Amanda Jeffery, Free Press
Anyone who is 55 years or older will soon be able to access a vehicle to get them to all of their appointments in town, and to some appointments outside of the community.
Drake’s Handi-Bus Services is now being contracted by the Town of Drayton Valley to help those who are older than 55 and those with mobility issues (at any age). Annette Driessen, the General Manager of Community Services for the Town, says they put an RSP out into the community, checking to see if there was anyone who wanted to operate the service, and Drake’s was the one who won.
“Providing accessible transportation in Drayton Valley has been a priority of Council and I am excited to see this important project come to fruition. Town Council remains committed to offering yearly grants to keep this service operating for the betterment of the community,” says Mayor Michael Doerkson in an email statement.
Amy Newberry, of Drake’s Handi-Bus Services, says the name has historical meaning for the community. “The Drakes were the people of our town that named Drayton Valley because of the Postal Code system, and they were also my great grandparents. It’s a form of leaving a legacy for me,” she said via email.
In the age where there’s a constant drive for more and more content, coming up with ideas of how to promote your business can become a full time job on its own and although that platform is free your time isn’t.
I mean – you signed up to be a business owner right? Not a videographer, copywriter, or graphic designer. The good news is newspaper advertising works differently from the social platforms that have you constantly chasing the next batch of likes and shares.
Grow Your Marketing Team
Print advertising with the Drayton Valley and District Free Press gets you off the hamster wheel and connects you with a copywriter, graphic designer, and an ad planner who are actually interested in learning the ins and outs of your business.
This person or people will work with you to generate creative ideas within your marketing budget. With their help you can get your creative juices flowing again and find ways to not just push content but to craft mindful creative content that will be seen and prompts action.
By advertising with your local newspaper you don’t just get an ad, you expand your marketing team exponentially. You get access to our professionals and we help you to figure out the direction you are looking to go with your business.
Stop The Disruption
Print ads are consumed like fine wine. Readers look at print ads longer and deeper than they do the disruptive advertising found on other media platforms. Tell me in the last time that you’ve binge scrolled your social media feeds – How many ads do you actually remember seeing? I am betting, not many.
Print ads are non-disruptive content for newspaper readers and therefore get the attention they truly deserve. They have a longer lasting impact for readers due to their longer shelf life, and after all, deepening the relationship with customers is really what you are looking to do.
So here are some ways you can position your local business with rural newspaper advertising:
- Thought leadership: Be a thought leader in the regional landscape of your industry. Use an ad space for how-to content, data presentation on regional trends. Newspaper readers are readers and so are more likely to read long form advertisements with interesting information. You can reuse this information on your website blogs, social platforms, podcasts and the like.
- Be action oriented: Ads are there to move the needle forward. A call to action can be as simple as moving an interested person from the print ad to “click to redeem in store coupon” – print to digital is easy to do in both the print and e-edition formats of your local newspaper. Using click through options and QR codes to specific URLs makes the cross over from print to digital platforms seamless.
- Event marketing: Discovering local events in the community newspaper is one of the top interest points for local readers. But don’t just churn out a generic “Come to our event”. Remember our readers enjoy spending time with the paper. Capitalize on that. When you advertise an event in the newspaper you have an opportunity to make an intimate connection so don’t treat it like a fly by night ad. Make it engaging, personal, and relevant. Call out the reader specifically “Calling all Free Press newspaper readers.” You can niche the demographic based on the action you assume they are doing when they are reading your ad.
- Coupons and promotions: If you are a retailer or a restaurant that has deals and promotions, newspaper readers take notice! Not only does the use of coupons help you track the effectiveness of your ad it also gets people in the door. Your business isn’t an online hop on and hop off bus ride, you need foot traffic and this is one way to do it.
- Minimize or maximize. When people book a print ad they tend to want to throw everything into it. This creates a cluttered, hard to read ad. Instead take the space to promote your one product or service that tends to get people in the door, then cross promote once you are in contact with your prospective customer. Alternatively you can also use the space to create an organized product catalogue, or flier page that showcases a number of products but in an organized and thematic fashion.
