Okotoks Living - Winter 2016 by Source Media Group

contents WINTER 2016 | VOLUME 7 ISSUE 31

26 23

culture | history

business

Yesterday and today Rotary Performing Arts Centre the perfect place for a white wedding

Best of the best Local businesses shine at annual Chamber Awards

15 people

A Moth to the Flame For Debbie Sands, writing a book was a cathartic, healing journey COVER PHOTO BY LANA ARMITAGE

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entertainment

Music to the ears Foothills Children’s Choir makes singing cool for kids

community

a day in the life

Duffers’ delight Chamber golf tournament a big hit

Playing with fire Glass blower has passion for art, life

food

you said it…

Gingerbread cookies ‘Tis the season for baking for Kelly Hodgins

What’s your favourite Christmas movie?

26 homes

Affirmative action New home starts up, relatively speaking

items

08 Editor’s Message 10 Town of Okotoks Message 11 Around Town 31 Events 36 Map

38 @OkotoksLiving

OkotoksLiving

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editor’s note

PUBLISHER |

Source Media Group

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It’s all about the team

A S S O C I AT E P U B L I S H E R / E D I T O R |

Jim Zang

jim.zang@sourcemediagroup.ca

AFTER A WELL-DESERVED vacation in Palm Desert, on a trip where WestJet president and CEO Gregg Saretsky personally served guests coffee, soft drinks and snacks on the flight down, it got me thinking about the importance of being humble. About giving credit where credit is due and pitching in whenever and wherever help is needed.

ART DIRECTOR |

Jean Faye Rodriguez

jean.rodriguez@sourcemediagroup.ca GR APHIC DESIGNER |

GR APHIC DESIGNER |

So I want to take this opportunity to thank some of the people behind the scenes who help bring you Okotoks Living. We’ve got a really great team here. Not

Dave Macaulay

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Vivian Zhang

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Colleen Leier

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just here at Source Media Group, where our design team of Peachy, Dave and Vivian make all of our

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Andrea Glowatsky

publications look great. Andrea, who sells the ads,

andrea.glowatsky@sourcemediagroup.ca

and Colleen who does our production co-ordination;

A C C O U N T I N G | Norma

but the local freelance writers and photographers as well. Our photographers, Lana Armitage, who shoots

EDITORIAL

Lana Armitage, Amanda Brown, Alyssa Burnham, Suzanne Hale, David Shepherd, Erika Taylor

many of our front covers, Andrea Kirk, and Don ‘Mr. Everything’ Molyneaux, are all super to work with. For folks like Amanda Brown and Suzanne Hale,

PHOTOGRAPHY

Okotoks residents and freelance writers with lots of

Kim Amsing, Lana Armitage, Andrea Kirk, Don Molyneaux, Isabel Rodriguez

ideas, and Alyssa Burnham, who’s been a huge help to yours truly for being able to take on some of our major

TOWN OF OKOTOKS LIAISON

cover articles, thanks for all your support.

Andrea Charlebois, Communications Specialist

Some other local business people who received

DISTRIBUTED BY

recognition recently are the winners of the Okotoks & District Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards. Read all about it on page 20. Other hot topics this edition (pun intended) are our profile of glass blower David Blankenstyn and a delicious home recipe for gingerbread cookies from Kelly Hodgins of COBS Bread. At this time of year, it’s always nice to gather with family and we sometimes take that for granted. Someone who doesn’t is Debbie Sands who, along with husband Ed and the rest of her family, shared their

Another great team is the Okotoks Oilers, and we’re proud to have been the official game night sponsor for their October 8 game against the Brooks Bandits. Intermission featured a game of bubble soccer, and our Okotoks Living gal about town, Andrea Glowatsky, took lots of photos with Neven Wilson and family winning free tickets to an upcoming Oilers game.

heart-wrenching story with Alyssa Burnham. We’ve got a few fun holiday items this time around too — like the Foothills Childrens Choir, my daughter’s RPAC wedding, and the always interesting answers to our You Said It question: What’s your favourite Christmas movie or TV show? Well, what’s yours? Until next time have a Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year.

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Robertson

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Media Classified, Town of Okotoks, Okotoks Welcome Wagon, Source Media Group, Yellow Pages Group P R I N T E D I N C A N A DA

© 2016 Source Media Group Corp. Material cannot be reprinted in whole or in part without written permission from 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 C O N TA C T :

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mayor’s message

Message from Mayor and Town Council

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

n behalf of Okotoks Council and Administration, I extend warm greetings to all residents and hope you and your families have a joyful Christmas season. This holiday season, we encourage residents to shop locally and visit the many shops and boutiques in downtown Okotoks and throughout our many other shopping districts. Don’t forget to visit the Spirit of Christmas Artisan Gift Market at the Art Gallery for unique gift options! Remember you can shop to win a shopping spree at participating downtown businesses. For more information visit www.thingstodoinokotoks.ca. We would like to remind residents who would like to help those less fortunate during the holiday season of the several organizations providing Christmas support: Okotoks Food Bank, decorate the Tree of Warmth with your new scarves, gloves and toques at the Okotoks Art Gallery for local charities, Salvation Army Foothills Community Ministries, Okotoks Family Resource Centre and more. Please visit www.okotoks.ca/support for information on these programs and others. We want to ensure that EVERYONE has a wonderful holiday season! The Town also invites residents to participate in the activities that occur in our community at this time of year. Skate with Santa on December 11, take part in the Kid’s New Year’s Eve Party at the Recreation Centre on December 31 or join us for the Outdoor Family Skating Party on January 8. See the Town calendar of events at www.okotoks.ca/ events for all event details. You can also check out some exciting Okotoks Bisons and Oilers hockey action! We look forward to many new clients as New Year’s resolutions guide our residents to visit the Okotoks Recreation Centre, Pason Centennial Arena or the Crescent Point Regional Field House for some indoor exercise. As 2016 comes to an end, we begin focusing on 2017, which looks like it will be another successful year. I look forward to all that is coming up for Okotoks including the conclusion of the annexation process and the Pason Centennial Arena expansion project. On behalf of Okotoks Council, I wish all our residents a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

Become a fan of Town of Okotoks Follow us on twitter: www.twitter.com/ town_of_okotoks

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

around town with Jim Zang Send your Around Town news to okotoks.editor@sourcemediagroup.ca

Alex Tagliani talks allergies

he students at St. Mary’s School learned how fast life can change — courtesy of a visit from NASCAR/Indy driver Alex Tagliani. Tagliani, who has severe nut allergies, stopped by to promote the Allergy Friendly Food Drive Challenge. He shared his own experiences as an adult with severe allergies, and explained to the students that for him, eating out at a restaurant can be just as dangerous as racing around a track. “It was a fabulous visit,” said St. Mary’s Principal Brandon Bailey. “He is a great speaker, and he was able to keep the kids very engaged by throwing Alex Tagliani out a few cool stories.” One story in particular left an impression. Tagliani was eating at a restaurant after a race, and though he confirmed with his waitress several times that there were no nut products in his meal, he still had a severe reaction. “It turned out the cheesecake he had for dessert was glazed with an almond butter — a layer so thin you couldn’t even see it,” said Bailey. “He used this experience to teach the kids how important it was to have an awareness of the food we we eat, and of what sensitivities other people might have.”

