel.” The immaculate 21,000-square-foot facility opened in 2011 and is well equipped with an impressive selection of strength and cardio machines, as well as a women’s only section. The cardio equipment — all of which are conveniently outfitted with TV screens, iPod docks and USB ports — includes rowers, ellipticals, treadmills, stair climbers and two Jacob’s Ladders, which provide a unique low-impact workout for the entire body.

Flexible hours and customized workouts help members get the shape, strength and endurance results they want.

For those who crave a new challenge or the motivation of a group setting, Motion Fitness offers a wide range of classes offered seven days a week, including Hot Yoga, Zumba, Spinning, Tabata, Total Body Conditioning and even a free Seniors workout every Thursday at 2 p.m. Motion Fitness’ certified personal trainers are another great way for members to kick start their fitness journey or challenge themselves to reach new levels. Flexible hours and customized workouts help members get the shape, strength and endurance results they want. There really is something for everyone at Motion Fitness! And though the range of exercise options are guaranteed to make members break a sweat, there are also plenty of little luxuries to ensure they are rewarded for their hard work. Motion Fitness members enjoy complimentary towel service and bottled water, access to the steam room, tanning, childcare and an on-site juice bar. Every detail has been thought of, so members get the most out of their time at Motion Fitness. The feedback speaks for itself: “My trainer pushes me to my limit. The different classes offered are fantastic, and the childcare is great value; my kids love coming to the gym,” says Andrea Flebbe. “The gym is spotless and run professionally,” says Jason Ortt. “The location is great, and the staff are friendly.” Membership options are flexible and include annual, monthly and drop-in rates. Free orientations with a trainer are also available for first-time visitors who want to experience the gym before making a commitment. To find out more or get started on your fitness journey, visit Motion Fitness online at www.motionfitnessokotoks.ca or in person at 40 Riverside Way. n

| Advertising Feature |

Okotoks GM Dealership offers best in service, parts and community spirit

t Okotoks GM, not only are they celebrating a one-year anniversary with new owner Kaizen Automotive Group, but they’re also celebrating being part of the Okotoks community. “Okotoks is a different community than some of the other communities in southern Alberta, in the sense that people do things on a handshake,” says Dan Katz, general sales manager at Okotoks GM. “We find that we develop relationships better when we get into the events where our neighbours are.” The dealership located at 101 Northgate Drive, has a presence in the community, as they sponsor the Okotoks Oilers, the Okotoks Dawgs, the Okotoks Pro Rodeo and the Millarville rodeo each year. Members of Okotoks GM staff are also involved in numerous community events throughout the year, including the annual Spirit of Okotoks parade, the chilli cook off and country fair. “We like being part of the community, and are very proud of our neighbourhood,” Katz says. “We love being out here.” At Okotoks GM, not only can you pick up a new pickup, you can also drop your vehicle for service and not have to wait around, with an exclusive Okotoks GM service. “We have a service called drop and go,” Katz explains. “Customers can come in the morning to drop their vehicles off for service and take one of our fleet of vehicles and drive into the city for work. It’s more than just a courtesy car. We have 15 or 20 on fleet.”

And if your vehicle does require maintenance, know that it’s in good hands at Okotoks GM. The dealership has 19 service bays, talented and professional staff, and the largest parts inventory in the province. “For appointments, we can get you in the next day, Katz says. “Our group of dealerships has more parts available than the anywhere in Alberta, which translates to good customer service because our customers don’t have to wait.” Check out Okotoks GM’s new 2014 GMC Sierra, which offers one of the quietest rides in a pickup. The new model has a powerful EcoTec3 5.3l engine gives you more fuel economy and performance than any other V8, giving you 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque when you need it. “They’ve made the truck larger, quieter, more powerful and with more fuel economy,” Katz says. “The list of standard features seems endless, including steering wheel controls, voice and touch-screen navigation, an aerodynamic build that reduces wind noise and StabiliTrak, an electronic stability control system.” The new vehicle also offers a tow/haul mode with a trailer brake controller, and an all-terrain package with off-road suspension, hill descent control, off road-jounce bumpers and an underbody shield protector. The heavy duty models can carry up to 907 kg (a tonne) and haul up to 5,216 kg (11,500 LBS) For all of your automotive needs, drive no further than Okotoks Chevrolet Buick GMC. n

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| Advertising Feature |

Okotoks Orthodontics

kotoks Orthodontics puts the individual first by taking time with patients to find out what people want to see happen and helping them make it happen. “Everything we do we want to be about people,” says Dr. Darin Ward. The unique thing about them is their philosophy. “We provide preventative options for growing individuals that take a little bit more time but that help people maximize wellness, growth and development rather than reactively playing catch up by pulling teeth and breaking the jaw,” says Ward. Genetics and environment are the two deciding factors and only environment or Restoral posture can be changed. “Being aware is important, and we want to educate people!” Ward says adding, “so, what I am developing here is a wellness program with a dietary and a postural component to prevent problems before they occur.” This program will be for everyone from expecting mothers to families with children of all ages (from two-72), will be held weekly and the annual fee will be applied toward cost of orthodontic treatment if needed during or after following the program. “Ortho-