I said it before and it’s worth mentioning again. Forming a relationship with your local rural newspaper helps you expand your marketing team, and frees you to do what you actually set out to do – run a business set on building real relationships with your customers.
It’s tax time in Canada, and while the costs of having taxes done aren’t a big deal to some, for others it can be prohibitive.
Gina Matalski, a tax specialist at GM Accounting and Tax Services, is working with Drayton Valley Family and Community Support Services to help those who struggle to afford having their taxes done.
Matalski says the Income Tax Program has volunteers in the community, who have received training provided by the Canada Revenue Agency, do the tax returns. She says people drop their information off at her office, and then a volunteer comes to get the information and files it.
“Then, if I don’t have time to do them myself, I contact the volunteers and let them know that there are some to be picked up,” she says.
Right now there are seven volunteers who have stepped forward to help out, but Matalski says the more people they have volunteering, the faster they can get things done.
While the program aims to help as many people as they can, Matalski says there are some restrictions for who can use the program, and only personal taxes can be done. She says anyone who has employment expenses, or anything outside of the norm, would not qualify for the program.
“It’s basic, basic income tax returns,” she says.
Individuals who wish to use the program must have less than $35,000 in taxable income for the year. Couples can use it if they make less than $45,000 and families cannot have more than $52,000 in earnings.
“This is my second year for the free tax program,” says Matalski, “but I’ve been doing personal tax returns for five years.”
Matalski says she signed on to the program because she wanted to help the community out.
She says the price for doing personal taxes can be high, depending on who is being used to file the taxes and it’s not fair for low income earners.
“When individuals and families that are already struggling to make ends meet every day have to go and pay between $150 and $200 to have a tax return done is ridiculous,” she says.
She said last year the program helped 500 individuals with their taxes.
Those who qualify for the program can drop their tax information off at 5136 – 54 St. on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Homesteaders Way: Hwy 13 Winfield to Alder Flats
The homesteaders way: Hwy 13 Winfield to Alder Flats
- Distance one way: 42.5 km
- One way drive time: 31 minutes
- Road trip time frame: ½ day to full day
Nestled between Breton and Rimbey the tight knit community of Winfield was once a bustling logging town and a staging area for homesteaders heading west to the communities of Minnehik (Buck Lake) and Alder Flats. It is now known for its annual “West of the 5th Rodeo”.
This 42.5 km route from Winfield to Alder Flats is a 31 min drive or a 2hr and 4 min bike ride. You could do either and still leave the road trip feeling satisfied.
Starting in Winfield, begin at the Lions Park, across from the historic mainstreet. Here you can read about the history of the community at a kiosk located at the park. Heading out of the community on the Hwy 13 exit you can poke into a parking area on the West side and read about the role that the railway played in the development of the community.
Heading west on Hwy 13 it isn’t long before you are at the Pendryl General Store. The community of Pendryl has historic significance for homesteaders heading West as this was often a safe haven to wait out bad weather or terrible road conditions before heading further west into the bush. The store is located at the summit point on the road and offers expansive views of the surrounding farm lands.
Continuing West you will soon come upon the turn to take your to Calhoun Bay Provincial Recreation Area and campground. There isn’t any beach, but you can launch small boats, and the campsite is well treed.
Continuing on Hwy 13, on the right side of the road is the first of two entries into the community of Buck Lake. Buck Lake, was historically known and Minnehik and was used, as a commercial fishery, and a method for transporting logs to nearby sawmills. The lake is still a hot spot for fishing enthusiasts and for Rodeo fans the weekend of the Buck Lake Stampede is one social event you do not want to miss.
Lakeshore Drive in Buck Lake offers views of the lake, and will take you past the community campground,boat launch area and stampede grounds. If you find yourself hungry then grabbing a bakery bun at the Buck Lake Mercantile really hits the spot.
Taking Range Road 63 south will get you back on to Hwy 13. Heading West you will come to the junction of Hwy 22 and Hwy 13. If you turn South you will find tourist attractions such as a golf course and a meadery but if you continue West you will come to the community of Alder Flats. Here you can grab some grub, and if you are feeling nature drawn continue beyond the community to the Rose Creek Trails for a hike. The trails are not well signed so try not to get lost.
