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The City of Chestermere wrapped up 2022 with a significant surplus.
City Director of Corporate Services Kim Wallace presented the fourth quarter financial update to councillors at the May 16 council meeting.
Wallace explained that the city closed out 2022 with $52.5 million in revenue, and $46.2 million
strategic advisory revenue.
“A significant amount of that came from our growth and development department,” Wallace said. “Administration’s in-house expertise reduced the need for contracting and consulting services.
After an analysis, council made revisions to the previous budget including removing $2 million
“This council consists of a unique blend of business professionals that analyze, question, and require information that make critical decisions for the city’s growth and success,” Wallace said. “We see it in the numbers, people and businesses are choosing to invest in Chestermere more than anywhere else in Alberta.”
division within the city to manage departments, resulting in increased services at a lower cost to
City council and administration are working to bring the Wild Rose Carnival to Chestermere next month.
City of Chestermere Events Manager Nancy Huneault told councillors during the May 2 meeting that she is working through the logistics with organizers to bring the Wild Rose Carnival to Chestermere from June 16 to June 18.
“The mayor has been talking with the organizers, I’ve had a brief discussion with them,” Huneault said. “We are now working through the processes and the logistics.”
She explained John Peake Park will need to be closed from June 12 until
June 18, to bring in equipment, set up, and take down.
“We’ll be having conversations with roads and parks, about the logistics. I’ve reached out to the organizer, we went through the list of logistics, insurance, all of the requirements for waste management, security, and building permits,” Huneault said. “We will be following up with more meetings to ensure everything is going to work.”
The carnival will include food, games, rides, and a firework show.
“We invite you to enjoy the summer in the park, and mark your calendar for the event,” Huneault said.
The Chestermere Public Library won the Marigold Making a Difference Award for Large Libraries for the test drive a hobby kit collection.
The award celebrates library services striving for excellence in innovative programs and initiatives.
“To apply, we had to show a program, service, or event that we were providing for the community that was unique, and not just sending out books, movies, or video games,” library marketing and social media coordinator Spencer McDonald said.
The test drive a hobby kits are a collection of starter kits for a variety of popular hobbies, including soap making, bird watching, painting, rock tumbling, badminton, and yoga.
“It’s a low-cost investment to find out if you like the hobby before you invest or purchase more items for it,” McDonald said.
She explained the idea of renting tools or supplies is extremely popular for libraries,
however, this is the first time a library has rented out an entire starter kit.
The library nominated the test drive a hobby kit collection, and the inclusivity collection.
“We had no idea we were winning,” McDonald said. “When they announced it, there was a lot of excitement.”
The Chestermere Public Library received a lot of positive feedback from other libraries about the initiative.
“A lot of people were asking questions about it and how other libraries could introduce this concept into their library,” McDonald said.
In addition to the award, the library also received funding to be used to expand the test drive a hobby kit collection, or to further programs.
“With winning this award we can continue to prove that we provide a lot to our area, even though we’re competing against libraries that are double or triple our size,” McDonald said.
“With this award, we can continue to justify that we are heading in the right direction, and what we do matters to the community.”
Without the support of the City of Chestermere through the Chestermere Community Grant, the test drive a hobby kit collection wouldn’t have been possible.
“Thank you to the city for their financial support,” McDonald said. “Without them, we wouldn’t have been able to introduce this super popular program or kits.”
There are more than 25 kits available. McDonald encourages anyone interested in trying out a new hobby, to stop by the library and see all of the kits available or call the library to be added to the test drive a hobby kit waitlist. For more information on the test drive a hobby collection, visit, https://www. chestermerepubliclibrary.com/Library-Services/ Special-Collections/TestDriveAHobby.
Chestermere City Council is fulfilling a directive issued by Municipal Affairs, by attending a roles and responsibilities workshop.
On March 15, Minister of Municipal Affairs Rebecca Schulz directed all members of council to attend a roles and responsibilities workshop conducted by municipal affairs staff before Sept. 30.
The workshop will include local government and the MGA, roles and responsibilities of elected officials, roles and responsibilities of administrative officials, municipal finance basics, and teamwork and communication.
The workshop will be split into two days, starting on June 13, focusing on the legislative framework, and local governance roles and responsibilities of elected officials and administration.
The second day of the workshop, on June 20, will focus on teamwork, effective communication, and effective meetings. “These sessions provide municipal elected officials with information regarding their legislated responsibilities under the Municipal Government Act (MGA) as well as a strong understanding of the role that a municipal council plays in governing their community,” City
Director of Corporate Services Kim Wallace said. Wallace explained that the request for the workshop had to be made by council resolution, to formally demonstrate councils’ commitment to the governing process.
The Chestermere Historical Foundation has worked with the City of Chestermere to produce six new historically themed bridge banners for Chestermere Boulevard. Thanks to the work of Alison Ciupa from the Parks Department, and Trent deGoesbriand the banners were designed by a CHF committee then printed and installed May 1st by SignCraft Digital.
This project fulfills the mandate of CHF to use its fundraising to bring the history of Chestermere to life; incorporating our past into the present. For the stories behind the images on this set of banners, please go to the CHF webpage under Banner Project. https://chestermerehistoricalfoundation.org/ banner-project
On the afternoon of Tuesday June 6th CHF will be part of 2023 Senior’s Week with a FREE presentation on the ‘History of Place Names in Chestermere’ (exact time TBA) at the Whitecappers 50+ Centre. As part of Historic Calgary Week, on the afternoon of August 1st launch tours around the lake with guides describing historic sites will be brought back by popular demand. Registration for these launch tours opens in June on this webpage https:// chinookhistory.ca/historic-calgary-week
Follow CHF on Facebook @Chestermerehistorical or Twitter @ChestermereF
By Emily Rogers
Calgary Police Services (CPS) have identified human remains in Banff National Park, as a Chestermere woman who went missing in 2020.
On July 21, 2020, Vida Smith met with Kevin Barton, a.k.a. Chris Lee, and was later reported missing after she didn’t return to her home in Chestermere.
On July 30, 2020, investigators located Barton/Lee, took him into custody and searched a residence related to the investigation.
At that time, CPS said detectives had exhausted the investigation based on evidence and believed Smith was killed.
On July 31, 2020, CPS charged Barton/ Lee with one count of manslaughter.
“Since then, we have worked tirelessly to locate Smith’s remains,” a CPS press release said.
In October 2022, CPS received information about a possible location. However, due to weather conditions and terrain in the area, police were not able to conduct a search during the winter.
On May, 9 officers revisited the site, located near a rest stop off the eastbound Trans-Canada Highway, east of Banff, where they located the remains.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy and confirmed the remains belonged to Smith.
As Barton/Lee was convicted of manslaughter, no further information is expected.
Two Calgary residents were charged with drug trafficking.
By Emily RogersThe Strathmore RCMP conducted a routine check stop yielding illicit drugs.
On March 25, at approximately 1:35 a.m., Strathmore detachment members were conducting a check stop on Parklane Drive. During the check stop, RCMP members conducted a mandatory alcohol screening test which resulted in a caution reading, from two occupants in a black sedan, an RCMP press release said.
The driver was issued a 30-day immediate roadside sanction suspension and a seven-day vehicle seizure.
RCMP members searched the vehicle before it was impounded, finding a backpack with a significant amount of what RCMP believed to be illicit drugs
Both the driver and passenger were arrested and transported to Strathmore Detachment. Both were released to appear in the Alberta Court of Justice.
A lab analysis of the substances was conducted to confirm the drug type and composition, the release said.
Fentanyl combined with Bromazolam with an approximate street value of $109,600, cocaine with an approximate street value of $7,900, methamphetamine with an approximate street value of $38,400, and $2,540 in cash was seized from the vehicle.
The driver Sebastien Gillett-Smith, 21, of Calgary, and passenger Brandon Prechner, 22, of Calgary have made court appearances and have been charged with possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking.
“The arrests and seizures in this matter is attributed to the dedication and diligence of our members who were working that night to keep our community safe. Not only from impaired drivers but as it turned out in this case from the potential distribution of approximately 9,478 combined doses of illicit drugs,” Strathmore RCMP Staff Sergeant Mark Wielgosz said.
Lakeside Golf Club members were given an update by Slokker Homes on the potential rezoning and development of the local greens.
Golf club members were given a letter with updates on the status of golf course ownership, potential rezoning and development, from Slokker Homes during the Lakeside Golf Club’s annual general meeting on April 20.
The letter was distributed to all golf course members and then forwarded to the Lakeside Greens Golf Course Preservation Society.
“Slokker Homes is still very much of the opinion that the future of Lakeside will be a thriving town centre. After a cooling off period, Slokker is in principle looking forward to presenting this vision to the town of Chestermere and thus support the independence of Chestermere as a successful stand-alone City adjacent to Calgary,” the letter read. “However, we also acknowledge that this will be a long process and understand that there is a passionate group of lakeside golf members that would prefer to see the golf course continue.”
Slokker Homes is planning to review and discuss an alternative option with the City of Chestermere’s planning department.
The letter went on to explain that a restructured plan could bring reinvestment to the golf course, minimal re-alignment of a couple of holes, improve safety, and free up land to develop three smaller projects.
“An agreement with the city will be required to minimize external investment pressure from the city. This alternative solution would see an 18hole golf course with some updated amenities and lower operational costs,” the letter
said. “Positive feedback to the city planning department would increase the possibility of a partial development although it is not the preferred option Slokker envisions.”
In response to the letter, the society is prepared to continue efforts to advocate against rezoning the golf course.
In the past, the society has worked to preserve the golf course with awareness campaigns, social media posts, advertising, lawn signs, and an online petition.
“The letter simply means we will continue our work to prevent a single blade of grass from being rezoned. We don’t believe there’s any space or appetite for any sort of development on the golf course, and we will continue our work to defend the golf course against the rezoning,” society executive director Darby King-Maillot said.
Since the letter circulated, the society has seen
a significant increase in new supporters, with now more than 5,000 online petition signatures, asking for updates, and wondering how they can help keep Chestermere’s golf course.
