FALL 2019
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LIVES
FULL OF ARTISTIC POTENTIAL
Bakers, books & ballroom dancers
THE ARTS ISSUE!
Viva Mexico! | Airdrie Film Festival | Voice & Vision | Art of the Harvest airdrielife.com
FAMILY-FRIENDLY FALL
ROAD TRIPS FROM AIRDRIE
Just because the once-warm temperatures are now beginning their descent does not mean that your only option for a getaway is on a plane. With the best of nature accessible to us within a few hours’ drive, hop in your family car to rediscover and explore the delights of Alberta on these three road trips!
1. Waterton Lakes National Park Time from Airdrie: 2 hours and 50 minutes A staggering natural beauty, Waterton is a fall destination for families who are looking for a quieter and less crowded getaway. September and October are often unseasonably warm here. Enjoy a game of golf, do afternoon tea at the Prince of Wales Hotel, watch and track wildlife, hike to Cameron Falls, enjoy the views and have a picnic by Bertha Lake and bike down Waterton Avenue.
2. Jasper National Park Time from Airdrie: 3 hours and 40 minutes Take the Icefields Parkway to Jasper and enjoy the pristine mountain landscapes, Peyto Lake, Mistaya Canyon, Bow Pass, Sunwapta and Athabasca Falls on the way. The autumn months are also the best time to see wildlife such as the bighorn rams, mule deer bucks and large elk bulls. Please adhere to the rules and safety guidelines listed on the Parks Canada website.
3. Drumheller Time from Airdrie: 1 hour and 20 minutes Be prepared to descend into Dinosaur Valley when you choose Drumheller as your next road trip destination. The town is home to Royal Tyrrell Museum, the best place in the world for dinosaur-fanatics of all ages, which features ten signature galleries devoted to paleontology, a collection of more than 110,000 fossil specimens and 40 dinosaur skeletons showcasing the last 20 million years that dinosaurs occupied the Earth. Starting October, the museum hosts “camp-ins,” which allows children ages 5 to 13 to spend the night at the
If you and your family love stargazing, plan your trip between October 18 and 27 to attend the Jasper Dark Sky Festival.
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Quick Possess Homes ion N Availab ow le.
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PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
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ASSISTANTS TO THE PUBLISHER
Sarah Schulz, Katie Dudek
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
DESIGN DIRECTOR
Vanessa Peterelli Kim Williams
CONTRIBUTORS
Sergei Belski, Michael Dougherty, Stacie Gaetz, Lia Golemba, Britton Ledingham, Tara Levick, Trenton Pittner,Kristy Reimer, Megan Stewart, Yossi Suissa, Wyatt Tremblay, Stock Photography by istock
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CONTACT US EDITORIAL sherry@frogmediainc.ca ADVERTISING wendy@frogmediainc.ca WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA katie@frogmediainc.ca
WHERE TO FIND US airdrielife is delivered to all homes in Airdrie and surrounding areas. If you do not receive an issue please contact sherry@frogmediainc.ca airdrielife is available at more than 100 locations around the city. You can also find airdrielife in every Airdrie showhome, at CrossIron Mills and at more than 100 locations in Calgary. airdrielife is published quarterly by Frog Media Inc. with the co-operation of the City of Airdrie Economic Development Department.
VOLUME 16, NUMBER 3 | ISSN 1916-355X
Contents copyright 2019 by Frog Media Inc. May not be reproduced without permission. The publisher does not assume any responsibility for the contents of any advertisement, and all representations of warranties made in such advertising are those of the advertiser and not of the publisher.
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EDITORIAL POLICY airdrielife editorial is not for sale. Editorial is completely independent from advertising, and no special editorial consideration or commitment of any kind can form any part of the advertising agreement. All editorial inquiries must be directed toward the editor. airdrielife does not accept unsolicited submissions. Freelance writers and photographers interested in assignments are asked to send an inquiry, with published samples, to sherry@frogmediainc.ca
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Note from the publisher T
We want to hear from you! Take our reader survey (it will only take 10 minutes) and you could win a $500 gift card for Save-On-Foods. See contest details on page 31 and then enter online at airdrielife.com 10
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he arts-and-culture themed issue you hold in your hands is special to me because it shows that Airdrie is continuing to evolve its cultural perspective. When Creative Airdrie (CAS) folded earlier this year, there was some chatter about the arts dying or being ignored in the big “C” City. (I was actively involved with CAS from 2010 to 2015.) I had many people reach out to me for my thoughts and expecting me to rant. While I admit to being very disappointed, I took a step back to see that what I was witnessing was the evolution of what was started back in 2010. After all, I truly believe the only constant in life is change. The changes I see are evident on the pages here. People from all corners of the city and all genres of arts are taking the lead to share their passions with the community. Viva Mexico is the passion of Lore Pérez; ballroom dancing the passion of Dave and Norma Stevenson; Kim Cheel created Ghost Walks and History Tours and heads up the Airdrie Film Festival all while building her own stage career. Voice and Vision is the incredible collaboration of 15 writers and 15 artists that unveils its full results at the end of September. (We sneak peek four of the collaborations starting on page 75.) Two talented women are seeing an incredible book publishing dream come true. The DeSonus Concert is a surprisingly entertaining evening of talent that supports charities near and far. We have opera, yes opera, being performed with local mezzo soprano Alicia Woynarski. Both Nose Creek Players and Torchlight Theatre are prepping big productions. There are comedy nights at Fitzsimmons, Saturday night musical guests at Sorso, and a full roster of shows at the Bert Church Live Theatre. Is there room for more? Or course there is. That’s where you come in. If you want to see it, hear it, do it, then speak up and STEP UP! But don’t rant, don’t whine on Facebook (my least favourite platform in the universe). Tell the City what you want to see; get together with like-minded people to make it happen. And then we at airdrielife will have the pleasure of promoting it right here in a future issue. And speaking of future issues I am very excited to announce we are launching the AIRDRIE MADE AWARDS with Cooper’s Crossing. We want to celebrate the makers, creators, craftspeople and businesses whose ingenuity, creativity, craftsmanship and hard work make us proud to be Airdronians. All eligible entrants will be featured in a photo spread in the winter issue of airdrielife and be invited to showcase their products in the Cooper’s Crossing showhomes over the winter. See page 42 for more details and get all the info you need to register your products before Sept. 30 at airdrielife.com I also want to take a moment and thank Kent Rupert, who was the team leader of Economic Development for the past 16 years. I started airdrielife right when Kent came on board with the City and he believed in this magazine and the role it has continued to play in promoting the good life in Airdrie. Kent has taken the lead as executive director of the Blue Zone Project with the goal of making Airdrie Canada’s first Blue Zone and Canada’s healthiest city. When this issue arrives on your doorstep I will have just returned from discovering the culture of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the history of London. I look forward to the fall ahead and re-discovering our own culture community as it continues to evolve and grow and colour the pages of our life.
Sherry Shaw-Froggatt
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greatlife
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14 18 20 24 26 32 34 36 38 40
Book barn Musician profile An actor’s life New season at the BCT Festivals and more Our daily bread Taste Airdrie In the kitchen Seasonal transitions Meet the challengers
homelife
48 50 52 54
Creative views Mattamy Homes Alarming advice Zen at the Gate
worklife
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56 Growth 58 Hemp homes 60 Smart start 63 Techlife
citylife
64 City culture 65 Bridging history 65 At the museum 67 Parkour 71 Ones to watch 75 Voice and vision 80 Ballroom
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On the Cover
We profile nine grads who are pursuing the arts. PHOTOS BY KRISTY REIMER ART DESIGN BY LIA GOLEMBA
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A C T I N G O U T 20 | C U R TA I N C A L L 24 | F E ST I VA L S 26
greatlife W H AT TO S E E , D O , E AT, L I ST E N TO A N D M O R E
G R E AT L I F E | P U B L I S H I N G
For the love of Alberta
Local moms create kids’ book
A
uniquely Canadian children’s book hit the shelves in September. Its creators are two Airdrie moms who partnered with The Wardens, a Banffbased music band comprised of three veteran park wardens. We asked these two creative women to tell us the story behind Rocky Mountain Rangers: Guardians of the Wild, the first in a series of rhyming tales adapted from The Wardens’ songs. airdrielife catches up with Ayesha Clough, publisher, Red Barn Books and Lia Golemba, illustrator, Pink Spot Studios, to find out how it all began.
How did the book come about? Ayesha Clough, above, and Lia Golemba, right, captured in hand-carved linocuts that are digitized and coloured in the style of the book
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AYESHA CLOUGH: It all started at the library. I checked out a bunch of books about horsemanship, because we recently moved to an acreage. When I asked about horsey stories for my son, there was almost nothing current or Canadian, particularly for boys. My son walks around in a cowboy hat and boots 24/7. He’s convinced he’s a cowboy. It made me sad that there was nothing on the market for kids like him – especially since we live in Alberta, Canada’s western heartland.
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G R E AT L I F E | P U B L I S H I N G LIA GOLEMBA: I was on board the minute Ayesha told me about it. I have
two boys who love to read and play outdoors. It can be hard to find books that capture their imagination. I think it’s important to tell our regional stories, so our kids can see Canadian characters and landscapes reflected in their books. Listening to The Wardens’ music, I was inspired to work in an illustration style that captured the ruggedness of their sound and our land.
What was the biggest challenge? AC: The cost! I’ve learned that it takes about $20,000 to produce and print a quality book in Canada. Publishing is a complex industry, and there’s not much money to be made. It’s definitely something you do for love. LG: Finding the time between work, teaching and family for this passion project. It was a big undertaking to hand-carve each block, then print, scan and digitally colour the images, before finally laying out the book. We were committed to quality and craftsmanship for this piece of Canadiana.
What was the best part? AC: Working with Lia and The Wardens, for sure. But also the incredible support from folks across the country – we had $21,000 in pre-orders from 250 backers during our Kickstarter campaign, and that’s even before the book was printed! Of those, 23 people donated 230 books to hospitals across the country. We’re sending Baby Archie a ‘Royal Edition’ gift book. It’ll have the donors’ names in a special inscription by Airdrie calligrapher BerylAnne Hodgins from Where Memories are Made. LG: We learned as much as I hope the kids will about our parks. The Wardens provided beautiful reference photos to help the illustrations stay true to Rocky Mountain landscapes, flora and fauna. It’s a heritage project that I hope will stand the test of time. An added bonus was the publicity around our campaign. We were able to share our story with Global TV and CBC Radio-Canada, not to mention local media. My kids joke that mommy is famous now Below: Excerpt from the book shows how each page became an actual work of art by Lia Golemba
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Would you do it again? We have plans for three more Rangers books, and illustrated profiles of legendary Albertans. I need to raise $10-20,000 per book, so if you know anyone who wants to champion Canadian kids’ literature, I’d love to hear from you! LG: Absolutely! We’re hoping to start Wildlife Man in October. It’s based on a hilarious Wardens’ song, about a conservation officer who goes “running through the woods, hockey stick in hand, chasing those elk and bear out of Banff town.” Exactly the kind of book my kids would get a kick out of. life AC:
About The Wardens The Wardens are storytelling cowboys. Three singer-songwriters, their songs arise from the land they’ve protected for 60-plus years as wardens in Jasper, Banff and Glacier national parks. Quintessentially Canadian, they are the sound of the Rocky Mountains.
G R E AT L I F E | M U S I C I A N
BRANDON LORENZO:
an emerging country artist STORY BY WYATT TREMBLAY PHOTO BY STARR’S POINT MEDIA
“The biggest thing is to have confidence in what you do, and to be proud of what you do”
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H
e might be just 21, but Airdrie’s Brandon Lorenzo is living his dream and becoming a successful country artist. “The biggest thing is to have confidence in what you do, and to be proud of what you do.” With boyish good looks and a smile as broad as a prairie sky, Lorenzo’s vocals are deep and rich, reminiscent of country great George Strait. His performances, with just his guitar or with a band, are lively, soulful and crowd pleasing. Lorenzo moved to Airdrie from Calgary when he was 14, and credits his family, self-determination, and his agent for his growing success. He doesn’t come from a musical family, but he remembers singing songs he’d learned in church when he was around four, something that caught the attention of his grandmother. “She said to my parents, ‘Maybe it’s time you look into doing something with his music.’” They put him into the Calgary Boys’ Choir, and later the United Conservatory of Music, one of Calgary’s leading music schools, but when he was 12, he felt he needed something more. “I taught myself guitar, and was very much into R&B music,” he explains, “but it wasn’t until I moved to Airdrie that I began to listen to country – it suited my voice.” Lorenzo’s agent, Cheryl Katavállo, of the Katavállo Entertainment Group, which also manages Mark Lorenz (airdrielife fall 2018), sees Lorenzo as the real deal. “He’s really eager, but he’s very willing to listen. He was building his brand before we took him on, but now we’re making sure he’s taking all the steps towards being a successful artist.” One of those steps has been Lorenzo’s education. He recently graduated from Calgary’s St. Mary’s University with a bachelor of arts in history and is returning this fall to earn a bachelor of education. “I’ve always wanted to be a teacher, but I’ve always dreamed of being an artist,” he says, adding, “It’s something I have to do.” Lorenzo regularly posts covers and his own songs on social media, he’s released an EP, is a regular performer at the Ranchman’s and Cowboy’s Taphouse, hosts an open mike at Main Street Beer & BBQ, has been on stage at the Calgary Stampede Talent Search, and won the CKFM 96.5 Star Search for his song Everly, which earned him recording time at Calgary’s Evergreen Sound. Everly, co-written with another country artist, Ryan Lindsay, is a memorable, toe-tapping love song, complete with a catchy hook (Everly, you make me believe), and some great guitar work. Lorenzo writes about life, but he also pens songs he hopes everyone can connect with. “It’s about writing songs that not just you are going to relate to as a person, but that somebody else can hear … and be like, ‘been there!’” The next two years are busy for Lorenzo. He’ll be getting his. B.Ed. while working with his agent to launch into a full-time music career once he graduates. “It’s always been a dream; I just never thought it would become a reality.” life
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CITYLIFE | PEOPLE
“I feel like the theatre is a place for misfit toys where everyone is a bit weird, but we are all different and we can just be weird together and figure out who we are”
Cheel’s Chance AN ACTOR’S WORK IS REWARDED STORY BY STACIE GAETZ | PHOTOS BY KRISTY REIMER
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CITYLIFE | PEOPLE
A
s a shy and quiet child, who spent most of her time at the library, Kim Cheel never thought she would be an award-winning actor, playwright and accomplished teacher.