Golfing Drayton Valley
But there was lots to like. The course itself is in very good shape, in spite of our efforts to dig parts of it up with an over enthusiastic pitching wedge. And it was great to get out in some early morning sunshine.
Golfing Breton and Birchwood
A one day golf extravaganza, 27-holes, 3-courses. Breton Municipal Golf Course, Big Tee in Breton and The Village Golf Course in Birchwood.
Fumbles and bumbles at Rose Creek
We were about 45 minutes into what turned out to be a very thick bushwack. I was mid-lunge and my ski was looking like a “U” as I tried to get over a fallen tree when my aunt asked, “How much weight do you think we can put on our skis before they break?” I paused, unweighted my ski and looked around to see if there was another way through.
Five scenic bike rides near Drayton Valley
Here are five rides that are moderate in length, located on quiet secondary highways, and offer a variety of views not more than 40 minutes from Drayton Valley.
Five hidden fishing gems in Alberta’s West Country
If your idea of a great summer includes trading cell service for campfires and crowds for calm waters, you’re in for a treat. Out in Brazeau Country—just 40 minutes west of Drayton Valley—there’s a wild slice of Alberta that’s perfect for escaping the noise and diving into real-deal wilderness vibes. Think remote lakes, winding rivers, and chill campsites where you can cast a line, crack a cold one, and feel like you’re the only person in the world.
Experiencing the finer arts in the valley
Art galleries can be an inspiring place to visit but they can also be baffling.
Soccer association needs volunteers
The Drayton Valley and District Soccer Association says they need some new blood to help bring soccer in the community forward.
Brad Kelly, the vice president, says there are ten people who sit on the board. Three of the volunteers have been on the board for decades.
“We’re not getting any younger,” says Kelly.
He and his dad Russ, have been heavily involved in the DVDSA for many years, and both are struggling to find the time to commit anymore. The other longtime member, Lori Clark, is also hoping to step back.
Kelly says his dad has been in the club since the 1980s and Clark has been in it for about thirty years.
He says in the past the parents of kids on the travel teams typically volunteered for the board. However, Kelly says there has been a decline in the number of players for a few years, and the pandemic also didn’t help.
I come from a generation that thought the microwave oven was the pinnacle of human achievement. And as for the fax machine? Oh, Lordy, what a time to be alive!
But now, a mere five and a bit decades later, the machines are on the rise. Artificial Intelligence is here. The robots are coming!
AI can do a lot of things. Those things include writing. And writing is what I do too.
I’ve steered well clear of using AI in my work, because, frankly, using it as a journalist feels fundamentally dishonest. It’s like getting your mom to do your homework.
But I have an enquiring mind. I want to know. So I decided to take a peek at what the machine mind could come up with.
There’s a tempting little button at the bottom of the page on which I create my weekly quota of wit, wisdom, and whimsy. I clicked on it, and it came back with a cheerful invitation: ‘Describe any changes you want to make.’
Well, with a half finished document and a deadline approaching, you don’t have to ask me twice.
Make this longer,’ I typed. ‘And funnier.’
The AI dutifully spat out its revised text. I read it and it made me sad. I suppose achieving one out of two isn’t bad for a machine. It certainly made it longer. But the language was all wrong and the humour was about as funny as a rectal exam from a leper.
In my work as a columnist I always aim for that sweet spot on the dividing line between ‘smartassed’ and ‘snarky.’ The trick is to try to sound like you don’t care who you offend while simultaneously being very, very careful not to actually offend anyone at all.
AI’s contribution certainly succeeded in adding length. The tone was also close to spot-on. It sounded like a man in late middle age trying to get things done in a hurry so he can head off to the pub.
But AI’s composition included very little wit and hardly any whimsy at all. And while the words sort of made sense, it almost looked like something that had been written in another language and then translated into English by someone with his mind on other things.
It’s not that my own work is any kind of masterpiece. Most weeks, if I manage to come up with something I’d rate as a six out of ten I’m happy. I’m not sure I’ve ever written anything that deserves more than an eight. But AI’s efforts looked more than a little garbled and, where it did make sense, it was more than a little cliched. And as a journalist, I avoid cliches like the plague.
