Pincher Creek Rotary donates dictionaries to local schools

Photos supplied by Rotary of Pincher Creek

Karin Buhrmann - The Rotary Club of Pincher Creek has just finished handing out Canadian dictionaries to all the grade 3 students in the Crowsnest Pass, Lundbreck, Pincher Creek and Brocket, about 160 in total.  The Rotary Club has sponsored this dictionary project for the last eight years.

Pincher Creek Rotary partnering with Junction Foodbank

Rotary volunteers unloading potatoes at The Junciton

Dick Burnham, Rotary Club of Pincher Creek - President Dan Crawford’s initiative for his year as President is for Rotary Club of Pincher Creek to become more involved in the community. He made inquiries with Junction Foodbank to learn of their needs and how Rotary could be of assistance to them.

Contact were made with the Okotoks and Lethbridge East Rotary Clubs to learn how they were involved with their local Foodbanks. Rotary Club of Pincher Creek Members made a road trip to Okotoks to learn more about the Okotoks Club involvement with their Foodbank and a member of the Lethbridge East Club made a presentation describing how they were assisting the Lethbridge Foodbank.

Since July 1st Rotary has been meeting at the Foodbank on the second Thursday of each month at noon assisting with packing hampers, moving supplies, stocking shelves and other duties as required.

A Rotary member arranged the donation of a freezer to the Foodbank, which Rotary members moved into the Foodbank space. We assisted the Summer Student in constructing garden boxes (those yellow boxes that are located around town), to grow vegetables for hampers. Rotary also arranged for a donation of soil for the boxes.

Proceeds of our July 1 Duck Race were designated for the Foodbank and have been used to purchase a refrigerator for the Foodbank.

On October 6th members of the Rotary Club of Pincher Creek travelled to Chin Alberta, where 5600 pounds of Potatoes were picked up from Perry Produce Ltd and transported to Pincher Creek for the Foodbank’s use. Rotary members bagged the potatoes.

To raise needed funds for the Foodbank Rotary are currently selling tickets for an opportunity to take part on November 18, 2016 in the “Rotary Hamper Scamper”.

Tickets are $20.00 and available from any Rotary member and our sponsor merchants and The Junction (the Pincher Creek and Area Food Bank).

Pincher Creek Rotary donates 5643 lbs of potatoes to the Junction Food Bank

Pincher Creek Rotary Club members Helene  Francois, Mark Barber, Ann Elle, Bob Compton, Phillipe Elle, and Dan Crawford (at back) at the Junction Food Bank  

Pincher Creek Rotary Club President Dan Crawford - On October 7 Pincher Creek Rotary Club delivered 5643 lbs of potatoes to the Junction Food Bank. Think about how many meals, good meals that provides to our community.  The potatoes were donated by the Perry Family out of Coaldale. Many thanks to them for this opportunity.  Thanks to Cliff, Dick, Helene,and Phillippe for the company for the drive to pick up the potatoes.  Thanks to Cliff, Ann, Phillippe, Helene, and Bob Compton for help unloading the potatoes. That project felt like Rotary to me. Thank you all for your help. It couldn't have happened without you!

Rotary Club of Pincher Creek hosts American Rotarians

Dan Crawford, President, Rotary Club of Pincher Creek [far right] exchanges club banners with eleven visiting Rotarians from Rotary Clubs in Louisiana and Mississippi - Scot Korbett photos

Bev Thornton - Rotarians from Louisiana and the Mississippi Gulf Coast were hosted by the Rotary Club of Pincher Creek as part of a friendship exchange. The group of 11 was in Alberta for a total of two weeks, arriving in Calgary in time to experience the stampede, then spending time in Drumheller, Canmore and Pincher Creek.

Pincher Creek Rotary to roll up its sleeves under new president Dan Crawford

New Pincher Creek Rotary President Dan Crawford

"We will break bread as friends and neighbors. We will laugh."

Christian Davis - The Rotary Club of Pincher Creek held their Passing of the Gavel celebration on Saturday evening June 18 at the beautiful Eggert Ranch south of Pincher Creek near Twin Butte. Outgoing Club President Philip Francois officiated the event, speaking to a sizable crowd of Rotarians, dignitaries, guests, and other elbow rubbers hailing from near and far before handing the gavel over to Dan Crawford, making Crawford the new Rotary Club of Pincher Creek President.