“We’ve had 150 more people sign the petition, and we’ve had countless other people contact us in alarm and upset, saying we need to make sure that the golf course is protected,” King-Maillot said. “Mostly people with invested interested in continuing golf in Chestermere.”
The society is also continuing to advocate against rezoning to city council.
“The society is pleased that all members of council including the mayor have reaffirmed several times that they will protect the golf course from any rezoning and development,” King-Maillot said. “We will continue to hold them to that promise.”
For more information of the society visit, https://lakesidepreservation.com/.
“Slokker Homes is still very much of the opinion that the future of lakeside will be a thriving town centre.”
By Emily RogersThe Lakeside Greens Golf Course Preservation Society is continuing work to prevent rezoning and development of the Lakeside Golf Club. Photo/The Lakeside Greens Golf Course Preservation Society
Environment Canada is warning of poor air quality and reduced visibility in the Calgary area as wildfire smoke blows in.
On Tuesday, the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) listed Calgary at a very high risk, falling to a moderate risk by Wednesday as conditions are expected to improve.
The general population is asked to reduce or reschedule strenuous activities outdoors, especially if symptoms such as coughing, and throat irritation occurs.
“Wildfire smoke can be harmful to everyone’s health even at low concentrations,” an Environment Canada special air quality statement said.
During wildfire season, Albertans can take action to reduce their exposure to smoke.
“People with lung disease, such as asthma, or heart disease, older adults, children, pregnant people, and people who work outdoors are at higher risk of experiencing health effects caused by wildfire smoke,” the statement said.
Albertans are encouraged to speak with their health care provider to develop a management plan for wildfire smoke events and maintain a supply of any necessary medications during the wildfire season.
“Stop or reduce your activity level if breathing becomes
uncomfortable or you or someone in your care feel unwell,” the statement said. “People respond differently to smoke. Mild irritation and discomfort are common and usually disappear when the smoke clears. Drinking a lot of water can help your body cope with the smoke.”
Albertans who must spend time outdoors, are encouraged to use a respirator-type mask, such as an N95, that does not allow air to pass through small openings, reducing exposure to particles in the smoke.
“These fine particles generally pose the greatest risk to health. However, respirators do not reduce exposure to the gases in wildfire smoke. It is important to listen to your body and reduce or stop activities if you are experiencing symptoms,” the statement said. “Be sure to check on people in your care and those around you who may be more susceptible to smoke.”
The statement added, reducing sources of indoor air pollution, by avoiding smoking indoors, burning incense and candles, frying foods, and using wood stoves can also help.
For more information visit the Alberta Health Services website, at www.albertahealthservices.ca/news/air.aspx.
Visit www.airhealth.ca for information on current and forecast AQHI values.
The June 2021 heatwave saw dozens of record highs set throughout the province, including new record all-time highs in areas like Banff, Cochrane, Grande Prairie and Jasper.
Calgary’s Emergency Management Committee on Wednesday, indicated the heatwave resulted in an estimated 66 deaths across the province.
“Climate models expect that these types of extreme heat events – more frequent high-heat days, drier summers, and multi-year droughts - will be more frequent in the future as a result of a changing climate,” This above was the reported by CTV news over a year ago Feb 23 ,2022, which seems to indicate why we’re experiencing the huge wildfire now due to previous drier weather which just adds to the tree deadfall fuel being created. Remember when the May long weekend you had to prepare for a snow event to possibly cancel your camping? Now they’re saying you may want to reconsider because of the smoke. We have seen this type of smoke only a few years ago in the summer, this however is Spring, and summer looks like it’s going to be another smoke out season given what the current fire fighters are saying. This also could be the future, in using the latest phrase “the new norm” . Really? Is that what you want for your family’s future? Just something to think about when you cast your vote, who represents short term thinking and who’s looking long term for your future of living on the planet.
Dennis BigrasWelcome to Rainbow Falls Dental! Family Dentist Chestermere
Rainbow Falls Dental is excited to introduce their brand new state of the art Dental practice to the town of Chestermere and surrounding area. Our dynamic team will strive to ensure you are comfortable and confident with the complete oral health care you are receiving and will continue to receive.
You’ll always leave a lasting impression with a bright and confident smile. At Rainbow Falls Dental, we want to help you claim and maintain a strong healthy smile to enjoy for your entire life.
Rainbow Falls Dental is a full-service clinic providing everything from routine check-ups & cleanings for your children, to the complex cosmetic and restorative dentistry sometimes needed.
Our team understands that there is often a sense of uneasiness and anxiety associated with dental visits. We strive to put these emotions at ease by creating a positive and relaxing experience. It is very important to establish a great foundation of trust with each and every patient and take the time to accommodate to the specific needs of the individual. Our entire team is dedicate to providing you with a comfortable, pleasant, and friendly experience.
We offer dental services for families and individuals of all ages. We are Unit 214 100 Rainbow Road, Chestermere, AB. We are right beside the No Frills.
Call Rainbow Falls Dental to set up an appointment!
Our Office Follows
The Alberta Dental Association Fee Guide
UCP candidate Chantelle de Jonge’s campaign is focused on health care, education, and economic growth.
By Emily RogersChestermere-Strathmore United Conservative Party (UCP) candidate Chantelle de Jonge is determined to protect Alberta’s motto, “Strong and free.”
De Jonge explained that she was inspired to join politics to protect Alberta, preserve strength and freedom, and build on the values that the province was built on.
“I believe there’s only one outcome in this upcoming election that does result in a strong and free Alberta, and that’s with the UCP,” de Jonge said. “This is the most important election in Alberta’s history. The UCP wants to keep Alberta moving forward, by growing and diversifying our economy, which means jobs and prosperity for the communities in our riding.
De Jonge noted the UCP is protecting services such as health care, education, and values including affordability.
To advocate for the issues within the riding, de Jonge is prepared to be a strong voice at the table for constituents with active and accessible representation.
In her campaign, de Jonge is advocating for health care, education, economic growth, policing, and investment.
“The UCP must be re-elected for us to move forward to ensure the folks in the riding succeed,” de Jonge said. “The UCP has brought forward so much excellent policy during the campaign, our record over the past has been excellent, and that’s the policy that keeps Alberta moving forward on issues.”
The UCP is advocating for policing in the province that addresses community-specific issues, with initiatives such as deploying sheriffs to support police, mandating body-worn cameras, establishing community safety plans, and encouraging collaboration between police and civilians.
“The UCP is taking bold action to support law and order, and make
communities safer,” de Jonge said. She added, if re-elected, the UCP will continue to work to grow the economy.
“Our economy is booming, Alberta is leading the country in economic growth, and all of the forecasts are showing that these trends are only going to continue,” de Jonge said. “It’s the UCP that did that, and the UCP needs to remain in government in order to build on that.”
De Jonge is advocating reducing corporate tax, encouraging more business in the province, ensuring health care, more schools, and inflation management for Albertans.
“Affordability is so important to Albertans, our inflation relief plan is working right now, this province has the lowest inflation in the country,” de Jonge said. “We’ve got our economy back on track.”
De Jonge noted that because health care is important to Albertans, the UCP is working to improve the health care system.
“Our health is so important to Albertans, the UCP isn’t kicking the can down the road on health care,” de Jonge said. “We’re making the changes the system needs to improve.”
De Jonge is now seeking the Chestermere-Strathmore constituents’ support to continue the work being done to improve health care, education, and economic growth.
“We need to re-elect the UCP to ensure this province continues to be the economic engine of this country,” de Jonge said. “That’s what keeps Albertans working, that’s what keeps Albertans prosperous and keeps Alberta that beacon of opportunity that it is.”
Chestermere Radio (CFTR the Rogue) is running a contest for female owned/managed business in our listening area from the Bow to the Badlands where the winner will receive $2500 of advertising across our platforms of our website, digital news magazine, and radio.
Anyone from the public can nominate the business. Please include the Business Name, community , and the reason you are nominating them and we will place the nominations daily on our Facebook page. Feel free to nominate yourself!
( https://facebook.com/chestermereradio )
The contest runs from May 1st until June 13th. The winner will be announced on the Laid Back on the Lake show Wednesday June 14th at 2:00 PM mountain time. Nominations will be put into a (virtual) hat until June 13th and the one winner will be drawn at random to get $2500 of advertising in our digital magazine, website, and radio products. There is no cash redemption value for this contest.
All nominators and nominees must be a subscriber to our digital magazine and a follower of our Facebook page. It is easy to sign-up and free. https://theanchor.ca/sign-up
https://facebook.com/chestermereradio
Send your nominations to : contests@anchormedia.ca
Good Luck!
NDP candidate Raj Jessel’s campaign is focused on health care, education, childcare, and policing.
By Emily Rogers
Chestermere-Strathmore New Democratic Party (NDP) candidate Raj Jessel is ready to listen to constituents and help to resolve their issues.
Jessel has been an active member of the riding, listening to residents, and working to mitigate their issues, and wanted to take it to the political level.
“I decided to run for Chestermere-Strathmore because I want to listen to people and resolve their issues in Chestermere-Strathmore the constituency,” Jessel said. “This is my home and I know all the issues within the constituency. I’m listening every day.”
In his campaign, he is focused on investing in health care with a focus on ambulance services, and education giving students a chance to obtain a higher education.
“For our students and young people, it’s so expensive to have a higher education, if the system stays like this how will people get a higher education? I’m stepping in to fix these problems. This is the time,” Jessel said. “The NDP is working for Albertans, and for the future of Alberta.”
Jessel noted the key issues in the constituency include infrastructure, health care, education, childcare, and policing.
He explained that infrastructure needs to be fixed, communities need more family doctors and ambulance services, teachers need resources, and the provincial government needs to keep RCMP services.
He added, the NDP will invest in renewable energy, other than oil and gas, and he is hopeful more investment will come to the ChestermereStrathmore area.
“This is a very important election. I’m asking people to think before they vote, and to vote for health care, education, and for a better Alberta,” Jessel said. “The NDP will work for Albertans, invest in health care, education, childcare, and put a cap on insurance fees and utilities.”
