Our Alberta Touring Magazine March 2022

Volume 2 Issue 3

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Motorcycle Insurance Made Easy

THAT’S THE AiM

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Dear Community,

During these uncertain times, we wanted to take a minute to address what is happening in the world.

We are saddened by the events of today and we stand with Ukrainian.

We know that the people of Ukraine are resilient and have survived many years of oppression, and they will prevail.

We pray for and have faith in Ukraine.

To the people of the world, Ukraine is fighting not only for their country and people but for the world.

LET’S ALL STAND UNITED.

Our Alberta Touring Magazine© Rumble Alberta, CMTA, ZX Media, History Check App, Alg8rweb Design and Marketing

©2022 Copyright 2022 all rights reserved.

Images and Content belong to CMTA. Published by ZX Media Corporation.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS: PG. 8 Cultural Flavours of Northern Alberta: Following Le CDEA’s Foodie Trails (Part 1) -

GP Brewing Heilan Beer House Peace River Brewing Dog Island Brewing Prairie Gardens & Adventure Farm Serben Farm Old Fashioned Bread Bakery.

Twisted Fork.

Lakeland Brewing

PG. 24 Connecting with Community PG. 28 Peace Country Toyz 4 Tots PG. 30 Christmas in July PG. 36 Cultural Flavours of Northern Alberta: Following Le CDEA’s Foodie Trails (Part 2) -

Ye Olde MacLean Hobby Farm Muriel Creek Ranch House Cold Lake Brewing & Distilling Mamacitas Mexican Restaurant Rocky Meadows Country Getaway Journey North Cider Chatsworth Farm Copper Cork Distillery Old School Cheesery 4th Meridian Brewing

PG. 51 Revisiting Fort McMurray part 1

rumblealberta.com pg. 4

Meet The Team:

Renee Charbonneau, Editor in Chief Our Alberta Touring Magazine.

Volunteer Executive Director CMTA. Project Lead: Veterans Memorial Gardens & Interpretive Centre.

Suzie Healey, Founder of Alig8r Web and Marketing. Rumble Alberta’s Web master and administrator.

Krista Malden, Founder of Community Now! Magazine/ZX Media Corporation. Publisher of Our Alberta Touring Magazine and community.

Sheila Willis, Local Author, Founder of Impact Tourism, History Check app and outbound sales for Rumble Alberta.

Paras Chakarvorty; Rumble Alberta’s Executive Administrator

Contributors: Content and Images by:

Gail Doy

Tannis Baker

Rheannon Green

Sarah Clark

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First World War Canadian Internment Camps They were stripped of their meagre possessions, sentenced to hard labour, building national parks like Jasper and Banff.

They were subjected to censorship and suffered horrible living conditions.

Why? Because of where they were born.

Learn more about Veterans Memorial Gardens and Interpretive Center here.

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WE STAND WITH UKRAINE pg. 7

Cultural Flavours of Northern Alberta: Following Le CDEA’s Foodie Trails (Part 1) Story and Photos by Rumble Alberta Influencers Rheannon Green and Tannis Baker, Food Tourism Strategies Inc.

There are many different routes to get across Alberta. Major highways, back roads.

Weaving your way through the landscape, or taking the most direct path to your ultimate destination. When it comes to Northern Alberta, the best route to explore the area is actually the most delicious – through Le CDEA’s foodie trails.

Le CDEA is actually Le Conseil de Développement Économique de l’Alberta (or the Economic Development Council of Alberta), who supports the development of an autonomous, dynamic, and innovative French-speaking economic power. As part of their support of Francophone businesses, they have developed themed routes across the province, including both a Craft Beer and a Regional Flavours tour. These naturally caught our attention and we decided that the best way to traverse the expanse of Northern Alberta was to eat and drink our way across.

As our ultimate goal was to get from Grande Prairie to Lloydminster, we decided to combine both trails into one super trail, hitting up 20 stops in 15 different towns over 5 days. With our route mapped and our bellies empty, we hit the road to experience some of the best that Northern Alberta has to offer. pg. 8

The first stop came at GP Brewing in Grande Prairie. This local brewery has gone through a major overhaul in recent times, moving from a substantial taproom and brewing facility in a central location, to a brewing facility in an industrial park that focuses more on production than on hosting. They do have some taps available for growler fills, and a small retail section with cans, shirts, and other GP merchandise. Fans of their beers can still find them readily available at local liquor stores, but it’s not the place to sit for a pint with some friends at the moment. Hopefully down the road, we’ll see them with a bustling taproom once again.