“I feel like the theatre is a place for misfit toys where everyone is a bit weird, but we are all different and we can just be weird together and figure out who we are,” she says. “It’s about making space for people to be who they are, while pretending to be someone else.”
The nostalgic play that focuses on Cheel’s childhood years is a compilation of personal stories including elements of life that have lasting effects and make a person who they grow up to be. “We imagine a lot when we’re young. Sometimes we imagine that we’re in a fantasy land. Sometimes we imagine we’re going to get a visit from someone famous. This show talks about the delusions we turn to for safety,” she says. Cheel performed the show at the Town and Country Centre on June 27 to a standing ovation and was once again thrilled by the fact that her personal story resonated with so many people. Karen MacDonald, Cheel’s friend and collaborator on a number of community projects, says she is proud of Cheel for putting herself out there. “The play is amazing and shows her vulnerability and she also added some of her humour to balance it out,” she says. “She really is quite the comedian. This play gives you a little insight to who Kim is.” ON ACTING Cheel describes one of her most transformative acting experiences as at the Common Ground Festival at the Pumphouse Theatre in Calgary (June 2730), where she portrayed a woman of colour in What Comes After. “It was interesting for me as a white woman. It was a very powerful piece of storytelling that is not what you see in social media and the news reports. It was powerful and transformative because the woman I was portraying came to the show on the last night and to hear her breath catch when I was using my voice to tell her story was incredible.” Cheel says one of the most unexpected things she has had to deal with as an actor happened last summer when she was a street theatre actor at Heritage Park. “I had my skirt fall down on the one day I wasn’t wearing a petticoat!” she says with a laugh. “I just had to catch it with one hand and finish the scene. In my experience, when something unexpected like that happens, you just have to own it.”
RECOGNITION Cheel was recently recognized for her role in theatre when she took home the award for Outstanding Performance at the Foothills Zone One-Act Festival for her one-woman show titled Cleaning for the Prime Minister and Other Delusions. “I felt extremely validated to get that award,” she says. “For me, I really wasn’t expecting much. It was more than I could have ever imagined.” 22
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MADE FOR THE STAGE Cheel has also been sharing her talents and creativity with children through an acting program at Bert Church Theatre for the past eight years. “I never thought I wanted to teach but something I have learned is: you don’t truly know something until you can explain it to someone else,” she says, adding that the class is broken up into three acts. Act 1 is for children ages seven to 10, Act 2 is for ages 11 to 16 and this year, the program will add a third advanced acting class that provides a continuum of theatre experiences for young actors who are looking to improve their acting skills. The program is more about teaching children life skills, says Cheel, than just acting classes. “It is about teaching them how to have a presence and find their confidence and understand how non-verbal movement comes into play,” she says. Last semester, Cheel had her students write and perform their own play. “I’m sure all the kids who have attended her classes have learned a lot from her,” says MacDonald. “She supports diversity, inclusion and expressing oneself. I think she gets as much out of teaching as the kids get out of learning.” life
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G R E AT L I F E | T H E AT R E
PHOTO BY IAN JACKSON
Actor Rod Beattie in Wingfield Lost and Found
LIVE at the BCT SEPT. 28 KELLIE HAINES This multi-talented entertainer has mastered the art of storytelling through puppetry and combines a background in music, clowning and ventriloquism in her exploration of a wide variety of topics. OCT. 4 THE STORY OF THE HAG FEATURING JESS LEE Be part of a special evening dedicated to one of the greatest artists in country music history, Merle Haggard. OCT. 26 THE HOWL 19 A MUSICAL MASQUERADE Presented by Juno-winner Norman Foote and an extra-large local youth costumed choir, the Howl 19 brings together music, laughter and the creative spirit of Halloween! This concert will feature the Windsong Heights Elementary School, making this concert a true community event. NOV. 1 RED DIRT SKINNERS Described by Roots Music Canada as “The Pink Floyd of Folk Music,” the Red Dirt Skinners are the multi-award-winning, multi-instrumentalist, hilarious husband-and-wife team of Rob and Sarah Skinner. NOV. 7 CHRISTOPHER HALL AND THE COMIC QUARTET Accompanied by a string quartet, Christopher Hall (clarinet) delights people with beautiful music sprinkled with laughter as he pokes fun at stereotypical classical music.
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NOV. 15 BRADEN GATES & JAKE MORLEY One great concert with two fantastic singers! Braden Gates, the Canadian Folk Music Award’s 2017 Emerging Artist of the Year nominee, has performed at countless prestigious festivals and opened for Blue Rodeo at the Banff Centre Amphitheatre. See him right here in Airdrie along with Jake Morley, one of the U.K.’s most original singer-songwriters. NOV. 21-23 WINGFIELD LOST AND FOUND Seventh and latest in the popular series about stockbroker-turned-farmer Walt Wingfield. In the midst of a record drought, wells on the Seventh Line are drying up. A search to locate a new well on Wingfield Farm ensues, but distractions abound: a high-tech cattle drive, a battle with ground bees, a feud with a red-tailed hawk, an eccentric lineup of water witches and a well driller who’s only too happy to perforate the ground at $40 a foot. Is it the end of farming for Walt and Maggie, or can the precious liquid be found? NOV. 29 A JOHN MCDERMOTT FAMILY CHRISTMAS Join the beloved Canadian tenor John McDermott for a magical night of holiday cheer for the whole family.
MEET Chris Stockton BCT gets new artistic producer
I
am thrilled to be returning to the City of Airdrie as the new artistic producer at The Bert Church LIVE Theatre. Growing up here and performing on the Bert Church Theatre stage numerous times was incredibly influential in my development as a theatre performer and director. Since leaving Airdrie I have been a part of the arts communities in Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Okotoks and Calgary. All of these experiences have helped shape me, in their own way, to become the artist I am today. I have been fortunate to spend time in some of the greatest arts cities in the world such as New York, London, England and Chicago and learned from the best in the industry. One important, simple, transferrable lesson I have realized is that regardless of where you live, regardless of what you do, regardless of what time period you grew up, the arts always have been and will continue to be one of the defining qualities of being human. We need the arts; to express ourselves, to tell stories to generations young and old, to challenge ideas and explore possibilities, to laugh, cry and cheer and to share in an experience together as performer and audience. There are hidden creative possibilities here in Airdrie that are just waiting to be discovered, nurtured and showcased. What an exciting time to create. What an exciting time to be part of the cultural growth in this city. What an exciting time to come home.
GENERAL, COSMETIC AND PREVENTATIVE DENTISTRY Visit our website for full list of services provided.
Dr. Kevin Amaniampong is joining the Grace Family Dental team to help serve your family better. Grace Family Dental founder, Dr. Quoc Quach, said making the decision to hire the 25-year-old Calgary native for his growing team was easy. “We like his personality and the way he communicates with people,” said Dr. Quach. “He’s very integral, trustworthy and easygoing. I think he’s a good fit for our team, because he likes to have fun, as well.”
He looks forward to helping patients make informed decisions through education and upfront quotes. “One thing I’ve really prided myself in is patient education and comfort in the chair,” said Dr. Amaniampong. He aims to help Grace Family Dental continue to focus on patient-centred care. He enjoys taking patients through their X-rays, explaining things in layman’s terms.
Dr. Amaniampong is welcomed to the nine-yearold practice after graduating from the University of Alberta School of Dentistry this spring.
Dr. Amaniampong also isn’t afraid to joke with kids to help them have positive experiences at the dentist.
“I’m trying to learn and make a positive impact in the community,” said the young dentist. “All I can hope is that I can come into this role and help continue to build that positive impact in the community.”
He brings another language to the culturally diverse team of dentists, hygienists, assistants and office staff.
He admires the culture of patient-centred care that has been built at Grace Family Dental. “At this point in my life, when the people that I surround myself with really have an impact on my life, I think Grace Family Dental is a good environment to be in,” said Dr. Amaniampong. “It just really aligned with what I wanted.”
His family is from Ghana, and speaks Twi at home. That means a seventh language has been added at Grace Family Dental, among English, French, Arabic, Russian, Romanian and Vietnamese. “Even if it’s one person out there who would appreciate it, it’s good,” said Dr. Amaniampong of being bilingual in his practice. Grace Family Dental is truly embracing health and beautiful smiles for the whole family.
ALL SERVICES PROVIDED BY GENERAL DENTISTS GET SOCIAL: gracefamilydental.ca GraceFamilyDental gracefamilydentalairdrie OFFICE HOURS: Monday: 9-5 Tuesday 9-7 Wednesday 9-5 Thursday 11-7 Friday 9-4 Saturday 9-4 (2 per month)
CONTACT: 403-980-7555 info@gracefamilydental.ca
G R E AT L I F E | AT T R AC T I O N S
A CLOSER LOOK
BY STACIE GAETZ
at four major festivals/attractions
VIVA MEXICO Lore Pérez, Organizer
Who: Lore Pérez, organizer What: Viva Mexico Festival When: Sept. 14, 12-3:30 p.m. Where: Berth Church Theatre How many years has the event run? This is the second year. What is new this year? The event will have a more artistic setup and is in a new location as last year, it was held at East Lake Park. What does your event celebrate? Mexican Independence Day Why should residents attend your event? To enjoy the Mexican culture including food, dancers, Mariachi singers. What will the highlight of your event be? The unique vendors and food. We will have a raffle for a free balloon ride for two with champagne. Ticket will cost $10. If you would like to order tickets, email vivamexicoairdrie@gmail.com What will people learn from your event? You will learn about Mexican culture and enjoy our artistic touch!
Unit, a mobile unit that travels across the province connecting visitors with important rural and farm safety information, will also attend this year’s event. What does the event celebrate? Art of the Harvest is a celebration of farming in years past that educates attendees about the methods of harvesting and country life from years gone by. Many people don’t know where their food comes from and this educates people while they are having fun. Why should residents attend the event? The first 300 people at the event will receive a free beef-on-a-bun lunch; you get to meet real farmers, you have the chance to socialize with your friends and neighbours, all while learning something about the farms of the past. What will the highlight of your event be? Most people really enjoy seeing the threshing with the old-time machines, but we also have a vegetable garden where you get to pick your own veggies and take them home for $10 a bag. What is unexpected about this year’s event? The most unexpected thing people see at the event is Molly the Mule. Molly makes ice cream by walking on a treadmill. It is really something to see!
AIRDRIE FILM FESTIVAL Kim Cheel, interim president
ART OF THE HARVEST
Norma Bilben, chairperson of Art of the Harvest Committee Who: Art of the Harvest What: Airdrie & District Agricultural Society When: Sept. 21, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Where: Airdrie Ag Park, three kilometres west of Airdrie on Big Hill Springs Road and Range Road 14 How many years has the event run? This is the eighth year What is new this year? This year’s event will feature a live band, Pure Country, for the first time. The Ag for Life Rural Safety
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Who: Airdrie Film Society What: Airdrie Film Festival When: Sept. 28 Where: Bert Church Theatre How many years has the event run? This is the third official year. What is new this year? There will be all new films, including a youth category. What does the event celebrate? The fact that film is more than what you see in Hollywood. It’s a vibrant and deep art craft. There is poetry to it, and it is beautiful.
Why should residents attend the event? This year allows us to include youth and foster their talents. The festival will give them validation and help them fulfil their dreams. What will the highlight of your event be? The quality of the content. People are blown away by the high calibre of our entries. What is unexpected about this year’s event? It isn’t just about movies – you get to see into someone’s mindset for eight to 15 minutes. You get a glimpse of what is important enough for them to put this much time and effort into.
AIRSCARES
Jessica Nash, manager of events and volunteers Who: Boys and Girls Club of Airdrie What: Airscares When: Oct. 17-20, 24-27, 30 Where: 805 Main Street How many years has the event run? This will be the ninth year. What is new this year? New theme, new scares and family-friendly weekend matinees. Night performances are recommended for 12 years old and older. What does the event celebrate? Airscares celebrates our collective love of all thinks spooky while promoting community involvement through volunteering and attending the event. Why should residents attend the event? All money raised through the event will go directly into children’s and youth programming. The success of this event will allow us to continue to offer barrier-free programming to our community. What will the highlight of your event be? We hope to break our attendance record from previous years. What is unexpected about this year’s event? The theme! This year the theme will be a huge hit with the community, but we are keeping it under wraps for now.