As the bassist in two time JUNO-award winning band The Strumbellas, Darryl James is no stranger to the power of collaborating with multiple musicians. Spending over a decade with the chart-topping Canadian Indie-Rock outfit, James is an original band member who serves as both a musician and co-writer in the group. In 2021, James launched his solo musical endeavour under the name Close Kicks, created as a separate artistic entity where he could explore and develop his own original music as both writer and producer. His brand new EP “Colours” marks the first time he was dedicated to exploring the craft of writing, producing, and mixing his music independently from the ground up. James adds the final touches to his music by inviting local artists to record the instrumentation, adding a unique take on an otherwise completely solo project. With wideranging musical depth that oscillates between Alternative-Folk and Indie-Rock, Close Kicks sound encompasses the vintage feel of analog recordings with a modern edge, behind lyrics that cleverly traverse socially focused themes of mental health, community activism, and vulnerability.
From multi-platinum and gold certified singles, global tours, and playing some of the most coveted festivals and TV shows in the world including Bonaroo, Governor’s Ball, Jimmy Kimmel, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Darryl James has achieved major career successes in what can be considered a short tenure in music. As a former arboriculturist working in turf management, James began his musical career at the age of 30 having never previously played bass, proving that it is truly never too late to start. Following the successes of The Strumbellas, James pushed beyond his comfort zone and began to collaborate with world renowned artists including Kevin Griffin (Better Than Ezra) and Erika Nuri Tayler (Fantasia - When I See You) while educating himself in musical production, self-recording, and mixing. “I’ve learned that no matter the obstacle, if you’re willing to put in the work and you believe in yourself, anything is possible.” His debut EP as Close Kicks, “Dreamers”, celebrates James’ dedication to his continuous growth as an artist, love of collaboration, and his artistic endeavours beyond music, incorporating his love for photography and film. Reaching close to one million streams across platforms and prominently featured on broadcasts ranging
from the MLB, to Toronto Blue Jays, and NHLAA, Close Kicks’ debut project was a resounding success, marking the first time James created and released music on his own.
With his sophomore EP as Close Kicks titled “Colours”, James dives deeper into his creativity than ever before, delivering a project that once again unites all areas of his artistry. Written, performed, recorded, and mixed by James, the artist collaborated with local musicians from his hometown on each of the five tracks, providing them with the framework of how he wanted each song to sound and inviting them to add their own flare to each part. From creating the EP and single covers from photos he took himself to filming video content on his own, “Colours” marks a new chapter for James, where he began to trust his solo artistic instincts more than ever before. Starting the project in 2022 while also embarking on a journey of sobriety, James paused the recording process to begin to care for his mother who had recently been diagnosed with cancer. Calling her his biggest supporter who always encouraged him to pursue music, James continued to work on the project throughout her illness, and was able to share the songs she encouraged him to complete with her before her recent and untimely passing.
Close Kicks sophomore EP, “Colours”, features vibrant soundscapes, expressive lyrics, and the powerful result of following your heart. Opening with lead single “Never Going To Give This Up”, a retro Indie-Rock track about standing up for what one believes in, James calls upon his experience as an active member of his community in Lindsay, ON. Drawing inspiration for the song from wanting to make an impactful contribution to society for his children and for future generations, James calls “Never Going To Give This Up” his protest song, sharing “I want to stress that being active within our communities can leave a lasting, positive impact for generations to come”. With an engaging melody and unforgettable chorus, the Indie-Rock track features a prominent, striking electric guitar and driving drumbeat.
“Somewhere Lost” and “You’ll Find Me” both focus on mental struggles and the processing of complex emotions. Marking a notable departure from his musical comfort zone, “Somewhere Lost” is a slow-tempo, vulnerable, and melancholy piano ballad with comforting
harmonies and James’ distinctly longing, echofilled vocal performance. Released as the first single off of the project, the song has been prominently featured on numerous playlists across Amazon and Apple Music. “Colours” also features Folk-tinged “Long Way From Home”, a lonely yet hopeful mid-tempo track, featuring delightfully intricate instrumentation creatively juxtaposed against sorrow-filled lyrics, along with “Running Wild”, an Alternative-Rock track about the realization of a need to change.
Refreshingly honest and bursting with radiant sound, “Colours’’ definitively marks what creativity can look like when an artist chooses to trust their creative instincts. As a student of his craft, Darryl James ventures into multiple areas of new territory with Close Kicks second ever release, becoming the sole song creator, storyteller, and artistic director of a project all his own. Showcasing an exciting realm of creative possibilities for the artist, the release of “Colours’’ also celebrates over seven months of sobriety for James, and is what he attributes to helping complete the project during one of the most challenging times of his life. Brimming with artistic dexterity, vivid musical textures, and unbound vulnerability, “Colours” delivers a thrilling world of creativity from a musician who is finally learning to embrace what can happen when he trusts himself. Most importantly, his mom will always be his biggest fan.
“Colours” will be available everywhere on May 5 2023.
Independent candidate Terry Nicholls is focused on supporting community growth, supporting schools and teachers, and changing the health care model.
By Emily RogersChestermere-Strathmore independent candidate Terry Nicholls is asking constituents to consider a change for the riding.
“It has been a rough four years for everyone and now we, the people, have a chance to consider change,” Nicholls said. “A change in how we vote for political parties, a chance to choose a strong advocate for equal rights, and a chance to end ideology-driven politics.”
Nicholls is advocating to upgrade roadways to accommodate growing communities.
“Langdon is a rapidly growing community and the main route in and out of this community also needs to grow,” Nicholls said. A light rail transit line between Strathmore and Calgary is also on his radar.
“Not only does this make sense from an environmental perspective as it can take thousands of cars off the road, but this project will also save the commuter money and a quicker and safer method of commuting than the drive,” he added. “Additional benefits will be growth of the communities along the line.”
In addition to updating roadways, Nicholls is prepared to advocate for support of community emergency social services, to ensure constituents know what to do in an emergency situation.
“Alberta ESS is a good system staffed by great Albertans who will be there when life gets real,” Nicholls said.
He explained that the Chestermere-Strathmore constituency needs funding to register residents, launch awareness campaigns, recruit volunteers, and pay for resources.
“My goal is to get more funding to get everyone set up, so if we do get the call to evacuate, we know what to do,” Nicholls said.
He noted, boosting funding caps or grants from general revenues could help get communities back on track after the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I will work hard to get the funding for facility maintenance, wages, and equipment upgrades for our hamlets and villages,” Nicholls said.
General revenues could also be used to support schools and teachers, and increase resources and supplies, Nicholls explained.
“The whole funding model has to change, from property taxes to general revenue. That’s the first thing I’d push for,” Nicholls said. “We don’t have enough schools and teachers, we don’t have enough support for the teachers, we don’t have enough supplies for the students, and that has to change. I believe general funding is the answer to boosting that change into reality.”
Ultimately, Nicholls wants to see schools turned into charter schools, where schools can identify as a charity, raise funds, and recruit sponsors. To address health care concerns, Nicholls is pushing for a trial program allowing paramedics and nurses in rural communities to run small clinics and provide immediate diagnoses for minor concerns.
Lastly, Nicholls is advocating for a central police command system, where residents are treated fairly.
“There are solutions if you have the courage to end your support of these political parties that have created the problems that we all face,” Nicholls said.
monthly calendar and newsletter OR you can stop by and pick copies up at their location on the south end of the Rec. Centre at 201B Chestermere Drive. Remember their Annual General Meeting is scheduled for May 30th for anyone interested in joining their board or attending.
The Chestermere Women’s Crisis Society continue to provide assistance to clients in need. Whether it be basic needs or domestic violence issues, they are there to help residents in any way they can. They can be reached on their crisis line 24/7 at 403-775-CWCS (2927). They are also looking for volunteers to help on the crisis line and with grant writing. Unfortunately, there is a need for this service in our community and it is important for residents to know help is available.
The Chestermere Food Bank has a few events coming up that need your support. On May 19th they are planning a Fill the Fire Truck event at No Frills. Keep an eye out for the specific details and a list of needs will be available to people to use. As always, any and all support of the Food Bank is welcome. There is some great programming going on at the Chestermere Public Library. Chestermere Community Support Resource Fair is there on May 25th. It’s an opportunity to learn about a variety of free community supports that are available. It runs from 10am – 12pm so be sure to stop by.
If April showers (of rain or snow) bring May flowers – what else does May bring? Well of course there will be buds on the trees and maybe even no more snow if we are lucky and if we are very lucky it will be a May that feels like summer. That would be fantastic especially for those who are hoping to go camping over the May long weekend. Lately it has been so nice to see people out and about and even having picnics in the park. We have a pretty City and we all need to get out and about and enjoy the fresh air and welcomed sunshine.
Spoiler alert, our resident Anchor Article Author is currently away so you have a substitute this month. So, please enjoy this article and be kind to the newbie.
Highlights of our April 2023 meeting included three (3) new members and a visit from Sgt. Sukh Randhawa from the Chestermere RCMP and Paul Siller, Executive Director from Rocky View Bus – “Transportation for Community Needs”.
OACC is continuing to try and fill the Vice-Chair position on our Board. An enticing Volunteer Ad has been posted on many Facebook pages. Your commitment would be to work with the Coalition members in meeting the needs identified by the members and so far 2023 has been a very exciting year. As a stakeholder you must reside or work within the geographical boundaries of Chestermere and surrounding areas. The Vice Chair role works closely with the two Co-Chairs and Secretary to organize and coordinate all projects and meetings. It is a two-year term. If you are interested, please contact Joanne, Shannon, or Betty (see contact information below).
Some updates from around the community and our Not-for-Profit partners….. Check out the Whitecappers website at http://whitecappers.ca/ for their
If you missed the ‘HORSES AND MULES IN WWI’ presentation on April 18th at the Whitecappers Association and you are a history buff, you may want to know more about the historical programs and upcoming events that the Chestermere Historical Foundation are hosting, check out their website at www.chestermerehistoricalfoundation.org.