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Situated a little over an hour north of Grande Prairie is the tiny town of Fairview. There’s not too much to see, but one thing is for sure – it should be on every craft beer lover’s bucket list. Located right off the main highway through town, Heilan Beer House is definitely the place to go for good food and great beer. It would be right at home in Oregon alongside some of the best brewpubs in the world – definitely not what you would expect to find in small town rural Alberta! The building itself is a seamless blend of rustic and modern features, from their hand-painted murals to the wooden accents to the hop-inspired light fixtures. When they are not brewing up delicious local craft beer, they also run a family-friendly restaurant with a tasty menu of pizzas and pub fare that uses local ingredients. Not in the mood for beer?

They also make hard seltzers, kombucha, and have a small selection of cocktails. If you live in the area, you should definitely invest in the Mug Club, which gets you your own personal mug at the brewhouse, and a discount on beer and merchandise throughout the year. Needless to say, a perfect investment if you aren’t just passing through, but they do have lots of merch for sale that you can grab (along with some beer to-go!).

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Continuing another hour northeast of Fairview brings you into the town of Peace River (and the northernmost stop on our whole itinerary). Peace River itself runs through the town, creating stunning views for many of the businesses in the town. Peace River Brewing sits on the riverbank, and though there are only partial views of the river from their patio, the mural on the side of their building is super fun and brightens up the space. Their taproom and retail store are everything you want at a brewery. The taproom side has large tables (perfect for gathering with friends) that are right in the brewery, giving you a great view of all the behind-the-scenes operations. The retail side is lit up with growlers as lights (super fun!), and is packed full of PRB merchandise, as well as other local artisan products and a stellar selection of local food products as well (including Old School Cheesery, Sylvan Star Cheese, and Brew Bites spent grain crackers made from PRB’s own spent grain!). Even Fido is taken care of, with a selection of accessories and toys made just for them. A great place for a pit stop to fill your cooler and recharge your battery before hitting the once road again.

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We had a bit to go until our next stop in Slave Lake, a few hours southeast, and mostly open fields and flat spaces filled our views. Nearing the west end of Lesser Slave Lake, the views changed more to wooded areas, with forest lining both sides of the road. There are still several areas of burnt trees, the remnants of devastating forest fires that engulfed much of the area a few years ago. The sun was setting as we made our way to Slave Lake, with glimpses of lake views through the trees. After a long day of driving, we decided to wait until the next day to visit our next stop.

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Slave Lake is the home to Dog Island Brewing, a local success story of oil patch workers and homebrewers turned full-time brewers during the economic downturn. Opening their doors in 2016, they keep things fresh and local as much as possible, while creating brews that even the pickiest of palates can enjoy. The taproom is beautiful, with a covered patio space that may not boast the best views (it’s in an industrial park), but you sure can’t beat the atmosphere.

While most of Alberta’s craft beer drinkers will be familiar with a small selection of their brews, you have to visit them in Slave Lake if you want to experience the full extent of their lineup. It’s well worth the visit to collect unique brews like Foggy Dew NEPA, Tongue Punch Sour, and Mahalo Pineapple Pilsner. Being the homegrown team that they are, they focus on serving their local community first, so it’s unlikely that their full lineup will reach the far corners of the province anytime soon. Oh well, sounds like another visit through Northern Alberta may be in the works!

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A few hours south is where the Regional Flavours trail begins. Prairie Gardens & Adventure Farm is located just outside of Bon Accord, and it’s the perfect stop for kids of all ages. A leader in the agritourism industry, Tam Anderson and her team offer year-round entertainment for the whole family. Kids make a beeline for the corn maze and play zone. The upick and garden centres are bustling at all hours of the day. If you keep an eye on their social accounts, you may even be able to get a ticket to one of their farm-to-table dinners. Be warned – they sell out fast! The veggies grown at Prairie Gardens can be tasted at many restaurants in the Edmonton area, including foodie favourite RGE RD, which works with them to adapt their menus to what is available, ensuring the freshest and best quality ingredients are being served. We recommend getting there early in the day to experience as many of their offerings as you can. pg. 14

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“Life is a journey, not a destination.”

