MP John Barlow receives Norman Kwong Award from Easter Seals Alberta

Easter Seals Alberta Board of Director Bradley Wamboldt presents the Honourable Norman Kwong Award to Foothills MP John Barlow

press release

Foothills MP John Barlow was honoured with the Former Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, Honourable Norman Kwong Award. The announcement was made on March 4th, 2016 at Easter Seals Alberta’s Annual Awards Dinner.

Welcoming the stranger

Wikimedia Commons photo by Mr. Harman

Joyce Sasse, Spiritual Gleanings

The Widow Jacobs was most upset, Professor Carl Dudley recounted in one of his rural ministry workshops, because strangers were sitting in the pew where she and her husband had sat for the past seventeen years.

Chinook Basketball: Pincher Creek JV and SV Girls host WCCHS Cobras

Retiring Senior Dragons:
Rebecca Lowry, Ashtyn Duncan, Samantha Cyr, Megan McGlynn, Alissa Bonertz, and (missing from photo) Jordan Smith

Josh Davis

On Tuesday, February 29, the Pincher Creek Girls JV and SV Basketball teams hosted their WCCHS Cobras counterparts. The JV Cobras defeated the Hawks 45-31. Both Pincher Creek teams are amalgamations of St. Michael's and Matthew Halton students this season.  The SV game was close, but the Dragons won it 60-50. Since this will be the last home game for the girls Dragons before zones and the tournament season, Pincher Coach John Lowry took a moment between the games to honour his departing senior athletes and their supportive family members.

Man charged in relation to 2015 Stand Off homicide

RCMP Alberta

Stand Off, AB - A 29-year-old man has been arrested and charged in the death of Brittany Medicine Crane whose body was discovered on the afternoon of May 21, 2015, when Blood Tribe Police Service were dispatched to a residence in Stand Off after having received a report of an unresponsive woman at that location.

Carnivore discussion left some questions unanswered

Speakers:  Jeff Bectell, Annie Loosen, Tony Bruder, Andrea Morehouse, and Terry Mack

Toni Lucas

Waterton Biosphere Reserve Association (WBRA) held two Carnivores and Communities information sessions, the first in Cowley Hall Wednesday March 2 with approximately 60 people in attendance, and the second in Cardston Seniors Centre on Thursday March 3, which 40 people attended. At both sessions the featured speakers included WBRA's Jeff Bectell who also acted as MC, Andrea Morehouse reporting on the grizzly bear project, Annie Loosen tallking about the black bear project, Fish and Wildlife officer Terry Mack who addressed changes in the compensation program and area statistics, and Tony Bruder who addressed the dead stock removal program.

Senior Boys Basketall - Dragons defeat Piikani

Josh Davis

On Tuesday February 29 the Senior Boys Dragons basketball team hosted their Piikani counterparts at the Gymnasium at Saint Michael's High School. Piikani held their own in the first quarter, falling behind by only a couple of baskets. However, the Dragons pressed their advantage, earning a wide margin win.

Livingstone Landowners Guild calls for OHV restrictions to protect SW Alberta land and water

Livingstone Landowners Guild

The Livingstone Landowners are a group of private property owners in the upper Oldman River drainage. We include ranchers, acreage-owners, small business operators and others who work hard to be good stewards of our property and to protect the interests of the many landholders whose efforts keep the world-class landscape on both sides of Alberta’s Cowboy Trail — Highway 22 — teeming with wildlife and rich in scenic beauty.

Alberta modernizing renewal reminders

Alberta Government

Government will save taxpayers $3 million a year by switching to electronic reminders for registration, licence and identification card renewals. Access to modern, free registration and licence renewal reminder tools has made the mailing of government reminders a dated practice and an unnecessary expense to Albertans that will stop in April 2016.

“During these tough economic times, it’s particularly important for government to find smart ways to save taxpayers’ money. Moving from printed to electronic notices will save Alberta taxpayers more than $3 million a year while providing more modern and convenient reminder options for drivers.” - Danielle Larivee, Acting Minister of Service Alberta

Albertans with disabilities will continue to receive their reminders in the mail. Seniors over the age of 70 will continue to receive mailed reminders until April 1, 2017.

