Goodbye

Memories of Earth - C. Davis

It took me a couple of years to get enough perspective to write this, plus I've been busy, sorry for the delay.

For the better part of a decade Toni and I worked very hard, with the help of so many of you, to help Pincher Creek see itself.  Away from that role now, I still see how we succeeded, how our concept proved itself.  We were heard around the world and in the legislative bodies.  Traffic beyond my wildest dreams, way more traffic than I could sell.  And that's how we failed, as if it wasn't obvious to us within the process, the proper commercialization of it eluded us.

Thank you so much to all of you who helped, who read, who amplified, who critiqued, who utilised, who idealized, who scrutinized, and yes, even to those of you who tried to squash it and make it go away.  You all helped inform the stories we tried to tell, which was your story.

We also ruffled a lot of feathers, as a routine part of respecting the job by doing it.  Every ruffle was revenue or potential revenue lost. At this point in time I still can't calculate which truth costs us the most.  I've just about paid it off, so it doesn't really matter anymore.

I truly hope those of you who got it get how rare it is to be provided with that much community introspection and exhibition, without regard for the commerce of it.  We showed the world everything, and maybe that was too much, but to be a passive lens is to forswear judging those kinds of things.

If I could I'd take back three of the 8 years we did it, frankly, for personal reasons, but sometimes when you're in it you're in it.

I suspect somebody we thought of as "interesting kid at the science fair" or something will decided to try their hand at it, and if they're properly placed in the community, and to them I would say it's quite doable, but make sure you have a good salesperson.  There isn't a fortune to be had, no, but there's good income potential.

To that end, I'm leaving this site up, as I pare it down to a best-of.  It's an interesting document of an interesting community right before the world changed forever again.

Peace,

Christian Davis, former bottle washer
pinchercreekvoice@gmail.com

2018 Heritage Acres Special Events

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Mark your Calendars!

Hours of Operation 9:00am to 5:00pm (Closed Sundays)

May 22 – September 15, 2018

www.heritageacres.org

Tel: 403-627-2082

October 12 Harvest Gala

You will enjoy the music and the wonderful supper.

December 7 Candle Light Christmas Church Service

A traditional Christmas Church service by candle light

December 8 Breakfast With Santa

This event is all about the children and Santa

Hours of Operation 9:00am to 5:00pm (Closed Sundays)

May 22 – September 15, 2018

Heritage Acres Farm Museum

Box 2496

Pincher Creek, Alberta

T0K 1W0

GriefShare program offered at Abundant Springs Community Church

Community members who have experienced the death of a family member or friend are invited to register for the GriefShare program held at Abundant Springs Community Church. 

This program, open to people of all backgrounds, features Christ-centered, biblical teaching that focuses on grief topics associated with the death of a loved one. The video seminar features nationally respected grief experts and real-life stories of people, followed by a small group discussion about what was seen in the video. 

Safe drivers rewarded in Pincher Creek

At their August 16, 2018 meeting, council for the Town of Pincher Creek directed the Town's administration to purchase $200 in $10 gift cards from local businesses to be distributed by the Community Peace Officer to random safe drivers during the first week of September 2018.

At the same meeting council also directed the administration to set up a meeting with the Minister of Justice at the 2018 AUMA Conference (September 26 - 28) to discuss photo radar in Pincher Creek.

Town of Pincher Creek Director of Community Services Diane Burt-Stuckey to step down

Town of Pincher Creek Director of Community Services Diane Burt-Stuckey

C. Davis - According to Town of Pincher Creek Chief Administrative Officer Laurie Wilgosh's 2018 Second Quarter Report, presented to council on September 5, long-time Town Director of Community Services Diane Burt-Stuckey "will be leaving once the position has been filled later this fall. Quite a few applications were received and interviews will be conducted in early September. Given Diane's long and immense contribution to the Town, these will be big shoes to fill. Other potential positions and or restructuring is also being considered by the manager's of all departments."

2018 Pincher Creek Rodeo Parade and pancake breakfast

Local council members serving breakfast

Toni Lucas - The 2018 Pincher Creek Rodeo Parade was held Saturday, August 18, after the Humane Society Pancake Breakfast. The pancake breakfast was hosted by councillors from both the Town and MD.  The parade featured 'Chose Your Own Adventure' as the theme. The Chamber of Commerce hosts the parade every year. Parade organizer and Chamber Administrator Ola Crook said, "There were some great ideas on the theme. The floats were really awesome this year." Even the smoke of the local fires hanging in the air did not deter the crowds.