REDISCOVER Season 35
Kellie Haines Ventriloquist
Indigo Circus
The Story of the Hag
Jazzology Family Series
SEPT. 28, 2019 Featuring Jess Lee
OCT. 4, 2019
The Howl 19 A Musical Masquerade OCT. 26, 2019
FEB. 2, 2020
Blue Moon Marquee FEB. 21, 2020
Jazz Affair Wishes
Red Dirt Skinners
FEB. 28, 2020
NOV. 1, 2019
Christopher Hall and the
The Heebee-Jeebees
NOV. 7, 2019
Billy McGuigan’s
Braden Gates & Jake Morley
MAR. 22, 2020
TM
MAR. 13, 2020
Comic Quartet Actor Rod Beattie | Photographer Ian Jackson
JAN. 19, 2020
NOV. 15, 2019
Wingfield Lost and Found By Dan Needles, Starring Rod Beattie, Directed by Douglas Beattie
NOV 21-23, 2019 A
John McDermott Family Christmas
Rock Legends Prairie Mountain Fiddlers APR. 4, 2020
Dufflebag Theatre
Beauty and the Beast APR. 18, 2020
NOV. 29, 2019
Lewis Carroll’s
Lizzy Hoyt
Presented by Nose Creek Players
Alice in Wonderland
Ancient Carols for a Winter’s Night
DEC. 13, 2019
MAY 21-23, 2020
TICKETS ON SALE
theb e r t churcht h e a t r e .com
FALL IS FULL OF FUN G R E AT L I F E | E V E N TS
OPERA IN AIRDRIE
“What excites me about the role of Dalila is that I get to play an evil, scheming character, when often I have played the comic relief. She has loads of beautiful music to sing so that’s a big bonus! I am so excited to share this music with the people of Airdrie.” - Alicia Woynarski, mezzo soprano, starring in Samson et Dalila
SEPT. 7 AIRDRIEFEST City Hall/Main Street airdrieFEST is one of Airdrie’s premier outdoor festivals featuring local, non-profit organizations and local businesses. This is a particularly special year as airdrieFEST celebrates its 10th anniversary alongside the City’s 110th birthday. It’s going to be a great celebration Airdrie residents won’t want to miss. Enjoy free family fun, live entertainment, kids’ games and community registrations. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. SEPT. 7-8 STEAM AND STATIONARY ENGINES Pioneer Acres (Irricana) An event that highlights several stationary and portable steam engines as well as a 65 HP Case steam tractor. Visitors can also enjoy an impressive collection of internal combustion engines. Early settlers used these stationary engines to pump water, lift grain in elevators, operate blacksmith and woodworking shops, produce electricity and perform a host of other tasks. SEPT. 13 TAPROOM COMEDY Fitzsimmons Brewing Co. Featuring Pete Zedlacher with Leah Scheitel and host Barry Piercey. 18+ event. 8 p.m. Tickets $20 advance, $25 at the door, available at taproomcomedy.com
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SEPT. 14 VIVA MEXICO Bert Church Theatre See full story on page 26. SEPT. 19 SAMSON ET DALILA OPERA Lutheran Church of the Master Presented by the Calgary Concert Opera in co-operation with Opera by Request and Foothills Philharmonic Chorus featuring Airdrie’s own mezzo soprano Alicia Woynarski with Dan Rowley and Barbara King. 7 p.m. Tickets $35, available at calgaryconcertopera.com SEPT. 21 ART OF THE HARVEST/FARM SAFETY EVENT Airdrie Ag Park See full story on page 26. SEPT. 21 13th ANNUAL EMPTY BOWLS ARTS FESTIVAL Airdrie Food Bank This family-friendly celebration of community in the Airdrie area brings awareness to local hunger issues and raises funds for Airdrie Food Bank. Features local music, art, kids’ activities and free soup lunch! Handmade pottery bowls are available for purchase for a suggested $20 donation. All proceeds support Airdrie Food Bank programs. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“I love our opera company and what we bring to the music society. We perform full operas in concert format which means that we invite the audience into a smaller, more intimate venue where they can see our expressions and really focus on the music without all of the costumes and sets. It is much less expensive because we rent out church sanctuaries which have impeccable acoustics. “We use clearly projected English subtitles above us on large screens on either side of the stage so everyone can follow along and understand the story. This opera is in French. “We have invited professional opera singers from around Alberta to sing the lead roles. William Shookhoff, artistic director of Opera by Request in Toronto, will be returning as our music director and pianist for all three performances. We are also collaborating with Foothills Philharmonic Opera Chorus, which includes 20 opera singers who will be singing the chorus parts. “Opera can be powerful, dramatic, funny, sexy, scary, loving and pull emotions out of the audience that they would have never felt before. Hearing and seeing professional opera singers in such an intimate venue is a unique and exhilarating experience. Many people can relate to the characters in the opera as the stories are still so relevant in today’s society. “ - Barbara King, Calgary Opera Company
SEPT. 21 FARM TO FORK MARKET Town and Country Centre This first-time event will host vendors, food trucks, a petting zoo, face painting, guest speaker and more with an emphasis on local farmers. Proceeds will go to Children’s Cottage Crisis Nursery. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. FARM TO FORK GALA Town and Country Centre 150 guests will enjoy a gourmet dinner with the ingredients provided by local farmers. Evening includes a western-themed fashion show, entertainment, a silent auction and DJ. Proceeds to the Children’s Cottage Crisis Nursery. Semi-formal western attire encouraged. 5:30 p.m. Tickets $99. farmtofork2019.ca
See all Bert Church Theatre show listings on page 24
SEPT. 21 DESONUS CONCERT Bert Church Theatre “DeSonus 2019 Mixtape Vol. 1”supports the Airdrie Boys and Girls Club and the Ujamaa Grandmas and features an incredible lineup of talented singers and musicians from Airdrie and area. Doors open at 6 p.m., show at 7 p.m. Black tie optional. Tickets $53 at desonus.ca SEPT. 27-29 ALBERTA CULTURE DAYS Around Airdrie Creativity abounds in Airdrie, with a great art and culture scene year-round. Join in the celebration of Alberta Culture Days and watch for a variety of arts-themed happenings around the city. Visit airdrielife.com for up-to-the-minute info. SEPT. 28 VOICE AND VISION Airdrie Public Library Check out this unique collaboration between 15 area writers and 15 visual artists who exchange work to gain inspiration and create a response piece to one another’s work. 6:30 p.m. See feature on page 75. OCTOBER (TBA) AIRDRIE’S GHOST WALK Come along for a “chilling” walk and hear stories about Airdrie ghosts as performed by local actors. Tickets $15. Dates and tickets at kcheel.wixsite. com/airdrieghostwalk and on Facebook. OCT. 5 STAR WARS READS DAY Airdrie Public Library Drop in at the library for cosplay, crafts, activities and games inspired by Star Wars. 12:30 to 2 p.m.
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G R E AT L I F E | E V E N TS
Airscares
OCT. 5 LIGHT UP THE NIGHT SMOKE AND MIRRORS Town and Country Centre A black-tie dinner, casino and live acrobatic artists all in support of the Airdrie Health Foundation. Tickets $150, available at airdriehealthfoundation.com OCT. 11 TAPROOM COMEDY Fitzsimmons Brewing Co. Featuring Brian Stollery with Bradley Layden and host Steve Taddei. 18+ event. 8 p.m. Tickets $20 advance, $25 at the door, available at taproomcomedy.com OCT. 17-20, 24-27, 30 AIRSCARES See full story on page 26. OCT. 18-19 FRANKENSTEIN Bert Church Live Theatre Set in the icy polar regions where scientist Victor Frankenstein has chased the creature he brought to life, this highly theatrical and emotional play traces Frankenstein’s path to the final confrontation with his intelligent, articulate, sensitive and powerfully violent child. Friday and Saturday evening at 7 p.m. Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. Tickets through ticketpro. OCT. 27 (WEATHER PERMITTING) HALLOWEEN FUNDRAISER Iron Horse Park Halloween fundraiser for Airdrie Food Bank – come in your costumes for the interpretive journeys on miniature trains. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. OCT. 27 5th ANNUAL BOO AT THE CREEK Nose Creek Park Boo at the Creek is a free, annual family-friendly Halloween event. Bring your little ghosts and goblins out to play games, make crafts, enjoy music, prizes and so much more. Admission is by monetary donation or non-perishable food item. Last year’s event raised more than $6,700 for Airdrie Food Bank. 1-4 p.m.
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NOV. 1-2 AIRDRIE CHRISTMAS SHOW Town and Country Centre Airdrie Farmers Market hosts this holiday market with unique handmade one-of-a-kind treasures as well as holiday baking, food trucks and something for everyone. Friday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. NOV. 2 CHRISTMAS MARKET Crossfield Community Hall Hosted by the Crossfield Farmers Market with a focus on fresh, local and handmade ingredients and products, this market features seasonal vendors and product as well as regulars from the summer season. Free admission, food bank donations accepted. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. NOV. 21-29 TORCHLIGHT THEATRE PRESENTS PRESCRIPTION: MURDER BY WILLIAM LINK & RICHARD LEVINSON Polaris Centre for the Performing Arts Providing the inspiration for the TV series Columbo, the theatrical predecessor Prescription: Murder tells the story of a brilliant psychiatrist and his mistress who hatch a plot to murder his neurotic, possessive wife. The execution of their plan and the creation of their perfect alibi depend on a bizarre impersonation. Lt. Columbo must engage the psychiatrist in a duel of wits until the doctor succeeds in having Columbo removed from the case. However, it is the mistress who proves to be the weak link that leads to a trap and a surprising climax. Evening shows 7:30 p.m. Matinees Nov. 23 and 30 at 2 p.m. Tickets at torchlighttheatre.ca NOV. 30 - DEC. 1 HOLIDAY MARKET & FESTIVAL OF TREES 200 East Lake Cres. An annual fundraiser in support of Boys & Girls Club of Airdrie. The market features everything from homemade items to delicious treats. Entry $2. Visit Facebook for details.
At the Museum This fall at Nose Creek Valley Museum (NCVM) is a busy one. Be sure not to miss the final days of the museum’s newest exhibit, Can You Dig It? Created by Carrie Allen and Laurie Harvey, the exhibit showcases archaeology in a Nose Creek Valley way, using artifacts from their collection, as well as replicas of museum pieces created by Allen. Can You Dig It? provides visitors with a snapshot of world archaeology – from treasure hunting, to scientific pursuit, to Hollywood. Find out what modern archaeologists really do in this fascinating multicultural exhibit featuring museum-quality replicas of artwork from around the globe. The exhibit will be open until the end of October. Also this fall the museum will be hosting blacksmith demonstrations in the parking lot. Learn how this art form melds metal with talent to create something uniquely man-made. Dates are still to be determined. The next exhibit will have a holiday theme – Our Christmas Bucket List. Start a new Christmas tradition with this charming exhibit featuring Baby Jesus, spices, Krampus, presents, food and Santa Claus Nov. 14 to January 2020. Jam packed with colour, light, and family-friendly holiday fun, this is an interactive Christmas extravaganza you definitely do not want to miss. Don’t forget to ask about the Junior Curator Program, a fun and educational program that aims to teach young people about working at a museum, in a hands-on environment. Participants meet once a month with workshops in between meetings. This summer workshops were held on Celtic painting, carving, bookbinding and calligraphy for children in the community age seven to 15 and Junior Curators assisted with the workshops. life
2019 airdrielife reader survey
Tell us about yourself and WIN a gift card for
$500
Help us make airdrielife better by taking our short 10-minute quiz and be entered to win a $500 gift card for SAVE-ON-FOODS in Airdrie. ENTER BEFORE OCT. 30, 2019 AT AIRDRIELIFE.COM
Prize must be accepted as presented.No cash value, no substitutions. Must be 18 years or older to win. Contest is valid in Alberta only. Winner must have Alberta resident ID.
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G R E AT L I F E | F O O D
5 EXPERT TIPS FOR KEEPING YOUR BREAD FRESH AT HOME: Bread should never be refrigerated unless it is 100-per-cent rye bread (because of the high moisture content in rye). Bread actually goes stale faster in the refrigerator than it does at room temperature. Unsliced bread will stay fresh longer. Bread should always be stored in a sealed container, plastic wrap or tinfoil. If you have more bread than you can consume before it goes stale, the best way to store it is by freezing. Bread boxes make a difference. One of the biggest benefits is keeping the bread out of direct light, but the box also retains just enough moisture to slow retrogradation, keeping the inside moist, and the outside crispy. 32
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Believing in bread
STORY BY STACIE GAETZ | PHOTOS BY SERGEI BELSKI
BREAD SHOULD BE SIMPLE That’s the belief of the owners of SkyeFire Bakery, which opened on Main Street in March. “We care about your bread,” says Scott Williams, owner. “We use traditional baking techniques, no additives and sourdough cultures, to get you that great product, every time.” Williams says the benefits of natural baking include the fact that it is better for your health and results in a far superior taste over the commercial bread you buy at a grocery store. He says it is a common misconception that bread should stay fresh for a long time. Unlike many commercial brands, fresh bread made with natural ingredients should dry out and/or mould in less than a week, he adds. “We recommend that you eat it fresh and buy often,” he says. “That’s why we offer a variety of breads, buns and other baked goods for you to choose from. Stop in to our store for your daily bread, a cup of coffee and a scone, or check out our selection of local condiments, coffees and more!” The bakery also offers seasonal sandwiches and plans to expand to include a selection of cheeses, soups and other simple meals in the near future.
BEHIND THE BREAD Williams has more than 15 years’ experience in bakeries and has also been a chef in a number of restaurants, including a stint in a high-end hotel in Victoria, B.C., where he cooked for members of the Trump family and a number of prime ministers.
“I always knew that when I had my own place, it would be a bakery. There is something about making bread the way it should be,” he says. “It’s an art and a science. It’s biology, working with natural fermentation. Sour doughs, for instance, change every day. It is not an exact science, like baking sweet treats; it changes and grows. It’s actually alive and that’s fascinating.” Williams’ wife and co-owner of the bakery, Charmaine Laboucane, says along with his passion for bread, Williams is a stickler for authenticity. “If he is making a German pretzel, he wants to make sure that if you are German, you are going to love it.”
“There is something about making bread the way it should be” MORE THAN BREAD The bakery offers a variety of breads and buns, including rye breads, whole wheat and white breads, sourdoughs, pretzels, potato bread, baguettes and specialty breads. They also carry some sweeter treats, such as muffins, scones and cookies. “We make the sweet stuff to keep up with demand,” says Williams. “People love their cookies and we make more than we ever thought we would.” Although there have been a few bumps due to the construction on Main Street, Laboucane says they have seen a positive response from the community. “We do have a grander vision for what the shop could be, but we are happy with the way it has been going so far.” She adds they are starting to see a number of regulars who come in for their daily coffee and those who are interested in the local items they sell in the front of house. “We love supporting local business. Whenever possible, we choose local ingredients and local products,” Laboucane says. “We only sell what we use in our baked goods, so we know it’s good quality.” Some of the artisan items include honey, mustard, olive oil, coffee, teas and jams. “We want to buy from our neighbours, from people we trust,” says Williams. “That way, we know what we are getting and it’s building a sense of community.” life FA L L 2019
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G R E AT L I F E | F L AV O U R S
Fall flavour
A
Handmade pasta at Hayloft
venue Cakery and Bakeshoppe fall flavours mean pies, lots of pies; perfect for toting to a Thanksgiving dinner – but be warned, they sell fast! Look for fall (and Halloween) themed cookies in whimsical patterns, and lots of cupcakes with traditional fall flavours like carrot cake and sweet potato (yes sweet potato!) with cream cheese icing. Of course all your favourites are there from squares to macarons. Over at Fitzsimmons Brewing Co., they are bringing back comedy nights every second Friday of each month. Advanced tickets are $20, and $25 at the door. And get this: the brewery is releasing a new lager at the beginning of September called “Pamela’s Breakfast Recipe,” or “PBR” for short, which is a lager that they brewed with corn flakes. Yep, breakfast beer.
@theavenuecakery
6 - 620 1st Avenue NW 403.948.6331 34
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Cocktails Wine Beer Espresso Breakfast Lunch Dinner Patio Bayside (8th and Yankee)
At Hayloft, owner James Hoan Nguyen and his crew continue to celebrate Airdrie’s agrarian history by supporting local farmers, ranchers and suppliers. “Our menu has something for everyone, with all recipes made fresh and in-house,” Nguyen says. House-made pastas, local bison and duck confit poutine are a few of our faves. Sorso Lounge Espresso and Wine Bar continues to have the hippest vibe in town with the right mix of libations and food with entertainment to wash it all down. Saturday nights usually feature a musical guest and Sorso Sunday Sessions are an open mike night running from 6-9 p.m. And mornings at Sorso are the go-to for the best eggs benny in the city. life
WIN tastes from these purveyors by following us on social media and joining the a-list AirdrieLife Ad 552X713 1-May-19.pdf 1 01-May-19 5:40:01 PM
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G R E AT L I F E | R E C I P E S
take home two pies!
