O SHOWIS PROUD T
PINEAPPLE ON THE GRILL
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G TEA7MS WINNPIN AGES B6 & B SEE
A11 IN PHOTOS: MUSIC MAN
B1 RAPTORS WIN GAME 7 OVER PACERS
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DOMESTIC FLIGHT COSTS REMAIN LOW
A12
$1.00
2 0 1 6
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CHASING LIGHTS
‘Unite the right’ group votes for new party BY LANA MICHELIN ADVOCATE STAFF
Contributed photo by Team Tanner
ABOVE AND BELOW: These stunning photos of the northern lights were captured by Darlene and Theresa Tanner of Alix, often found online with the hashtag #teamtanner.
ALIX COUPLE CAPTURE BRILLIANT PHOTOS OF AURORAS BY LANA MICHELIN ADVOCATE STAFF On clear nights, Darlene and Theresa Tanner skimp on sleep to capture spectacular light shows over Central Alberta. Brilliant curtains of green and yellow light shimmer in their photographs of the night sky. Occasionally there are streaks of dramatic purple, or brilliant pinks and oranges. With northern lights, “it’s never the same show. Every night it’s something different,” said Theresa, who lives in Alix with her spouse Darlene. After checking meteorological conditions on satellite weather maps on apps and websites, the Tanners will slip coats over their pajamas and put on rubber boots. The couple will drive out in the dark to optimal viewing loca- THERESA AND tions, equipped with cameras, DARLENE TANNER tripods and bear spray — just in case. Their photos of the aurora borealis over Ponoka, Bashaw, Alix, and other rural locations rival the most spectacular shots of northern lights taken anywhere in the world. Pictures by #teamtanner are regularly featured on TV’s The Weather Network. Their photos have also been purchased as art, and have been shared and liked on Facebook sites across this country and beyond. Darlene recalled once speaking to a Kansas storm chaser who asked her “Hey, do you take those picture of the northern lights? Wow! I see your stuff on Twitter all the time!” Northern Lights are caused when gaseous particles in the Earth’s atmosphere collide with charged particles from the sun. Different gas particles cause the colour variations. The more common yellowish-green colour is produced by oxygen molecules 60 miles above the earth. Rare all-red auroras are produced by oxygen at heights of 200 miles. Nitrogen produces the blue or purplish-red auroras. That’s the scientific explanation. But there’s something emotionally stirring, even spiritual, about watching the aurora borealis, said Darlene, 46. “It feel magical. It’s like nothing else in the world matters when you’re standing out there, watching Northern Lights dance, it’s so peaceful.”
COMMENT A4
See RIGHT on Page A10
See LIGHTS on Page A10
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INDEX NEWS A2,3,,6,7,9,10
The couple, who have day jobs, have been regularly photographing northern lights, as well as thunderstorms and other weather phenomena for the past four years. They constantly get amazed reactions from Central Albertans who see their pictures and can’t believe such dramatic lights show appear in this area. “More people need to look up at the sky,” responded 35-year-old Theresa — especially in the dark countryside. Light pollution tends to erase the full affect of the aurora borealis, Milky Way and meteor showers. The Tanners usually drive within a 150-km radius from their house. “If it’s cloudy, we go where the clear skies are,” said Darlene. They operate two digital single-lens reflex cameras on tripods and use time-lapse photography — keeping the shutter open from a few seconds to 20 sec. or so. During a full moon, the camera’s ISO (light sensitivity) must be lowered, “or your picture will turn out white,” said Darlene, who recommends experimenting to discover what works.
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SPORTS B1-4
6/49: 1,7,18,28,30,34, bonus: 48 Western 6/49: 5,8,12,16,44,47, bonus : 23
BUSINESS: A12 FOOD: B5
A “family reunion” of more than 400 right-wing Albertans — both Progressive Conservative Party and Wildrose Party supporters — was held Saturday in Red Deer. The majority of participants at the Alberta Can’t Wait meeting endorsed the idea of forming a new, unified right-of-centre party by 2019. Joined by concerns about continued vote-splitting in the next election, “people who have not been seated in the same room together for years… have come together with a common purpose,” said Grande Prairie-Mackenzie MP Chris Warkentin. He added, “this is absolutely fantastic… This kind of enthusiasm hasn’t been seen in provincial politics for decades…” While Warkentin attended the Alberta Can’t Wait conference, along with his federal Conservative Party colleague Red Deer-Mountain View MP Earl Dreeshen, event organizer Prem Singh was disappointed that no provincial Tory or Wildrose leaders or MLAs had come to the meeting. No reasons were given, but the MLAs were reportedly told not to go, she said. Singh believes it’s just a matter of time before they come around. “At some point, they’re going to have to listen to us, because what happens when the grassroots movement is bigger than their party? “We know what we want,” added the Calgary energy consultant and Alberta Can’t Wait co-founder — “and that’s to bring back the Alberta Advantage.” Preston Manning also did not attend the conference as expected, because he was delayed in returning from Australia. But a series of speakers at the event, held at Red Deer College, restated the values held by most right-wing supporters, including fiscal responsibility and government accountability, and discussed “the principles of a taxpayer-friendly government.” Four options for the future were also laid out: uniting the right under the PCs, under the Wildrose, retaining the status quo of two right-wing parties, or forming a new entity. At the end of focus-group discussions, an overwhelming majority of attendees voted in a straw poll in favour of pursuing the formation of a new party, unaffiliated with the PCs or Wild Rose parties. Alberta Can’t Wait was also given a mandate to drum up more public support for this new right-ofcentre party from the public, as well as members of the Wildrose and Tory Parties. Calgary businessman Scott Wagner was impressed by the tone of proceedings, saying. “It’s the first gathering I’ve been to where there was no sniping.” “We don’t want to be negative,” said Singh, who called the meeting a “family reunion… It’s time for us to talk to people — relatives — we never used to talk to, because Alberta is more important than any political party.” Ryan Becker, a Tory from La Crete, was glad to see so many “engaged” people, who had never been politically active before. “Everybody has the same objective: We have to do something,” agreed Len Kushner, of Calgary. Rancher Bill Baleman, who last voted for Wild Rose, was encouraged to see people focusing on common interests. They realize “time is working against us,” he said, with only three years to go before the next election.
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SUNDAY Pick 3: 573
ENTERTAINMENT:B11
Extra: 1997291
COMICS B10
Numbers are unofficial.
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