Did you know that the Chestermere Community Support Services (CSS) has a program that supports individuals and families to meet their daily needs? The Community Access Program or CAP supports Chestermere residents in accessing multiple, subsidized resources. While there are some eligibility requirements, the program helps you access subsidies to various programs throughout the City. To apply, you must provide proof of Chestermere residency, ID for each household member and proof of income. For more information, reach out to CSS at 403-207-7079 or email them at cssinfo@ chestermere.ca.
It is a great time of year to have some neighbour or family fun time. The City of Chestermere has a Block Party based program designed to build connection and community. So, gather your neighbours or family and have a cook off or BBQ with the help of the City. Each kit includes cookware, dishes, utensils and recipe books to use, along with a gift card to help purchase some of the ingredients. Check it out by contacting Craig at 403-7050 ext. 7094 or email him at cmcleod@chestermere.ca. It’s a great way to have some fun!
PLEASE REMEMBER TO MARK YOUR CALENDAR for Senior’s Week. A SAVE THE DATE NOTICE WILL BE POSTED SHORTLY. In Chestermere Seniors’ Week will be celebrated from Monday, June 5th through to Saturday, June 10th. There is a planning group of non-profit organizations working with the City to build a Calendar of Events for the week. We are now in the home stretch and have planned to have something scheduled every day to celebrate the Older Adults in our community. As things get firmed up, watch our article and listen to our segment on The Rogue radio station for more details!
Chestermere Senior Services & South Asian Seniors Social Outreach is having meeting groups at Lakeshore Manor. If you are interested or want more information, please contact Kiran Randhawa at 403-472-1490 or kiranran786@gmail.com. There is a men’s group as well as a women’s group.
All are welcome!
Finally, a reminder about the Chestermere Conversation Café. As previously mentioned, this group is intended to support caregivers and family members of those working with Dementia or memory loss. Regardless of where you or your family member is in the dementia journey, it is a casual conversation setting offering peer support. Family members and dementia patients are welcome to join in. Future meetings will be held on the 4th Monday of every month from 2:00pm – 4:00pm at Lakeshore Manor (200 Marina Drive, Chestermere). NOTE: The next meeting will be on Monday, May 29th due to the long weekend. Remember you can contact Don at 403-473-1564 or check out the link for more information: https:// dementianetworkcalgary.ca/event/ new-chestermere-conversation-cafein-person/
News & Views on Health for May and June 2023
Welcome Spring and Summer like Warmth!
CRPCN is offering its free courses online on various health related topics around Nutrition, Exercise, Mental Wellness and Health and Wellness. Please access through crpcn.ca
From our Clinical side: The Clinic’s are busy and Walk-ins are available
at most clinics with your own Providers. The new Family Medical Clinic in Kinninburgh is also taking new patients and Walk-in’s including Saturday’s from 2-5pm. Some of you may know our nurse Kim GordonKrushell has moved on to new endeavours within the healthcare field and we will surely miss her around our clinics for sure, however we wish her all the best in her new role.
From our Community side: So much happening in our bustling community. Stay tuned to the City page, and the Anchor for all the activities and events.
- CRPCN will be involved at Seniors Week with two presentations on Green Sleeves and Elder Abuse Awareness on June 8th at 1:00pm.
- Love to see you out at our Conversation Café’s on the 4th Monday afternoon of each month from 2-4pm. This is a wonderful support group for caregivers of dementia clients. Next one is May 29th due to the May long weekend.
- Did you know you can drop in or go online to manage all things Chestermere Library? There are so many great activities happening at our Library, right on the waterfront.
- Stay healthy with the Vegetable hut for fresh produce over by Jessica’s Restaurant. As well the Market will start again on Wednesdays at 3:30-7PM in the Recreation Centre parking lot. They
are still looking for Vendors if you know anyone interested have them email: lakers19@efirehose.net
- If you have questions about health and wellness or need support around prevention and illness please feel free to reach out to Leslie.racz@CRPCN.ca That’s it for us.
Join the Older Adults’ Coalition of Chestermere
Are you an older adult? Do you live or work in Chestermere or the immediate surrounding area? Do you want to engage and/or volunteer in the community with similar residents? Do you have family that fits this demographic that you care for or have living in Chestermere? Did you know that as a business or organization that has an interest in providing services or programs for our older adults you are more than welcome to be a member of OACC? We welcome adult children of older adults, caregivers, educators, agencies, service organizations, funders, community partners and the community at large. The common goal is to work for the betterment of older adults in our community.
Please join us at our next monthly meeting (at which time we will have a Guest Speaker – Donelda Laing, Elder Abuse Case Manager for the Calgary Rural Primary Care Network). We continue to meet the 3rd Wednesday of the month.
OACC – Upcoming Meeting Date
– Wednesday, May 17 at 1:30PM – 3:30PM Lakeshore Manor (200 Marina Drive, Chestermere). While walk-ins are welcome to our meetings, RSVPs are appreciated. Please email Joanne jumpmaster2@ shaw.ca or Betty illingw8@telus. net or Shannon shannon.fetterly@ lakeshoremanor.ca
The OACC welcomes community
businesses, organizations, and service providers to join our meetings as a guest speaker. If you are interested, please reach out to Joanne, Betty, or Shannon.
The Chestermere Older Adults’ Resource Handbooks (2023) are available at the Older Adults’ Coalition of Chestermere meetings. They are also available at the Chestermere Library, Whitecappers Association, Lakeshore Manor, and Synergy as well as medical offices and pharmacies throughout the City. Please pick yours up or take one for a neighbour. You can also access these Handbooks by contacting the City of Chestermere at 403-207- 7079 Resource-Handbook-2023
Lakeshore Manor also provides a wide variety of resources and information for Older Adults within our community. They can be contacted at 587-349-7444 or online at https://lakeshoremanor.ca
The City of Chestermere website also has some great resources for older adults and seniors programming, events, and information! https://www. chestermere.ca/658/Programs-forSeniors
Community Support Services 403207-7079 Text option. 403-826-2611 CSS offers programs and services to enhance the well-being of individuals, families, and communities in Chestermere. They provide free and confidential services related to social support, information, and referrals to local resources. Email: cssinfo@chestermere.ca
As natural disasters become more frequent due to global warming and pollution, many people are worried about the future. Do you suffer from ecoanxiety? You can reduce your distress and helplessness by taking these four concrete actions.
1. Support organizations. Make a financial donation or volunteer your time to an organization that shares your environmental concerns, like Greenpeace or the David Suzuki Foundation. That way, you’ll be part of the solution.
3. Sign petitions. Sign a petition to stop a polluting project. The project may be cancelled or changed if the bill gets several thousand signatures. However, before signing and sharing the petition on social media, research the issue and ensure the person or organization that started it is legitimate.
4. Participate in events. Participate or invite your friends and family to a climate walk or benefit concert in your area to raise awareness about the climate emergency. There’s strength in numbers!
Did you know that besides helping protect the environment, making environmentally responsible decisions can save you money? Here are a few green lifestyle habits that benefit your wallet.
• Buy secondhand clothes and fashion accessories
• Turn down your air conditioner or heater at night and when you’re away
• Grow a vegetable garden and use 100 per cent of your crops by canning or freezing
• Keep your smartphone until it stops working; get it fixed if needed to extend its life
Take short showers rather than baths
• Use public transport and active modes of transportation like cycling
• Swap meat products for vegetable proteins as often as possible
• Use reusable containers and water bottles
Washable personal care products and energyefficient appliances can also help you save money. As the cost of living continues to rise, you have everything to gain by implementing these suggestions.
2. Write to politicians. Communicate your concerns to your mayor or government official on nature protection issues. You can write the message yourself or use an online template. The more your elected representatives know about their voters’ concerns, the more they’ll try to meet their demands.
Several lifestyle habits can also contribute to slowing down global warming. For example, buy local, use public transportation instead of your car, repair what you have instead of throwing it away and compost your table scraps. Get started today!
Do you sometimes wonder why environmental groups protect certain animal species, particularly those that may seem insignificant or unattractive, like snakes, bats and frogs?
For years, vulnerable animal species have been going extinct at an alarming rate. This phenomenon is primarily caused by human activities like real estate development, farming and mining, which harm ecosystems and destroy wildlife habitats. If these activities continue at a dizzying pace, the human race will eventually become an endangered species.
All animals, cute or not, must be protected. Here are some excellent reasons to make wildlife protection a societal priority:
• Biodiversity creates balanced and healthy ecosystems
• All wildlife is interconnected
• Animals provide services and resources that are essential to humans
• All living things have a right to survival and security
It’s important to remember that by acting to prevent the extinction of wild animals, you’re also protecting human life. Join or donate to a wildlife organization to day.
Want
Do you dream of having beautiful flowerbeds, a lush lawn and a large vegetable garden overflowing with healthy foods and fragrant herbs? Here are some basic gardening rules that won’t harm the environment.
• Don’t use pesticides. These chemical substances are used to kill harmful insects and weeds. However, they’re bad for your health and that of the planet. Fortunately, there are ecofriendly alternatives, such as crushed eggshells and pyrethrin.
• Use natural fertilizers. Although fertilizers are meant to help plants grow, they can pollute the water table and deplete the soil of vital nutrients. Look for natural fertilizers that will achieve the same results.
• Avoid unnecessary watering. Water is a precious resource that must be used thoughtfully. Avoid watering shallowly or when the sun is bright; the water will evaporate too quickly. Instead, water close to the ground and store rainwater whenever possible. You can find containers designed for this purpose in shops selling gardening accessories.
• Encourage biodiversity. Mixing plant species makes your garden more resistant to threats like pests and extreme weather conditions. To support biodiversity, ensure you include native plants essential for wildlife survival.
Visit your local garden store or nursery to stock up on accessories and get professional advice to help you create the garden of your dreams.
Does your mom, partner, grandma or another woman in your life have strong convictions about environmental sustainability? Give her a gift that aligns with her values for Mother’s Day. Here are some inspiring ideas.