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dontists not having a postural and wellness program to me would be like a general dentist having a hygiene program and not teaching people how to brush and floss,” Ward says. Along with helping maximize individuals growth and development and creating Dr. Darin Ward lifetime smiles, Okotoks Orthodontics is focused on being part of and getting involved in Okotoks community events like the chili cook off, riding motorcycles cross-dressed like the tooth fairy in the Okotoks parade, or sponsoring the Okotoks Oilers hockey team. Ward and his wife Tammy, who has done all the artwork in their office, have a son Rogan who is three and they are expecting their second child Dec 28. They like the feeling of being part of a small community. n

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what’s happening december 1-21

5-7

Spirit of Christmas market at the Okotoks Art Gallery, featuring holiday ornaments, cards, jewellery and artwork by local artisans. www.okotoks.ca Merry Film-mas festival, a series of classic films including Miracle on 34th Street, and White Christmas, at the Rotary Performing Arts Centre. Tickets: $2 at the door.

Drop in to the Okotoks Library for Stories with Santa, from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. For all ages. Free. www.okotokslibrary.ca

Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra Ensemble plays music from the world’s greatest composers, at 7 p.m. at The Rotary Performing Arts Centre. Tickets $15.

11-12

“Rise Above It!,” a North of Broadway musical tribute to local flood victims and volunteers, 7:30 p.m. at the Foothills Centennial Centre. Tickets at 403-470-6595 or tickets@northofbroadway.com

The Okotoks Library hosts Candy Making for Kids from 1:30 – 2:30 p.m., a workshop for ages 6 – 12 to create sweet goodies including candy cane sleds and Rudolph the Reindeer pops.

Altius Brass,an 18-member ensemble presents “Holiday Brass,” an impressive night of holiday music, at 7 p.m. at the Rotary Performing Arts Centre. Tickets $20.

Children’s New Year’s Eve Celebration at the Okotoks Rec Centre. Kid’s games and activities, children performers. Noon till 4 p.m. Fireworks at 7 p.m.

SOU RCE M E DIA G ROU P: CE LE B RATING ITS 1 0TH YEAR

events For information on Town of Okotoks events contact: Mark Doherty, Community Events Co-ordinator 403-938-8950 or mdoherty@okotoks.ca or visit www.okotoks.ca

january 12

Old-fashioned Outdoor Skating Party at the Kinsmen outdoor rink at the Okotoks Recreation Centre. Lace up those skates for an afternoon of fun, hot chocolate, treats and a fire pit, from 1 to 3 p.m. www.okotoks.ca

BAM! Percussion at the Rotary Performing Arts Centre featuring side-splitting comedy and powerful rhythmic drumming. The event starts at 8 p.m. Tickets: $25 at the door.

february 5

Brave the cold and snow on Winter Walk Day in Okotoks. Residents are encouraged to get active and take some time to walk throughout the day.

Calgary Philharmonic in Okotoks at the Rotary Performing Arts Centre. A special Family Day musical petting zoo and concert with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra Ensemble. The fun starts before the show with a musical petting zoo, where kids get to try out real instruments.

Family Day at the Okotoks Recreation Centre featuring lots of fun activities for all ages. www.okotoks.ca

Ellen Doty in concert @ RPAC, organized by Okotoks Culture at 8 p.m.

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you said it…

By Jessica Patterson

“

I like walking in the winter. I like bundling up and taking our neighbour’s dog out for walks in the snow.

This winter I will be working with my horses, cross country sking and working out in my gym. Ray Watrin, Town councillor

Dalen Kelly, resident

How do you keep active in the winter?

“

When my job doesn’t keep me running, I try to get to the gym for an hour every day to unwind. Brenden Anderson, Okotoks Oilers

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I go to a lot of winter events. I also still ride over the winter months and there is a winter series jackpot I go to.

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Mattea Palin, Miss Rodeo Okotoks 2013

I play hockey.

Myra M., 8, resident

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I play hockey on Friday nights. Ken Thevenot, Okotoks Fire Chief

I play hockey, and I ski. I also have gym class at school, where you just run around and have fun. Kirby P., 12, resident

Hockey, hockey, hockey.

Kim Hammond, resident

I play hockey and snowboard.

Peyton K., 12, resident

SOU RCE M E DIA G ROU P: CE LE B RATING ITS 1 0TH YEAR

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SOU RCE M E DIA G ROU P: CE LE B RATING ITS 1 0TH YEAR