So my plan to spend the remaining time between now and retirement sitting on a beach, occasionally instructing my computer to write 500 words complaining about potholes/taxes/the weather is on hold for now. AI may be the future, but it’s got a long way to go before it can match the miracle of the microwave.
Local baseball player, Caedyn Colford, has recently started his summer baseball season playing in front of thousands of Edmonton Riverhawks fans.
Colford has been playing baseball since he was three-years-old. He has been playing college-level baseball in the United States for a few years. Two years ago, he decided to move closer to home. Now he plays baseball year-round between two different teams.
“It was pretty cool, a little nerve-wracking,” says Colford. “I’ve never played in front of 6,000 fans. It was a really cool experience, and being able to do it in front of friends and family made it that much better.”
Since the fall of 2023, Colford has been playing for the Edmonton Collegiate Hawks, which runs under the Canadian College Baseball Conference, during the school year, and the Edmonton Riverhawks in the West Coast League over the summer. During the 2026 season, Colford set a new record for single-season home runs with 15 home runs, and the team took silver at the finals in Lethbridge May 21-24.
Jake Lanferman, the head coach for both the Edmonton Collegiate Hawks and the Edmonton Riverhawks, says he was impressed by Colford’s performance.
“He had 12 [home runs] in the regular season, and three in the playoffs,” says Lanferman. “He had a really strong year.”
The ERH play in the West Coast League, says Lanferman, and by playing for the Riverhawks, Colford will be performing in front of scouts for Major League Baseball.
“He’s always had power in his bat,” says Lanferman. “This year he really showcased that well. He led the team in multiple categories, but he also led the team as a leader off the field.”
Lanferman says as coach for the Hawks and the Riverhawks, he gets to see the local talent and tries to bring on as many of them as he can for the Riverhawks, though there are players from other areas as well.
“He’s got a strong glove; he’s a power hitter; he changes approaches here, so he hits for more contact and more average, too,” says Lanferman. “He’s done a really good job of promoting himself and playing good baseball.”
Colford says playing for the league can be tough, but he tries to stay humble and not let his success go to his head.
One of the main reasons he decided to stay in Edmonton was that he wanted to attend the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT). Currently, he’s enrolled in their electrical program and works a job while playing baseball.
Colford’s mother, Krista, says the family loves having him close to home.
“There’s nothing better than watching your kids play a sport that they love and succeed,” she says.
Krista says the dream of these players is to just continue playing baseball. Having them in their own backyard allows them to play the sport they love without having to be away from the support of loved ones.
“The skill level and quality of baseball that these kids are playing here is equivalent to playing junior college baseball in the States,” says Krista.
The next home game for the Riverhawks is on June 9. Tickets can be purchased on their website, www.riverhawksbaseball.com.
Here we go then. In October we’ll be heading to the polls to vote on the future of this province with respect to its role in Canada.
Sort of.
This is not a referendum on whether Alberta should leave Canada. This is a referendum on whether Alberta should have a different, separate referendum on whether Alberta should leave Canada at some indefinite point in the future.
Hmmm.
If Premier Danielle Smith called the vote in order to take the wind from the sails of separatists within her own party, there’s an obvious and not terribly promising comparison in recent history.
That obvious comparison is with the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union. Prime Minister David Cameron decided to call a referendum on the issue in order to quiet a noisy section of his party. Cameron campaigned to stay in the EU, as did both the major opposition parties. What could possibly go wrong? Just about everything. The vote was lost. Cameron had to quit. And then: turmoil. The aftermath was reminiscent of that scene from the Simpsons where Sideshow Bob repeatedly steps on a series of rakes, each one of which hits him squarely in the face. It’s hilarious when it happens to someone else, but if it’s your face getting the rake handle treatment, you might not like it so much.
Since then the UK has stumbled along in a manner that makes headless chickens look like they’ve really got it together. And they’ve gone through a series of prime ministers none of whom have done much to impress. That list includes, at the absolute lowest point, a woman by the name of Liz Truss who did a pretty good job of tanking the economy in spite of only being in charge for about 20 minutes.
So not great then.
But enough of laughing at other people’s misfortunes. What does this all mean for Alberta, or for Canada, or for both?