• A subscription to an online newspaper or themed magazine
• Passes to an event like a music festival with ecoresponsible practices
• A piece of clothing or a fashion accessory made from recycled materials
• An organic and fairtrade plant or bouquet of flowers
• A course or workshop like a vegan cooking class, knitting workshop or yoga class
• Pretty, reusable bags or food containers
• A beauty treatment like a massage or body wrap at an ecofriendly spa
Check out local businesses, designers and artists for ecofriendly gift ideas this Mother’s Day. Mother Earth will thank you!
Water sports, swimming, fi shing and other activities on, in or near water are popular during the summer. Do you want to enjoy your holiday in a naturefriendly way? Here are some ways to keep pollution out of the water.
• Manage your waste. Most public beaches have trash and recycling bins. However, these bins can overflow during peak season, leading unscrupulous holidaymakers to leave their waste on the ground nearby. Don’t do this! To prevent your rubbish from blowing away or attracting gulls, keep it with you until you can dispose of it responsibly.
• Choose your beauty products carefully. If you love to swim or snorkel, remember that any substances you apply to your skin or hair
will end up in the water. Look for beauty products like hair gel, moisturizer and sunscreen which won’t harm the environment. To protect yourself from the sun, remember that mineral sunscreens are best.
• P articipate in fuel-free water sports. Although personal watercraft and fast motorboats are fun, they can harm the environment. To avoid polluting lakes, rivers and oceans, opt for wind or manuallypowered vessels, like a paddleboard, kayak, sailboat or pedal boat. There’s no shortage of options; as a bonus, they’re quiet!
Finally, you can help protect the water by choosing biodegradable and phosphorusfree cleaners and taking leftover hazardous products, such as paint thinner and oil, to your local recycling depot.
The Chestermere Fine Art Guild highlighted the talents of its members at the spring art show and sale.
About 20 artists, including featured artist Lorraine Everett, had been working through the winter to prepare for the spring art show and sale on May 6.
“The show was really good,” artist Ellen Lorne said. “I heard a lot of feedback from people that they loved the art.” This year, approximately 235 people visited the art show and sale at the Chestermere recreation centre.
The art show and sale featured acrylic, watercolour, and oil paintings and cards.
“Guild members were really happy with the sales. They felt that the sales were equal to the show last year,” Lorne said. “Everything they felt was very similar to last year.”
More than 20 years ago, Lorne was inspired to start the Chestermere Fine Art Guild while she was painting in her home studio with her friends.
About a year later, artists in the club wanted to show off their art to the community and started the show and sale.
Since then, the art show and sale has become an anticipated community event year after year, giving residents an opportunity to get involved in the community, and artists a chance to connect.
“It gathers artists together to paint, and for the shows, the artists can show off their work, and impress their community with what wonderful work they do,” Lorne said.
“It’s another thing that people in the community can do on a Saturday, they can stop in and bring their kids,” Lorne added. “It’s a community thing.”
The Chestermere Fine Art Guild is looking for new members to join the paint sessions every Thursday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the recreation centre.
Lorne encourages anyone interested in joining to visit the members on Thursdays or visit the Chestermere Fine Art Guild’s Facebook page.
“Anyone interested in joining, stop in and see what people are doing, that might help with the decision if they want to join,” Lorne said.
On the same page.
Whether they’re thumbing through pages or swiping to the next article, 4 in 5 people in Canada read the news each week — by print, online or digitally.
Learn more at championthetruth.ca
Being “hip” in any subculture means both understanding and adopting terminology that is specific to that group. Slang, if you will, is that magic code. Once you have it down, you are a member of the group. Some time ago we introduced the term “twitcher”, an affectation for those birders who will go to any length to find a rare bird. Yes, there is indeed more slang to master in the birding world. While out birding, I will at times hear Elaine making a strange sound. “Pish”. Silence. “Pish”. I am thinking, when did I “pish” her off? “What are you doing?” I ask. “I am making an alarm call chickadees use hoping to attract other birds.” “Oh”. As we walk along the water’s edge in Inglewood Park, Elaine whispers, “Look, a woodie.” Expecting an obscene flasher, I look, only to see a wood duck. Of course!
I admire my wife’s birding abilities. She’s never a “flogger” or a “burner” preferring to be a “skulker”. She even dresses in camo to be a better skulker, hiding in amongst the tall grass and bulrushes, motionless and quiet. She is so good that a few years ago, a Canada goose on a nest inches away, stood up right beside, giving her “the look”. With approximately 330 bird species who call Alberta home, along with another 115 accidental species paying a visit, Elaine and I are “listers”,
tracking each species we identify. It comes down to putting a “tick” on our life list, and at times a “megatick” for a really rare sighting. I believe Elaine had a “crippler” when she was overwhelmed seeing her first white-faced ibis.
In the first year of our birding adventures we were really “protobirders”, developing identification skills. We still laugh about seeing birds flit away out front or beside us, calling them “LBBs” (Little Brown Birds) or “LBJs” (LB Jobs). One morning while at Carburn Park looking up high into the trees searching for warblers, a gentleman asked what we were looking for. “A chiropractor”, I replied as our “warbler neck” symptoms were kicking in. A few years ago a sighting I had was a “zootie”. A Eurasian Ruff supposedly heading to Africa somehow landed in Calgary. Quite the opposite of a “trash bird”, this sighting created an enormous interest with local and distant birders.
Although you may not hear these words even with fellow birders, they may be more commonly used in larger birding organizations, writers and possibly comedians. When we hear some bird slang or use it in conversation, raised eyebrows signalling unfamiliarity or a smile appears on a fellow birder, who knows its all in the word.
“Slanging It in Birdland”
Spring Programs 2023
Spring programs are halfway through! This sessions registration is 100% online, instructions on how to register can be found on our program guide. We have lots of brand-new programs coming to the library for this spring. Find our full program guide on our website. www.chestermerepubliclibrary.com
Storytime
Storytime is back! Join us on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 10:15AM for songs and stories. No registration is required.
Join us for a special storytime on May 29th at 10:15AM to celebrate Global Parents Day!
Featured Artist
Stop by the library to view our brand-new local featured artist Audrey Buschgens. Audrey’s bright and colourful work is on display until the middle of June.
Graphic Novel and Manga Club
This month our teen and adult Graphic Novel and Manga Club are discussing Alternate History comics on our Discord. Any comic where there is a change of historical events is welcome to be discussed online.
Summer Reading Program Kickoff
Our Summer Reading Program is BACK!!!!! Join us on June 17th from 10:00AM to 2:00PM for our Summer Reading Program Kickoff! We will have a variety of activities and community groups joining us for a day of fun. Get early registration for our extremely popular Summer Reading Program. No registration is required to attend the Kickoff event!
Share Your Library Experience
Have you taken part in any of our library services? We are looking for feedback on the library and our programs. Let us know what you think and how we can improve. Your feedback directly impacts our services and programming so we can continue to make the library better for everyone. Email your feedback to info@ chestermerepubliclibrary.com or drop it off in our feedback box.
Support Your Local Library
Are you aware that the library is a Registered CHARITY? This means that we depend on donations from the public to support us. We are looking for corporate or personal sponsors for our current Program Session and our upcoming Summer Reading Program! Any donations help and allow us to improve all our programming. Contact info@chestermerepubliclibrary.com if you would like to donate.
Monthly Newsletter
Are you wondering what’s happening at the library? Would you like to know? Sign up for our monthly newsletter for updates on programming, Reading Programs, Featured Displays, Community Outreach, Featured Artists, and more. Sign up by visiting our website at chestermerepubliclibrary.com
Library Hours:
Monday through Thursday – 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
Friday and Saturday – 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sunday – 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
For more information about what is happening at the Library, check our website. Don’t forget to follow and like us on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages. Chestermere Public Library
Tune in to our new radio chat show: 50+ Shades of Gray with Sharron where we talk about all subjects related to mature living
Starting April 13, With CFTR The Rogue, Chestermere Radio
Your Host Sharron Matthewman (The Brit)
Every Thursday at 10:00 – 11:00am
Join Sharron for an hour of lively conversations, entertaining stories, and expert advice on topics that matter to you. From health and wellness to travel and hobbies, we’ve got you covered.
Our experienced host and her guest experts will share their insights and expertise on a variety of issues affecting seniors today. We’ll also feature music from the ‘50s, ‘60s, and beyond, so you can sit back and reminisce with your favourite tunes.
Whether you’re tuning in from home, on the go, or in the car, 50 + Shades of Gray is the perfect companion for your day. So mark your calendars and join Sharron for an informative and entertaining hour of radio just for you.
Text, call, or email to ask questions on everything that you need to know and want to know about healthy ageing. Guest speakers and more. Please let me know of topics of interest. Let’s keep connected, all shades of GRAY welcome.
50+ Shades of Gray , airing every Thursday at 10:30 am on Chestermere’s Best Radio. Don’t miss it!
Welcome to this edition of a minute with Michelle - a new buyers guide and how to get started!
Step 2..be prepared for the hidden cost on this edition of a minute with Michelle
Many people know that you have to save up for a down-payment to buy purchase a property.
But not everyone is ready for the “hidden” expenses of buying a house, although they aren’t hidden, most people just simply don’t know or aren’t informed by their agents, and sometimes aren’t aware of what the actual costs are, and how quickly they can add up.
Above and beyond the down-payment for your next purchase, you’ll also have the following expenses:
• Legal fees (roughly $1,000 to $1,500)
• GST if you’re purchasing a new home
• Appraisal Fees (typically $200-500) these are sometimes covered by your mortgage provider.
• Home Inspections ($300-$750)
step 3 of your personalized home buying process!
Creating your wish list and must have list!
This next step is simple for most buyers! As most have been dreaming about buying for quite some time.
Before you dive too deep into the home search process, it’s idea for you to create 3 lists.
1. Your must have items - These are the things you can’t live without under any circumstances
2. Nice to have items - Things you probably could live without, but if you can get them it’s a big plus!
3. Can’t live with X items - These items are your true deal-breakers or the things you just don’t want.
Whatever your choices are, note them down and give this to your Calgary Real Estate Agent. That way they know what to look for, sometimes we’ll know of, or hear about a property before it’s listed, if we know what you want, we can notify you before it’s made available to the general public.