2015 Canada Day celebrations and annual Duck Race held at Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village

Toni Lucas

Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village hosted Pincher Creek's Canada Day celebrations on Wednesday, July 1, with approximately 500 guests in attendance. Light showers in the morning did not deter the crowds that gathered to commemorate the day. Bob Westrop acted as the Master of Ceremonies.  A Colour Guard March composed of veterans, cadets and RCMP members began the official ceremony, which was held in front of the first North West Mounted Police building in the Pincher Creek area, a tiny log building  that was once home to up to four policemen at a time.

Pincher Creek Rotary donates $500 to spray park project

Back row - Pincher Creek Rotarians Philippe Francois (President), Scott Korbett (Past President), Lynn Brasnett (Treasurer), Councillor Mark Barber, Dick Burnham ( Club Service Projects), Dan Crawford (Vice President)

Middle row -  Spray Park Committee members Jen Draper and Billie Rigaux

Front row - future Spray Park patrons Jayce Draper, Abigail Rigaux, and Jaydon Draper

submitted photo

The Pincher Creek Rotary Club donated $500 of proceeds from their annual Canada Day Duck Race toward the Pincher Creek Spray Park project.  Spray Park committee members and fans of the project also assisted Rotary with the Duck Race event.

Rotary guest speaker Caelan Taylor - a community leader

Caelan Taylor speaks to Pincher Creek Rotary

Toni Lucas

Caelan Taylor was the guest speaker at the regular meeting of Pincher Creek Rotary on December 11, 2014. Taylor is a grade 12 student at Matthew Halton High School.  He's an active volunteer in the community who has a passion for cooking. His culinary talents earned him 4th place in the 2014 National Skills Competition for Foods. Taylor addressed a few key points in his presentation including who he was and how he got to be the person he is, his approach to learning, and volunteering.

Rotary World Polio Day October 24

The Rotary Club of Pincher Creek is working to help eradicate polio worldwide

To raise awareness and critically-needed funds to fight the crippling disease polio, Rotary International is sponsoring World Polio Day on Oct. 24.

Fund raising efforts go to Rotary International, the volunteer fundraising arm of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative—a public-private partnership that also includes the World Health Organization, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Presently, any donations made by, or through Rotary Clubs, are tripled thanks to a 2:1 match by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, given through a current fundraising partnership with Rotary.

Lane Crawford speaks to Rotary about his year-long exchange experience

Lane Crawford in souvenir covered Rotary blazer
T. Lucas photo

Toni Lucas

Lane Crawford addressed Pincher Creek Rotary on Thursday, October 2, speaking of his year-long Rotary Exchange program experience that took him to Germany, and to many points across Europe.  Crawford returned to Pincher Creek in July of this year.   Crawford finished grade 12 in Pincher Creek, but took an additional year of schooling while he was in Germany.

Rotary Friendship Exchange Filipino visitors experience Pincher Creek and area

Dolorita 'Dolly' Lara, Scott Korbett,
Ma Lourdes'Cory' DV Navarro, and Nerly Yu
T. Lucas photos

Toni Lucas

Pincher Creek Rotary Club had a variety of special guests at their regular Thursday luncheon meeting on Thursday, September 25. Three visitors from the Rotary Friendship Exchange from the Philippines came to Pincher Creek and area to share more about the Philippines, and to find out about Canada. Some of the places that they have, or plan to visit include Toronto, Calgary, Pincher Creek, Drumheller, Lethbridge and Vancouver.   Much of their trip is planned for vacationing, networking and learning, and the exchange of ideas.

Town Council to write a letter of support for Rotary Performing Arts Theatre project

Toni Lucas

At the regular meeting of Pincher Creek Town Council on September 8, 2014 Richard Burnham and Scott Korbett appeared on behalf of Pincher Creek Rotary Club to update council on the status of the Performing Arts Theatre Project and to ask for a for a letter of support. The Rotary Club has had community meetings to see if there is an interest in this project and has determined that the next step is a feasibility study.

Local Rotary Club seeks exchange students

The Rotary Club of Pincher Creek is looking for local young people who are interested in attending secondary school overseas for one year as part of an international student exchange program.

To qualify, a student should be over the ages of 15 and under 18 at time of departure, in the upper third of his or her academic class, of good character and emotionally stable, and be in good physical condition. Most importantly, he or she must be able and willing to be a good ambassador.

Cultural exchanges at Pincher Creek Rotary meeting

Steve Allan and Reg Crowshoe

Justine Jorgensen photos except*

Justine Jorgensen/ Toni Lucas

On Thursday, August 21 the Rotary Club of Pincher Creek convened for a meeting that featured announcements and guest speakers, as well as the inductment of a new member. There were many guests present, resulting in the largest number of meeting participants the Club has seen in a while.