Tanya Thorn Director of Towns South

kotoks Councillor Tanya “I am thrilled to be the new Thorn has won her bid to AUMA Director of Towns South and become the Director of Towns as such will represent the collective South for the Alberta Urban needs of all municipalities in the Municipalities Association area I represent as well as continue (AUMA). For the next two to be deeply dedicated to Okotoks years, Councillor Thorn will be issues,” said Councillor Thorn. Tanya Thorn responsible for representing By becoming the Director of the communities of southern Towns South, Thorn has given Alberta. The AUMA helps municipalities Okotoks a seat at the table, says Mayor meet their needs by developing Bill Robertson. “We are very proud that partnerships with both the provincial one of our Councillors was elected for this and federal government, along with other significant position, and look forward to stakeholders. Okotoks having a stronger voice.”

All aboard for Champion Park

he Municipal District of Foothills and the Town of Okotoks have worked together to acquire Champion Park. The park features a lake, a restored CPR railway station from Champion, Alberta, outbuildings, a 1960s era locomotive, a 1948 mail-express car, and a 1929 Executive car (“The Saskatchewan”), as well as other period railway artifacts. The park is located on approximately 52 acres of land on the east side of Highway 2 at the junction of 64 St. East and Township Road 210. Champion Park was built by Gerald L. Knowlton as a homage to the CPR and a tribute to his mother and his father, who served as a CPR station agent in Standard, Alberta, for 42 years. Official transfer of the land from the Knowlton Family to the MD of Foothills and the Town of Okotoks will take place before the end of the year. To maintain the park, the Town of Okotoks and the MD of Foothills have announced the formation of the Friends of Champion Park Society (the “Society”). In addition to maintenance, this nonprofit organization will be dedicated to the operation of Champion Park.

Parson Arena ground breaking

f your kids play hockey, you’re about to find yourself with some extra ice time, as construction has begun on the Parson Centennial Arena expansion. A ground-breaking ceremony was held on October 12th, and the project is scheduled for completion by January 2018. The expansion includes one NHL-sized ice surface, a leisure ice surface that can accommodate 100 people, five dressing rooms, and three multi-purpose rooms. If you can’t get enough Don Cherry in your life, the expansion will also be using the winning funds received from the Kraft Hockeyville contest to create a Hockeyville Corner. Scott Builders Inc. will be responsible for the design and building of the Parson Centennial Arena twinning project.

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around town

Kids Upfront

ave a pair of Flames tickets you don’t know what to do with? Then you should check out Kids Up Front, a Calgarybased charity dedicated to redistributing event tickets to kids struggling with both economic and social barriers. Essentially, the tickets you donate will go to a child who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to

attend an event. Sport events, performances, concerts — any family friendly tickets you have, you can donate. Steve LePan, the Marketing Director of United Communities, developer of many Okotoks communities, explains. “Put simply? We get deserving kids a seat in the crowd, a special evening with their mom or dad, relief from their daily stress, and hopefully, a memory they’ll never forget.” Kids Up Front started as an idea back in 2000, when local businessman John Dalziel tried to figure out how to put unused Saddledome tickets to use. Since then, the charity has expanded, and in 2016 alone, Kids Up Front distributed over 28,500 tickets to deserving kids and youth. On February 6th, 2017, Kids Up Front will be hosting the fifth annual All in for Kids charity poker tournament at the Cowboys Casino. One of the charity’s signature events, the annual poker tournament has raised over $350,000 since its inception. “All in for Kids is a fantastic opportunity to host a table of clients or company friends,” says LePan. “We’ll have celebrity guests, great food, a silent auction, and $10,000 in cash and prizes.” If you’re interested in helping out, you can donate tickets, money, or your time to Kids Up Front through their website (www.kidsupfrontcalgary.com/donate). “We truly appreciate every dollar, every ticket, and every hour given to the organization.”

DeWinton School Playground

he St. Francis of Assisi Academy is hoping to have a new playground built in the summer of 2017. The playground comes with a hefty $450,000 price tag, partially due to the desire to make it wheelchair accessible. Jenn Zaffino, Vice Chair of the St. Francis of Assisi Academy School Council, explains. “Because we are rural, the playground has to be wheelchair accessible — and that means we have to use rubber matting instead of gravel. That cost alone is about $200,000.” The school council plans to raise the money through a host of community events.

In February they will be hosting a wine and cheese night. They are also aiming to get access to two government grants — one for $50,000 for help making the park wheelchair accessible, and a separate matching grant in December. “Our goal is to get $125,000 by December,” says Zaffino. “We’re on the mark for that, then we can get the matching government grant.” The school plans to incorporate the whole community in the fund-

raising effort, says Zaffino. “We’re always looking for any help we can get, whether it’s fundraising or volunteers.” The group will be advertising through the radio throughout the next few months, so keep your ears open! If you would like to get involved in the fundraising effort, you can contact Jenn Zaffino at 403-998-3749. Alternatively, you can donate directly to the playground by going to www.stfrancisacademy.ca and clicking Donate.

Sheep River Health Trust

he Sheep River Health Trust is bringing back the popular Avenue of Trees and Photos With Santa for another year. The fully decorated Christmas trees will be on display throughout the Okotoks Recreation Centre until December 10th. If you fall in love with a tree, you can place a bid at the silent auction for the chance to take it home. On December 10th at 1 p.m. at the Mistletoe Market, 10 trees will be part of a live auction. While you’re looking at trees, why not grab a picture with Old Saint Nick? For $50 you can book a time for your family to get pictures with Santa Claus at the Okotoks Recreation Centre. You’ll receive a USB drive with 20 – 30 photos, a pre-booked time to avoid line ups, and everyone gets a candy cane after! Proceeds for both events go to support health and wellness initiatives throughout the community.