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Ralph Waldo Emerson

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About 45 minutes up Highway 28, Serben Farms takes the farm-to-table concept one step further, doing their own butchery, sausage-making, curing, and smoking right in their on-farm shop. A few minutes outside of the town of Smoky Lake, this fifth-generation family farm raises pigs and a flock of laying hens, which can all be seen right outside the farm store. They work with other local producers to provide beef, dairy, and other local products in their store, making them a one-stop shop for all delicious local foods. You can even order sides of pork and beef! This place makes the perfect pit stop for any road trip, complete with an ice cream stand for the hot summer days. Families can enjoy a much-needed break while the kids watch the animals, and the parents can stock their coolers with everything they need from snacks to full meals. Make sure you have lots of room though – you’ll need it! pg. 17

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One thing that you typically don’t find at Serben Farms is fresh bread but have no fear – only a few minutes down the road in Smoky Lake is the Old Fashioned Bread Bakery. This bakery is a staple in the community, having set up shop in 19XX. Not only do they serve up tasty homemade bread and pastries, but they also specialize in Ukrainian-style breakfasts and lunches. They sell out almost every single day, which is a testament to just how delicious everything is. While the inside is set up mostly for grab and go, there are a few seats available where you can enjoy local art. In our opinion, the best place to enjoy your goodies is actually in the small garden space beside the bakery, known as the Peeche Garden. Every single bite of the pastries we enjoyed left you wanting more, so you should probably double your order, just in case.

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To finish off the first leg of our journey, we found ourselves in the town of St Paul. The unassuming town has a lot of heart and strong community relationships, which are embodied by Twisted Fork. The passion project of Chef Debra Poulin, this restaurant should be on every single person’s list of places to visit. Focused on creating seasonal menus that highlight Lakeland-area producers, Twisted Fork supports dozens of local farms, producers, breweries, distilleries, artists, and other businesses. They make just about everything from scratch so that they can address dietary restrictions as needed. The few things they don’t make themselves (like their breads), they source from amazing local producers. If you can’t make up your mind for what to order, you can’t go wrong with the charcuterie board that is full of delicious local meats and cheeses, paired with some of their delicious house-made preserves and assorted accoutrements. Unpretentious and approachable, their menus have mass appeal, making it the perfect spot for any occasion. pg. 20

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The final stop, just minutes away from Twisted Fork (and one of their suppliers), is Lakeland Brewing. A small-batch brewery, they’ve become a go-to spot for locals and visitors alike. In addition to their eight rotating taps that they always have on the go, you can also enjoy some great pub snacks, or even a game of virtual golf! They also have a private seating area available for functions, which seats up to 70 people. We recommend ordering a flight so that you can sample the different brews they have available at the moment, but make sure you have room, because their tasting glasses are bigger than most other breweries! With a lively atmosphere throughout the evening, it’s a great place to sit back and enjoy a pint or two before turning in for the night. After all, tomorrow’s another day of delicious stops! pg. 23

Connecting Community With Gail Doy -

Gail Doy

PHOTOGRAPHY BY GAIL DOY: https://www.facebook.com/PhotoByGailDoy

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“Spend some time on an afternoon with a couple hundred motorcycle enthusiasts and you’ll find you are hooked.”

- Gail Doy

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- Gail Doy From May to the end of September Blackjacks Roadhouse & Games Room hosts Bike Night and attracts riders & non-riders from all over Alberta. Host to UBAKA, One Broken Biker, Ride for Dad, Ride for Mom are but a few various motorcycle groups that raise money through 50/50’s, poker runs & t-shirt sales that go to their charity of choice. Women in Need, Kids with Cancer, WIN House, Prostate Cancer Fight Foundation are but a few of the charities that benefit from bike nights. Up in Smoke Burn Out Competition has also become a popular year end event held on a Tuesday night in September which is not to be missed drawing hundreds of people. Bike Night 2022 will prove to bring more exciting events & live music, food and drink that are to be enjoyed so come down, check out the bikes and enjoy the summer nights with friends!