Albertans invited to remember former Premier Don Getty

Premier Don Getty

Alberta Government

Albertans are invited to remember former Premier Don Getty, who passed away on February 26.  Those wishing to send a message of support to the Getty family are invited to sign condolence books at:

Alberta homicides way up in 2015

RCMP Alberta

Edmonton, AB - The RCMP worked in overdrive throughout 2015 as a result of a spike in homicides that occurred within its 112 RCMP detachment jurisdictions throughout Alberta last year. In 2015, investigators responded to 65 homicides compared to 36 in 2014. This is also much higher than the 10-year (2005-15) average of 40 homicides per year.

Homicides in Alberta RCMP jurisdictions 2006-2015:

2015 - 65

2014 - 36

2013 - 36

2012 - 33

2011 - 51

2010 - 40

2009 - 38

2007 - 22

2006 - 36

2005 - 47

Livingstone Ski Academy launches

C. Davis

Livingstone School in Lundbreck has launched a new featured program. Livingstone Ski Academy has a logo (above) and a webpage on the Livingstone School site, The academy is currently accepting a maximum of 25 registrations for the fall of 2016, The skills-based program is available for students in grades 5 to 12.

Sports Shorts March 2, 2016

2016 SWJHAA Girls Basketball Champions: St. Michael's Jr. A Girls Dragons

St. Michael's Jr. A Girls Dragons came home from the 2016 SWJHAA Basketball Championhips with the banner.

The Crowsnest Pass/Pincher Creek Bantam Huskies have successfully made it into the second round of playoffs,which will take place on Saturday March 5 at 12:30 at the Coleman Complex against Cochrane.

St. Michael's student Mathias Gelber was honoured as Best Cross Country Runner in Alberta for the 2015 season in the Boys 10-11 years category at the Crowsnest Pass Track & Field Club Provincial Awards.

St. Michael's student Ronan Gelber was honoured  as Best Cross Country Runner in Alberta for the 2015 season in the Peewee Boys category (10-11 years).at the Crowsnest Pass Track & Field Club Provincial Awards.

Livingstone's Jr. A Boys Sabres defeated St. Michael's Dragons on the evening of February 24. Local teams will be playing in the  Zone Tournament on March 3/4 in Hill Spring.

The 1A Boys Basketball Provincial Tournament is fast approaching.  It will be hosted by Livingstone School at Matthew Halton High School.  Volunteers are needed,  contact Nancy Brush at nbrush00@gmail.com

JV Girls Hawks vs WCCHS Cobras

Pincher Creek's JV Hawks Girls basketball team hosted Claresholm's WCCHS Cobras on Monday evening February 29 at the MHHS gym.  The Cobras won that encounter 45-31, but not after a valiant effort by the Hawks, who had a much stronger second half, even outscoring the Cobras by five points in the final quarter.

The Pincher Creek Novice Chinooks won game 1 of their playoffs 11-5 against the CNP Thunder last weekend. Scoring 4 goals for the Chinooks were Walker Anderson and Daxz Vance, closely followed by teammate Cashe Kropinak with 3 goals.  Game 2 will be held this Saturday March 5 at the MCC Arena in Pincher Creek, beginning at 11:00 am.

What did we miss?  Tell us at pinchercreekvoice@gmail.com, via @pinchervoice on Twitter. or via our Facebook page.

Barlow: Liberal's losing control of Natural Resources file

John Barlow, Member of Parliament for Foothills

press release

Official Opposition Deputy Critic for Workforce, Employment and Labour and Member of Parliament for Foothills, John Barlow, today expressed his disappointment with the Quebec government's decision to file an injunction against TransCanada and the Energy East Pipeline. The provincial government is trying to force TransCanada to submit an application for the project so that it can be evaluated by the Quebec government, something MP Barlow recognized as a result of Justin Trudeau's politicization of the process on pipelines.