Walk for MS to raise a mom's spirits

Jeff Wishart 

Toni Lucas - Jeff Wishart, a carpenter from Oakland Manitoba, was hiking along Highway 3 close to Pincher Creek on Friday, August 31. The reason for his journey was to cheer up his mom who has Multiple Sclerosis and to raise awareness. He started his quest on July 4, and hopes to make it to the west coast. "I had to make her be happy." Wishart feels his walk gives her something other than her disease to focus on. "She is proud but then she is worried too. But it is better than her stewing on this disease. Mom still worries, but at least it isn't about herself."

Opioid Information Sessions to be held throughout southwest Alberta

Chinook Arch Regional Library System - How did we get here? This is a question on many Albertans’ minds regarding the opioid crisis. The issue is widespread its effects can be seen across southwest communities - both urban and rural.

Luckily, libraries across southwest Alberta are answering the call for factual and relevant information through upcoming Opioid Information Sessions, which will take place this fall. The sessions have been coordinated through Chinook Arch Regional Library System, thanks to a grant received from the Government of Alberta’s Opioid Response Public Awareness Grants for Communities, which is administered by the Alberta Rural Development Network (ARDN).

The big red barn gets a new coat of paint in time for winter

photos courtesy Heritage Acres

Heritage Acres with the support of Federated Co-op and their 'Communities in Full Colour'  program and a whole lot of volunteers painted the Vogelaar/Zoeteman barn ranch red on August 9 and 10. Member of Parliament for Foothills Alberta John Barlow was one of the many volunteers who donned work clothes to lend a helping hand.   A contractor painted the higher portions of the project.  The barn was moved to Heritage Acres in 2014, and has since been  re-roofed, windows have been replaced, and the new coat of paing finishes the exterior.  Related link:  The Barn Move

Braden Barber (Heritage Acres) and MP John Barlow

Rick Bell, rarely seen without an ancient tractor

Leonard McGlynn

Calf scramble winner happy to be 'in the running'

Carter and Jake Anderson

Toni Lucas - In a matter of minutes at the Pincher Creek Pro Rodeo on Saturday August 18th  the Anderson family won two bikes during the Windyview calf scramble. Eight-year-old Jake won in the 9 and under category, and 11-year-old Carter won in the ages 10-12 run. Both brothers were delighted with their bikes.

Chief David Crowchild Memorial Award recipient Shawna Morning Bull

Shawna Morning Bull (submitted photo)

Piikani Nation's Shawna Morning Bull was recently announced as the winner of the Chief David Crowchild Memorial Award, which was presented to her by Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi on June 20 at Calgary City Hall during National Indigenous Peoples Day and Aboriginal Awareness Week . 

“I am extremely honored to be receiving such an important award as the Chief David Crowchild Award. I am earnestly grateful for this recognition I have received for my work in the indigenous and non-indigenous community of and the surrounding communities of Mohkinstsis (Calgary). Humbled to my peers that they feel I deserve this honour and thankful for their ongoing encouragement for the work I do.” - Shawna Morning Bull

Sage Creek Fire updates

Highway 507 between Beaver Mines and Castle Mountain (Aug. 10)

• Alberta Emergency Alert
• MD of Pincher Creek Twitter
• MD of Pincher Creek Facebook
• MD of Pincher Creek website
• Air quality
• 72 hour emergency kit

Sage Creek Fire Update
August 21, 2018; 1100 hrs

As of 1100 hours, Tuesday, August 21, 2018, the Regional Emergency Management Organization (REMO) closed the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) for the Sage Creek Fire.

REMO would like to acknowledge the personnel from the following agencies, whom have been instrumental in the EOC since August 2, 2018, when Sage Creek was first discovered:

• Pincher Creek Emergency Services
• Alberta Ag and Forestry / Alberta Wildfire
• Alberta Parks
• Alberta Health Services
• RCMP
• Shell Waterton
• Town of Pincher Creek
• MD of Pincher Creek
• Alberta Emergency Management Agency
• BC Wildfire

REMO would also like to thank their residents and members of the public for their cooperation with the evacuation alert and area closures.

Public safety is the first priority for any event. Residents are always reminded to have a 72 hour Emergency Kit available and to download the Alberta Emergency Alert app onto their mobile devices.

‎Bill Roques‎ (via our Facebook page) - Hi all. I'm writing from Buckinghamshire in England just to pass on a strange coincidence. We were driving through Alberta in July and stopped to buy a pair of sunglasses at Pincher Creek... it was our first experience of main street Canada... and apologies to the driver at the four way stop... it was also our first experience and we forgot the sequencing.