Blackjacks Roadhouse & Games Room 2110 Sparrow Drive, Nisku, AB.

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Peace Country Toyz 4 Tots Community Heroes Everyone knows the name Toyz 4 Tots, regardless of how it is spelled. This amazing charity has been working hard for years to help children and teens in need. It’s not just a charity that works hard at Christmas but instead helps those who need assistance throughout the year. That’s right, Toyz 4 Tots isn’t just a Christmas thing.

They need your help year-round so children and teens who are in need can get the things they require.

Anyone in Peace Country who knows Toyz 4 Tots knows Trena Huson. This community hero has spearheaded Toyz 4 Tots for several years now, after the original charity closed its doors. Trena stepped in, despite major health issues, to ensure no child would be left behind in her community. Trena is in kidney failure and on the transplant list. She spends four hours a day, four times a week receiving dialysis at home, in addition to working a full-time job and volunteering countless hours for those in her community in need.

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As we mentioned, Toyz 4 Tots is a year-round program.

Outside of providing toys at Christmas to children who otherwise might not have a Christmas is only one of the many amazing things Trena and Toyz 4 Tots are accomplishing. A great backpack program for teens has grown from 35 backpacks to 75 in just one year. That’s 75 teens in need who received much needed items they simply couldn’t afford.

If you are interested in learning more about Peace Country Toyz 4 Tots, you can check out their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/toyz4tots.

UPDATE: Community Hero Treena, has received a kidney. From everyone at Rumble Alberta & CMTA, we wish Treena a fast and full recovery!

We encourage everyone to go and check out the work Treena has done to support her community and to donate to this amazing organization.

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Christmas in July 2021

Kevin O’Toole, deputy Mayor for the City of Grande Prairie & Renee Charbonneau, CMTA, Rumble & Veterans Memorial Gardens The Motorcycle Mondays Committee of the Canadian Motorcycle Tourism Association teamed up with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Grande Prairie and Region. (http://bbbsgp.com/index.html) To host Christmas in July.

The day was filled with food and laughter!

It started out with Kevin O’Toole, deputy Mayor for the City of Grande Prairie making a proclamation that July 24th, 2021 was officially Christmas in July.

Scotty Cartwright from Fight for Hope and Scotty’s Burger Shack was on the microphone and bull horn. There wasn’t a person within ear shot who couldn’t stop laughing. The man is a hoot!

Santa, AKA Dan Wardrop came to town with his 7 seater trike.

The kids got to have their photo taken with him all day long! Dan thrives on being around the kids and their parents. He loves the way big and little kids alike have their faces light up when they get to sit on it. pg. 30

We had a show ‘n’ shine, a vendor’s alley, a scavenger hunt, games for kids and families in Macklin Field and we partnered with Safety City and the kids decorated their bikes and trikes and skateboards!

Kevin Lavallee from Brandt Tractor gave up his entire day to man the BBQ cooking over 600 burgers. The Fry Truck was on hand and did a brisk business too.

There were so many amazing partners and sponsors that made this day possible that we even made a shirt to thank them all!

Grande Prairie Regional Tourism Association Mighty Peace Harley-Davidson Wholesale Auto Solutions Red-Line Power Craft Ltd Gray Electric Ltd Chozen Breed MRC Piece of the East Brandt Tractor Motorcycle Mondays Committee Canadian Motorcycle Tourism Association Sticky's Candy Pete's Cleaning & Maintenance, Stojan's Power Sports & Marine Bouncy Tots Watch Me Grow Stringam LLP, Prairie Mall Double D Motorsports Jade Cash Scotty's Burger Shack Alberta Select Meats Safety City Absolute Entertainment City of Grande Prairie Giant Tiger Nick's No Frills Alliance Disposal Top Gear Cycles 2Day FM 104.7 REACH FM 96.3 Deaners Photography pg. 31

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The whole crew from Big Brothers Big Sisters GP was so grateful for this day. All of their fundraisers had been canceled by COVID restrictions and so the close to $7,000 that was raised by donations from the gate, burger sales, from the scavenger hunt and the vendor booths made a big impact in what their organization could do for the kids of our community.