What the Brexit experience teaches us that seismic events have repercussion upon repression upon repercussion.
If the separatist side loses the vote they are unlikely to just go away. Two lost referendums in the the late 20th Century did little to dampen the enthusiasm of the Parti Quebecois. Quebec and Alberta are very different places but there’s no reason to believe that the outcome of a defeat here will be any different than it was for our friends to the east. A loss would see the separatist side withdraw and regroup before attempting to start the whole process again using what they’ve learned the first time around as a spring board.
And if the separatist side wins and we vote to have that second referendum then, well, all bets are off.
In the meantime we have several months of uncertainty that will only serve to weaken Canada’s hand in negotiations with the United States, or anyone else for that matter. Meanwhile here in Alberta we can expect increasingly shrill rhetoric and mounting conflict between now and October, culminating in a vote that, either way, is going to leave some people extremely unhappy.
Doesn’t sound great, does it?
The Awaso Canadian Academy Foundation had another successful fundraiser to support a school in Ghana last weekend.
Anne Murphy, one of the volunteer organizers and master of ceremonies for the event, says it was such a success because the community came together to make it possible.
“There were a lot of volunteers on board. We want to thank the very generous donors who contributed from the community in live and silent auction items,” says Murphy. “There were many volunteers who were available and really helped to get the event organized.”
During the evening there was a silent auction, a live auction, a game of Deal or No Deal, and student sponsorship packages available. They also had four more people sign up to sponsor a student for a year.
“It’s a one-time payment of $400, and students get what they need,” says Murphy. “That includes daily meals, supplies, and school uniforms.”
Murphy says every penny raised goes to the school. Volunteers who travel to Ghana to volunteer there pay their own way, and the entire organization is composed of volunteers.
“We have no overhead costs and any of the trips, including the very last group which went in January of 2025, all of our travel expenses from our committee end has always been done on our own, independently,” she says.
Emphasizing that all the money goes to the school is important, says Murphy, and she says that’s not common with non-profit organizations. She says many solid sponsorships have come on board due to the fact that ACAF keeps none of the money.
The academy in Awaso, Ghana was the dream of Father Paul Mensah, the priest for the St. Anthony Catholic Church, in 2000. He shared stories about his hometown, Awaso, with his parishioners, and they made his dream a reality.
The first visit to Awaso was in 2007, and by 2010 they had built two classrooms for girls in the community. Since then, they have been adding pieces to the school.
Over the years, there have been many additions to the building and many student success stories.
“Since adding a junior high, the students graduating from Grade 9 have graduated with distinction, giving them all the opportunity to move to a good high school in the larger cities and do extremely well academically,” says Murphy. “Now the school is seeing the fruits of its labour, as alumni are returning to encourage the students to reach their potential.”
Since their last fundraiser in 2024, the ACAF has funded two major updates regarding the academy. One was an upgrade to the water filtration system to provide safe drinking water to the students and the staff. They also drilled a new well that has purification equipment.
They also provided safe drinking water to the entire community.
“This necessitated the improvement of road access, the upgrading of the existing generator, and additional equipment and tanks, as well as the purchase of recyclable water bottles and dispensers so the community can come get their water there,” she says.
The second update is that the school is now offering a music program thanks to a generous donation.
“Last year, the academy purchased new instruments for the academy to form a band,” says Murphy. “That’s been really exciting for them.”
The ACAF is currently looking for volunteers for the foundation, as the board still consists of many original members. Murphy says they would like to have younger people involved so the academy can still be successful for years to come.
Those looking for more information, how to volunteer, or a way to donate to the cause can visit www.awasoacademy.ca and receive a charitable receipt. The ACAF can also reach out to the organization at admin@awasoacademy.ca.
What’s this World Cup I keep hearing about?
It’s the global festival of football that takes place every four years.
Football? I love football! Go Esks … sorry, I mean Go Elks!
Er, it’s not that kind of football. We’re talking about the game where you actually kick the ball with your foot. Not the game where you pick the ball up and run around a bit.
So when you say football you mean soccer. Stop being deliberately difficult.
OK, anyway, the World Cup is kicking off next month. It’s the world’s biggest sporting event and some of the action is taking place right here in Canada.