In the Kitchen WITH MEGHAN WEST
Airdrie Food Bank Community Kitchen Quick Pickles The yield of this recipe is two standard pints but it can easily be doubled or tripled to accommodate experimenting with all sorts of veggie choices and spice combinations. One of my favourite adjustments is adding a tablespoon of fresh ginger and teaspoon of curry powder! 1 lb fresh vegetables (carrots or green beans) 2 tbsp dried dill or 1/2 cup fresh dill 2 tsp whole peppercorns 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1 cup vinegar (white or apple cider) 1 cup water 2 tsp pickling salt Wash and dry the vegetables. Leave beans whole with the ends trimmed and chop carrots into sticks, ensuring that they are shorter than your jars. Divide the dill, peppercorns and garlic evenly between the jars. Tightly pack the vegetables into the jars. Ensure there is a 1/2 inch of space from the rim of the jar to the tops of the vegetables. Combine the vinegar, water and salt. Pour the brine over the vegetables, filling each jar to within 1/2 inch of the top. You might not use all the brine. Place the lids on the jars and screw on the rings until tight. Store the pickles in the refrigerator. Wait at least 48 hours before eating. Beet Hummus 1 small beet, roasted 1 15-oz. can chickpeas (reserve 1/3 cup juice while draining) 1 large lemon, zested 1/2 large lemon, juiced 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp black pepper 3 large cloves garlic, crushed 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil Roast a beet wrapped in foil for one hour at 375 F. Once your beet is cooled and peeled, chop and blend in the food processor. Add chickpeas, chickpea juice, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, pepper and garlic. Add in olive oil as the hummus is mixing. Once smooth, taste test and adjust with salt or lemon juice as needed. Store in the fridge for up to one week.
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airdrie’s premiere
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WHY FALL IS THE BEST TIME TO BE IN YOUR KITCHEN Getting creative Take advantage of affordable seasonal items to try out new and different recipes or sign up for a good food box or CSA (community-supported agriculture) share from a local farm to access variety and inspire you to cook with new ingredients! Stocking up No one likes to think about losing the abundance of fruits and vegetables that are available to us during the summer. Freezing is one of the quickest and simplest ways to stash away our summer favourites like saskatoons. Portion out frozen berries or veggies in standard measurements frequently used in your go-to recipes so you don’t have to fuss with measuring them out when they are frozen and stuck together. Cozy nights With cooler temperatures coming back we can start to return to some of our classic comfort food recipes that were put on the back burner during the summertime. Put on a big pot of soup and gather your favourite people to share stories of your summer adventures. life
Carman Thiessen, CFP® 403-462-7727 carman.thiessen@rbc.com
Chris Friesen, CFP® 403-807-3010 chris.friesen@rbc.com
Talk to an RBC® advisor.
RBC Financial Planning is a business name used by Royal Mutual Funds Inc. (RMFI). Financial planning services and investment advice are provided by RMFI. RMFI, RBC Global Asset Management Inc., Royal Bank of Canada, Royal Trust Corporation of Canada and The Royal Trust Company are separate corporate entities which are affiliated. RMFI is licensed as a financial services firm in the province of Quebec. † Personal lending products and residential mortgages are offered by Royal Bank of Canada and are subject to its standard lending criteria. ® / ™ Trademark(s) of Royal Bank of Canada. © Royal Bank of Canada, 2019. VPS14637 36425 (05/2019)
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SEVEN SAINTS
G R E AT L I F E | FAS H I O N
Miss Dazie bralette High Hopes cardi Jolie dress Phoenix clutch Lisbeth earrings Ashley Nadalin necklace Free People Nicola heel boot
Transition Pieces MOVE INTO FALL WITH STYLE ZIVA & EM
Joseph Ribkoff grey top Joseph Ribkoff floral pant cream and gold purse tassle earrings ring necklace 38
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THE STORE UPSTAIRS
Melrose & Co. tee Soaked in Luxury Solela skirt Molly Bracken leather lace up detail black jacket Matt & Nat Rubicon purse Cartel Jazmin black booties
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THE STORE UPSTAIRS
GF Collection Luna top Joe’s The Charlie high-rise skinny jean DeLux Montana hat Cartel Luna leopard leather booties
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KNOWLEDGE is free... and so is your Airdrie Public Library card! Get your FREE APL y! card toda
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G R E AT L I F E | F I T N E SS
READY FOR A CHALLENGE The airdrielife fitness challenge is back with three very eager challengers, each with their own hurdles and goals. With the help of Orangetheory Fitness and Simply For Life we are looking forward to their journey to a healthier life. Follow along on our social channels to cheer them on and check in with our contestants in the winter issue!
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DONNA KITSCH
JAMIE KELLY
TINA PARSONS
Age: 41 Height: 5’10” Weight: 348 lbs Chest: 51.5” Waist: 50.5” Hips: 59” Arms: 20” Thighs: 32” Calves: 27”
Age: 56 Height: 5’7” Weight: 161.2 lbs Chest: 41.5” Waist: 33.5” Hips: 41” Arms: 12” Thighs: 21” Calves: 14.5”
Age: 46 Height: 5’7” Weight: 279 lbs Chest: 46.5” Waist: 45” Hips: 58” Arms: 18” Thighs: 32” Calves: 17.5”
“I am most looking forward to learning a good balance to succeed to help carry me forward for great success. I am also looking forward to meeting new people on their own journeys to be inspired through support.”
“I’m looking forward to a different way of eating/meal prep and a new challenge of a workout routine. I’m also looking forward to keeping myself accountable.”
“I am most looking forward to learning how to eat in a way that fuels my body to be at its peak performance, and to stopping the diet mentality and learning how to eat to live instead of living to eat. I’ve lost weight in the past by changing my diet. And I’ve gotten fitter at times with good exercise programs, but I’ve never gotten both nutrition and exercise dialed in at the same time. I’m really looking forward to the results that this could produce.”
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Made in Airdrie... curated in Cooper’s!
2020
airdrie
awards
Are you an Airdrie business owner or entrepreneur creating amazing made in Airdrie products? This event is for you! We want to celebrate the makers, creators, craftspeople and businesses whose ingenuity, creativity, craftsmanship and hard work make us proud to be Airdronians. airdrielife and Cooper’s Crossing are curating the best creations in Airdrie – products created and manufactured within a 20 km radius of Airdrie with the AIRDRIE MADE AWARDS. There are six categories for makers to enter: Taste – all edible food-related products, beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) that are packaged and available for retail sale. This is not open to restaurant dishes. Fashion - any fashion related product, from head to toe, including accessories for men, women and/or children. Home - any product for the home (inside and out) from furnishings to textiles, decorative hardware etc. Craft – a quality product with a focus on craftsmanship ie pottery, stained glass, woodwork etc. Beauty/Wellness – any product for personal grooming or a product that promotes healthy living. Leisure– sporting/outdoor equipment, games, toys and pet related products. Future Makers Award – a non-entry fee category for youth under 16 years of age who (with minimal adult supervision) create products for sale and/or fundraising. All eligible entrants will be featured in a photo spread in the winter issue of airdrielife and be invited to showcase their products in the Cooper’s Crossing show homes. The winners of each category will receive a ¼-page advertorial in a 2020 issue of airdrielife magazine and bragging rights for the full year. The overall winner will receive a full-page advertorial. The awards will be presented at the end of January at a special ticketed event at Cooper’s Crossing. A portion of the ticket price will be donated to the Airdrie Public Library. All entries are by self-nomination only. The entry fee is $20. To read all of the rules and regulations and enter your product/s, go online to airdrielife/com BEFORE SEPT 30 and send us your pitch telling us why your product/s should win.
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The Airdrie Angel program gives a hand up to those who have been through a difficult time or who are living with a challenging circumstance.
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AIRDRIE BUSINESS AWARDS GALA
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Tickets $53 desonus.ca Supporting Boys & Girls Club of Airdrie Ujamma Grandmas FA L L 2019
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G R E AT L I F E | C O L U M N
Get organized for back-to-school learning
parentlife
WITH YOSSI SUISSA
W
ith school back in, many students find themselves rushing to feel ready. Staying academically organized throughout the semester can sometimes be tricky, but the results are well worth it! Students who stay organized tend to get better grades and avoid unnecessary stress in school. To make life a little easier, here are some great tips for getting and staying academically organized!
Make an agenda Many students believe they can mentally “jot down” their assignments throughout the day to be recalled later. The fact is this approach simply doesn’t work. It’s just not realistic to try to remember a long list of due dates. Write down important assignments, projects and upcoming exams in an agenda to ensure you’re always on top of your work and prioritizing appropriately. Separate your materials for different classes Try not to use one notebook, binder or folder for multiple classes. Keeping all your materials separated goes a long way for staying organized! BACK TO SCHOOL Keep your backpack organized! SPECIAL Although this may seem rather obvious, don’t forget to keep your Customized backpack clean and tidy! SurprisLearning ingly enough, we’ve seen students Experiences that return to school with used notefor Success. books and old, crumpled assignments in their backpack from the 4 hours free in home previous school year. Ideally, you tutoring with enrollment should clean out your school bag $200.00 Value - Call Today! Make them the STAR of a personalized photo storybook 403-451-5475 once a month. life featuring pictures of the people & things they love most! Yossi Suissa M.A. is the owner tutordoctor.com Visit sentimentsphotobooks.ca/birthday to receive a and education consultant for Tutor Airdrie and Calgary FREE Customized Photo Birthday Card with purchase. Doctor Airdrie and Calgary
Give them the birthday gift they actually want!
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PH O N E : EMAIL: WEB
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Amazing Airdrie Women Awards to Expand in 2020
I
n celebration of the 10th Annual Amazing Airdrie Women Awards, airdrielife is doubling the awards presented to women in the community from five to 10 in 2020. “We’ve been talking about tweaking the award categories for a while and as we discussed it, it became clear that 10 awards in the 10th year just made sense and we feel we have encapsulated all of the attributes of amazingness with these 10 awards,” says award founder and airdrielife publisher Sherry Shaw-Froggatt.
The 10 award categories are:
1 2 3 4 5 6
Amazing Advocate – an amazing woman whose passion for a local cause or not-for-profit group inspires and motivates others to become involved and make a positive impact. McKee Homes Amazing Mentor – an amazing woman who is a trusted tutor, coach, counsellor or guide to others in the community as a role model and leader in her chosen field. Amazing Athlete – an amazing woman who is striving towards (or has achieved) athletic excellence in her chosen field. Davis Chevrolet Amazing Legacy – an amazing woman who has been part of the Airdrie community for more than 15 years and has made a difference by her contributions through either her work, volunteering, mentoring, activism and guidance, and has shown by example how to live her best life. Amazing Workplace – a business or organization that has created an environment of support and equality for women. This award is presented to the business/organization as a whole, not to any one individual. Pureform Amazing Courage (Tracy Work Memorial) – an amazing woman who has mental or moral strength to persevere and withstand a difficult personal experience and triumphs in a manner that inspires others.
7 8 9 10
Pharmasave on Centre Amazing Heart – an amazing woman who with a generous disposition and compassion has touched the lives of others in her personal circle; family, friends and peers. Cream Body & Bath Amazing Determination – an amazing woman who has taken decisive action and created change either in her own personal life or in the community at large. Amazing Cultural Ambassador – an amazing woman whose creative talent and energy is matched by her ability to mentor, engage and promote the art community as a whole. TD Bank Amazing Promise – an amazing young woman (age 15-21) who demonstrates exceptional promise through her endeavors in her chosen discipline and is a role model for other youth.
Plans are underway to make the 10th year a major celebration in the city, moving the awards event to an evening format in the spring of 2020 with a lively reception and entertaining awards presentation. “We want everyone in the community to celebrate with us,” says Shaw-Froggatt. “As this city has grown so have the stories of women who make a difference either in their own lives or in the community at large. That’s what the awards are about – celebrating the women in our city who inspire others. The awards evening will be fundraising night for women’s programming in Airdrie including Airdrie P.O.W.E.R. “With new awards we have new sponsorship opportunities as well and we encourage businesses that want to align themselves with women in our community to join us for this incredible program,” says Shaw-Froggatt.
Nominations are open until Nov. 30, 2019 and must be made online at airdrielife.com
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S E C U R I T Y 52 | M A R K E T 5 3 | N E I G H B O U R H O O D 54
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IDEAS AND ADVICE FOR YOUR HOME, INSIDE AND OUT
HOMELIFE | DESIGN
decorlife
WITH KIM PURVIS
A modern white roller shade from Mera Window Fashions
2” white wood blinds from Springs Window Fashions
“When you’re selecting your window treatments consider your priorities as well as the style of the room you’re working with”
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indow treatments are integral to the beauty of any space. Whether the view outside the window is spectacular or you want to hide it, window treatments can be the finishing touch or a subtle distraction. They allow you to control the amount of light, privacy and even control the temperature. I’m sharing four of my favourite window treatment options currently on trend.
ROLLER SHADES
These have made a comeback in recent years, but with a whole lot of style and a much higher quality. They’re great for a contemporary room where you want a sleek and simple way to block the sun and create privacy. I especially love the linen-looking fabric roller shades. Also available in roller shades are solar shades, which can block defined amounts of heat and UV (90-98 per cent) while still maintaining some view. These are very common on farms, acreages or commercial locations. |
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SHUTTERS
I have a special place in my heart for shutters. They just have an old-world charm that I love. I have them throughout my own house and love how functional they are with loads of style. My favourite feature was being able to customize which group of shutters moves in unison, so I can allow light to come in on the top third of my kitchen windows, and have privacy from the green space behind our home on the bottom third. The bonus is that shutters are considered one of the few window treatments that will increase the value of your home. Shutters are the most timeless option and are also so easy to clean and maintain.
WOOD BLINDS (2”)
This is just a classic and cost-effective option. They’re functional, simple and give any room a clean finished look. The best way to pick your finish is to match the trim of your window. They’re also perfect for pairing with my last pick. (These are ideal for anyone
who loves the idea of controlling the light by tilting their slatted shades, but wants a more modern look than the old 1” aluminum mini blinds.)
