Grants intended to boost visitor experiences

Pincher Creek's Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village Information Centre is one of the recipients

• Among the recipient communities: Pincher Creek, Fort Macleod, Cardston, Crowsnest Pass

Government of Alberta - Sixteen visitor services providers in communities across the province have received grants to help them modernize their operations and develop new ways to strengthen connections with more travellers. Visitor services providers often represent the initial point of contact for travellers in Alberta. They can help influence visitors to extend their stays by promoting the province’s attractions and destinations.

Alberta SouthWest receives national award recognition for the second year in a row

Mayor of Fort Macleod and AlbertaSW Chair Shawn Patience with Bev Thornton 

Alberta SouthWest press release

Alberta SouthWest Regional Economic Development Alliance won two Marketing Canada Awards at the Economic Developers Association of Canada (EDAC) Annual Conference, held in St John’s Newfoundland. The winning projects excelled from among 155 entries submitted by organizations across Canada. The Marketing Canada Awards competition recognizes excellence in community marketing, which is an integral part of economic development.

F.A.C.E.S. helps teens learn to face challenges

^ Students and leaders from session 1 of FACES in 2012 on the continental divide west of Castle Mountain. After gaining the summit of this ridge the students take time to reflect on where they have come from in their lives and where they choose to go in their future.   Submitted photos.

Toni Lucas, Pincher Creek Voice

Challenges.  You face them every day whether you are a child, adult, working, or schooling.  Learning how to face them with grace, integrity  and fortitude is a learned process.  Facilitating Awareness and Character Building Experiences for Students (F.A.C.E.S.) offer a 12 day extreme adventure camp centered out of Camp Impeesa out close to Beaver Mines Alberta.  The camp is for students in grade 9 going into grade 10 to help them learn that facing fears, facing challenges, and facing themselves is all part of facing life.

Close relations at local level necessary in promoting sound border policy between Canada and the United States: U of L researcher

University of Lethbridge press release

Close co-operation between municipalities and chambers of commerce on both sides of the border is important to ensure that decisions made in Washington, DC and Ottawa will serve the interests of most residents of the region, according to University of Lethbridge political scientist Geoffrey Hale.

10th annual Waterton Wildflower Festival to be held June 15-23

Every June, the meadows and forests of Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, Canada, come alive with the dazzling colours of wildflowers by the millions. Superlatives apply: amazing, stunning, breathtaking, fascinating.  Of the hundreds of species, over 50 of Canada’s rarest flowers grow in Waterton, 30 of which are found only in this park.

 The Waterton Wildflower Festival is a celebration of this natural phenomena, held this year from June 15 to 23. Now in our tenth year, this festival has been ranked one of the top wildflower festivals in the world, amongst events in North America, the U.K., Australia and Italy. Waterton has even been named the “Wildflower Capital of Canada”.

KBPV gets new critters, extended summer hours commence this weekend

I remember ewe!  Clover with Paddy
C. Davis photos

Tracy Glen, KBPV

Chickens, turkeys and sheep arrived at Pincher Creek's Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village during a snow storm on April 29, 2013.

Most Parks Canada locations to open this weekend

• Minister Kent Announces Opening of 2013 Parks Canada Vacation Season

Ottawa, Ontario, May 16, 2013

The Honourable Peter Kent, Canada’s Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada today launched the 2013 Parks Canada vacation season which opens this coming weekend in most Parks Canada locations, offering visitors amazing opportunities to discover Canada’s treasured natural and cultural places at their best.

“This year, exciting new projects like Parks Canada’s collaboration with Google Street View are being spearheaded across the country and are helping create a stronger connection between Canadians and their treasured places – and Canadians are taking notice – as pre-season online reservations for Parks Canada are up by 35% compared to this time last year,” said Minister Kent. “Plan your trip now to experience the wonders of nature in Canada or learn first-hand about our country’s remarkable history.”

Blue Trail RV Park and Camping opens SunShadow 9 hole golf course in time for tourist season

(advertorial)

Every man should have a dream.  For Ted Shipley that dream was to take 70 acres of the family farm and turn it into the Blue Trail RV Park and Camping and SunShadow 9 hole golf course just north of Glenwood, Alberta along the Waterton River.

"We've owned the property as a family for 40 years and it was a part of Shipley Ranches Ltd. that I acquired from the family," said Shipley.  He sold the rest of the farm in 1999 and retired, keeping 70 favourite acres back for himself.

 SunShadow golf course

"I did that not knowing for sure why I kept this piece of land, other than I dreamed of it being a campground at one time and I've always had a special interest in this area down here."  The family used to keep cattle in a sheltered area down close to the river in the winter but with retirement "That time has come and gone."