Some other factors that you’ll want to consider when creating your lists:
Access and proximity to public transit Locations.
Parking Amenities you desire
Urban vs. Suburban
Lifestyle
Total monthly carrying costs
Types of finishes in the home
And those are some of the hidden costs you may encounter as a buyer when purchasing a home.
Stayed tuned for the next edition of a guide for a new home buyer on a minute with Michelle!
Seniors’ Acting Lab aims to create original theatre that reflects what’s happening in our seniors’ community. We produce plays written by seniors, for seniors and aim to have 80% of all of our casts and crews come from the senior community.
Bill C773 is an original work by Founder and President Louise Day that examines the relationship between our aging population and recent amendments to Canada’s MAID legislation.
The Replacement is written by Calgary playwright, Clem Martini and explores senior identity after partner loss in a comedic and heartwarming way.
Tickets are $25 for students and seniors and $30 for adults and can be purchased through the Vertigo Theatre box office. The show runs Jun 8-11, 2023 at Vertigo Studio.
For inquiries, please contact seniorsactinglab@gmail.com.
April 21 – June 25, 2023
9 to 5 The Musical, with music and lyrics by Dolly Parton and book by Patricia Resnick, is based on the seminal 1980 hit movie. Set in the late 1970’s this hilarious story of friendship and revenge in the Rolodex era is outrageous, thought-provoking, and even a little romantic.
Pushed to the boiling point, three female coworkers concoct a plan to get even with the sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot they call their boss. In a hilarious turn of events, Violet, Judy & Daralee live out their wildest fantasy – giving their workplace a dream makeover, taking control of the company that had always kept them down.
Hey, a girl can scheme, can’t she?
As you know, spices add flavour to food. Just the thought of gingerbread men, cinnamon sweets or dishes from India and Mexico is enough to get your mouth watering.
Many spices are famous for their robust scent and are used in perfumes, air fresheners and candles. However, many spices can play other roles, some of which might surprise you. Here are some examples:
• Turmeric can be used as a natural fabric dye
Cinnamon is a natural preservative
• Cloves destroy diseasecausing germs
• Star anise soothes stomac h aches
• Ginger relieves cold symptoms like cough and sore throat
• Blac k pepper keeps wild animals and insects out of the garden
Spices can be used in many forms, including plain, infused, powdered or in essential oils. However, even if you love them, you shouldn’t consume too much of them. Some spices can be dangerous to your health in large doses.
Cardamom, curry, cumin, nutmeg, paprika, saffron – the list goes on! What are your favourite spices?
Have you ever heard of the James Webb Space Telescope? Since 2021, it’s been transmitting breathtaking images of space through its infrared camera. Here are five facts about this technological marvel.
1. Once it arrived in space, it took about two weeks to unfold completely.
2. The main mirror is goldplated and has a diameter of 6.5 metres, making it the largest space telescope in history.
The last day of school is fast approaching! Do you want to celebrate the end of the school year with family and friends? Here are 10 activity suggestions that may inspire you.
1. Organize a treasure hunt with a grand prize
2. Host a video or board game tournament
3. Enjoy a luxury picnic in the park
4. Sing happy songs at a karaoke night
5. Play a team sport without taking yourself too seriously
6. Expend energy at an amusement centre
7. Create a work of art as a group with paint or chalk
8. Make a funny video, like a parody of a popular show
9. Prepare a talent show with music, dance, singing and comedy numbers
10. Design a time capsule to be opened in several years
Have a great celebration!
4. It’s orbiting 1.5 million kilometres from Earth.
5. It’s worth an estimated US$10 billion.
The capabilities of this telescope will continue to astound scientists for years to come.
10 activities to c elebrate the end of the school year
Have you always wanted to tame a wild animal, like a fox, groundhog, deer, squirrel, raccoon or pigeon? Even if you have the best intentions, taking an animal out of the wild isn’t a good idea. Here’s why.
IT’S DANGEROUS TO YOUR HEALTH
Approaching a wild animal comes with risks. Although the animal may look cute and cuddly, it never goes to the vet, so it can carry diseases that can make you very sick. You could end up in the hospital if the animal accidentally scratches, bites or licks you.
IT’S DANGEROUS FOR THE ANIMALS
Once an animal gets used to your presence, it may stop fearing humans. The trust you earn can be dangerous for the animal, as it may try to get close to people who want to hurt or kill it.
Have you heard of poetry but aren’t sure what it is? It’s a literary genre – a writing style – that’s been around for centuries.
In school, you learn about poems that must rhyme (e.g., river, liver; game, fame; red, said) and have a specific structure. The poem’s paragraphs, called stanzas, have a set length. So do the phrases, or lines, and the syllable pattern, which is called the meter. Writing a poem that follows these rules may seem complicated at first. However, it gets easier with practice.
Over time, people have decided to experiment with the rules of poetry. As a result, it has become a writing form where freedom is accepted and encouraged. You can see the creative ways people play with words in song lyrics, advertisements, performances and works of art.
Writing a poem involves making images and emotions out of words. For example, you could write about your cat:
If you see an adorable baby animal that looks abandoned, chances are its parents have gone to look for food and will return soon. If you approach or touch the little one, your scent may scare away its parents.
Additionally, wild animals that get fed every day become dependent on humans. To stay healthy and live a long life, they must exercise and eat what’s available in nature. Moreover, human food is often unsuita ble for their needs and difficult to digest. Some animals can die from eating carrots, bread or cornmeal.
In short, if you love animals, you must accept that their fear of humans ensures their survival. That said, nothing is stopping you from admiring from afar!
On her sky-blue cushion Mittens purrs so loudly
It sounds like a truck engine
As you can see, anything is possible! The only limits are those of your imagination. Do you want to read some poetry for inspiration? Go to the library or bookstore with your parents and look for poetry books for children. Happy reading!
Ants are fascinating insects – and incredibly plentiful! The world’s ant population is estimated to exceed one quadrillion, or one million billion. More than 12,000 species have been discovered, which experts believe is only about half of the total number. Want to know more about ants? Here are four amazing facts about them.
1. THEY’RE VERY STRONG
Ants have extraordinary strength. They can lift several times their body weight. In fact, some species can lift 50 times their weight. In comparison, humans who can carry more than the equivalent of their body weight are considered Olympiclevel athletes.
2. SOME CAN FLY
Have you ever seen large groups of winged ants in the spring? These are the males, or drones, and females, called queens, which are destined to reproduce to make new colonies.
3. THEY PLAY SPECIFIC ROLES
Each ant has a specific task to perform to ensure the colony survives. The queen is much larger than the other ants and is responsible for laying eggs. One queen can lay up to one million eggs in her lifetime. Female worker ants build the nest and keep it clean. They may also be caretakers (nannies) for baby ants and defenders of the colony (soldiers). Males, on the other hand, are only responsible for fertilizing eggs.
4. THEY FARM
Did you know that some species of ants have a special relationship with aphids? Aphids produce honeydew, a sweet sap that ants love and use as a food source. Ants look after aphids in much the same way humans look after dairy cows. They harvest the honeydew, protect the aphids from predators and keep their environment clean.
If you find an ant hill this summer, leave it alone. Watch these ingenious insects work together for a few minutes. You’ll be impressed!
There are over 1,000 different species of ants in North America. The most common include black ants, carpenter ants, crazy ants, fire ants and sugar ants. Are you going through a difficult time?
Write a poem to express your emotions; it may help you feel better.
With commanding lyrics and radiant vocals, Canadian artist Rachel Hickey delivers her spellbinding take on Folk-Rock with stunning creativity and captivating ease. Effortlessly flowing across the genres of Indie, Pop, and Rock, Rachel’s reflective and riveting songwriting draws in listeners with her magnetic vulnerability and masterful vocal performance. Introspective, melancholic, and brimming with clever metaphors, Rachel’s exceptional songwriting offers listeners a glimpse into her deepest emotions, as well as their own. Her first two EP’s received critical acclaim from across the country, earning Rachel features in coveted publications including Exclaim! Magazine alongside airplay across the CBC Radio One network. With continued artistic evolution, Rachel’s latest record weaves traditional Folk with an enchanting use of atmospheric instrumentation, enveloping harmonies, and a driving groove. Citing artists including Florence Welch, Joni Mitchell, Julia Jacklin, and The War on Drugs as her musical inspirations, Rachel’s music creatively blends their influences to make a sound all her own. As she gears up to release her debut full length album titled “The Eve of St. Agnes”, heavily inspired by the world-famous poem late this summer, Rachel has just released her first single from the project, “High”, on Friday, March 24 2023.
Written and performed by Rachel herself, the artist also co-wrote the music alongside Kitchener-Waterloo artist and producer, Brandon Fehderau, who also engineered and mixed the track. The single was mastered by Noah Mintz at Lacquer Channel Mastering in Toronto, ON.
About “High”:
Skillfully written and sonically grand, Rachel Hickey’s “High” is a musical journey in selfdiscovery. Initially penned as a song about high expectations, the song later revealed itself to its writer as a lyrical quest to discover who she is without outside influences. Riddled with cleverly written and often contradictory metaphors, “High” travels deep into the core of identity and personality from a self-described “recovering people-pleaser”, faced with the monumental, often-ignored question of “who am I and what do I want?”. From its delicate, acoustic opening with an airy and elegant guitar melody wrapped in Rachel’s warm, suede cloaked vocals, “High” sonically expands to a grand, atmospheric, and urgent track with a driving drum groove and enveloping harmonies. Unknowingly confronting
her fears of acceptance and worthiness - both from herself and others, the artist sings “I am the forest just before dark/Get out while you can when your vision is sharp/I am a tall evergreen/ But if you don’t like where you’re standing/Then you should just leave” as the instrumentation expands to sonically compliment the ominous feelings portrayed in the lyrics. Expertly crafted with words both poignantly self-reflective and expressively potent, Rachel Hickey’s “High” is a cathartic musical experience, both for the writer and listeners alike.