Right here?
Well, not right here. In Toronto and Vancouver.
Neither of those is anywhere near here.
Fair point. There are also games in cities in the United States and Mexico.
This is starting to sound familiar. Did Canada qualify?
As one of the host nations we get a free pass to the tournament, so Canada will be there without having to go through all the inconvenience of the qualifying rounds. Also in the mix are the usual big boys from the likes of Brazil, Argentina and Germany along with some places that aren’t traditional powerhouses like Haiti, Uzbekistan and England.
I see what you did there. What are our chances of winning?
The entire thing? Remote. But Canada did manage to get drawn in one of the easier groups for the round robin. We’ll be facing Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar and Switzerland during the group phase. Those are decent teams, especially the Swiss, but none of them are unbeatable. And if we make it to the knockout rounds, anything can happen. Although, to be honest it usually doesn’t.
Any particular players to watch out for?
Alphonso Davies is probably Canada’s brightest star. In his day job he’s a regular starter for Bayern Munich so officially counts as being Quite Good at Football. And he grew up in Edmonton! So far so good, but he stretched the bejesus out of his hamstring (this may not be the correct medical term) in a match against Paris Saint-Germain May 6 and is expected to be out of action for several weeks.
Oh dear. And when is Canada’s first World Cup match?
We face Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday June 12. So depending on your definition of “several weeks” Davies may or may not be able to play.
I can already feel the tension building. Any other drama to look out for?
Plenty. This will be the last World Cup for Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, both of whom are getting on a bit and will be very keen to go out with a bang. Scotland, Austria and Norway are back in the competition for the first time since 1998. We’ll see the World Cup debut of a number of nations including the likes of Curacao (population 180,000 and land area of 444 square kilometres) which is the smallest country ever to make it to the finals.
And Iran have qualified and have games in Los Angeles and Seattle.
You have captured my imagination with your insights. I can’t believe I used to say there was nothing interesting in the paper. I will purchase a large flag and a novelty inflatable maple leaf prior to June 12. Is there anything else I’ll need to get the most out of the tournament?
Patience. The first game kicks off June 11, but the final isn’t until July 19, 102 games later. That is a lot of football.
Angela Patty and her family have lived in the Berrymoor area all her life, and she would like to see the Berrymoor Centre as busy as it was when she was younger.
“Berrymoor seems to have grown so much in the last while that we don’t even know who our neighbours are anymore,” says Patty.
She wanted a way to get to know the families in the area better, and since she has a love of reading, she felt encouraging youth to join a book club could be a good way to achieve that.
“I know there’s a lot of kids who are struggling in the schools and just in general with reading, and I want to bring excitement to the stories,” she says.
The Bookaneers have been meeting at the Berrymoor Centre every Thursday night from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for the past couple of months. Patty says the use of the hall was donated to them, courtesy of the 3Bs Board. The club has received book donations, and parents have been helping out by bringing healthy snacks, but the remaining costs come out of Patty’s pocket.
“It just makes me happy. I love seeing how excited the kids get with the books, and I’m very grateful that they’ve all really enjoyed the book choices that we’ve had so far,” she says.
Originally, the plan was to make it just a junior book club. However, it has become much more than that. Patty brought some of the toys her kids had used to the hall, and now they also have activities to participate in before they settle in to read.
“A lot of aunts, grandparents, and parents come, and then everyone just kind of gets to visit as well,” says Patty.
Though the book club is aimed at area residents, Patty says she wouldn’t turn away anyone who was willing to drive out to the club. The club is free to join, though donations are appreciated.
“We’re willing to expand and I can definitely get more parent volunteers to come out,” she says.
Currently, there are two groups reading two different books. The members get to choose which book they are more comfortable reading. The ages of the children are five to 13.
Patty says the children are always given the option to read aloud if they would like to, but she won’t ask them to because she wants them to feel comfortable.
“The last thing I want is for anyone leaving our group feeling discouraged,” she says.
Patty is also considering holding an adult book club in the future. She says she’s been putting feelers out to see if any parents would be interested.
Along with the book club, Patty also has a park play at the playground at the Berrymoor Centre every second Monday. She brings her son Atlas along for 5 p.m. and any kids are welcome to come out and join in.