It is truly amazing what happens when a community comes together to help our kids.

That said, tentatively July 16th, 2022 will be our second annual Christmas in July event and we invite you out to spend some time visiting and letting the kids have some fun!

Watch our websites: motorcyclemondaysgp.com veteransmemorialgardens.com For more details as they become available. pg. 33

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-Carl Sagan (1934-1996)

Image From Flickr Riding some GP Back Country

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Ride North Moto - Sarah Clark If you are an adventure rider, you have probably heard of Ride North Moto, a group of motorcycle enthusiasts who are dedicated to promoting safe off-roading and showcasing the wonderful terrain available in Alberta that many just don’t know about or expect. When you think of off-roading, you probably don’t think of Alberta but trust us, there are sand trails and other off-roading opportunities galore.

Take a trip and try to prove us wrong! Just remember to bring your knobby tires.

There is all season riding too. This is Canada after all. If sand trails aren’t your thing, maybe the ice road is. Don’t worry, they do lots to help cut the cold and make the ride as enjoyable as possible.

Remember, it is all fun and games until someone gets hypothermia. Seriously, we aren’t joking.

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Ride North Moto earned non-profit status in June 2021 and is now in the process of transition to non-profit status. Ride North Moto rides are about seeing the old communities and the culture.

Seeing the old Aboriginal communities, learning about the history of this part of Canada and accessing parts of Canada that are fly-in, fly-out only during the summer and only accessible by the ice road in winter. There are hundreds and hundreds of kilometers of ice roads so you have plenty to choose from. The only problem is the muskeg.

You just can’t miss the amazing trails to be found in Alberta, especially in Northern Alberta. You name the terrain; odds are you can find it in Alberta. It’s a beautiful province, full of beautiful people. Get in touch with Ride North Moto and its president, Billy Beauchesne, to find out more at https://www.ridenorthmoto.com/riders There are lots of great restaurants and hotels to visit along your run of Alberta. You will find lots of welcoming people and businesses galore from the big box to the small business we all love to support. You won’t run out of things to do or see when you plan your next run with Ride North Moto.

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Cultural Flavours of Northern Alberta: Following Le CDEA’s Foodie Trails (Part 2) Story and Photos by Rumble Alberta Influencers Rheannon Green and Tannis Baker, Food Tourism Strategies Inc

The northeastern corner of Alberta is ripe with foodie finds galore! We were fortunate enough to spend a few days exploring this area, thanks to Le CDEA’s foodie trails.

Le CDEA is actually Le Conseil de Développement Économique de l’Alberta (or the Economic Development Council of Alberta), who supports the development of an autonomous, dynamic, and innovative French-speaking economic power. As part of their support of Francophone businesses, they have developed themed routes across the province, including both a Craft Beer and a Regional Flavours tour. These naturally caught our attention and we decided that the best way to traverse the expanse of Northern Alberta was to eat and drink our way across We had already spent a few days working our way from Grande Prairie to St Paul, exploring a myriad of breweries, restaurants, farms, and other food-related excursions. From there, we made our way from St Paul to Lloydminster, albeit taking the scenic route. .

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Our first stop on this part of the journey had us stopping at Ye Olde MacLean Hobby Farm in Fort Kent. This was truly a site to behold. The owners have transformed their property into an extensive hobby farm, complete with old west-style main street, baby animals, and even a train to take you around! There is so much to see, we needed a few hours to make our way around. Everything on the farm is mini, and all is designed to help kids to understand the farm better. After playing with all the animals, it was really hard to leave! Though they are currently closed to the public, you may just be able to visit them come Open Farm Days in August.