DRAPERY-AND-BLIND COMBO
This doesn’t work in every room, but drapery offers such a nice soft finish to the window. It allows you to add pattern whether you prefer subtle or bold. Draperies also allow an additional layer of room-darkening options. The softness and depth of drapes will instantly change any room in a huge way. They absorb sound, provide a feeling of coziness and class, and simply make any room feel complete and amazing instantly! If you have never had drapes they are a must for decorating living/dining and bedrooms. When you’re selecting your window treatments consider your priorities as well as the style of the room you’re working with. It is a good idea to consult with an expert that understands the treatments available and the pros and cons of each. Every room is so different and unique and needs to be treated that way. Almost all window treatments have a list of choices to be made so you can further customize to your space, functionality and lifestyle. Happy shopping! life Decorator Kim Purvis, owner of Aurora Decor, is pursuing her lifelong passion of creating beautiful home spaces A wood shutter from Norman Window Fashions
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2” faux wood blinds from Enlightened Style and single-pleat drapery from Vadain International
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H O M E L I F E | S H OW HHOOM MEESS
SOUTHWINDS SUCCESS
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attamy Homes continues on their success in Southwinds with two new single-family showhomes – the Mission and the Pearl. The Mission is a great starter-style family home with a new, and unique, optional kitchen layout that actually is based around the idea
of the “kitchen party.” In particular there is a large island with no kitchen table, along with open-concept shelving cabinetry, an expansive
living room area, and an open staircase leading upstairs. The upper floor hosts a quaint bonus room, upper-floor laundry, two bedrooms plus master bedroom and ensuite area. This home is very sleek and modern in style with emphasis on the contrasts of white on black. The Pearl is a real crowd pleaser featuring a split-level design, awe-inspiring green cabinetry, and a huge main living space area complete with laundry. Up the stairs a short way finds you cozy and comfy with an entertaining space featuring an upper deck and fireplace. Two bedrooms and the master-bedroom plus ensuite will find you on the final upper floor. The palette is soft yet rich in texture with accent feature colours of bold greens and gold. Starting prices range from $314,990 to $459,990.
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HOMELIFE| ADVICE
WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED, AIRDRIE. Airdrie and area’s trusted source of local news for over 43 years. In print every Wednesday & online 24/7.
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Home Safe WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO KEEP YOUR FAMILY SECURE STORY BY STACIE GAETZ
T
he amount of information out there about home alarm systems can be overwhelming. Do you want a monitored system? Unmonitored? Wireless? Electric current? What do these terms even mean? How can you possibly know what you need to keep your family safe? Devin Leinweber, owner of Airdrie Alarm and Surveillance, has 16 years’ experience in the alarm industry and says the three most important things to remember when choosing your alarm system are: •The main purposes of any alarm system are to create a deterrent to criminals and minimize losses if a break and enter does occur; •Families must use the system both when they are at home and away; •You should ensure the system includes fire and carbon monoxide protection/monitors. Many people have a skewed sense of security because they think they “live in a good neighbourhood.” Leinweber says although knowing your neighbours and informing them when you are going to be away can be helpful, crime does not discriminate. “Crime happens where opportunity presents itself and unfortunately, it’s everywhere around us,” he adds. He says price should not be an obstacle as alarm systems can be more affordable than people might think. “Alarm systems are very much in most people’s reach financially, especially with no equipment costs based on a term contract,” he says. “Most insurance companies will also give discounts to people with alarm systems installed in their homes.” He adds the peace of mind that comes with a home alarm system is priceless. “You hear it time and time again, people saying, ‘It will never happen to us.’ But it can and it does. The truth is, break-ins can happen to anyone.” The good news is that alarm systems don’t have to be complicated and can even include some unexpected conveniences such as controlling your home’s thermostat, door locks and lights via your cell phone. “Interactive systems are most common as they do not use landlines, include an app to control the system and receive notifications in regard to alarm and event activities,” says Leinweber. Airdrie Alarm and Surveillance has been in the community for 12 years and offers alarm installation and 24/7 monitoring, local guard response to alarm events, and the ability to service clients within 24 hours. life
5 ways to stay protected Install a camera system: From seeing who is at your door when you are home to recording potentially suspicious behaviour while you are away, video cameras are becoming more and more popular. Pets: A vocal dog has a significant effect in deterring criminals from choosing your house as a target. Light timers: Timed and motion-sensor lights are powerful preventative measures as they increase the chance of a criminal being seen. House checks when vacationing: It is not just regulated by insurance companies; it’s an allaround good idea to have someone check on your home at least every four to five days when you are away. Keep trees and bushes trimmed: Criminals don’t want to be seen. Don’t help them target your house with unruly and large greenery, especially around windows.
HOMELIFE | COLUMN
THE MARKET CYCLE
T marketadvice
WITH TRENT PITTNER
he current real estate market is a sluggish moving ship towards stability and recent statistics indicate we’re not going to see a significant change in the short term. When I am asked by clients how the market is and what we should expect for the final quarter of 2019, I simply try to stay positive and reassure them that real estate is still a safe and reliable investment here in Airdrie. As predicted the 2019 market has seen some sales but nothing to celebrate about. We as Realtors rely on our marketing and our area expertise to help sell our clients’ properties. Every client has a different property to market and each with different attributes that make their home stand out from the next. It’s our job as Realtors to help identify these positive attributes to all prospective buyers looking to purchase at that time. When placing their home on the open market it’s the sellers’ job to ensure their home is clean, bright, well kept and show ready. In our current market these factors are paramount when showcasing your likely largest investment for others to buy. Buyers are being very picky and our total average days on market here in Airdrie is creeping up to 57 days plus or minus. As I’ve said multiple times before, real estate runs on cycles; there are ups and downs and unfortunately, we haven’t seen the upward swing just yet. We experienced a slower first half of 2019 than all of us in the real estate industry would have liked. Recently I’ve noticed that single-family homes priced in the lower ranges ($300,000-400,000) are selling in under the average days on market if presented, priced and marketed correctly.
If you’re a seller in the higher price ranges stay patient. Go the extra mile when it comes to showcasing your property. Historically it is very typical for our inventory to balance out in the summer market and this year has been no different. If you’re thinking about selling in the fall, expect it to take some time and let your real estate professional market it to the best of their abilities. Our modest supply reductions may signal a shift to a balanced housing market by end of year. In 2019, Airdrie has seen a total of 533 single-family home sales by the start of August; as well, a total of 193 attached home sales and only 39 apartment sales in the same period. Interest rates for prospective buyers are still attractive. A July 2019 update on interest rates provides a five-year-fixed best rate of 2.74 per cent and a five-year variable prime of 1.05 per cent, which is extremely appealing for the Airdrie homebuyer or investor. My advice is simple: If you’re a seller, put some work into making your home look the best it possibly can to sell in this market. If you listen to your local experts on how to price, present and sell your home you’ll do just that in due time. If you’re a buyer, take advantage of these low interest rates (as they won’t stick around forever) and take the jump into home ownership as you won’t regret it! life
Trenton Pittner is a real estate professional with Legacy Real Estate Services
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H O M E L I F E | D E V E LO P M E N T P R O F I L E
Chinook Gate WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBOURHOOD
A
boutique community, Chinook Gate spans 113 acres alongside Chinook Winds Park off Yankee Valley Boulevard between Eighth and 24th Streets S.W. This location means the 55-acre Chinook Winds Park is literally in Chinook Gate’s backyard. The park itself is a major draw for buyers, with more than two kilometers of paved pathways, two playgrounds, the skate park, ball diamonds, volleyball courts and a winter ice rink. Front-attached garage homes are being offered by Excel Homes and well-known Airdrie builder McKee Homes starting in the low $400,000s, while Brookfield Residential and Excel are building laned homes starting in the mid $300,000s and duplexes starting in the low $300,000s. New to Chinook Gate is Avalon, creating ZEN Chinook Gate. All homes enjoy landscaped fronts and private fenced backyards. 54
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ZEN Chinook Gate is an exciting project where each home is designed with the flexibility for use as a home or combined home/workspace. Convenient and comfortable, two- and three-bedroom townhomes with bonus room range from 1,238 to 1,455 square feet. Each home features modern kitchens with stainless steel appliances and quartz countertops. The main floor has plenty of open living space and a separate bonus room, perfect for an office, family room or just a place to relax and watch some TV or curl up with a good book. All starting from the $270,000s. At build out (estimated 2027) Chinook Gate will be home to 800-plus homes and 2,200-plus residents. The beauty of the neighbourhood is in its ability to attract a wide range of buyers. It really is the community where you can upsize, downsize – your size. It’s a community that’s a perfect fit. life
Bayview by Genesis Developments featuring Genesis Homes See ad page 6 Bayside Pier 11 by Genesis Developments featuring Genesis and McKee Homes See ad page 2
Chinook Gate by Brookfield Residential featuring McKee Homes See ad page 15
Cooper’s Crossing by Westmark featuring Harder Homes and McKee Homes See ad pages 83-86
Hillcrest by Apex featuring McKee Homes and Shane Homes See ad page 11 Midtown by Shane Communities featuring Shane Homes See ad page 23
Southpoint by Vesta See ad page 13
Southwinds by Mattamy See ad page 5
Vista Crossing (Crossfield) by Dream featuring McKee Homes and Homes by Dream See ad page 57
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S M A R T STA R T 6 0 | T E C H TA L K 6 3
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M E E T T H E M OV E R S , S H A K E R S A N D B U S I N E SS M A K E R S
WORKLIFE | COLUMN
The Little Town That Could
A businesslife
WITH TARA LEVICK
s residents of the city of Airdrie, we all know one thing for sure … Airdrie just keeps getting bigger and bigger. Whether you’ve been here for one, five, 10 or even 30 years, you have noticed the growth in our community and the never-ending influx of people choosing Airdrie. Like my small child’s growth spurt, regular growing pains are bound to happen. The 2019 census results saw an increase of 3.63 per cent, taking us to a population of 70,564 people. The city’s population grew by 2,473 which is 6.8 new residents per day. This growth rate is actually the smallest increase we have seen in recent years; the lowest increase since 1991, when the city grew only by 3.23 per cent. I truly believe this graph sums up Airdrie and our growth. Over the past 40 years, we have grown from 5,897 people to more than 70,000. Just take a minute to internalize that … it’s seriously crazy! Airdrie is now Alberta’s fifth-largest city!
affordability or policing. In a town of 5,000 people, there is a good chance that everyone knew each other and those residents of Airdrie wanted to see different things than our current residents. I recently read a research paper that examines the layers of issues that accompany a municipality as it grows. The paper explains that as a community grows, so does the complexity and importance of issues. In fact, it mentions that smaller municipalities have the luxury of leaning on larger municipalities for certain issues. Now as we continue to grow and diversify, we need to shift our concerns to include these issues that haven’t always been at the forefront of our thinking. One of the nice things that come with growing community is the diversity it creates and also the opportunities. As we grow we see a wide variety of housing options for our youth and empty nesters. An increase in population brings in new businesses and industry, which then creates jobs so that our people can live, work and play in Airdrie.
“One of the nice things that come with growing community is the diversity it creates and also the opportunities”
Table 1: Airdrie population growth over 40 years Source: City of Airdrie Civic Census Putting it into perspective, in the 1970s, we had just received town status and we had just annexed the “east lands” to have a footprint east of the QEII. Thinking back to when we were 5,897 people, the issues our municipality faced were quite different than what we are facing today. The concerns of 5,000 people aren’t those of public transit,
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I believe Airdrie is at the stage in our growth where we will have to start looking at things differently to ensure we continue to meet the new growth realities, while trying to keep that small-town feeling we all love. We need to support local, be kind to each other, and take care of our community and the environment we live in. We need to get off of social media, go out and meet our neighbours and enjoy this great community of which we are all lucky to be a part. If we still want to maintain the small-town charm that Airdrie is known for, it is up to us as individual residents and business owners to get involved in the community and ensure that feeling isn’t lost, no matter how quickly we grow. life Tara Levick is an economic development officer with the City of Airdrie
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W O R K L I F E | I N N OVAT I O N
“It adds thermal capacity and insulating factor, it’s semi-permeable so it helps with air flow exchange, it continues to absorb CO2 throughout its lifetime, it’s a great sound barrier, it extends window life … and it’s easy to build with”
Terry Radford holds a compressed hemp block. Inset: The Bio Fibre team.
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Just BioFiber Structural Solutions Airdrie company growing with a little hemp from their friends STORY BY JIM ZANG PHOTOS BY SERGEI BELSKI
“I TOLD MY BROTHER MAC, IF HE COULD GET A PATENT I’D HELP HIM RUN THE BUSINESS,” says Terry Radford, VP of business Development and Sales with Just BioFiber Structural Solutions, “and the rest, as they say, is history.” Mac Radford was living in B.C. at the time and had been asked by a friend to help construct a custom home in Nelson. There was just one thing – the owner wanted it constructed as much as possible from compressed hemp. Never one to shy away from a challenge, and with 40 years of commercial construction experience under his tool belt, the former farm boy went to work on his first ‘hemp house.’ It was a very time-consuming, labour-intensive process, but he saw the potential if the product could be improved and the construction process streamlined. That’s when he got the idea of a modular product, using compressed hemp chips as the base, that was essentially ready for use on arrival at the construction site with a minimum of training. Fast forward four-and-a half years to 2019, and the company is producing “a couple thousand blocks a month,” says Terry, “which is about what it takes to build an average home. We’re still in the pilot stage. Our goal is to become fully automated and be able to boost our production to 30,000 to 50,000 blocks per month.” Compressed hemp blocks, made from the company’s own ‘secret recipe,’ have the potential to make cinder blocks obsolete, says Terry, and have many advantages including being mould, fire and termite resistant and, of course, made from one of the most sustainable products available – industrial hemp. The hemp is grown on farms in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba and has no THC content, the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis. Hemp is also one of the most carbon-absorbing plants on the planet, says Terry, absorbing as much as 1.6 times its weight in carbon dioxide (CO2). “Our first year was mostly spent on R&D and working out the manufacturing process,” says Terry. “We found lots of things that didn’t work before we settled on the compressed hemp and composite combination that we have now. We made some product in our second year, and now we’re working on several custom home projects in Canada.” By themselves, the 22-inch long by 10-inch wide by 8-inch tall blocks aren’t structurally sound, hence the interior composite supports which make the blocks look like a larger version of a popular child’s toy. “We started with wood and metal,” says Terry, “and eventually developed the composite material.” The company manufactures three types of blocks right now – heavy duty, for commercial projects; light duty, limited to about a 20-foot height; and foam blocks, because the hemp blocks can’t be used below ground level. The composite ‘posts’ are manufactured in Ontario, he says, “but we want to bring that to Airdrie too.” The construction process isn’t as cheap as wood frame, says Terry, but the advantages are numerous. “It adds thermal capacity and insulating factor, it’s semi-permeable so it helps with air flow exchange, it continues to absorb CO2 throughout its lifetime, it’s a great sound barrier, it extends window life by allowing for deeper-set window wells, and it’s easy to build with. Each order ships out with everything the customer needs, including a detailed visual construction manual.” He’s even heard back from some customers who’ve experienced insurance savings thanks to the twohour fire rating of their walls. Both brothers live in Calgary, but chose to locate the business in Airdrie due to the availability of inexpensive warehouse and yard space and favourable business tax policy. The company currently employs 13 full-time employees at its 24,000-square-foot facility in the East Lake industrial area. “We feel welcome here,” says Terry. life FA L L 2019
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WORKLIFE | ENTREPRENEURS
GET IN THE GAME!