“Whoever comes, great. Sometimes they don’t and sometimes they do,” she says. “I’m just trying to bring life to our little centre.”
“We plan on sticking around to mentor. We were hoping to do that for the last couple of seasons,” says Kelly. He says there has been some interest, but no one has gone ahead and committed to the position.
He says it’s getting harder and harder to give the DVDSA all of the attention it needs. “It’s not that our hearts aren’t in it,” he says. “We all have other things now.”
To help make the positions seem less intimidating, Kelly says they have broken down lots of jobs into smaller pieces. He says this helps to prevent volunteer burnout and makes each bit less time consuming.
On their Facebook page they use infographics to show the level of commitment and experience needed. Each position is gauged by four different categories: pre-season, during season, post season, and experience required.
Kelly says they’re hoping the smaller tasks will be more attractive and manageable.
He says ideally volunteers would have kids in the sport, or have past experience. However, that’s not necessary. Kelly says there is a lot of long-term knowledge that has to stay there, and that’s why they will be mentoring the new board.
He says his dad and Clark are both still involved in the NorthWest Division of Alberta Soccer. This means they can help out with the new board and provide necessary information.
Kelly says they are hoping to have two people for each position because they want to have a backup in case someone has to back out at the last minute. “We keep losing people that we’ve been starting to mentor,” he says.
He says that the DVDSA hasn’t been getting the attention it deserves over the last few years, and if there are no new volunteers, it won’t get better.
“We can’t run a professional looking program with what we have,” says Kelly. “We can’t keep doing it.”
He says the idea of shutting the program down is hard for them to even consider. “We used to have a huge soccer program. One of the best in the province. We’ve gotta save it.”
Drayton to host regional one act plays
The Eleanor Pickup Arts Centre will be hosting the Yellowhead Regional One-Act Plays Festival on April 10 and 11 this year.
Here come the cobra chickens
Doomscrolling is a terrible habit for sure, and it’s one that I’m guilty of from time to time. It mostly depends on my mood, energy levels, and whether I have to sit and wait for an extended period of time.
First funding for replacement school
St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic School Division (STAR Catholic) received planning funding from the Government of Alberta to support the future replacement of the school.
Loving where you live
Do we have what it takes to be a tourist destination?
I spent the last week in Canmore with the intent to ski. However a bout of flu and cough plagued our travel party and we didn’t venture too far from the condo.
Let’s start this week with a cautionary tale.
A long, long time ago there was a push to build a fieldhouse in Drayton Valley. It began as an idea to create a dedicated space for indoor soccer. That sounded just dandy. Then some other folks got involved and they added all sorts of stuff to the proposal, so the facility was going to include everything from athletics to archery. And then someone came up with the idea to add a banquet hall too, because why not?
The proposed multi-purpose fieldhouse began to look a lot like one of those tools they used to sell on late night television. You know, the kind of thing that’s a hammer, and a screwdriver and a spirit level and a wrench all built into one. The trouble with that kind of gadget is that it’s usually not a terribly good hammer or wrench or whatever, because it’s trying to do too much. So while trying to please everybody, the fieldhouse project collapsed under the weight of its own good intentions. Municipal staff had put a lot of effort into trying to make it happen. Volunteer groups had worked hard to raise money. So when the fieldhouse hit the skids the debacle left a bad taste in a lot of mouths. The only part of the project that came to fruition was the banquet hall, which evolved into the MacKenzie Conference Centre. The MacKenzie Centre is great, but you can’t play soccer in it. Well, you probably could, but it wouldn’t be a very good idea.
I mention this because I, along with everyone else in Drayton Valley and Brazeau County, am being asked for my opinion on the future of recreation in the community. In case you missed it, there’s a survey on the Town of Drayton Valley website.
I took that survey so you don’t have to.
Perhaps I’m not really the target audience. They start by asking which facilities you use. I’m not much of a swimmer – more of a sinker really – so I have used the new pool precisely twice since it opened. Mind you, that’s a dramatic increase from the old pool, which I used once in 20 years.
Skatepark? Nope. Outdoor rink? Nope. Soccer fields? Nope. Omniplex? I’ve popped in to use the washrooms a couple of times. Does that count?