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Okotoks Dawgs, We Believe Tree

Scotiabank Okotoks, Very berry Christmas

around town

On-It

Tourism Video

n-It commuter buses started running October 11 with two buses each in High River, Black Diamond And Turner Vallery, and a total of four in Okotoks. For complete rates and schedules visit the website at onitregionaltransit.ca.

f you happened to watch the Grand Slam of curling on TV, then you may have seen the new Okotoks tourism commercial. The video shows off all the great #thingstodoinokotoks and what makes this such a great place to live, work and play! The video had more than 15,000 views on the Town’s Facebook channel over six days in late October. If you haven’t seen it, check it out for yourself at YouTube: www.youtu.be/9pdpMajT2z4 Facebook: www.facebook.com/townofokotoks/ videos/1307123432655947/ Twitter: www.twitter.com/townofokotoks/ status/792127942662971392

Left to Right: Ettore Iannacito — Regional Transit Program Manager, and Colleen Shepherd — Executive Director of the Calgary Regional Partnership

Find the video on the Town of Okotoks website at www.okotoks.ca/discover-okotoks/visitor-information/videos OL

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14 â&#x20AC;&#x192;

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culture

Yesterday and today Rotary Performing Arts Centre the perfect place for a white wedding BY JIM ZANG

T LOOKS LIKE an old church, has wooden pews for seats, and even smells like an old church — but it’s not a church. At least not any more. Which is what made the Okotoks Rotary Performing Arts Centre (RPAC) the perfect place to have my daughter Shelby’s wedding this past fall. It would be like having a church wedding, without all the — as my daughter would put it — “churchy” stuff. My wife and daughter handled all the details, of course. My job? Stay out of the way, and pay the bills. Fine by me. They booked many months ahead of time, reserving both

the evening prior to the event (for a much-needed rehearsal) and the big day. The light and sound guy was included and was well worth it to have someone who knows what they’re doing running the audio/ visual. We decorated with large flower-petal-filled vases, old fashioned lanterns, ribbons and lace, and even put tape down on the floor so the bridal party (especially the groomsmen) would know where to stand. The big day went off without a hitch, with nearly 100 family and friends in attendance to witness the glorious event, ending with these words: “Ladies and gentlemen, may I now present to you, as husband and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Michael and Shelby Williams.” OL

For nearly 100 years

, the old brick church on the corner of Elma Street and Veterans Way, across the street from the Royal Duke, has been a cornerstone of Okotoks society. These days, it’s known as the Rotary Performing Arts Centre, home to the Dewdney Players and various local, national and international performers. Originally built in 1906 at a cost of $5,100, the old Methodist Church became the Okotoks United Church in 1917 when the Methodist and Presbyterian congregations joined. They eventually outgrew the space — a good thing if you’re a church — and in 2002 decided to sell and move to a new, larger, facility. The Okotoks Arts Council, recognizing the opportunity not just to preserve a landmark historic building, but also to provide a local venue for the performing arts, purchased the building and, after hundreds of hours of fund-raising and renovations, it was officially donated to the Town of Okotoks and opened in April, 2005. Extensive renovations have been undertaken since then, including a $1 million investment in 2009, and recently to the front entrance. But it still retains its rustic old world charm, both inside and out. Photo by Kim Amsing

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people

A Moth to the Flame For Debbie Sands, writing a book was a cathartic, healing journey STORY BY ALYSSA BURNHAM

TOP Debbie’s daughter Amy. RIGHT Debbie and her husband Ed Sands.

for themselves and their family when they first met nearly 40 years ago. The two met in Toronto. At the time, Ed was studying at Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, and his landlord, a friend of Debbie’s, decided that his Albertan tenant needed to meet some “local” girls. Debbie was glad for the introduction, though she wasn’t exactly local herself.

PHOTO BY ANDREA KIRK

ebbie Sands has always been an avid reader with an interest in writing, but she never gave much thought to penning a book of her own until personal tragedy gave her a story she felt she must share. Just looking at this energetic, 64 year-old-woman with short-cropped hair and friendly smile, you’d never guess just how much pain and heartache she’s endured. Four years ago, Debbie’s daughter Amy was killed at the age of 27, the unintended victim of a shooting in Calgary’s southeast. It was a tragic end to a difficult life. Amy had been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder about a year before her death, but in some ways it was already too late for Amy, Debbie says, recalling years of Amy’s poor decisions, emotional turmoil and toxic relationships. Debbie shares the whole story — the ups and the downs — in her book, A Moth to the Flame — The Story of Amy’s Struggle with Borderline Personality Disorder. “Even as a little girl, she would go from happy and content to screaming her head off and back to happy. I just thought she was an emotional little girl.” As Amy’s troubles became more serious, Debbie struggled to make sense of her daughter’s destructive behavior. “We always blamed ourselves and thought we went wrong as parents,” she says. It was not the life she and her husband Ed, a long-time Okotoks town councillor, had envisioned

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people

“If writing books helps raise awareness, maybe we can improve access to treatment.”

Debbie’s family (from left) Debbie, Stephanie, Ed, Michael and Amy in September 2000

A few years earlier, at the age of 17, Debbie had moved to Toronto from London, England with her parents and two younger brothers. “I was glad to be here. I found when we arrived in Canada, people were so welcoming and kind,” she says. Debbie finished Grade 13 in Toronto and went on to get a degree in French and English from the University of Toronto followed by a diploma in bilingual secretarial work. “I had very professional parents. My father was a scientist and my mother was a medical doctor,” Debbie says. “When you have very high-achieving parents like that, you either follow in their footsteps or you feel like you can never do what they’ve done and follow a different path.” Debbie’s path and her people-loving personality led her to a career in corporate reception, fine arts hob-