SMARTstart was designed by a group of local partners and is deliv-
ered right here in Airdrie. Its purpose is to provide real-world business skills and access to tailor-made advice to increase the chance of new businesses surviving those first crucial years. Learn more at smartstartairdrie.ca In this issue of airdrielife we meet seven of the program’s 2019 entrepreneurs and their mentors. You can read up on all the 2019 participants online at airdrielife.com
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Entrepreneur: Kitty Bexson Business: Things By Kitty Tell us more about your business: It all started with a meal planner I had made for myself after purchasing a hobby vinyl cutter. I posted it in a local mom’s group and it was wildly successful. I started doing other requests and it just grew from there, and before I knew it I had a full-fledged business. What’s your biggest hurdle? Myself. I undervalue my work, my time, and I really want to help people to the point it puts me in a bad spot. I also struggle balancing customer contact/ marketing with production time.
What’s your five-year goal? I have a commercial space, with three employees, a secondary vinyl supply business. We’ve got the Airdrie and area market cornered for signs and vinyl, and we are a significant contributor to the community. Mentor: Danielle Coulter Business: Former owner of Tutor Doctor Years in business: 9 Tell us more about your business: Tutor Doctor is an awarding-winning franchise that provides families with an in-home, customized oneon-one tutoring service. We matched kids with tutors who had the right personality and approach that made the learning engaging and successful. I sold
my business in fall 2018 and am officially retired from Tutor Doctor. What do you wish you would have known when you started? Planning is everything! It helps foresee some of the hiccups and challenges you will have to deal with. Work with a book keeper before you start so you can track your finances. Don’t wait before it’s too late! Ask for advice/help to get through the turning points in your business. Why are you mentoring? When I started I made every mistake in the book. I want to share my experience to help others avoid falling in the same traps.
Entrepreneur: Lindsey Coyle Business: Airdrie Exchange Tell us more about your business: Airdrie Exchange, the local business directory and event calendar, is meant to create a resource for the community where all the businesses that serve Airdrie and area come together. Connecting the community becomes possible when that is the focus. What’s your biggest hurdle? My limiting beliefs of myself. Time it takes to learn new skills and the amount of stuff I need to learn is overwhelming. What’s your five-year goal? In five years Airdrie should be benefiting from a directory that allows them to know who is serving
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WORKLIFE | ENTREPRENEURS them and a calendar that makes it easy to be involved in their community. I anticipate having a small dedicated team, contributing their skills to managing and growing Airdrie Exchange beyond Airdrie. A connected community can change the world. Mentor: Melanie Beingessner Business: Blessingways Family Wellness Years in business: 8 Tell us more about your business: I have been a chiropractor for the past 22 years and eight years ago I started my own clinic. I’ve gone from opening my door with one massage therapist and myself to leading four employees, an associate chiropractor and four massage therapists. Besides adjusting my patients, I run my business, payroll, marketing, advertising and everything! What do you wish you would have known when you started? That it is okay to factor your needs into the equation when you are starting your business. That it is absolutely necessary to dream big and to ask for help to grow your business. Your life as a business owner is always about improving yourself and your services. Why are you mentoring? SMARTstart is the reason I was able to expand my business, and I want to give back and help someone else to have business success. Entrepreneur: Marla Elms Business: Grounded Natural Cleaning Services Tell us more about your business: I run an all-natural residential cleaning service which I started after working for a couple of other cleaning companies. I make most of my cleaners and my future goal is to transition to a manufacturing and retail business only. Natural cleaning is one of my passions and I want to share it. What’s your biggest hurdle? Business plan, feasibility study, etc. Currently, I am working on healing a number of injuries while trying to balance my life. Physically, cleaning is very demanding so I would like to concentrate a lot more on preparing my cleaners to sell so I can start to do less physical cleaning. What’s your five-year goal? Oh, my favorite question. Glass storefront, nice clean reception/retail front space, shelving for retail items and my logo painted on the wall. Oh, it’s beautiful. Step through the double-glass (frosted) doors into the back area where all the manufacturing happens. Look to the left, it’s a nice little lunch room, beside that my little office and beyond that a bathroom. And look to your right, there’s my happy employees working away!
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Mentor: Tracy Goodbrand Business: Irricana Kountry Kennel Years in business: 33 Tell us more about your business: My business goal and focus is to make a significant difference to animals’ lives! We provide exceptional care for pets, putting their needs first. Our services include pet boarding, dog daycare, grooming, training courses and specialty retail. We are located on 30 acres, having lots of room! What do you wish you would have known when you started? I wish I had used the services of a business coach when I first started out. My business coach took me to the next level! Why are you mentoring? So many have given to me, contributing to my success. It is so rewarding to now be able to give back! Entrepreneur: Moonliza Menya Business: Kirabo Fashion & Interiors Tell us more about your business: I enjoy working with fabric to create beautiful home decor, outfits and source for matching accessories. I have experience in running an interior design shop and also sewing clothes for clients. It has always been my desire to open a business where I can make use of my talents! What’s your biggest hurdle? I don’t know the business environment in Airdrie, and what I require to operate a successful business. What’s your five-year goal? I have a well-established interior and fashion design business which has evolved from a home business to a prominent location in downtown Airdrie. My business is returning a good profit which has made it possible to expand. I have a loyal clientele base that is steadily growing, and that appreciates the local business. Mentor: Don Dixon Business: Cangos Years in business: 40 Tell us more about your business: All of my various businesses were started from scratch; built from my own resources, entrepreneurial ideas and spirit. I was the owner/manager/sales/ marketing/bill collector/problem solver and decision maker in all of them. What do you wish you would have known when you started? Too soon old ... too late smart. Why are you mentoring? I like to contribute back to the community in which I live. I hope my experience might benefit another person starting out in business.
Entrepreneurs: Morgan Sylvain, Kayla McPhail Business: Smile & Co. Tell us more about your business: Our idea is a dental staffing agency. As dental assistants, we have experienced the limitations in a dental clinic when there are staff deficiencies. Airdrie has grown significantly, and with that, there has also been a large increase in dental clinics. We recognize a demand to connect dental professionals with dental clinics. What’s your biggest hurdle? Our biggest obstacle would be our confidence in doing things correctly and successfully. What’s your five-year goal? In five years, we are based out of Airdrie, and also providing services in surrounding rural communities. We would love to expand to providing continuing education and networking opportunities to dental professionals within the community. We hope that we are in a position to donate and give back to the community of Airdrie. Mentor: Michelle Carre Business: The Carre Group Years in business: 13 Tell us more about your business: I am a Realtor with The Carre Group where I love helping my clients buy or sell their home, as well as a speaker on business and work-life balance. As a business owner, I have a lot of different roles so I’ve learned to prioritize my time and my strengths. What do you wish you would have known when you started? I would learn how to prioritize and set boundaries to avoid feeling overwhelmed. I would also trust myself and my intuition more and quiet my ego faster. Why are you mentoring? I want to share what I’ve learned with new business owners to help them along their path. life
WORKLIFE | ADVICE
A fall checkup for your technology? A “security checkup” should cover these five points:
techlife
WITH MICHAEL DUFFY
“Many clients express frustration about slow Internet, just to discover there are 10, 20-plus devices connected to their Wi-Fi”
1. Security software How are you protecting your Windows/Mac device? 2. Passwords, everyone’s favourite topic… Do you know all of your passwords? Have they been changed in the past six months? Do you have them written down and stored in a safe place in case of a life emergency? Does a partner or family member have access? Do you have a copy in your will? 3. Computer/phone backups Do you know where they live? Computer experts recommend three copies of your data. This does not include the copy of your files on your computer! When is the last time you confirmed your backups were working? Is it file/folder backup or full computer image? If you use an Apple product, are you using Time Machine? If your backups are cloud based ... how long does it take to download/restore? Is it an acceptable wait time? 12-24 hours; a week? For local backups, do you have an up-to-date copy locked in a safe offsite place (not your home or your business)?
4. Home/office Wi-Fi When’s the last time you changed the password? Are you still using the Wi-Fi name and password that is on the sticker of your Internet equipment? Do your friends/family/neighbours all know your Wi-Fi password? Many clients express frustration about slow internet, just to discover there are 10, 20-plus devices connected to their Wi-Fi. All these devices compete for the Wi-Fi signal coming from your router, including printers, SMART things, security cameras, etc. Changing your Wi-Fi password every six to 12 months ensures no “mystery” devices are slowing you down or potentially causing a security risk. 5. Travel? Use “Public Wi-Fi”? Are you using a VPN? Most public Wi-Fi does not require a password, which means your personal data is NOT encrypted. Anyone with the proper tools and knowledge can see what you are doing and websites you are visiting. Do you have ads that follow you that advertise recent items you have been looking at while online shopping? life Michael Duffy is the owner of Nerds on Site for Airdrie
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B R I D G I N G T H E PA ST 6 6 | STA R S O F TO M O R R O W 71 | A R O U N D T H E D A N C E F LO O R 8 0
citylife
A C LO S E R LO O K AT YO U R C O M M U N I T Y
Culture in action at city hall C I T Y L I F E | C U LT U R E
STORY BY MEGAN STEWART
Community involvement is one of the key ingredients in the City of Airdrie’s art and culture action plan. Watch for ways to participate in and celebrate the many forms of art in our city this fall, and throughout the year as these activities continue to grow. FREE VISUAL ARTS WORKSHOPS CARFAC (Visual Arts Alberta) is a provincial organization that specializes in providing educational opportunities for local and regional artists to help develop their artistic practice in a professional way. CARFAC will be in Airdrie on Sept. 10 and 24 to provide free workshops which are open to everyone, especially local artists. These workshops will focus on finding opportunities to advance your art practice and engage with your community and audiences. Be sure to register at: bit.ly/2Lt9cNM LUNCHTIME THEATRE ON THE LAWN Looking for more live theatre in your life? Local theatre groups have taken to the stage on the lawn at city hall to showcase their talent this summer and fall. A special performance of the Torchlight Theatre Spark youth camp was presented in August. On Sept. 26, join us for another live theatre lunch on the lawn beginning at 12:30 p.m. where Airdrie actor Kim Cheel will take us through an all-ages tour of Airdrie’s history. Don’t forget to bring your lunch and a lawn chair. These performances are free for the community and will be held inside city hall in the event of poor weather.
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POETRY IN MOTION Hop on an ICE bus this fall to read the literary works of the Airdrie Public Library’s Poetry in Motion summer contest for youth. Winning entries will be displayed on panels inside the buses through the month of October. In addition to their publically displayed poetry, winners also receive an iPad. For more information visit: airdriepubliclibrary.ca/Teen/Teen-Programs/ Poetry-in-Motion ALBERTA UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS HAROLD WEISS PUBLIC ART UNVEILING AT CITY HALL In the spring of 2019, the City of Airdrie accepted a public art donation from the Alberta University of the Arts, formerly the Alberta College of Art and Design. The work of art is an untitled metal sculpture created by Harold Weiss, who won a third-year sculpture competition with the piece in the 1970s at the Alberta College of Art. Many Airdrie residents who have attended concerts at the Jubilee Auditorium in Calgary may be familiar with the sculpture as it was a fixture along the walkway to the Jubilee for close to half a century. Upon accepting this gifted artwork, Airdrie City Council and Administration worked with a committee of community members to determine where it would be placed, and ultimately the group decided on a location in front of city hall. “Not only is this a wonderful piece of artwork that complements the modern artwork already present at city hall, but it also helps beautify our wonderful main street,” says Keely Brower, a community member and part of the location selection committee. A community event to officially unveil the piece is scheduled to take place during Alberta Culture Days the last week of September. Alberta University of the Arts staff, alumni and students are invited to attend as well as the entire Airdrie and regional community. Keep up to date on all the art and culture activities happening throughout the city this year at: airdrie.ca/artandculture life
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C I T Y L I F E | H I STO RY
STORY BY MICHAEL DOUGHERTY
The 1928 Nose Creek Bridge to the Elevators (a.k.a.: Edwards Way Bridge, The Pony Truss Bridge OR The Bridge to Nowhere) AIRDRIE’S FIRST MUNICIPAL HISTORIC RESOURCE
C
onstructed in 1928, the Nose Creek Bridge to the Elevators provided a new route to the grain elevators that once stood at the station grounds directly southeast of the bridge. The bridge was a part of a wave of new and improved infrastructure designed to keep pace with settlement. It provided a critical and continuous link for traffic between the south and north elevators from 1928 to 1983, and subsequently as a footpath across Nose Creek. Its 80-foot pony truss design remains true to its original plans supplied by the renowned Dominion Bridge Company, and characterizes early bridge construction in Alberta. This open design, low (‘pony’) truss with a narrow width, had enough strength to support a 20-ton truck without requiring an additional support or an upper truss. A unique example of a traffic bridge not located on a working road (The Bridge to Nowhere), it is the last remaining structure associated with the railway station grounds and grain elevators in Airdrie.
