December 7 Tofield Mercury

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Local Businesses: Don’t o forget orget g to o contact contac o Lisa Lis s

Christmas C h hristmas t s Greetings Greetin reett ngs gs sect section! c Email adsmercury@gmail.com ad dsmercury@gmail urr @gmail com co o

Your LOCAL Media since 1918! Volume 105 Issue 15

www.tofieldmerc.com

Wednesday, December 7, 2022 s

First Christmas Festival a huge success in Ryley

Tofield Emergency department closed overnight entire month due to staffing issues Jana Semeniuk Staff Reporter

Children enjoy a hayride driven by Ryley Fire Chief Terry Magnusson in his tractor. Jana Semeniuk Staff Reporter

The Village of Ryley held a successful first winter Christmas festival Dec. 3 despite chilly -15 C weather. Ryley communications director Paul Smith said the good showing was a pleasant surprise. “I didn’t know what to expect for the first one. We needed to be prepared and it went above my expectations,” he said

during a phone interview. The day held several events including a parade, family tobogganing, free dinner, fireworks and live entertainment. Some indoor activities were on the agenda with a children’s craft and hot chocolate event at the Ryley Library and shopping at the Ryley School Christmas Craft market. In addition, approximately 40 children took part in several hayrides courtesy of Ryley Fire Chief Terry

Staffing challenges have forced the temporary closure of the Tofield Health Centre’s emergency department from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. for the month of Dec. Alberta Health Services said that patients will be referred to emergency departments in surrounding communities, while EMS will divert patients to Camrose or Viking for emergency care. For non-emergency health related questions, residents are asked to contact Healthlink at 811 available 24/7 or if they have a medical emergency, to call 911. While AHS has not said how long this temporary measure will be in place, they said they are working towards resuming regular operating hours in the New Year.

Magnusson who drove a tractor pulling a flat trailer covered in hay. While families waited for their turn at the hayride, Smith said everyone warmed up at propane firepits next to the small toboggan hill created by Ryley public works employees. One event, free public swimming, had to be cancelled due to an issue with the facility’s boiler. Smith said the problem should be fixed by today. Meanwhile, Smith said family cars

lined the streets with people staying warm inside them during the parade. “The parade people came up to the car windows to give candy,” he said. “The Santa float went to Century Park afterwards then we did the countdown to light up the park. You could hear the cheers for blocks!” Smith said they fed 148 people during the free dinner which included hamburgers, hotdogs, salads, dessert and Continued on Page 4

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