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bies, and a very busy family. She and Ed married in 1978 and moved to Calgary two years later. Ed bought Okotoks Chiropractic and Massage Therapy and they moved to Okotoks shortly thereafter. “The Okotoks practice was the best thing Ed ever did,” says Debbie, who worked part-time in his office for 20 years while their children were growing up. “We moved here and have loved it ever since. It’s a great place to raise kids.” Their children — Stephanie, the firstborn; Amy the middle child; and Michael, the baby — always kept them extremely busy. In addition to juggling work and school duties, Debbie and Ed spent a great deal of time shuttling their kids to various extracurricular activities including music lessons, football, baton twirling and dance. Artistic, theatrical Amy got her first part in a play with the Dewdney Players community theatre group when she was just seven years old. Amy’s passion for theatre eventually brought out Debbie’s creative side too. At first, she was too timid to join

people RIGHT Debbie and little Amy FAR RIGHT Baby Amy

her daughter on stage, but eventually Debbie built up the courage to audition for a role in the 2001 production of “They Don’t Grow on Trees.” “It was a small role. I was absolutely terrified, but once I got out there I realized it wasn’t as bad as I’d thought,” says Debbie, who has been with Dewdney Players ever since. “It seems with theatre, that once you get bitten by the bug there’s no going back.” These were fun, happy years, yet Amy’s increasingly self-destructive behavior began to affect the whole family. “We had a lot of fights with Amy,” Debbie recalls. “We knew things were really bad when she left home at 19 after a fight...That’s when the hard drugs started.” The next eight years were full of ups and downs for Amy and, of course, for Debbie too. Deb watched as her daughter’s life became increasingly defined by unhealthy relationships, gangs, and addictions. Debbie lived in constant fear of the worst phone call any parent could ever receive. It came on August 31, 2012. “I heard it on the news in the morning, and I thought, ‘It’s Amy,’” Debbie recalls. “When I heard that a woman had been killed in Dover, I just knew. I don’t know how, but I just knew it was her.” Amy had been fatally wounded by a stray bullet while visiting her ex-boyfriend, whom her parents had repeatedly asked her to avoid. As Debbie worked through her grief she knew Amy’s story couldn’t end there. Following the lead of a friend, Fran Porter, who had written a book about her own daughter’s struggle with Borderline Personality Disorder, Debbie decided to write her own story. A Moth to the Flame was released earlier this year. “Writing wasn’t hard,” Debbie says. Instead, she found the process a helpful part of her healing journey to write about Amy and the ups and downs that shaped their lives for so many years. Debbie’s life will never be the same as it was before she lost Amy, but she continues to put one foot in front of the other in order to return to some semblance of normalcy. She works three days a week as a receptionist at Cactus Club, remains involved with Dewdney Players and exercises regularly at Curves. She also spends hours each week promoting her book — not for personal gain, but in order to help others facing similar situations. All of the proceeds from the sales of A Moth to the Flame go to McMan Youth and Family Community Services Association, which operates a program for youth with Borderline Personality Disorder. The

program wasn’t available in time for Amy, but Debbie is hopeful that it will help other young people struggling with this little-known mental illness. “If writing books helps raise awareness, maybe we can improve access to treatment.” So far, A Moth to the Flame has sold 500 copies and raised more than $9,400 for McMan. It’s available locally at Cactus Club Salon and Spa, Okotoks Chiropractic and Massage Therapy, Curves, Sheep River Health Trust, online through Amazon and in select Calgary Chapters locations. OL

Old family photo with (from left) Stephanie, Debbie, Michael, Ed and Amy.

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business

BEST OF THE BEST

Local businesses shine at annual Chamber Awards

BY JIM ZANG PHOTOS BY DON MOLYNEAUX

he Okotoks & District Chamber of Commerce 2016 Business Excellence Awards was the biggest and best ever. The venue was dressed to the nines and so were the people as more than 250 members of the Okotoks business community ‘walked the red carpet’ at the gala event held October 20 at the Centennial Centre. Emcees Dan Bascombe and Jayme Hall from the Eagle kept things moving while folks grooved to the bluesy sounds of the uber-talented Tanya Ryan and enjoyed a delicious three-course meal catered by the The George. Special kudos to the Grade 9 band students from Westmount School, who did a terrific job of serving. With nearly 50 different companies and individuals nominated for nine different awards, the real winners are the people of Okotoks, who are blessed with such a great group

New Business of the Year – Rebel Bean Roasters

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of business people truly dedicated to excellence in customer service. As I remarked afterwards to one award winner, “not every community is like this, you know.” Especially when it comes to being involved in the community and giving back. Okotoks Living was represented at the event by publisher Richard MacQuarrie, editor Jim Zang and advertising representative Andrea Glowatsky, who presented the New Business of the Year winner, Rebel Bean Roasters, with both their trophy and a free quarter page ad in Okotoks Living. Congratulations and thank you to all the winners in all the different categories, who are pictured here, and all the people behind the scenes who made it all happen. For more photos of the Awards visit the Okotoks Living Facebook page at www.facebook.com/OkotoksLiving. OL

Chamber employees and board

business

Business of the Year (over 7 employees) – The Eagle 100.9 Goldenwest Broadcasting

Customer Service Award, Individual, honourable mention – Nellie Sandfly – Okotoks Ford

Social Profit Award – United Communities

Environmental Responsibility Award – All Through the House

Business of the Year (under 7 employees) – Wildrose Jewellery

Outstanding Customer Service (Business) – Okotoks Auto Detailing

Employee Relations Award – Vanessa Hebb – S&J Management

Customer Service, Individual – Peter Van den Wildenbergh – Okotoks Computers

Business Person of the Year Award – Dave Gilbert

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entertainment

Music to the ears Foothills Children’s Choir makes singing cool for kids BY ERIKA TAYLOR

en year-old Aliya Taylor can make anyone love music. Even though she has hearing loss in both ears and wears hearing aids, this articulate young lady has a voice that cannot be silenced. Through her constant determination, Aliya has found a way to let music be part of her life. She is a veteran member of the Foothills Children’s Choir and has been singing with the group for the past four years. “It’s a lot of fun,” Aliya says. “I like hearing everyone together in harmony.” Committing to the choir requires a lot of extra effort on Aliya’s part but, it doesn’t matter to her. “I have to listen really hard,” she says as her eyes light up. “I listen to the notes other people sing really closely. It takes it bit more work.” Aliya has also learned how to read lips to make sure she is hitting the correct notes. “I look around and see what everyone else is doing and watch them,” she says. “After that, I can do it too.” Kristin Stearn is the Music and Executive Director for the the Foothills Children’s Choir. She says the choir gives kids who love to sing a chance to learn and grow. “They come in every week excited to sing and learn something new,” she says. “I’m impressed with how musical they are all ready. It all translates and helps us to be a strong musical group.” The choir is made up of two separate groups. The Prelude group is for boys and girls ages six to eight and the Contate group is for boys and girls ages eight to 12. This year, 37 kids are participating. Stearn firmly believes that anyone can learn how to sing, Aliya is proof of that. She says it’s all about taking the right approach. “We have a high level of musical expectation of what these kids can accomplish,” Stearn says. “Even though we’re having fun. We’re still doing high quality music, we’re taking them to festivals and not sacrificing the technique of it.” The choir uses a teaching technique knows as the Kodaly