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If you’re in need of a great gathering place that gives you a taste of farm life, the Muriel Creek Ranch House near Ardmore has you covered. It houses six executive suites, a commercial kitchen large enough to throw a party in, and a huge yard that looks out to the pasture. It combines western comfort and hospitality, with the décor bringing the ranch feeling inside as well. Best of all, it is a near zero-energy building. You do need to book the suites in advance, but if you’re exploring the area, it’s a great place to lay your head for the night. pg. 41

After the first two stops, we were definitely ready for a bit of a break, and where better to relax than with stunning lake views? Cold Lake Brewing & Distilling may just have the best views of all. Their rooftop patio looks out at the lake, and while it isn’t quite beachfront, it is perfect for kicking back and enjoying the sunshine. (Side note: Kinosoo Beach that it overlooks was named one of Canada’s top beaches). The taproom inside is beautiful (especially the bar!) and is pretty much full from open to close. They are the first craft brewery and small batch distillery in the area, and they take that role as community leaders seriously. They are big supporters of local producers and ingredients, incorporating them not only in their beer and spirits, but also into their food menu as well. With their deeprooted community connections, you can find great local products like Hamel’s bratwurst on the menu, and even some pickles and preserves from Twisted Fork!

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If you are feeling like a bigger meal, head down the road to Mamacitas Mexican Restaurant. Who knew you could find authentic Mexican cuisine in northern Alberta? It’s the perfect place to satisfy all your cravings. From ceviche to chilaquiles to tres leches cake, you can’t go wrong with anything that you order. We highly recommend making sure that you leave a respectable amount of time to dine, as they make everything from scratch so it might take a bit if there’s a lot of others in the restaurant. And don’t miss out on the churros – they’re perfect to bring with you in the car! pg. 43

Hidden away in the MD of Bonnyville is Rocky Meadows Country Getaway, which may just be on your list for camping sites for your next excursion. What was once a grain and cattle farm was transformed into a unique getaway that’s perfect for getting off the beaten path. This hidden gem has a great little country store, Nana’s Kitchen, that’s full of locally made goods, as well as house-made goodies like pies and fudge. In addition to the campground, there’s a spring-fed pond, a u-pick, and even a Farm Yard Mini Golf course! Don’t have your own camping gear? They even have on-site RV rentals. It also happens to be relatively close to Journey North Cider, the next stop on our trip.

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Journey North Cider is challenging the status quo in the cider market with bold flavours that can make any craft beer drinker take notice. From their traditional ciders like The Crisp, to the more adventurous like the Spiced Oak, there is something for everyone to enjoy. (The Pineapple didn’t last more than 10 minutes once we opened it). While their ciders are impeccable, their space is something to behold. Having opened just recently, it is a stunning building with space for even the largest of gatherings to be held. Want something more private?

They have a rental space upstairs with its own balcony and taps that overlooks the patio and the surrounding fields. The plan is to turn those fields into an orchard, so that they can grow as much of their own apple supply as possible (even with Alberta’s short growing season up there). While their products haven’t quite made their way across the province just yet, if you’re in the south, head to Piston Broke Brewing to grab some of their Crisp on tap. pg. 45

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If you follow a lot of Alberta farms and producers on social media, chances are that you have come across Chatsworth Farm. The traditional and modern mixed family farm pops up everywhere, and it’s because they are such big supporters of the local food and agricultural industries. Raising poultry, eggs, lamb, grains, and beef, there’s always something going on at the farm. Named after the old Chatsworth school district in which the farm is situated, Rick Wasylik started it in 1993 shortly before marrying his wife Johanna, and raising their three kids, who are now grown and have taken over many responsibilities on the farm. Nick and Alex work full-time on the farm, and Charlotte helps out with a lot of the social media and marketing. Even if you can’t get to the farm in person, you can still experience the farm through their virtual tours. They even have a program called “Chatsworth Farm Through the Seasons”, where you can visit five times throughout the year to learn about what’s happening on the farm through the seasons. Open Farm Days is a great time to check them out, but you can also order their products online if you can’t get to them.

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Heading into Vermilion from the farm, you have to stop at Copper Cork Distillery. A relatively new distillery, they combine smalltown hospitality and locally harvested grain to create unique and memorable spirits for all of Alberta to enjoy. The rustic façade is reminiscent of an old west saloon, right down to the wooden door and intentionally faded sign. That style is carried through to the interior as well, topped by their original still mounted above the bar. From moonshines to cordials to gin to vodka, their lineup features something for everyone. They have even won some awards at the Alberta Beverage Awards, which you can find proudly displayed on their labels. We highly recommend the Spiced Pear Gin, but you really can’t go wrong with any choice.