A song three years in the making, Rachel hopes that listeners will draw their own meaning from the song - relating to the music and metaphors in whichever way speaks to them most.
Quote:
Ultimately, “High” turns the mirror directly on the listener, observing and questioning their own fears and identity… Who am I? Who was I? Who will I become? - Rachel Hickey
Biography:
Rachel Hickey is a Canadian singer-songwriter who makes melancholic folk-rock songs that will swallow you up and break your guard down with her unforgettable voice.
Following her 2021 debut EP Getting By, Rachel’s sophomore 2022 EP So Long further evolves her indie/folk sound and earned her coverage in Exclaim! magazine as well as plays on CBC Radio One. Rachel’s musical style can be described as folk-focused with a blend of indie, pop, and rock music inspired by artists like Florence Welch, Joni Mitchell, Julia Jacklin, and The War on Drugs. Often focused around guitar, Hickey’s feeling-packed sound incorporates moonlight-soaked vocals, atmospheric supporting electric guitars, bass, synth and traditional drums, using storytelling and descriptive imagery to captivate listeners. Rachel is currently performing live across Ontario in support of her latest EP and is preparing for her debut full-length album, “The Eve of St. Agnes”, due out in June 2023.
You don’t have to be alone in your thoughts; We’re in this together. Let’s talk it out, together. It might feel uncomfortable at first, but small steps can make a big difference to the ones we love. Do More Ag is here to help you embrace the awkward and normalize conversations about mental health in Agriculture. Follow us and visit domore.ag to find tips, resources, and support.
World Family Doctor Day is giving Albertans a chance to thank their family doctor and share why their family doctor rocks.
By Emily Rogers
The Alberta College of Family Physicians (ACFP) is celebrating the work done by family doctors in the province on May 19. World Family Doctor Day was declared by the World Organization of Family Doctors in 2010 and acknowledges the contributions of family doctors in the health care system.
“Family doctors continually demonstrate commitment to excellence, compassion for patients, and collaboration with teams in their practices,” ACFP Executive Director Terri Potter said. “World Family Doctor Day provides an opportunity to let family doctors know that their work makes a difference for Albertans.”
This year’s theme Family Doctors: The Heart of Health Care, celebrates all of the roles that family physicians must play, by providing long-term, consistent care personalized for each patient and their needs, an ACFP press release said.
“Champions of providing long-term, consistent care personalized for their patient’s needs, family doctors work with team members to serve not only their patients and clinic, but their community as well,” the release said.
The ACFP is now inviting all Albertans to celebrate their family doctors through the Family Docs Rock campaign and share why their family doctor rocks, at www.familydocsrock.ca to receive a Family Docs Rock t-shirt for them and their doctor.
For over two years, the ACFP has expanded the campaign to include a digital library, podcasts, and videos through the Health of Family Medicine program.
The ACFP is a member-based, not-for-profit organization representing more than 5,600 family physicians, family medicine residents, and medical students across Alberta, as a Chapter of the College of Family Physicians of Canada, with more than 42,000 members.
“The ACFP strives for excellence in family practice through advocacy, continuing medical education, and primary care research,” the release said. Visit, https://acfp.ca/, for more information on the ACFP.
Without revealing any spoilers to the unwary, I just finished binge-watching the final season of the Star Trek: Picard series, starring Jean-Luc himself as a curmudgeonly old geezer, who has retired to the family château in Burgundy to tend the vineyards.
Faithful Trekkers may recall a few mentions of the Château Picard winery in previous series or at nerdfest conventions, but for those new to Trekdom, everyone’s favourite handsome bald captain (closely followed by Captain Stubing from the Love Boat) grew up on the family vineyard in Burgundy, home to some of the best wines in the world, in this century or any other. For those not intimately familiar with the myriad wine regions of France, Burgundy is located 300km southeast of Paris, and although small geographically, punches above its weight in the world of wine.
The soils of Burgundy are mostly limestone mixed with clay, spread over nearly 30 thousand hectares, with cold winters and hot summers that make the grapes work hard to produce fruit.
The two primary grapes grown in Burgundy are Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with smaller plantings of Gamay and Aligoté.
Unless your name is Daddy Warbucks or Scrooge McDuck, it is unlikely that you will be able to afford the wines produced in the Grand Cru vineyards of Burgundy, which start in the hundreds, and can quickly increase in price up to thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars per bottle.
Fortunately, it is only a very small minority of Burgundy vineyards that bear the Grand Cru designation, so there is plenty of wine available in the $20-$40 range at your local booze merchant.
I made a pilgrimage to the vineyards of Burgundy many years ago, along with 60 other tourists squeezed into a large tour bus, and visited three different wineries
at various price points, ranging from the quaffable table wines to the bottles that cost one arm and two legs.
Wine has been produced in the Burgundy region since the days of the Roman Empire, with vineyards from the first century still producing today.
Those toga-wearing Romans made wine for their legendary parties, but it was the Catholic monks in the middle ages that perfected the quality control and vinification techniques that we now take for granted.
It was the Burgundy region that make the Pinot Noir wine the thundering juggernaut of the wine world that it is today, with more Grand Cru designations than any other region.
Novice boozers will often skip the Pinot Noir grape, favouring the more jammy and fruitforward grapes like Merlot and Cab Sauv. However, as consumer palates become more refined and discriminating, the subtle intricacies of the Pinot Noir grape begin to shine, making it a constant favourite of wine snobs the world over.
Pinot Noir is sometimes referred to as the heartbreak grape, as it is very fussy about temperature and humidity changes during the growing season, leading to many tears of sorrow from winemakers. Fortunately for the boozers of the world, those tenacious winemakers work extra hard to bring this grape to our tables every day, for which your
humble narrator is eternally grateful.
Pinot Noir pours into the glass a much paler colour than other red wines, but do not mistake it for a light-tasting wine. Aromas on the nose are of rose and plum, with hints of currant and red fruits. On the tongue, expect flavours of raspberry, cranberry, vanilla, mushroom, and tobacco.
I like to pair my Pinot Noir with Comté cheese, a little combination I discovered on vacation in Paris that will knock your socks off.
For fans of white wine, the Burgundy region is planted with nearly 50% Chardonnay grapes, mostly in the northern subappellation known as Chablis.
The world’s most expensive Chardonnay grapes come from the Champagne region, but Burgundy boasts its own sparkling wine made from Chardonnay grapes, which is available for around one-third the cost.
Known as Cremant de Bourgogne, this sparkling wine is made in the same style of Champagne, but tends to have more minerality than the sparkling wines of the more famous Champagne region.
I always keep a few sparkling bottles of Cremant de Bourgogne in the cellar for special occasions, and at only $25, it has never failed to impress.
The wines of Burgundy will be well represented at your friendly neighbourhood booze merchant, so ask for a recommendation on your next visit!
Almost daily we read about some new invention and that the world is changing at a rapid rate. The same is true of the dog world: we’ve come a long way from the dog flap on the back door and tossing a ball to keep Fido actively and happy. From training to toys, there are now many hi-tech items on the market available. As the number of people people working virtually from home grew, there was a huge increase in the number of pandemic puppies. With the return to work outside the home, dogs were for the first time home alone during the day. How to keep them occupied and out of mischief became a very real thing.
Phoning or facetiming with your dog during the day, leaving a radio playing or TV turned on, may be the answer for some dogs, that is if they recognize images on television, specifically a modern high-definition set. But with phone and tablet screens the images are much more compressed so there are drawbacks. Dogs’ eyesight evolved for hunting, so they’re better at seeing movement from a distance, and they have a strong peripheral vision so phones and tablets that are much smaller probably wouldn’t give them clarity. While there are definite negative impacts of sensory overload from artificial light and electronic noise, technology isn’t always a hazard to pet health. A 2002 study conducted by Dr Deborah Wells in a rescue shelter observed that slow classical music, rather than faster rhythms or even human conversation, was effective in calming the animals. Why Music is Therapeutic for Dogs – American Kennel Club (akc.org) Simple rhythms can have a profound impact on an animal’s nervous system by causing changes to heart and respiration rates, brain activity and spinal chord activation. So it is the volume and tempo rather than the song that is key. Smart technology while we’re at work lets us stay aware of what our pets are hearing: for instance, construction noise, the
door bell, traffic and so on and we can mask these sounds virtually. However, we shouldn’t forget that dogs are social creatures and need contact with others and also need to use their other senses- smell, touch and taste.So though the daily two-way video may be good for short periods it cannot replace exercise, play and human interaction.
Safety is another issue that has advances on a regular basis. Microchips, that can help to get a lost dog home have been around for a number of years and invisible electric boundary fences for even longer. Most recently, GPS wireless dog fences have become popular. The boundaries can be set from an app on your phone and you can establish a virtual boundary in any location. They do require several hours of training for your dog. There are numerous review videos on You Tube that demonstrate the use. One gave me cause to smile: in order to set the boundary on a trip to the lake, the owner of a Halo Collar is shown on a rubber float in the lake while his dog looks on with anticipation.
https://youtu.be/K88EjEfArUQ
Personally, I steer away from anything that would give my dog a shock, having once zapped myself!
The Design First website has a list of some of the top tech products, from robotic toys like the automatic ball launcher, a microchip-controlled pet-door, a smart pet-leash and one that I will be trying out, a city guide app that helps you find businesses that are dog-friendly that actually welcomes dogs and provides maps and information about them.
https://www.design1st.com/pet-tech-products/
Listen Monday’s at 1:00 PM
https://chestermereradio.ca
Mondays 1:00 pm - 2:00pm Mountain
The Rogue is pleased to have Michelle Eldjarnson from Chestermere’s own Re/Max Key to our regularly scheduled programming.
Listen Monday’s at one to hear about things going on around town and to hear Michelle’s eclectic picks of music
Michelle has loved music all her life and was exposed at an early age to every type of music from Jazz to Hillbilly, old fashioned country, with stops in between at classical rock and classical piano, in a variety of languages including English, French and Spanish.