One focus of the meeting was to welcome Lorena Stastny, who is from Croatia. She is part of the Youth Exchange Program.  Her counterpart, Pincher Creek's Arianna Korbett, will be leaving on Sunday August 24 for a minimum of ten months in Croatia.

Arianna Korbett and Lorena Stastny

Hundreds attend Rotary pre-parade breakfast

Mayor Don Anderberg and Councillor Wayne Elliott ready to serve

T. Lucas photos

Toni Lucas

Pincher Creek Rotary Club hosted a pancake breakfast in the parking lot of the Provincial Building early on Saturday, August 16 before the 2014 Pincher Creek Parade. The grill was staffed by local Rotarians, volunteers, and members of Town Council.  The popular McDonalds mobile coffee shop was back again, serving up free coffee, ice coffee, and coupons.

Howdy to Declan and Cooper, two 'White Hats' from Calgary

The event was well attended by locals and visitors.  Rotary President Scott Korbett was happy with how it went.  "It provided a great service to our guests involved in rodeo and the parade," he explained.

Calgarian Jamie with mom Christine Sturgeon 

Rotary requests donations toward Community Enhancement Grant

Scott Korbett, President, Rotary Club of Pincher Creek

The Rotary Club of Pincher Creek is looking to raise $25,000.00 before the end of August to put towards a community enhancement grant of an additional $75,000.00. This $100,000.00 will be used to determine a location, costs associated with and feasibility of a Performing Arts Theatre. Conceptual drawings of the building and facility will also be included.

As of today, we have raised $6,500.00 and we are confident we can raise the rest from the support of the community.

Rotary exchange participants coming back, going home, and starting out

Rotary Exchange participants Lane Crawford, Caroline Laurent, and Arianna Korbett
T.  Lucas photo

Toni Lucas

Pincher Creek Rotary Club, as part of Rotary International, is part of an international exchange program that offers opportunities to young people all over the world, affording them the chance to travel to exotic areas and to be a part of a culture foreign to them at the outset. In the process they become ambassadors for their regions, spreading understanding about their homelands.

 Arianna Korbett will soon be departing Pincher Creek to discover the wonders of Croatia, Lane Crawford just got back to Pincher Creek from a year in Germany, and Caroline Laurent is returning to Belgium after almost a year here. The three were honoured with a hello-goodbye celebration earlier this week at the home of newly minted Pincher Creek Rotary President Scott Korbett.  Arianna is his daughter.

Karin Buhrmann speaks to Pincher Creek Rotary about Laos

Karin Buhrmann spoke on her trip to Laos

Toni Lucas

Rotarian Karin Buhrmann was the guest speaker at the Pincher Creek Rotary Club meeting on Thursday, June 5.  She spoke about the 2 week trip she took to Laos last November with her husband Hans.  "I have always wanted to go to Laos," she said.  Laos is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia.  During her trip Buhrmann visited cities, villages and countryside, and enjoyed getting to meet the people of the area.  Laos is a very poor country, with close to a third of the country living on less $1.25 US dollars a day.

Walking Monk pauses in Pincher Creek

Bhaktimarga Swami (Highway 3 near Lundbreck Falls)
C. Davis photos

Chris Davis

Bhaktimarga Swami (nee John Peter Vis), known as the Walking Monk, visited Pincher Creek on May 29 before walking westward to the Crowsnest Pass.  Swami joined the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in 1973 at the age of 21, and has been living a celibate monastic lifestyle ever since.

Pincher Creek RCMP Sgt. Randy Dixon speaks to Rotary Club

Pincher Creek Detachment Commander Sgt. Randy Dixon

Toni Lucas

"As a child, I always wanted to be a police officer," said Pincher Creek Detachment Commander Sgt. Randy Dixon when he addressed the Pincher Creek Rotary Club on Thursday, May 14. He said that he applied to join the RCMP when he was 18 but "I was thrown on the back burner." As there was no position for him at that point in time Dixon joined CN and trained to become a heavy duty mechanic. "Eight or nine years later," the RCMP contacted him to see if he still had an interest in joining the force. He filled out an application package, and within weeks was accepted.  After his training he found that he was posted to Nanaimo. "So that's where I started my career." He explained that during his time with the RCMP he has worked in Nanaimo and area, Lillooet, Oliver, Osoyoos, Chilliwack, Moose Lake, and now Pincher Creek. "We've been here 6 months now, and I love it."