Pincher Creek holds Town Hall meeting

Council for the Town of Pincher Creek

Councilloe Doug Thornton, Mayor Don Anderberg, councillors Duane Filipuzzi, Wayne Elliott, Jim Litkowski, Lorne Jackson, and Mark Barber

Toni Lucas

The Town of Pincher Creek held a Town Hall meeting open to the public on Wednesday, February 24 in the Town Hall Gymnasium.  There were approximately 100 people in attendance. This  council was sworn in October 2013 and they saw this as an opportunity to let the public know the many things they have been doing now they are halfway through their term. Each of the members of council gave a report regarding various boards or committees they attend while Mayor Anderberg gave an overall report of what the Town has accomplished in the last two years and what is coming up in the future.

Midget Huskies may have to bring it home to decide game three in second round of CAHL playoffs

Retiring Midget Huskies 2016

Front row: Levi Adnerson, Jeremy Kretz, Keiran Douglas

Middle row: Austin Kristjanson,,Samuel Norman Gerrand, Captain Craig Marshall, Colin Lincez

Back Row: Eligh Big Bull

Christian Davis

The Huskies vs Red Deer playoff game schedule has been solidified.  To reduce the amount of travel required, and because Red Deer earned home ice advantage, and to finish the CAHL round two best of three in a weekend, the first two games will be played in Red Deer.  If a third game is required it will occur at the Pincher Creek Memorial Community Centre Arena this Sunday, March 6 starting at 1:00 pm.

• Click here for more hockey stories
•  #KHV_MemCommunityCtr

Every game at home, including the last one, is now possibly the last time we'll see some of these young men play minor hockey competitively, and the Huskies are a great team, one that will like its predecessors become rightfully legendary, so if they do need one more to clinch it, let's make sure we're there to make the most of their one home-ice advantage game in the series.  If it happens it's going to be epic.

Provincials

Update with something I neglected to include in the above: the Midget Huskies will be contending in Provincials. That journey begins next week.  The 2016 Midget "D" Provincial Hockey Championships. will be held in Provost March 10 - 13, 2016.

Pincher Creek RCMP summary for Feb. 22-29, 2016

Pincher Creek RCMP

The following is an overview of the nature of the complaints that the Pincher Creek Detachment received for the period of February 22-29, 2016. Note that the summary indicates what was reported to the police and may not have been substantiated.

• Total calls for service – 36
• Assaults - 1
• Theft of motor vehicle - 1
• Theft over $5000 - 6
• Impaired Driving - 5
• Driving complaints (general) - 3
• MV Collisions - 5
• Liquor offences - 1
• Suspicious occurrences (general) - 1
• Assistance to General Public (general) - 1
• Assistance to other agencies - 2
• False Alarms - 4
• 911 calls (invalid) - 1
• Animal calls - 2
• Prisoners held – 3

Midget Huskies win first round of CAHL playoffs

2015/16 CNP/Pincher Creek Midget Huskies

Christian Davis
update: note schedule change at bottom

The Crowsnest Pass/Pincher Creek Midget Huskies travelled to the Strathmore Family Centre rink for a second Central Alberta Hockey League (CAHL) Midget Tier 1 first round playoff game against Strathmore's Storm on Friday evening February 26.  The Huskies won the first game of the best-of-three at the MCC Arena in Pincher Creek on February 20.  The Huskies also won the second game, in Strathmore, by a score of 3-1 to win the round.  The Huskies and the Storm also finished the regular season with two games against each other, on February 13 and February 14 (click here for that story). The Huskies won both of those games, 5-2 and 4-2.