May long weekend: what to know before you go

Before you head out this long weekend - or any time this summer - get the information you need from the Alberta government on fire bans, liquor bans, safe camping, and more.

Go camping

• Find a park and reserve a campsite.
• Headed to the backcountry? Know the rules for using Alberta’s public land.
• Check for area and trail closures for the Bighorn Backcountry and other areas.
• Be prepared with our checklist for outdoor recreation.

2013 May Long Weekend Alberta Parks Liquor Bans

A liquor ban will be in effect at the following provincial parks on the 2013 May long weekend:

• Aspen Beach
• Cypress Hills
• Dillberry Lake
• Garner Lake
• Jarvis Bay
• Miquelon Lake
• Pigeon Lake
• Wabamun Lake
• Whitney Lakes

The ban will be in effect from 12:00 noon on Thursday May 16, 2013 until 6:00 p.m. on Monday May 20, 2013. The ban applies to all campgrounds and group campgrounds within these parks.

Kick off summer safely this May long weekend

By respecting the land and obeying the law, Albertans can help make the May long weekend - the traditional kick-off to summer - enjoyable for all.

Officers from the Government of Alberta will be out in force this long weekend, patrolling Alberta’s roadways, water bodies, parks, and public land. Together with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, they will also conduct check stops and off-highway vehicle compliance checks and inform the public about safe recreation practices, laws and regulations.

New festival added to CNP Rum Runner Days lineup

A group of community spirited volunteers met last week to review plans for the upcoming Rum Runner Days Events from Thursday July 18th to Saturday July 20th in the Crowsnest Pass. Although there will be no fireworks, the intent is to bring back the most popular events from the past few years in addition to a brand new Crowsnest Children’s Festival.

Livestock returns to Museum

New chicks at KBPV
C. Davis photo

Chris Davis, Pincher Creek Voice

Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village (KBPV) General Manager Tracy Glen appeared before Town Council on the evening of April 11 to request permission for a return of livestock to KBPV this year.  After a bit of discussion, council agreed to allow it.

Glen said the donkeys that were featured at the Village resulted in "only two complaints that were directed to me, and on those two I made the decision not to have the donkeys again this year."

Travel Alberta showcases author Dan Heath

Toni Lucas, Pincher Creek Voice

Travel Alberta brought one of their Speaker Series to Community Futures Alberta Southwest in Pincher Creek, and all across Alberta.  A live web-cast from Dan Heath, titled "How to Lead a Switch" was broadcast to 21 stations across the province.

Author and speaker Dan Heath likened the rational mind to a human rider.  Heath likened the emotional mind as an elephant that the rational mind sits upon.  Using a picture of a man riding an elephant "the rider really believes that he is the one in charge.  He is the one holding the reins, after all.  He ostensibly sets the course, after all."  Heath pointed to the picture and said,  "if these two disagree, who is your money on?"

Tourist WiFi connections proposed for Pincher Creek

At their meeting on January 10, Pincher Creek's Town Council voted to support the "Country Connections" project under the Regional Collaboration Component of the Regional Collaboration Program through Alberta SouthWest.

Alberta SouthWest and Nerds on site proposes to install two wireless radios that would providing internet coverage to downtown area of Pincher Creek.  The Country Connection project is aimed at tourists visiting this and other member communities.  Funding would cover the first year of the project, after which advertising revenue is intended to cover the ongoing costs.  Persons logging in to the internet using this portal would first encounter an "enter" window that would include sponsored advertising.  The host community, in this case Pincher Creek, would also have an ad on this entrance page.  The Town's new Economic Development Officer, Wendy Kalkan, would be expected to find the advertising partners.

Councillor Roy Smyth was the lone dissenter when the matter came to a vote.

New Mr. Phish children's book features Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village

Postcards from Mr. Pish Volume 2 Is Now Available

Press release

Mr. Phish checking out Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village
in January, 2011
T. Lucas photo

Cambridge Books has released "Postcards from Mr. Pish:  A Cross-Country Journal Volume 2", the third book in the educational Mr. Pish series by K. S. Brooks.  It’s currently available on Amazon.com and will become available through bookstores and other online venues soon.

Postcards from Mr. Pish Volume 2 follows the adorable Jack Russell Terrier, Mr. Pish, as he embarks on a new adventure, traveling from his home in Washington State, up into Canada, and all the way to the East Coast.  The book features full-color photographs and text about Mr. Pish’s visit to Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village in Pincher Creek.