Method. It helps children find pitch by using hand signs and signals. It’s widely used by music educators and fun for kids. Stearn also says the benefits of introducing children to music at a young age can help them in all aspects of learning. “I see it firsthand every day,” she says. “Kids who have music do better in school because it helps them learn to manage issues and teaches them how break problems down so they can solve them.” Stearn believes it’s important to start kids at a young age which is why the Foothills Children’s Choir has an open door policy. Registration is ongoing and anyone can join at any time. For more information go to www.foothillschildrenschoir.ca. The choir has two concerts booked for their 20162017 season. Their Christmas concert takes place in Okotoks on December 5th at the Okotoks United Church. Alitus Brass, a professional brass ensemble will also be joining the choir for their Christmas concert. In early May, the choir will also perform a spring concert. Stearn is hopeful for the future of the Foothills Children’s Choir. She believes the success will continue. But for Aliya Taylor, the choir comes down to one thing. “I just really love to sing,” she says. Her determination is convincing and her passion and purpose is music to the ears. OL

PHOTO BY DON M O LY N E A U X

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community

Duffers’ delight Chamber golf tournament a big hit STORY BY JIM ZANG PHOTOGR APHY BY DON MOLYNEAUX

ore than 60 golfers enjoyed a spectacular 20-something degree September afternoon at the Okotoks & District Chamber of Commerce golf tournament. Meanwhile, back at the clubhouse, emcee Jayme Hall from the Eagle 100.9 and tournament organizer Andrea Glowatsky kept things moving, announcing the various winners as follows. • First place, with a low team gross score of 31: Megan Mackenzie, Carola Singer, Tavis MacPhee and Austin Rainforth (pictured). • Closest to the pin in two: Tavis MacPhee • Ladies long drive: Amy Bates • Ladies closest to the pin: Maureen Baumgartner • Marshamllow drive: Brad Dueck • Water draw: James Lozinsky

• Long putt: Erin Richer • Sand draw: Jim Zang • Men’s closest to the pin: Scott Nichol • Men’s long drive: Adam Armstrong The real winners on the day, however, were local non-profit organizations who were on the receiving end of the donations raised by the tourney. For starters, Fix Auto purchased a hole sponsorship and then donated it to Rowan House who raised funds via the dice roll game. Gino DePaoli, the voice of the Okotoks Oilers on the Eagle, loaned his voice to the imaginary horse races, with ‘bets’ raising another $360 for the Okotoks High School Scholarships Fund — which the Chamber topped up to $500 total, giving $250 each to Foothills Composite and Holy Trinity Academy. OL

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food

Gingerbread cookies ‘Tis the season for baking for Kelly Hodgins BY SUZANNE HALE

ven before opening the Okotoks COBS Bread in 2013, the term “Christmas baking” had a special meaning for Kelly Hodgins. “My favourite holiday baking was always making gingerbread men with my children when they were younger,” she says, and she is eagerly anticipating the passage of another couple of years so that her grandson can join in the same tradition. “The start of Christmas baking means the start of the holidays for me,” Kelly says, whose first step is to sift through her personal recipe collection, an excerpt of which she has shared with Okotoks Living readers. OL

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½ cup shortening ½ cup brown sugar 1 egg ½ cup molasses ¼ cup water 3 cups flour ½ tsp baking soda ½ tsp salt 3 tsp ginger 1 tsp cinnamon ½ tsp allspice Cream sugar and shortening. Beat in the egg, molasses and water. Combine dry ingredients. Blend in. Chill if necessary to roll. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes.

homes

Affirmative action New home starts up, relatively speaking

BY JIM ZANG

CHART A

y wife and I spend a lot of time looking at new homes in the Okotoks area. We’ve looked at everything from estate homes in the $1 million plus range in Cimarron and Green Haven, to 1,400-square-foot bungalows for around $430,000 in Drake Landing, and everything in between including some really great empty lots down in Sheep River Cove, where Dreamwest Homes builds some really nice homes. We’ve also got good friends who bought in Mountain View last year, and we’ve been through the show homes up there too. Some we’re semi-serious about, some we’re just looking, thanks. In any case, applying my Mr. Spock-like logic to the situation, I’ve got a pretty good internal data bank built up of what you get for your money in Okotoks from different builders in the various communities. That’s the man-on-the-street viewpoint, however.

Housing Starts Per Quarter

2015

74 55 50

2016

40 29 34

54 53 68

CHART B Starts by Dwelling Type

Q3 2016

Q3 2015

YTD 2016

YTD 2015

Single family

163

Semi-detached

0 0 10 0

Row

0 0 0 16

Apartment

0 0 0 0

Total

34 50 103 179

What’s just as interesting, to me, at least, is the bigger picture offered by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) that has to be factored into the equation. How many houses have been started this year? How does that compare to last? What kind of homes? Are things improving? The answers to some of those questions, you can get from the numbers. The answer to the final one: Are things improving? It’s all relative, of course, but as far as quarter number three is concerned, as they’d say in Vulcan, “Affirmative, Captain”. In fact, quarter number three has been the best performing quarter against 2015 so far, topping out at 64 per cent of last year’s total starts, compared to 54 and 53 per cent respectively in quarters one and two of 2015 (see Chart A). Meanwhile, year-to-date totals are still well off last year’s pace (see Chart B), with virtually no chance of making up for lost time. Looking forward, quarter four of 2015 saw only 22 single family home starts, ending the year at 201 total. It’s safe to say we won’t see 100 starts in the last three months of the year but, even so, it’s worth recognizing that quarter three at least gained some ground. OL

Did you know ? The busiest year ever in terms of new home construction in Okotoks was 2006, with 210 single family homes started and 156 apartment dwellings.