Piikani Youth Rodeo returns for 2016 season

Josh Davis

The Piikani Youth Rodeo is running on Wednesdays for the winter. On Wednesday, February 24 the Rodeo gave area youth an opportunity to ride horses and steers. The Piikani Youth Rodeo is open to anyone between the ages of 4 and 25, regardless of race, sex, or creed. The events for the winter rodeo include Pole Bending, Barrel Racing, Horsemanship, and Steer Riding. The next one is scheduled for Wednesday, March 9, 4-7 pm, again at the Pincher Creek Agricultural Society's Horseshoe Pavilion. The Rodeo sponsored by the Aakom Kiyii Health Services Riding Program.

The genetic imprint of God

Joyce Sasse, Spiritual Gleanings

Whether it’s because of aging or changes in our financial circumstances or the diminishing of the health of a dear one, life-altering situations often help us more deeply appreciate the great mysteries of life.

In our day-by-day existence we are lured to believe life would be simpler if I had a car that could park itself, or a newer home that didn’t need so many repairs, or a job that wasn’t so demanding.

Silver Reins 4-H Light Horse Club update

Alina Pharis Jessie Terpstra and Erica Mackenzie taking a trail class

Alex Russell, Silver Reins 4-H Light Horse Club Reporter

Silver Reins 4-H Light Horse Club is well into the 4-H season. These past few months have been very eventful for the club; we have taken part in trail, gymkhana and western pleasure lessons. We are also hoping to take part in a western dressage clinic that our five year instructor Karen Jarvie would instruct us through. Silver Reins also hosted the district communications night. This event included clubs from our district coming together to be instructed on how to better their 4-H communications night, and individually, to become better public speakers/presenters.

PCES douses minor grass fire, Fire Warning in effect due to dry conditions

Christian Davis

Pincher Creek Emergency Services responded to a small grass fire in a field south of Tumbleweed Avenue yesterday at approximately 4:00 pm.  According to Deputy Fire Chief Pat Neumann the fire was quickly extinguished.  Conditions in the area are very dry at this time.

A Fire Warning has been issued for the MD of Pincher Creek area.  From Alberta Fire Bans: "Due to the warm, dry weather we are back into a fire hazard. With the winds predicated fire starts will spread rapidly. Please use caution in your operations and if a fire starts call us quickly. We are not restricting issuing of fire permits at this time, but will consider it if these conditions persist."

Senior boys and girls basketball: Dragons defeat visiting Blades

Josh Davis

On Monday February 22 the Senior Boys and Girls Dragons hosted their Noble Central Blades counterparts at St Michael's Dale Wentz Memorial Gymnasium in Pincher Creek. Though the game looked close in the first few minutes, the Girls Dragons ultimately won a wide margin win against the Blades. In the following boys game, the Boys Dragons earned a large early lead, also winning by a large margin.

MD of Pincher Creek council approves Fairview Cemetery columbarium project

Christian Davis

At their meeting on the afternoon of February 23 council for the Municipal District of Pincher Creek No. 9 discussed at length a letter received from the Town of Pincher Creek regarding the Fairview Cemetery Columbarium project.  The letter was sent by the Town prior to Town of Pincher Creek council discussing and approving the project at their regular meeting the evening before the MD's meeting.

Midget Huskies defeat Strathmore in first game of CAHL Playoffs, honor retiring players

2015/16 Crowsnest Pass/Pincher Creek Midget Huskies

Christian and Josh Davis

Pincher Creek's Midget Huskies hosted Strathmore's Storm at the Memorial Community Centre Arena on Saturday evening February 20 for the first of a best-of-three Central Alberta Hockey League (CAHL) Midget Tier 1 first round playoff series.  After what could conservatively be called an exciting game the Huskies emerged with a 5-4 win.

First annual Blackfoot Healing Society Traditional Powwow held in Brocket

Christian Davis

The first annual Blackfoot Healing Society Traditional Powwow was held on Friday evening, February 19 at the Crowlodge Multi-Purpose Building in Brocket. The event was in honour of Piikani Elder Alphonse Little Mustache and was hosted by the Little Mustache family. The event featured drummers and dancers from around the the Blackfoot Confederacy, exhibits including artwork, crafts, traditional games, and Piikani 2016 Grad students fundraising for an upcoming May trip to Toronto.