Michelle’s Weekly topics will cover
The people in your neighborhood
Local sports teams
All about our schools
The walking paths
The parks
The ponds
The lake
The wildlife
Walkability
Ihave been waiting for this one. I thoroughly enjoyed the original 9 to 5 movie with Dolly Parton, Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda. They were a fantastic, albeit unlikely trio of heroines. As you may be aware, they have worked together on other projects and their chemistry is unmistakable. That was part of the magic along with the gags, one-liners and a spotlight on the inequality often experienced in the workplace. If only……there had been……music!!!
So here I am at 9 to 5 The Musical. I did a little research and discovered that Dolly herself composed all the music for this play. I’m not even a Country music lover, but I know that she has written some amazing music, some Country, some more mainstream. I guess here in Alberta, Country music is mainstream, but you get what I’m saying. I was curious about how the story came about and the program informed me that the original story was written by Patricia Resnick and the film was one of the top-grossing films of all time. It goes on to say that she is working on a 9 to 5 film sequel. Now that’s exciting.
On with the show. The setting is a very traditional looking office in the 1970s. We could see the familiar office desk, chair and other equipment on the stage. Before the show started, we were pleasantly surprised with a video introduction by Dolly Parton. It was a special touch and much appreciated. Within a couple of minutes, we were treated to a big song and dance number of, you guessed it, 9 to 5. The costumes were reflective of the year right down to the exercise tights and leotard. The costumes at Stage West are always exceptional and they really add another dimension to the show.
Before long we were introduced to Mr. Hart, who is the antagonist of this story. He wastes no time before saying something completely sexist and inappropriate, living up to his reputation as a ‘sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot’. I always enjoy a little good nostalgia and there are some nice tidbits in this production. One example is when a few of the secretaries are discussing the latest and greatest features of the
new typewriters. Apparently, the new ones have a special eraser ribbon, so they don’t have to use the corrective liquid anymore. Yes, I remember those days.
The musical numbers were all good, but there was a song about ‘keep on keeping on and we might just make it’. The harmonies were wonderful. These ladies can sing.
Roz is Mr. Hart’s dowdy assistant who has a bit of a thing for Mr. Hart. At one point she performed a number expressing her true feelings to the audience and she had no trouble shaking off that introverted demeanor we had seen earlier. She embraced her inner animal and had the moves to prove it. She was surrounded by dancers in red dresses, producing a beautiful fluttering of crimson. I loved this number. Elinor Holt did a great job, and all eyes were on her for the whole scene. She was hilarious, and clearly very talented.
I’m pretty sure that April Cook was channeling Dolly Parton. She was so believable as the iconic Doralee, who had been portrayed by Dolly Parton in the movie. She had the dialect, the moves and a great voice. She made us care about Doralee, especially when all the other women in the office thought she was a trollup. That my Dad’s word for, well, a woman who has a reputation for being close to the wrong people, for the wrong reasons. They really did a great job with the casting of these roles.
Another of my favourite scenes included music that reminded me of the original big screen Disney films, complete with forest creatures singing in harmony. This number was amazing and took me back to when I first sat in complete wonder at the showing of Snow White and similar movies. I loved this. Oops, I said that already.
Part of the magic at Stage West is the live music. It truly makes a difference and I love it. Oops, there I go again.
The whole cast did a wonderful job of recreating this magical story. Who among us has never wanted to make those changes at the
office that will likely never happen? Have you ever wanted to show people who really runs things? I think most of us can relate to this story, which is another reason for its appeal.
There is a scene where Judy sings about how she does not need a man and she is taking her life back. This is another important message. She didn’t need a man. Of course, there are good men. Doralee is married to one of the good ones, who sees the real ‘her’ and understands the prejudice that she lives with.
Apparently, the song and story were inspired by a group of Boston secretaries who took an unconventional approach to spotlight issues like pay inequities and sexual harassment in the workplace. Good on them! We still experience these things today, but we are much more likely to reach out and seek help. I know that things must have improved because there was a time when the wildly inappropriate things that were said and done seemed like no big thing and were brushed off as unimportant. That just doesn’t fly anymore. Another important message from another wonderfully entertaining adventure at Stage West.
his week my daughter and I went fishing by a lake with some borrowed fishing rods. Each with a rod in hand we spent time fussing over fishing lines, lures, and tangles. Bit by bit we worked out what we were doing. I noticed that we were figuring it out together, sharing what we learned, suggesting solutions and simply sharing in our challenges. These fishing were much fancier than the ones I grew up using, and we wondered if we could make it all work. After a few casts, we both promptly caught our lures on some rocks. There, side by side, we found ourselves in the same predicament. We didn’t catch any fish, but we did discover that even as we fail and flail through our fishing adventure, it was good to be together. Resilient neighbourhoods are not perfect and most of the time we’re figuring it out together. Becoming a community is a journey of discovery as we observe, ask, and share what we see and know. Author Cormac Russell says that
we can help by becoming an “Alongsider.” Alongsiders, in a community, are those who do four things: First, they don’t pretend to know, they ask. Second, they don’t assume to know, they ask. Third, they don’t offer answers, they ask. Fourth, they don’t talk, they listen. Alongsiders, like my daughter and I fishing, come into a moment with curiosity, compassion, and good questions. They join in the moment with an expectation of discovery, not to simply offer their expertise.
When we went fishing, I started with an expectation that I knew how to fish. But in a moment I realized that my memories of how fishing rods worked looked a lot different in light of this fancy fishing rod I was now holding. My old solutions and expertise was suddenly not so helpful. But what I did have helped us a lot: patience, questions, and a bit of willingness to be wrong and to learn. So, I came alongside my daughter and we worked it out. She taught me things, and soon she was casting out into the lake far better than me. In fact, we laughed when I fell into the lake, while she was fishing happily.
When we come alongside our neighbours we do not have to bring the solutions. If a neighbour is going through
a hard time, or if they have questions that don’t have easy answers, we can come alongside them with curiosity, too. We don’t have to fake it, assume, or offer much more than a listening ear, and ourselves. By working together, you both might discover a solution that you had not even considered before.
When I was most caught up in my fishing line, I murmured my disappointment; a sigh of frustration. My daughter caught me and said that I didn’t need to be frustrated. Sometimes we hope our neighbourhoods, families, and communities will just work out. When they don’t we can get mad. We need each other to remind us not to be frustrated, but to sit with us and work it out together. There may or may not be an easy solution to the problems around us, but they will often emerge when we’re attending to these challenges together. What does it look like for you to come alongside another person this week, not with the solutions, but simply with your willingness to be curious and learn together? What possibilities could emerge between the “alongsiders” in your neighbourhood?
100 Women Who Care
100 Women Who Care (or 100
Who Care) groups are making a difference in their communities around the world by strengthening and growing the giving circle movement.
100 Women Who Care Chestermere launched in mid-October 2021, and the first giving circle meeting was held on February 3, 2022. At that meeting, $3,100 was donated to the Community Therapy Dogs Society.
100 Women Who Care Chestermere is a group of local women who care about the Chestermere community and want to make a big impact within the community, but don’t necessarily have the time to commit to helping make that impact. Members commit to four one-hour meetings a year and donate $100 to a local charity or not for profit organization voted on by the members at each meeting. The next meeting is Thursday, November 3, 2022. If you would like to join and help make a huge impact in the community, please visit our website chestermere100.ca.
When: Wednesday, May 17, 2023 Time: 1:30pm – 3:30pm
Where: • Lakeshore Manor, 200 Marina Drive, Chestermere Special DopneldaGuest: Lang (Elder Abuse for PCN) RSVP: • jumpmaster2@shaw.ca
• illingw8@telus.net
Walk-ins welcome, RSVP appreciated
Chestermere Lions Club
Meets on the 4th Wednesday of each month at 7:00pm Meetings are currently by zoom. Checkout our facebook page for more information,
Chestermere Christian Fellowship Services: Sunday 10:00 am
Pastor Vince VanderVeen 403-204-2079
1.6 km north of Hwy 1 on Conrich Road
Camp Chestermere Camp Chestermere is OPEN for Day Care, Rentals, and Community Events! We’ve even opened up registration for Summer 2021 Day and Overnight Camps! We are constantly reviewing and updating our policies to fall in line with current COVID protocols. Contact us today to find out how we can serve you and your needs. More at www.campchestermere.com
The Chestermere Fine Art Guild
The Chestermere Fine Art Guild meets every Thursday at 1pm, at the Recreation Centre North side, upstairs in room 2. Come and explore your artistic potential. Welcoming new members beginner to advanced. Like us on Facebook and email chestermereartguild@gmail.com
Lakeside Quilters’ Guild Meeting each month at the Chestermere Recreation Centre on the first Wednesday of each month. Sew days are on the third Wednesday of each month and a sew Saturday each month, including summer. Quilting experience not required, new members welcome. For more information please contact Joyce at 403-383-1940.
St. Gabriel's the Archangel Parish
Catholics in Chestermere: Weekend masses are now open for public celebration without seating restrictions at St. Gabriel’s Catholic School (197 Invermere Dr.). There is no longer advanced registration required to attend mass (Saturday 5 pm, Sunday 9 am, and 10:30 am), but please stay home if you feel sick that day. For more information please call 403-455-0196
The Rotary Club Of Chestermere
Holds virtual meetings via Zoom on the 1st & 3rd Wednesday of the Month at 5:00pm and hosts in-person “Socials” at local venues on the last Wednesday of the month.
Guests are warmly welcomed to “Zoom in” to our virtual meeting or join us for some social time when they can!
Please email us for more information at: rotarychestermere@gmail.com
Check out our website at: www.rotarychestermere.org
April
9 to 5 The Musical, with music and lyrics by Dolly Parton and book by Patricia Resnick, is based on the seminal 1980 hit movie. Set in the late 1970’s this hilarious story of friendship and revenge in the Rolodex era is outrageous, thought-provoking, and even a little romantic.
Pushed to the boiling point, three female coworkers concoct a plan to get even with the sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot they call their boss. In a hilarious turn of events, Violet, Judy & Daralee live out their wildest fantasy – giving their workplace a dream makeover, taking control of the company that had always kept them down.
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