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a day in the life

Playing with fire Glass blower has passion for art, life

STORY AND PHOTOS BY LANA ARMITAGE

he crowd of people in the small workshop at the back of the Okotoks Farmers Market applaud and cheer as resident glass blower Dave Blankenstyn, of Okotoks Hot Glass Studio, completes his first demonstration. It’s not just his skill at his craft, but also his sense of humour and constant stream of chatter that captivates onlookers of all ages. Blankenstyn’s interest in glass blowing started over a decade ago while attending Santa Monica College, and in 2010 he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts

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Dave Blankenstyn

degree from the Alberta College of Art and Design in Calgary, with a major in glass. Since then, while developing his skills as a glass blower, he’s also discovered a passion for teaching which he’s brought to Okotoks. As he begins his second demonstration of the afternoon, a new group of spectators arrive. Two artist friends, Robin Kehoe and Marta Gorski, assist Blankenstyn for the afternoon. They banter back and forth with each other and engage the crowd as they determine what the next glass project will look like. They move around quickly and fluidly, like the hot glass. “It’s like a dance,” remarks Kehoe. The workshop is a sweltering 30 to 40 degrees Celsius. A bead of sweat trickles down Blankenstyn’s face as he pulls the glass out of the reheating chamber. The glass forms and reforms as heat is applied and colour is added. Each time

a day in the life

“I can’t imagine spending my time any other way. It feels like I’m retired. I’m doing what I love.” the glass goes back into the reheating chamber, it takes on a new shape. Blankenstyn has a vision of what the end product will be and his trusty assistants follow his lead as this art form relies heavily on teamwork and communication. Each day begins with one of Blankenstyn’s favourite and most important jobs of the day: getting his 12 year old son, Lucid, off to school. The father and son live on the property where the studio is located, so, as his son hops on the bus, Blankenstyn finishes his green tea and walks over to the studio to check on his equipment. He refers to the furnace in the studio as his second child, and emphasizes how important it is to his glass blowing business and that it must be running at all times. After prepping all the equipment for his 9 a.m. class, he heads to the oven to get a glimpse at all the projects from the previous day. “It is like Christmas every morning when I check to see if the item I created matched my imagination.” As his students arrive for the morning, Blankenstyn turns down the music, welcomes his class, and passes out safety glasses. Fleetwood Mac plays softly in the background as he launches into a short demonstration of the project that they will be completing. Blankenstyn believes strongly in creating a fun, relaxed atmosphere for learning. It’s a regular occurrence for him to crack a few jokes or offer extra encouragement to help put students at ease. He relishes working one on one with each aspiring glass blower as they create their own masterpiece. “I love seeing my students’ faces when they complete a piece,” he says, with a great sense of pride, “they are overjoyed.” When morning class has ended, the studio is rented out to another glass blower for the next couple hours. For Blankenstyn, it’s a great opportunity to grab a healthy lunch from home, maybe some salmon, and post some photos

from last night’s workshop to Facebook, which generates a lot of interest in his business. This past September marks a year that his studio has been open, but he’s called Okotoks home since May 2015 and, he says, is getting more involved in the community every day. There’s another demonstration in the afternoon but, with some free time in between, Blankenstyn heads over to the skate park for an hour. “I’m the oldest guy there,” he says, but that doesn’t stop him from enjoying one of his favourite hobbies. “Skate boarding is a great outlet for creative expression and requires coordination and practice” remarks Blankenstyn, “much like glass blowing.” After carving the pipe and doing a few ollies, a re-energized Blankenstyn heads back to the studio. At day’s end, Blankenstyn looks forward to spending quality time with his son. Some nights they might work at the studio together, or go for a walk along the river, but occasionally they like to just kick back and play a few video games or watch a documentary. The best part about his career choice, he says, is being able to schedule his day around his son’s activities, and be there for him when needed. “I can’t imagine spending my time any other way. It feels like I’m retired. I’m doing what I love.” OL

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what’s happening To have your event listed, email info to jim.zang@sourcemediagroup.ca

events For information on Town of Okotoks events contact: Janette Messer, Manager of Programs and Events 403-938-8955 or jmesser@okotoks.ca or visit www.okotoks.ca/events For full Okotoks Culture and Heritage events listings visit www.okotoksculture.ca

december

to 9 Rowan House Fundraiser. Adopt a Scentsy Buddy for a child in need at Rowan House Emergency Shelter. Every buddy purchased will be donated to a child using their services, and the commissions from the sales will also be donated! rowanhouse.ca

to 14 Tree of Warmth. Share the warmth this holiday season. Bring new slippers, scarves, gloves, baby items and toques to the Okotoks Art Gallery to decorate the Tree of Warmth. All of the winter items collected will be donated to local and regional charities.

, 10 & 17 Up in the Attic. Enjoy an assortment of family favourite board games, card games and toys in the museum’s attic each Saturday at 10 a.m. until December 17. Free.

to 11, 15 to 18 Goodger Pink: Hansel & Gretel, A Holiday Panto. Something’s odd in the forests, and it’s causing problems throughout the nearby village. Now inquisitive Gretel and her impulsive brother Hansel are lost inside the forest in this production from Goodger-Pink, founded in the spring of 2013 with the goal of introducing Okotoks families and children of all ages to great theatre. Doors open 6:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 10:30 a.m. Saturday and 12:30 p.m. Sunday. Second show on December 17th doors open at 1:30 p.m.

to 23 A Heritage Christmas. Celebrate the season with an old-fashioned Christmas at the Okotoks Museum and Archives. “A Heritage Christmas” looks back at the traditions of a turn-of-the-century prairie Christmas.

to 23 Spirit of Christmas. The Okotoks Art Gallery will be transformed into the Spirit of Christmas, your best choice for holiday gift shopping, all crafted by local artisans. to 10 Photos with Santa. The Sheep River Health Trust is bringing Jolly Old St. Nick himself back to town for our 3rd Annual Photos with Santa. For details visit http:// sheepriverhealthtrust.ca/index.php/ photos-with-santa

Shake it Up Christmas Mixer. Annual Okotoks and District Chamber of Commerce Christmas social at Crystal Ridge Golf Course 6 – 10 p.m. Tickets are $50 + GST and includes a door prize entry and cocktail. See okotokschamber.ca/events for details.

Printmaking Holiday Cards. Catch the Okotoks Art Gallery’s Spirit of Christmas exhibition before it’s gone and create a work of art yourself. Using specialized printmaking tools youth and adults alike will have the opportunity to carve their very own ‘stamps’ before completing one-of-a-king holiday cards! Whether you have kids or are just a kid at heart this is sure to be fun. $5/family from 10 a.m. to noon.

Kid’s New Year’s Eve Celebration. Join in the celebrations at the Okotoks Recreation Centre from 12 – 4 p.m. for free family fun and activities to celebrate ringing in 2017! Fireworks at 7 p.m. at Lineham Park.

Mistletoe Market and Christmas Tree Auction. Saturday, December 10 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Okotoks Recreation Centre, Shane Homes Gymnasium. Free admission.

Once Upon a Stage. Join GoodgerPink Family Theatre in a workshop full of fun theatre and improvisational games. Through character exploration, costumes, props and sound effects, you will create and become larger than life fairy-tale characters, sharing your magical stories with one another. Ages 5 – 8 and 9 – 15 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. $30 + GST | Course: 50161

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events

january

to February 23, every Saturday 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., free outdoor skating, hot chocolate and fire pits at the outdoor rink.

to February 11 Strong and Free: OAG Members Reflect on Canada 150. Reception Date January 13 at 7 p.m.

to February 11 Impossible Really! Reception January 13 at 7 p.m. Impossible Really! is an experiential exhibition that combines video projection with static, bronze sculptures. Catherine Ross offers the visitor the opportunity to experience the stillness of sculpture while imagining movement, flight, or sound.