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The 1928 Nose Creek Bridge to the Elevators symbolizes our agricultural origin, and remains a local historic landmark. In June 2019, city council passed a bylaw protecting the bridge as Airdrie’s first Municipal Historic Resource, ensuring the bridge’s future in Airdrie. In May 2015, a fire damaged much of the wood at the south end of the bridge and forced its closure; however, a full restoration will be launched in 2019/2020. This will bring back its original character and pony truss design. It will also put it back into use as a part of Airdrie’s leg of the Great Trail (Trans Canada Trail). Located in a park setting, crossing Nose Creek, it will continue to be a historic landmark for all to use and enjoy. The 1928 Nose Creek Bridge to the Elevators can be seen from Railway Avenue and the bridge on First Avenue West. life Heritage Preservation work in Airdrie comes via the City’s Cultural Action Plan. To learn more and/or participate, contact Airdrie Community Development or visit airdrie.ca/history
CITYLIFE | SPORT
Parkour
Laurel Hinch sits while Atkin does a cheat gainer off the ramp
Q&A with Brody Atkin, Airdrie Gymnastics Club PHOTOS BY SERGEI BELSKI
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CITYLIFE | SPORT
When did parkour start in Airdrie? 2012 How old do you need to be to join? Our parkour classes are for anyone six years or older. What will you learn in the parkour program? We teach being able to navigate your environment in whatever style you like best. Parkour is about moving in the most efficient way possible for our bodies over, through and around obstacles. Freerunning is about expressing yourself through movement; kind of like dance and acrobatics mixed together on obstacles. We teach both styles at our club as they complement each other and help kids learn a much more well-rounded version of the sport. How many athletes are currently involved? We have around 150 athletes in our parkour classes, and this year we had 14 members on our competitive team. What is the best thing about parkour? The best thing in my opinion about doing parkour is that it can be done anywhere at any time. It applies to all areas of life since it’s about learning how to learn, and how to adapt to new situations. life
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Back row (standing): Brody Atkin (upside down), Cameron Sloan, Decker Sefcik, Laurel Hinch, Kylan D’Haene, Devon Colborne, Nate Hearn, Dillon O’Neill, Sawyer Langner, Ben Tanner-Delooze, and Colin Hughes (upside down). Front row (sitting): Spencer Wilton and Simon Pier
Ben Tanner-Delooze is about to dive kong the obstacle
“It applies to all areas of life since it’s about learning how to learn, and how to adapt to new situations” Atkin does a side flip over the gap while Devon Colborne (athlete in background) strides across it
Simon Pier does a precision jump across the gap
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CITYLIFE | GAMES
2020 Games in Profile:
PHOTOS BY KATIE DUDEK
CULTURE SCENE Members of the 2020 Dance Squad in rehearsals
A
irdrie hosts the 2020 Alberta Winter Games in February 2020. Starting with this issue we highlight some of the special features of the games and committees involved. Since this is our arts issue – we talk the cultural aspect of the games with Culture director Deanna Hunter. Sport and culture can, and should be, inextricably linked. In fact, many would argue that sport IS part of any culture. Sport is surely part of Airdrie’s culture; as is the theatre, art, music, and dance that is also firmly planted in our community. All of this makes us uniquely Airdrie. The Province of Alberta has set out some very specific goals for the cultural component of their biennial Winter Games. Those goals include recognizing Alberta’s culture, encouraging cultural involvement on a local and regional level and recognizing Alberta artists and performers. The Airdrie 2020 Games organizing committee has embraced those goals fully. Our belief is that sharing our culture promotes understanding, collaboration and creativity. And celebrating our culture during the Games will promote a sense of pride and will bring energy and excitement to those four days in February. The Culture Committee (fondly known as the “Culture Club”) of the Airdrie 2020 Games knows that athleticism and art collide in many ways. One way is through dance. And so, the Culture Committee has dumped the traditional mascot idea for a Dance Squad: a team of local and regional dancers who will be the face of the Games in the lead up to, and during, the event. Watch for their energy and enthusiasm in events this fall and through the winter. You can also expect to see and experience visual art, performing art, literary art and much more, provided by local, regional and provincial artists and community groups. If you attend the opening ceremonies, any of the sporting events or visit some of our local businesses on the Feb. 14-17 weekend, you’re sure to witness some of the amazing culture in Airdrie and Alberta. life Keep your eyes on albertasport.ca/alberta-games/ winter-games and the Airdrie 2020 Alberta Winter Games Facebook page for more information
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C I T Y L I F E | YO U T H TA L E N T
Our annual roundup of high school grads who are heading out into the world to pursue their passion in the arts JACOB PATROSH, 18 Graduated 2019, George McDougall High School TALENT: Musical performance on the euphonium and trumpet ROLE MODELS: My creative/ artistic role models are my family. I grew up in a musical family and was brought up surrounded by music on a daily basis. AHA MOMENT: Watching my brothers perform in Stetsons and the Calgary Stampede band, and watching my older sister’s recitals. WHAT’S NEXT: I’ve been accepted to the University of Lethbridge starting this September for a bachelor of music and education. DREAM FOR THE FUTURE: My dream is to perform as a part of a Disney flash mob at the Disneyland/Disney World parks and open up a music studio where I teach intermediate brass musicians who want to take their musicality to the next level.
Ones to Watch 2019 JAROMIE A. CHAPIEL, 17 Graduated 2019, Bert Church High School TALENT: Cinematography and photography ROLE MODELS: I have always looked up to Roman Atwood, a YouTube star who lives a family-friendly exciting life, and this inspired me to pursue the happy exciting life I’ve always wanted. And Peter McKinnon was the YouTube sensation who heavily inspired my interest in photography. AHA MOMENT: My “aha moment” was two years ago in 10th grade when I was assigned the task of making a video for science class. Despite the video taking weeks to film and over 20 hours to edit and having it turn out horrible, I had fallen in love with film and soon started taking Audio Video classes within my school. Within a year and a half, I had completed all three years’ worth of video courses and began taking photography classes. WHAT’S NEXT: The next step for me is to take a gap year and save up as much money as I can so I can move to Vancouver and attend either LaSalle College for film or Vancouver Film School. DREAM FOR THE FUTURE: My dream is to live an exciting life and adventure the world while bringing ideas to life through film. I want to one day have created my very own movie. FA L L 2019
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C I T Y L I F E | YO U T H TA L E N T
CHLOE JORGENSEN, 18 Graduated 2019, Bert Church High School TALENT: Acting ROLE MODELS: One of my favourite Broadway actors of all time, Alan Cumming. He is just so true to himself and has such a genuine adoration for the work he does. Ah! He lives the dream. AHA MOMENT: Acting was more of a hobby, until people started telling me I was good at it! My dad was essentially the one who told me I should start taking acting seriously. I’m very lucky to have parents who support me picking a career in the arts. WHAT’S NEXT: I’ll be attending Vancouver Film School starting in January 2020 for the yearlong Acting for Film and Television program. DREAM FOR THE FUTURE: I really want to look back at the work I’ve done, and feel like I have been successful. The goal is to be an individual who people find solace in.
KERI QIU, 18 Graduated 2019, W.H. Croxford High School TALENT: Painting ROLE MODELS: Frida Kahlo is very special to me. Her art inspires me with its colour, culture and the characters she uses in the paintings. She uses a lot of self-portraits to show how she feels about the topic in those art pieces. The layers of colours and the elements she puts together create special scenes sending messages to people. [Her art] taught me how to use my emotions and thoughts to form a creative piece of my own. Moreover, it taught me how to provide purpose with feelings to others by creating a resonance (in other words, empathy) in different people. AHA MOMENT: My grandparents sent me to art school to do an extracurricular art class course in my third grade because of some doodles I did at the age of two. It was like everyone else around that age, [playing] with markers and crayons. (I think that’s why they put me in art school because they didn’t want the house in a mess.) There was nothing “art” about them at all. Until I found myself drawing in my free time without realizing it… My intention in my future career was to become a doctor or police [officer] when I got asked “ What-do-you-want-to-become-whenyou-grow-up?” kinds of questions by my classroom teacher in grade one; therefore I am also surprised this has shifted to my major career today. However, this is what I found myself getting happiness out [of]. I want and would love to do more painting in my future because my “aha moment” was secretly live within me from the start. Even I did not realize it was happening; I had it in me all this time. WHAT’S NEXT: University of Calgary. I am looking forward to fine art as my major, psychology as my options since my goal in the future is to become an art therapist. Dream for the future: Art therapist 72
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KEEGAN KARLSEN, 18 Graduated 2019, Bert Church High School TALENT: I would say my work can be hard to categorize sometimes, but I do believe that [it] covers many aspects like some cubism, a blending of realism and abstraction, some elements may also be surrealist, and my art form is mainly inspired by not only the human figure but what happens in the psyche of humans and how I can correlate this into my work as a physical representation of reality and life itself. I use mainly graphite pencils and charcoal in my work but often like to play with coloured pencils and oil pastels. ROLE MODELS: I think my favourite painters have to be Francis Bacon, Pablo Picasso, Paul Cristina, Emma Hopkins, Joan Mitchell, Jean-Michel Blais, Mark Rothko and many others. But I’ve noticed now more recently that it’s not always the people who have the same mediums of creative expression that I do that influence me. I love reading poetry and intriguing stories, larger varieties of music, learning about science and life and mainly just observing the world around me, taking it all in, and using that towards my artwork. AHA MOMENT: As a kid I always saw myself being some kind of artist. When I was younger, I used to watch some of the in-the-makings or behind-the-scenes of cartoons and how the artists used to sketch out the story boards for the cartoons. I think as a kid that really inspired me to draw more because I loved seeing that process of a sketch into a full movie, and how an artist’s idea can come to life. I thought cartoons or comic books were going to be my thing, but upon moving out to Airdrie I started to focus more on what art was really doing for me. Art was my way of expressing myself and me being able to understand who I am and the world around me a bit better, making me move more towards the fine arts side of visual art. During my grade 10 year I saw how obsessive my habits of drawing became and I was starting to improve with my quality of work. So since I didn’t have any other idea of what I would do with my career in life, I thought that I wouldn’t just dip my toes into the art world, but completely dive head first and put everything I can into it. It’s something I am passionate about and hold very close to who I am and my ideas I have about life in general; I would love to do [art] for the rest of my life. WHAT’S NEXT: I am going to be a part of AUArts as of September 2019, where I was given the honour of winning a full scholarship for the year. DREAM FOR THE FUTURE: I spent most of my time as a high school student just drawing and trying to constantly come up with new and creative ideas. When working on my aspiration of being an artist, I do not want it to be some small little hobby for me. Art in itself is too important for me in trying to say what I need to say, that if it wasn’t something I did as my profession then I feel like I would almost be wasting my talent and understandings of who I am, what I am, and where I am in life. I would love to be able to be featured in galleries across the globe, not just collaborative but have some solos as well and be able to sell my work to the people who really look at it and try to find meaning in what they see. I want my work to be the mirror for people to look into themselves and into their own internal worlds (some would say souls), making them ask questions within their lives and venture out into more thought-provoking ideas that our lives consist of.
HARLEY MACQUEEN, 17 Graduated 2019, George McDougall High School TALENT: Creative baking/cooking ROLE MODELS: Bobby Flay AHA MOMENT: I’ve wanted to pursue in culinary since I was four years old. WHAT’S NEXT: Attending SAIT in the fall for culinary arts. DREAM FOR THE FUTURE: Become an executive chef in a high-end restaurant. FA L L 2019
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C I T Y L I F E | YO U T H TA L E N T
ANNMARIE JEANVEAU, 19 Graduated 2019, George McDougall High School TALENT: Dancing and various mediums of visual art. I have been a competitive dancer for 11 years and I started taking art classes when I was eight years old. ROLE MODELS: Watching the dancers I saw growing up at various competitions, workshops and conventions and seeing them reaching their goals and becoming professionals was a big inspiration and inspired me to work harder. Over the years and through my competitive dancing I’ve had the opportunity to work with some wonderful teachers who have taught me how to overcome obstacles and keep on going. Miss Stephanie, owner of Elements Dance Co. gave me a lot of first opportunities and believed in me and allowed me to grow not only as a dancer but a teacher and choreographer. My art teacher Ms. Wright was a huge role model for me in the art world as she pushed me out of my comfort zone working with different media. She made me think hard as I had to work with my own images, and she helped me realized I had a real talent in art. I want to thank both these ladies for everything they have done and taught me. AHA MOMENT: I never really had an “aha moment.” I just love what I do; I love dancing and art and most of my day is filled with both of these activities. Toronto has always been one of my top destinations so I’m following my dreams. WHAT’S NEXT: I will be attending Centennial College in Toronto and obtaining a dance performance diploma while taking art classes at the Toronto School of Art. Dream for the future: After I complete my dance program my hope is to sign a contract with a professional dance company or have the opportunity to be able to choreograph within the industry. Another goal would be to travel the world dancing on a cruise ship. In time I would also like to complete an art degree and perhaps from there either illustrate for Disney or have my work displayed. 74
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JULIA BLEICHERT, 17 Graduated 2019, W.H. Croxford High School TALENT: I am a dancer/singer/actress/musician. ROLE MODELS: Lady Gaga. She was told she wasn’t good enough, wasn’t pretty enough, and wasn’t talented enough. She proved everyone wrong and has since won numerous Grammy Awards, American Music awards, and even an Oscar. She’s such a talented singer/dancer/ actress/songwriter/musician, and never let negativity prevent her from pursuing her dreams. Aha moment: I knew that I wanted to be a performer at my first ballet recital at the age of three. WHAT’S NEXT: This summer I was part of The Young Canadians of the Calgary Stampede and danced in the Grandstand show Trail Blazer. I was also accepted into Storybook Theatre’s Student Summer Intensive Program and was cast as Eva in their production of Bring it On, the Musical, which opened in August. I will be dancing and singing again with The Young Canadians in the fall, as well as starting the audition process. DREAM FOR THE FUTURE: My plans are a bit up in the air at the moment. We shall see where the audition process takes me.
CALE BONN, 18 Graduated 2019, W.H. Croxford High School TALENT: Musician/producer ROLE MODELS: Jimi Hendrix and Eddie Van Halen and also Pharrell Williams, a Grammy Award-winning producer. AHA MOMENT: Our school band trip to Nashville in May 2017 when I had the honour to participate in a recording session in Elvis’s Studio ‘B’ in downtown Nashville. That’s when I realized that I wanted to become a music producer. Another aha moment when I realized that I wanted to pursue music as a career was when I had the honour to perform at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. I was diagnosed with ADD when I was 11 years old. Music has always been the one thing at school that didn’t give me trouble. I never had to worry about doing well in music like I did with everything else. I want other kids to know that everybody has something they’re meant to do. WHAT’S NEXT: I’m going to be going to the University of Lethbridge to continue my art education. Specifically, in the realm of becoming a producer. Dream for the future: My dream for my artistic future is to impact the world of music in a big way and to become a Grammy Award-winning producer.