I used to be a Housemaster at a boarding school in Wokingham called Bearwood College. During WW1 the school (it was an old mansion) was used as a convalescence home for Canadian soldiers (20,000 passed through there). Its early Registrar was "Captain Gillespie of Pincher Creek, Alberta, of Queens University and Intercollegiate hockey fame". I didn't realise this connection till later, is he remembered in Pincher Creek? He would have been a very important man in Winnersh (where the school was).

Editor's note: Winnersh is a village in Berkshire, England.

Heritage Acres holds 2018 Annual Show

Toni Lucas - Heritage Acres held their 2018 Annual Show over the August long weekend, and celebrated how the stationary engine made people's lives easier by mechanizing farming related tasks. It also indirectly celebrated families. Everywhere on the extensive grounds families were enjoying time with each other and the multitudinous exhibits. Children were enjoying activities like rope making and trying out pedal and miniature tractors. Adults enjoyed the machines, the cool weather, and the nostalgia.

Sea cans used as sheds under discussion at town council

Toni Lucas - Council for the Town of Pincher Creek passed the first reading of land use bylaw amendment 1547-AF on Monday, July 23. This bylaw pertains to add standards of development which include allowing a shipping container such as a sea can be part of the accessory building for discretionary use in R1 areas within Pincher Creek. One consideration is the exterior finish is to match the design, character and appearance of the primary building. Council also passed there will be a public hearing on this bylaw amendment Monday, August 27, at 6 pm in council chambers.

Pool temperature to be raised and situation monitored

Toni Lucas - At their regular meeting on July 23. Council for the Town of Pincher Creek supported a recommendation to increase the pool temperature by 0.25 degrees to a 28.75 set-point The decision was in response to a request by a  June 25 delegation of people who participate in aquafit at the pool, represented by Debbie Reed.

Impaired charge for operator of boat on Oldman Reservoir

Pincher Creek RCMP - On August 11, 2018 at 8:30 pm Pincher Creek Emergency Services and RCMP received a 911 call from a boater on the Oldman Reservoir who reported his boat had quit and the people onboard were in peril. With limited information and thunderstorms storms moving in, Pincher Creek Fire, Cowley Fire, and the RCMP responded to the North Fork boat launch.

The boater and boat were located on the Crowsnest River arm of the reservoir, where they were sitting on a shallow muddy area. In the boat was a 36-year-old male from Crowsnest Pass, a 32-year-old female and a 7-year-old child.

The adults were found to be intoxicated, the male operator of the boat was arrested and subsequently charged for impaired care and control of a vessel, as well as liquor offences.

Collar Tire Mechanical

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103 12 Street, Fort Macleod, AB

Open 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Monday through Friday

Evacuation Alert issued for parts of MD of Pincher Creek, Castle area

MD of Pincher Creek, August 10, 2018; 1300 hours - While the Sage Creek Forest Fire has NOT crossed the Alberta border, a proactive Evacuation Alert is being issued to residents in the following locations:

• Castle Mountain Resort
• West Castle Valley
• South Castle Valley
• All areas South of Highway 774 from the turnoff to Beaver Mines Lake to Castle Mountain Resort

Barricades will be placed along Highway 774 at the turnoff to Beaver Mines Lake Road. Residents of this area are strongly encouraged to have an evacuation plan in place, and be prepared to evacuate with an hours’ notice. Additional information on the evacuation process can be found on the MD website.

Residents choosing to evacuate at this time are requested to register with the MD by calling 1-855-627-5365, and leave a message, or email info@mdpinchercreek.ab.ca. Please provide your contact name, the number in your party, your contact numbers and your legal land description.

Residents with livestock in the area should prepare to remove your animals. A document on preparing your livestock for evacuation is available on the MD website here.

Alberta Parks has issued an Area Closure for the following locations:

• West Castle Valley to the east and south of Castle Mountain Resort
• South Castle Valley, south of designated camping area number 3

For further information on this Area Closure, visit AB Parks website at www.albertaparks.ca.

Residents are strongly encouraged to download the Alberta Emergency Alert app. Instructions can be found at this link. Please listen to the local radio station, Real Country, found at 92.7 fm and continue to visit the MD of Pincher Creek website at www.mdpinchercreek.ab.ca for further updates, including important links related to the Sage Creek Fire, and air quality information.

MD of Pincher Creek Emergency Information Line 1 855 627 5365

Pincher Creek RCMP and Southern Alberta CRT seize stolen property / firearms and cocaine

Pincher Creek RCMP  – The Pincher Creek RCMP worked in conjunction with the Southern Alberta Crime Reduction Team (CRT) to target and investigate activities at a rural residence believed to be involved in drug trafficking, and harboring stolen property. The investigation was successful, arrests were made and charges laid.