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A trip this far east would not be complete without a stop at Old School Cheesery in Vermilion River, especially if you are a Francophone traveler. The handmade artisan cheesery is also Alberta’s first Économusée, which showcases passionate artisans and follows their journeys, all included in French. Founder Patrick Dupuis’ passion could not be more evident, and a quick conversation about cheese can quickly give anyone the desire to become a cheesemaker. They purchase all their cow milk through Alberta Milk, so the cheeses that they produce all support local dairy producers. Patrick’s eldest daughter, Valerie, also joined the team to help run the business, learning the trade under her father. From cheese curds to dill cheddar to a vegetable ash covered brie, cheese lovers can rejoice in these amazing products that can be found across the province. It keeps Patrick on his toes, as he frequently makes the deliveries to other cities himself. pg. 49

After traversing almost all of Northern Alberta (at least several hundred kilometres of it), the final stop of our exploration leaves us at 4th Meridian Brewing in Lloydminster. Located on the Alberta side of the provincial boundary, it’s a great place to sit back and relax after a long trip. The eclectic décor has something to examine in every corner, so even if you’re waiting on your friends to arrive, you will never be bored. Like most breweries, they have a selection of core beers, as well as some rotating taps featuring seasonal brews that keep locals and visitors coming back to see what’s new. You won’t be able to find their beer outside of the area, so make sure to stop in on your next trip through town.

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With a slightly stiff back, a cooler full of food and drinks collected along the way, and a full pint, our journey along Le CDEA’s foodie trails comes to an end. There is so much more to discover in Alberta, we’ve only just scratched the surface of the amazing food and drink that this province has to offer. Pack your bags, throw in a cooler, and hit the road. There’s so much deliciousness waiting for you!

Tannis Baker

Rheannon Green

Food Tourism Strategies Inc. is a Calgary-based consulting and event company that produces Alberta on the Plate, a platform that highlights and celebrates Alberta food and drink, as well as hosts a provincewide dine around festival every August during Alberta Local Food Week. The 2022 Dine Around takes place August 12-21, 2022 and features over 75 restaurants in over 25 cities and towns throughout the province.

AlbertaOnThePlate.com | FoodTourismStrategies.com Follow on Instagram & Facebook: @abontheplate | @foodtourismstrategies

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Revisiting Fort McMurray: Part 1 for the first time since ‘The Beast’ - Renee Charbonneau

In September of last year, I found myself heading to Fort McMurray to go do some interviews and to go really see Fort McMurray for Rumble Alberta.

Before last September my only exposure to Fort McMurray was when I lived on highway 63 near Thorhild and the Friday night shift change traffic that invariably came down from the city.

It was often bumper to bumper, making it difficult for the locals to get onto the highway or even turn into your driveway. Often there ended up being crashes that would close down the highway. For those of us living on that highway back in the 90’s, it was difficult.

Then there was the Wildfire. The Beast. 2016.

I headed to Fort McMurray along with a gal named Linda Klouth and a firefighter named Jessica Kappel. I stayed there for 6 days feeding firefighters, trying to help keep their spirits up, making sure they had what they needed to look after their feet, hands, eyes and sometimes their souls.

It was brutal and yet joyful.

It was terrifying and yet not.

It was confusing and yet natural to be there helping others.

Although through social media and phone calls I have kept in touch with some of those I had the honour of serving, I had never gone back. I wasn’t even sure I was ready to go back now, but I made the decision to head to Fort McMurray and just let things fall where they may.

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On the way up I stopped in Smith to have dinner with Sheila Willis, author and app creator.

Char’s Railway Cafe is a great place to eat and to gather.

The food is really good, consistently.

The staff is friendly.

It's affordable and it's rural.

It’s everything Rumble Alberta is all about.

After a wonderful meal and a far too brief visit, I headed off to Fort McMurray.

My schedule was such that I did my best to stop at as many Rumble partner businesses as I could.

I stopped in Athabasca for fuel. This has to be one of Alberta’s prettiest of places.