I love Canada because… Sticky Note Project. Tell us why you love Canada and contribute to our year-long sticky note project in the museum’s attic at 10 a.m. At the end of the year, the notes will be archived as a permanent record of this Canada 150 event.

Okotoks – Our Place in History. Exhibit Launch: January 14, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. The Okotoks Museum and Archives is celebrating Canada’s 150th birthday all year long with a series of exhibits that reflect our community’s history since confederation

Old-Fashioned Outdoor Skating Party. Enjoy a free afternoon of fun for the whole family with outdoor skating, hot chocolate, treats and a fire pit at the outdoor rink at the Recreation Centre From 1 – 3 p.m.

Catherine MacLellan in Concert. Catherine MacLellan’s latest release, The Raven’s Sun, takes the listener further along her journey in songs, delving deeper into the territories of life, death and transformation. Special opening act by Brettyn Rose. Doors 7 p.m., concert Starts at 7:30 p.m.

Rocky Mountain Symphony Orchestra Encore! The Rocky Mountain Symphony returns with local artists Barbara King, and the Foothills Philharmonic Chorus for 7:30 p.m. concert. Tickets online at www.rockymountainsymphony.ca/okotoks/ Spring Parade of Programs. Local organizations and businesses will be on hand to provide information on all sorts of spring sports, activities, arts, educational and health programs available in Okotoks. At Okotoks Recreation Centre, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.

Soup Sisters. Soup Sisters and the Millarville Racing and Agricultural society have teamed up to make soup for the Rowan House Emergency Shelter. Soup Sisters and Broth Brothers charge a $55 participation fee per person to cover the expenses of ingredients for the soups, the venue and equipment. For more information contact millarville@ soupsisters.org

february

Winter Walk Day. Residents are encouraged to join more than 160,000 Albertans for #WinterWalkDay, an Alberta-wide initiative. Free from 6 a.m. – 6 p.m., Indoor Walking Track, Pason Centennial Arena.

Speed Networking for Business. Presented by the Okotoks & District Chamber of Commerce, registration at 6 p.m. See okotokschamber.ca/events for details.

Yuk Yuk’s on Tour. Sean Lecomber was the winner of the Just for Laughs Homegrown competition in 2007, awarded each year to Canada’s best new comedian. Sean also

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recently filmed his first comedy special for the Comedy Network. Sean’s comedy was featured on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno’s “pass the mic” segment, he was a finalist in the 2007 Last Comic Standing Canadian auditions. Doors open at 7 p.m. *Rated R, 18 years and up

Valdy and Gary Fjellgaard in concert. Two of the best-loved folk and country artists in Canada combine their talents once again. Doors open 7 p.m., concert 7:30 p.m.

Closing Remarks: Alberta Towns. Reception & Artist Talk: February 18 at 1:30 p.m. The photographs that constitute George Webber’s extraordinary 35-year photographic journey of the Canadian prairies are a rare blend of art and documentation.

Family Day Unplugged. Unplug from technology & electronics for the day, and spend time connecting with yourself, friends, family and your community. Take advantage of the free activities at the Recreation Centre from 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Donations accepted to support the Recreation Fee Assistance program.

Toddle Down to the Art Gallery. Enjoy exhibitions as you let your toddler explore up to 12 different handson activity stations and art activities. Recommended ages 1 – 5. Drop in for just $5/family.

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| ADVERTISING FEATURE |

My Family Dental

: How long has My Family Dental been in Okotoks? Dr. Helen Robinson has been practicing dentistry for more than 23 years, in Okotoks for the past 20. She established My Family Dental, located in the Crystalridge Professional Building, a little over 15 years ago. “I’ve definitely found my home here in Okotoks,” she says. “The town is very friendly. My relaxed rapport with patients is suitable here. I’m not sure I would get to know my patients as well in a larger business based centre. I based my practice on my own beliefs and values of honesty, trust and compassion,” says Dr. Robinson. “Our priority is and will always be our patients. I became a doctor because I care and my focus remains to provide gentle, quality dentistry in a caring atmosphere.” For patients, she says, “that means that we provide modern skills and equipment to offer you comfortable, high quality and safe dental care. We have the latest in sterilization equipment and techniques. It means that we treat our patients with respect, care and honesty. It means that if you are our patient and you have an emergency problem, there is an emergency, after hours contact. We have a wide variety of hours to accommodate our patients, with early morning and evening appointments available.” Bottom line, she says, “we’ll work with you in any way we can to ensure your dental needs are met to the same standards that we would treat ourselves and our families.” Q: How many dentists work there? My Family Dental employs a total of three dentists, three hygienists and eight other staff to ensure patients receive the very best in care. Q: What does each dentist’s specialty? Dr. Robinson does cosmetic dentistry such as crowns, bridges and veneers. In addition, she places a special emphasis on children’s dental care. From a play room equipped with puzzles, movies and video games, to ceiling-mounted TVs in each room, Dr Robinson works hard to earn the trust of her littlest patients to make sure their experiences are positive. 34

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Dr. Lisa Mallett practices many aspects of dentistry, including cosmetic and implant procedures, with a specialty in oral and IV sedation dentistry. Dr. Elisha Chapman practices general dentistry and utilizes Nitrous and oral sedation. She has always been passionate about giving back to the community, volunteering to provide dental care to patients of Calgary’s CUPS program. Q: How often do I need a dental check-up? We recommend six month checkups for adults & children alike. Q: My kids hate going to the dentist. Can you help me? Of course — we love kids! We try to make every visit comfortable, fun and individualized to every child. We are so passionate about our wee patients that we went through a screening process to attain a certification with the Child Friendly Association and are proud to say that My Family Dental has been accredited “CHILD FRIENDY” since 2003. We also offer a sedation option (laughing gas), if needed, to keep their experience positive. Q: How does tooth whitening work? Tooth whitening products contain peroxide and work by breaking stain particles apart in the tooth through a chemical reaction. This makes the stains less concentrated. You should consult with a dentist to determine the cause of the tooth discolouration and to determine whether a bleaching treatment will give you the result you seek. Q: What is the best way to prevent tooth decay? Ideally, you should be brushing at least twice a day, and flossing once per day. Reducing dietary sugars also plays a role – limiting the more obvious contributors such as pop and candy, as well as sources of starch and carbohydrates (like bread and crackers). Ensuring you use a fluoridated toothpaste, or a fluoridated mouth rinse are a couple of ways to do so. Q: What’s the difference between veneers and bonding? Bonding in dentistry involves application of a