G R E AT L I F E | V O I C E A N D V I S I O N Victorian Row in acrylics by Verone Solilo
Collaborative Art Voice and Vision pairs artists with writers for creative challenge
T
he fourth annual Voice and Vision Collaboration (VVC) paired 15 artists and 15 writers, to collaborate in creating new works of writing and art, inspired by each others’ work. Each partnership consists of two pieces of writing and two pieces of art. The writing is poetry or prose. The art submitted includes sculpture, paintings and mixed medium pieces. The writers are all members of the Airdrie Writers Group and the artists are based in Airdrie and the surrounding area. The VVC project will wrap up with a public event on Sept. 28, 6:30 p.m. at the Airdrie Public Library with music and refreshments. The event will “unveil” the 30 response pieces, showcase the artwork and include readings by the writers. Guests will be able to purchase a published catalogue of all the works created with biographies for only $12. Finally, some of the VVC pieces will be displayed at the APL during November and December 2019. airdrielife is proud to support local artists and writers. A few of the works are featured on these pages but you find more of the VVC works and full bios on each artist/writer and their process as we unveil the rest after the event online at airdrielife.com FA L L 2019
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G R E AT L I F E | C O L L A B O R AT I V E A R T
“I was given a beautiful poem about how it feels to have anxiety. I didn’t want to do a literal interpretation of the piece, so I chose to go more abstract. I pulled from my own experience with anxiety and wove in some imagery I got from my partner’s written work. “ Artist Kaleigh Kanary
WORN DOWN Birds fill my chest Frantic to escape Beating my ribs I fear I will fall My throat clogged with feathers, Unable to call for help. My stomach burns, Roiling lava On the verge of eruption, Obliterating life. Leaving Dense, dark stone Filling my belly. I breathe deeply, Swallowing air, Letting the birds fly, Freely Releasing them, From caged breast. Each bird slowly Finding its way free, Soaring in an autumn sky. I visualise Waves meeting obsidian stones Smoothing, Wearing them down Leaving a beach of black sand Where I can bask in the warmth of the sun. by Sharon Christie
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Release by Kaleigh Kanary, watercolour, acrylic, charcoal and soft pastel on canvas board (mixed media)
BEST DRESSED NEST COMPETITION “How does it look, Mitch? Do you think three pieces of Mojo wrapper is too fussy?”
“When Melissa and I were paired that night in May, I first intended to write a serious piece about being distracted by bright shiny objects (I did eventually). But by the time I got home that night, the magpies had mysteriously acquired the names Madge and Mitch, and with names like that, how can you be serious? The question became: what are they talking about? Writing this was such fun, and entirely different in tone from my first submission. I giggled all the way through the writing.” writer Margaret Hanna
“No, not at all, Madge, they nicely complement the origami paper. You were right about eliminating the feather. It is just so . . . brown! Now, a goldfinch’s feather would be perfect. I regret not getting one of those Tanagers’ feathers when they were passing though last year.” “Yes, but look at those Swarowski crystals, you’ve arranged them so well, they really set off the curve of the nest.” “Now if only we could work in those buttons, then we could say we had the competition all buttoned up. Ha, Ha, Ha! “Oh Mitch, you’re such a card. By the way, I heard Sid is one of the judges this year.” “Sid? The sparrow from the apple tree? Ya gotta be kidding. What does he know about interior design? He thinks a bit of shredded plastic is haute couture.” “Yah, I know, you’d think they’d get someone more knowledgeable. At least Jay and Woody are on the panel. They know quality. Just be thankful that old Loon isn’t on the panel again.” “You’re right, Madge. Look, the judges are leaving the Redbreasts. We’re next.” “Wait! What’s that cracking noise? Oh no! One of the eggs is hatching! No, not now! That will mess everything up!” “Quick, Madge. Sit on the eggs and look nonchalant. Here, wrap this fur around your neck. That’ll distract them. Oh, hello judges, come on in. May I give you the tour?” by Margaret Hannah
Melissa Bruglemans Labelle’s Finders Keepers; late 1800s frame, coffee, old paper and Swarovski crystals
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G R E AT L I F E | C O L L A B O R AT I V E A R T
Inner Workings by Deb Lawton, cast plaster and acrylic
“With the response piece I try to take a visual that moves me from the work and use that as the inspiration. If the artist shares their intent or the story behind the piece, it is important to me to attempt to honour that while still being authentic to my work and creation.” writer Rayna Gunvaldsen
OUR LOVE IS IN THE DETAILS A feeling wouldn’t stay So I searched for solid love Something I could touch Something I could name
We share a North Star shining Our paths converged to seek A journey to the mountaintop A fellow traveller through the deep
Our love is… Where?
An offered hand in silence If one stumbles in the rain Arguments at crossroads When one has lost their way
In morning coffee brewed, Or gifts to touch my heart? Kind words gently spoken, Or kisses in the dark? Each time I thought I’d found it I’d hold it to the light And like dew it turned to mist Leaving only memory behind. I thought it wasn’t real If I couldn’t show it off But love is not a sculpture finished Its created each day or lost
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We sometimes walk apart And the chasm feels so wide But even when we seem divided We’re always within sight. Our love is in the details Of committing to this road We create this path together Though we’ll summit all alone
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by Rayna Gunvaldsen
“The first two sentences of “From a Distance” immediately painted a picture for me. As I read further and realized the deeper meaning of her writing, several things came to mind that I wished to incorporate into my response piece. First was the idea that things may appear perfect from a distance, yet upon closer inspection the flaws or imperfections are noticeable. Then, the idea of masks that we wear to cover up our imperfections really resonated with me. I wanted to convey everything at once - the pretty picture of a vibrant yellow canola field set against azure blue skies and verdant green trees - as well as the raw side of life with all the daily grind happening…” Artist Cindy Zampa. (See her full response online at airdrielife.com)
FROM A DISTANCE In the distance, I see the vibrant yellow of canola fields. The beauty is breathtaking as the sunshine flowers contrast against the azure sky and verdant green of nearby trees. From a distance, this blanket of bright colour appears solid. The picture changes as I move closer. There are variations in shading and more green stalks than yellow flowers. The flowers are quite small and not the showy blooms I’d imagined. The plants are still lovely; they just are not as I’d envisioned them. Surprise and disappointment are felt when I realize the perfect picture I’d seen from a distance is not the reality upon closer examination. Oh, how this brought other memories to mind. I don’t know about you, but I have looked with envy at the vibrant life someone else had and wished mine could be as beautiful. In reality, I have only seen the tip of their life, the part that can be observed from a distance. Up close, the picture is different. No one has a perfect life. Struggles and challenges affect each of us. When I put on a mask to convince you all is well in my life, you have no reason to doubt me. You only see the picture I choose to show you. It is only when I allow you to have a closer look that you can see we are not so different after all. We are all perfectly imperfect and showing that is what makes us beautiful. by Tandy Balson
Acrylic (in two parts) by Cindy Zampa
“I found the image of the row house striking. I immediately envisioned writing a piece for each room, and then picking the one I liked the best to submit for my response. After researching the history of late 19th century Toronto the story of a single character developed, so I ran with it.” Shane Kroetsch
WILLIAM William rocked forward in his seat as the horse’s footfalls slowed and the streetcar came to a stop. He lowered himself down to the dirt road and waited. When the streetcar pulled away, he shuffled across Yonge Street and headed east along Upper Gerrard. With the noise and confusion far behind him, William slowed his pace. He focused on the rows of narrow brick houses. Some had their curtains drawn, others let in what dreary daylight was available. One had the window glass on the main level pushed open, letting the smell of cooking vegetables waft down the street. William left the sidewalk and limped up to one of the brown painted doors. He leaned a hand against the frame and looked to the window beside. An old woman sat in a plain chair with a pressed wood back. She worked two knitting needles in slow and precise movements. William faced forward and lifted a key from his pocket. He set it in the lock, turned it, and pushed the door open. He stopped in the doorway of the parlour and removed his hat. His landlady set her knitting on her lap and looked up over the frames of her glasses. “Good afternoon, Mr. Doyle.” “Good afternoon, Mrs. Summerhayes.” “I trust your journey was successful?” “Yes, Ma’am.” “Your leg acting up again?” “Yes, Ma’am.” Mrs. Summerhayes pursed her lips and returned to her task. William turned, reached out for the banister, and eased himself down the stairs to his room. by Shane Kroetsch
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C I T Y L I F E | PASS I O N S
A lifelong
LOVE AFFAIR
STORY AND PHOTO BY BRITTON LEDINGHAM
D
with dance
ave and Norma Stevenson have been sharing their passion for dance for decades. When they moved to Airdrie from Nanaimo three years ago to be closer to their sons and grandchildren, they were disappointed to find little for organized dances. So, this fall the Stevensons are hosting pattern dance classes at the Over 50 Club in the Town and Country Centre. “We want it to be dancing for pleasure,” says Norma. “It’s really open to people who have either never danced, or danced a long time ago and would like to come back. “We think there are a lot of seniors out there who would benefit tremendously from the social side, and also the health side.” Norma notes the physical benefits of the gentle exercise, which also aids memory while repeating moves over and over. She suggests that partners are required for the activity, leading is not often necessary and ladies frequently dance together to make pairs. The pattern dancing they trained in is very similar to two-step pattern dancing, but uses different music and more genres. Both diabetic, the Stevensons see the benefits of continued physical activity, proven by their fluid motion on the dance floor of the Over 50 Club when they demonstrate some of their favourite steps. Norma once had a herniated spinal disc and was kept off the floor for over three years. “I was actually in a wheelchair,” she recalls. “They told me it was going to be a hard thing to get back, but I was determined.” After two surgeries and a gradual recovery, she dances like nothing ever happened. Dave also had open heart surgery. “He was up and about very quickly, and they reckoned it was due to excellent balance that he had learned through dancing,” says Norma. Dave and Norma’s fire for movement to music was instilled by each of their parents at a young age in England. Norma fondly recalls the memory of her father teaching her. “I was only about 12, and he said stand on my feet,” says Norma. “So, I stood on his feet, and he showed me how to waltz.”
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With dancing in their blood, they were introduced to each other at a local dance in Wallasey, England. Dave was competing already, and the two started to date. “My dad wasn’t very pleased, because Dave kept disappearing with this other woman to these competitions,” says Norma. Dave chimes in about his competitive partner. “And don’t forget, she was lots older than me, almost the same age as my mother,” he says in his defence. Dave and Norma continued to date, took lessons from top instructors and started to compete in ballroom dances together. They visited Canada and decided “the future here looked a lot rosier than it did at that time in England.” “So we were married on the Saturday, and emigrated on the following Friday on the Empress of England,” recalls Norma, noting they settled in Toronto where they found dancing peers to join. Through continued training and competition, they “gradually got to quite a high standard of dancing.” The pair rose to the Championship grade in ballroom dance competitions. Dave was a founding member of Canada DanceSport (originally known as the Canadian Amateur Ballroom Dancers Association) in 1979. He served on the executive committee as the secretary and treasurer for five years, and held the president role from 1985 until retiring in 1990. Moving to Nanaimo, BC, in 2001, the Stevensons kept dancing, and ran classes for the parks and recreation department, as well as various workshops for competitive and social dancers. They added pattern dancing to their repertoire in Nanaimo by training twice a month in Victoria. They were soon asked by that instructor to open a similar class in Nanaimo in 2002. “The Nanaimo group of people are still dancing today,” says Norma, beaming with pride. The duo travelled to England for professional examinations in classical sequence dancing (or pattern ballroom dancing) with the International Dance Teachers Association in the United Kingdom in 2010.
“We think there are a lot of seniors out there who would benefit tremendously from the social side, and also the health side”
Dave passed and became an associate, while a knee injury kept Norma from completing her waltz routine. “Unfortunately, I trained so hard. I had a problem with my knee and decided at the last minute that the exam just wasn’t for me,” says Norma. “We felt as though we’d reached our goal.” The two say they’ve made lifelong friends through dance. “We’ve made (a) tremendous amount of friends and have had a really good social life, and that’s what we aim to do here in Airdrie,” says Norma. “We think dancing should be enjoyed. If you take it too seriously, you could take all the fun out of it.” life
To register for a class at the Over 50 Club, you or your dance partner must be over 50 years old. Cost is only $5 per person for non-members and $1 for members. For more information, contact Dave and Norma at evads@shaw.ca or (403) 980-2779.
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BORN AIRDRIE. RAISED AIRDRIE. SELLS AIRDRIE.
airdriehouses.com |403.862.0096
COFFEE, FOOD+SHOPS
YANKEE VALLEY BLVD
Cooper’s Crossing SCHOOL (9-12) ranks high on walkability and has COOPER’S excellent access to CROSSING LINK schools, groceries, restaurants SKATE & and more! SPLASH PARK
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DOWNTOWN BOARDWALK SCHOO L (K-5)
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CONCEPT ONLY; NOT TO SCALE
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fun facts
40TH AVENUE COOPER’S BOULEVARD
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REYNOLD’S GATE
How did the duck cross the street? Did you know that there are a set of duck tracks in the concrete at one of our crosswalks? See if you can find them on our map!
let’s get social!
Fossils: Did you know that we have fossils right here in Cooper’s Crossing? Want to find them? Head over to the Boardwalk. The fossils are on large rocks sitting amongst the junipers at the top of the hill.
Follow our community page for events, offers and announcements.
Community Connections: Over 7 km of paved park trails connect every corner of the community.
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HAVE IT ALL shops
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see it to believe it Time and again Cooper’s Crossing has been voted Airdrie’s Best Community. Take a stroll through our lush parks and pathways to schools, restaurants and shopping. You’ll love it too! DOUGLAS
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ESTATE HOMES The wait is over for the coveted Cooper’s Landing lots.These spacious estate lots are located in a scenic setting. A very limited number of extraordinary lots are backing west onto a pond. Select the home builder of your choice to build your dream home or visit our showhome builders to start planning for your future today. This is the last chance to own a spectacular estate home in Airdrie’s premier community.
LAST OF THE ESTATES!
SELECT THE HOME BUILDER OF YOUR CHOICE
SINGLE FAMILY HOMES
INTRODUCING THE REYNOLDS COLLECTION!
FRONT DRIVE & REAR LANE These beautiful homes are thoughtfully designed for today’s families and start in the mid $500s. Cooper’s Crossing is perfect for young families with the abundance of parks, greenspace and five schools, all within walking distance.
FRONT DRIVE & REAR LANE This collection features more affordable homes from the low $400s. Ideal for first time homebuyers or those ready to downsize, with options such as small bungalows or homes with lane access to park your boat. Enjoy the style and quality residents have come to expect in Airdrie’s most sought after neighborhood.
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ATTACHED HOMES
INTRODUCING THE REYNOLDS COLLECTION!
TOWNHOMES Connexions by Douglas Homes These two and three bedroom townhouses, priced from the mid $300s, include double detached rear garages, fencing and landscaping – just move in and enjoy. Just steps away from the shops in Cooper’s Town Promenade.
PAIRED HOMES McKee, Nuvista These homes, starting in the mid $300s, feature a double detached garage and are steps from a park and Airdrie’s newest elementary school. Enjoy the amenities and call Airdrie’s premier community home.
TOWNHOMES Keepsake Homes Coming soon! Stylish townhomes with double front garages.
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