Sheila Willis

I took in the scenery and the kilometers melted away. I stopped just outside of Fort McMurray, not really sure what I was going to see or feel. pg. 54

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From 1880 to 1896, these changes were happening faster than ever before in Northern Alberta!

Containing an overview of these transformations, this book documents several news stories from the time. Through it, you can relive one of the greatest expansion periods in Alberta’s history!

Get Your Copy here: https://liberty-multimedia.myshopify.com/

While the focus of this book is the Lesser Slave Lake Region, other areas are included. Northern Alberta – which is now about half the province – is a vast geographical space.

People were bound to each other through travel routes and the fur trade.

What happened in one community often affected the next, even if they were several hundred kilometres apart.

pg. 55

pg. 56

I pulled into the Microtel Hotel and was greeted by a sweet man on the front counter whose name eludes me now. But his gentle eyes and kind demeanor have not.

I got settled in my room and was greeted by a gift bag from the Hotel manager.

It was such a kind gesture. The room was well appointed and most of all the bed was comfortable.

On my first morning in Fort McMurray, I was to chat with Tyler Cole, one of the economic development folks that works for Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo Economic Development and Tourism.

Tyler was going to give me a bit of the low down on where to go and what to see and do. Tyler and I had a good chinwag on the phone and then I was on my own for the rest of the day. The next day he’d be meeting me at different points throughout the city. Covid rules, we couldn’t travel together!

pg. 57

pg. 58

Anyway, I decided that I needed to go to Macdonald Island first and get that out of my system so that I wasn’t limiting my experience of Fort McMurray.

I am so very grateful that I did.

I stopped in front of the Suncor Centre and let my mind take me back.

I cried, I walked, I cried some more. I relived the nights of smoke and flame, coffee, hugs and sandwiches.

I went to the golf course and really looked around and saw how beautiful this place was.

I took in the magnitude of the Metis Cultural Centre that is being built.

It was here, in the parking lot, that this very pretty woman of Jamaican heritage struck up a conversation with me and invited me to come see where she works. Her name was Rebecca and said she’d give me a special treatment at the spa she worked at.

I had time and I had a little bit of money tucked away for just such a thing, so I followed her to Twedy’s in the Suncor Centre. I fell in love! I loved the shop, I loved Rebecca but I really loved Twedy herself. Oh lord what a woman.

Seriously, this woman, this tiny little Vietnamese woman was a force to be reckoned with, it emanated from her.

As Twedy poured me a glass of red wine and fed me some snacks, she gave me a pedicure and I started asking her about her life. pg. 59

b

pg. 60

WHAT A STORY She ran away from Communist Vietnam at 18 years old.

She wanted to get her beauty licensing and did so.

She moved to Vancouver but found it too expensive.

She met the man of her dreams.

They moved to Alberta and she started a business in Sherwood Park.

He got transferred and eventually she sold the business and followed him North.

Twedy and her husband moved to Fort McMurray about 9 years ago.

She now owns three salons and employs approximately 30 women, most part time, some full time and all by the looks of it are treated like family.

Every customer that comes through the door, she seems to know and even if she doesn’t, she makes them feel like she does. She told me she never regretted moving to Canada or Alberta and that she loves Fort McMurray.

I so enjoyed my facial and pedicure. It made my day and made my soul feel lighter.

I think a lot of it had to do with the women at Twedy’s. (https://www.facebook.com/twedysnails) If you are ever in Fort McMurray look her up, OR, ask any one from Fort McMurray and they will guide you to finding her, she’s an institution there!

pg. 61

I headed to my motorcycle, my heart lighter than I expected and, on the way, out of MacDonald Island I saw the Raven Sculpture and stopped to read the storyboard.

It spoke to me in ways I can’t express.

Perhaps it will speak to you as well.

Next time, I get to explore Fort McMurray, meet some fellow riders and see things I would never have seen unless I had gone to that wild northern region called Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo.

When they say: ‘Discover the unexpected Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo’, they truly mean it!

pg. 62

SEE ALBERTA THROUGH THE EYES OF A TOURIST pg. 63

“See Alberta Through the Eyes of a Tourist.”

Published by ZX Media Corp in partnership with CMTA

pg. 64