Photo by Karyn Lee

Expert answers to some frequently asked questions

tooth-colored material (a material called composite that is used in most fillings), which, when hardened with a special light, will “bond” the material to the tooth to restore or improve a person’s smile. The material is shaped and polished to make it replicate any missing tooth structure or is added over areas to mask certain imperfections. Bonding tends to break down over time, and will require eventual complete or partial replacement. Veneers are a thin layer of tooth looking material that can correct minor imperfections in colour and shape and spacing on your front teeth. They require minimal removal of underlying tooth structure and are bonded (or glued) to the front of your teeth. Q: How does sedation dentistry work? A range from mild to moderate levels of sedation can safely be provided within our dental office to suit a patients’ needs, whether it is for wisdom tooth removal, fillings or even for a dental cleaning. Q: Do you do bridges? Absolutely. Sometimes traditional tooth retained bridges to replace missing are the best option and, other times, dental implants can provide a less invasive and more natural way of replacing missing teeth. Q: Do you do any kinds of oral surgery? Yes, oral surgery services include tooth extractions, bone grafting, dental implant placement, and impacted wisdom tooth removal. Patients have the option of choosing sedation for dental surgery and always meet with the dentist to discuss any concerns or questions before booking any surgical treatment. n

| ADVERTISING FEATURE |

Nourish, nurture, protect DermAlchemy is dedicated to helping you look and feel your best, starting with your skin

or Dr. Will Fortin and the team at DermAlchemy, caring for your skin is about much more than just looking your best. “If the eyes are the window to your soul, then the skin is surely the mirror of your health,” Fortin says. And when you and your skin are healthy, your appearance will reflect it. “The two go hand in hand — in making your skin healthier we’re going to make it look better. Healthy skin is beautiful.” Located at 203-15 McRae St. in downtown Okotoks, DermAlchemy offers primary care medicine with a focus on skin care and medical aesthetics. Dr. Fortin is a general practitioner with a special interest in skin, having earned a diploma in dermatology from the Australian Institute of Dermatology along with his medical degree from the University of Calgary. This allows him to provide advanced primary skin care and skin-cancer screening — an area of personal interest, since he’s a melanoma survivor himself. “I’ve experienced the waiting to see a specialist, and I know how stressful it can be,” Fortin says. “So I act as a bridge between the family doc and the dermatologist. I can manage a lot of skin conditions before they reach the point where you need a specialist.” He doesn’t hesitate to refer people to specialists when appropriate, but often patients can get everything they need at DermAlchemy. And that includes innovative ways to look and feel their best. “Our mantra is ‘nourish, nurture, protect.’ We offer a lot of advice, and it’s not just about what you put on your skin. Diet and exercise, smoking cessation, sleep, stress reduction — and of course, sun protection — are key areas where we can help.” Overall, DermAlchemy’s mission is to integrate modern medical science and ancient wisdom to provide the highest standard of skin care, and to be a catalyst for personal transformation and total well-being. The clinic carries several world-class lines of skin-care products, including Environ and AnteAge. Environ harnesses the power of vitamin A and other anti-oxidants to help prevent skin cancer and make skin look younger, while AnteAge uses stem-cell-based technology to produce new collagen and elastin. “We don’t have an elixir of life yet” Fortin says, “But these products are pretty close to it. That’s why we say we do transformative skin care.”

DermAlchemy can also help you transform your body. The clinic offers state-of-the-art UltraShape and VelaShape treatments to eliminate fat cells and cellulite. “We can reduce fat and reduce waist size by two to three inches in two to three treatments. It’s painless and non-surgical,” Fortin says, noting that body contouring is not a weight-loss method. “It’s best for people who are already on a healthy track with diet and exercise.” The clinic’s business manager, Robbi Motta, is also a reiki practitioner, and DermAlchemy offers treatments in the time-honoured alternative therapy. “It’s stress reduction and relaxation,” says Motta, who is Fortin’s wife. “I’ve been a reiki master since 2000, so we integrate it into the clinic.” Each reiki treatment takes about an hour, and is tailored to the client. “It depends on what we’re working through,” she says. “We all have different personalities, so every session is individually created. There is no judgment, and our desire to help is unconditional.” Another key member of the DermAlchemy team is medical office assistant Melanie Watson, whose years of high-level experience in the hospitality industry along with her medical office administration training are put to good use at the clinic. “I love the patients,” Watson says. “I have a great connection with all of them.” At DermAlchemy, the goal is to build relationships and create lifelong clients. “It’s all about service,” Fortin says. “I’m a doctor first, and my prime focus is on wellness and well-being. And we also like to have fun here!” Dr. Will Fortin DermAlchemy is open from 8 a.m. to 5 and staff of p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 DermAlchemy a.m. to noon Friday. Special arrangments can be made for weekend or evening appointments. Call 403-995-8810, or visit dermalchemy.ca for more information. n

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NORTHGATE DRIVE

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you said it

What’s your favourite Christmas movie? BY ISABEL RODRIGUEZ

“

For Christmas, hands down, I know what it is: ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’. I watch it every year.” Tammy Olsen

Geoff Nickerson, Beverly age 6, Gemma age 8, Spencer 10 months

“

My favourite holiday movie has got to be ‘The Christmas Movie’. It loved it growing up as a kid. It was exciting!”

“

Probably ‘Home Alone’, because it’s funny to watch to see how Kevin outsmarts the bad guys.”

“

A Christmas Story! We try to watch it every year.”

Melisa Burdock

Keegan, age 13

“

Home Alone. I don’t really know other movies at the top of my head, but I like it.” Brielle, age 10

“

Home Alone. It’s just such a good family movie.” Sheila Fancryk

“

Joanne Larson

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How the Grinch Stole Christmas! It’s fun, and it’s got a good message. It makes everyone feel warm and fuzzy inside by the end of the movie.” Shannon Phillips

Jim Cassan

I’d have to say it’s probably the first ‘Santa Claus’ with Tim Allen. I love him. He’s so funny and the movie’s so goofy.”

“ “ “ My favourite holiday movie would have to be Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. It’s been my favourite since I was a child.”

I have to say ‘Prep & Landing’. It’s a Disney Pixar short, and it’s about these two little Christmas elves. It’s real funny!” John Phillips