As far as other facilities are concerned, I have been to Whitby Hall quite a lot. I even got married there once. But those visits, plus a couple to Easyford, have almost all been for weddings or funerals. Does that count as recreation? I suppose there’s dancing at some of them.
Anyway, in spite of the fact I don’t use those facilities, I can see the value of having them in Drayton valley/Brazeau. Good recreational opportunities add to the quality of life and they make the entire community a more attractive place to live and work. Just because my own preferred form of recreation is sitting on my deck drinking beer, doesn’t mean it’s that way for everyone.
Next on the survey was a page asking what kind of facilities I’d like to see in the future. There, right about the middle, was an option for a fieldhouse. My first thought was, are we really going to go there again? But my second thought was, why not?
The survey makes it quite clear that the list of possible future facilities are just ideas, and that each one would come at a cost. A fieldhouse would be a very expensive option and would take years to come to fruition.
But it’s something to think about, and I think there’s a conversation worth having.
It’s been close to 20 years since the proposed multi-purpose fieldhouse died on the drawing board. A lot of things have changed since then. Maybe it’s time to try again.
When you’re hot, you’re hot. Four separate Drayton Valley area projects have been shortlisted for this year’s Alberta Emerald Awards. That’s more than from any other community outside Edmonton and Calgary.
The Emerald Awards showcase businesses, organizations and individuals who are “raising the bar in addressing environmental and climate change issues,” across a number of categories.
Among local nominees, the Eagle Point-Blue Rapids Parks Council Environmental and Outdoor Education Program has been shortlisted in the education category.
EPBR’s Executive Director Sandra Bannard said the group was “thrilled to make the shortlist.” The outdoor education program “provides a facilitated, positive learning opportunity for youth. Schools and community groups can access our highly trained facilitators to provide fun, hands-on activities that get kids outdoors mastering new skills, achieving learning outcomes and connecting with nature.”
I come from a generation that thought the microwave oven was the pinnacle of human achievement. And as for the fax machine? Oh, Lordy, what a time to be alive!
But now, a mere five and a bit decades later, the machines are on the rise. Artificial Intelligence is here. The robots are coming!
AI can do a lot of things. Those things include writing. And writing is what I do too.
I’ve steered well clear of using AI in my work, because, frankly, using it as a journalist feels fundamentally dishonest. It’s like getting your mom to do your homework.
But I have an enquiring mind. I want to know. So I decided to take a peek at what the machine mind could come up with.
There’s a tempting little button at the bottom of the page on which I create my weekly quota of wit, wisdom, and whimsy. I clicked on it, and it came back with a cheerful invitation: ‘Describe any changes you want to make.’
Well, with a half finished document and a deadline approaching, you don’t have to ask me twice.
Make this longer,’ I typed. ‘And funnier.’
The AI dutifully spat out its revised text. I read it and it made me sad. I suppose achieving one out of two isn’t bad for a machine. It certainly made it longer. But the language was all wrong and the humour was about as funny as a rectal exam from a leper.
In my work as a columnist I always aim for that sweet spot on the dividing line between ‘smartassed’ and ‘snarky.’ The trick is to try to sound like you don’t care who you offend while simultaneously being very, very careful not to actually offend anyone at all.
AI’s contribution certainly succeeded in adding length. The tone was also close to spot-on. It sounded like a man in late middle age trying to get things done in a hurry so he can head off to the pub.
But AI’s composition included very little wit and hardly any whimsy at all. And while the words sort of made sense, it almost looked like something that had been written in another language and then translated into English by someone with his mind on other things.
It’s not that my own work is any kind of masterpiece. Most weeks, if I manage to come up with something I’d rate as a six out of ten I’m happy. I’m not sure I’ve ever written anything that deserves more than an eight. But AI’s efforts looked more than a little garbled and, where it did make sense, it was more than a little cliched. And as a journalist, I avoid cliches like the plague.
So my plan to spend the remaining time between now and retirement sitting on a beach, occasionally instructing my computer to write 500 words complaining about potholes/taxes/the weather is on hold for now. AI may be the future, but it’s got a long way to go before it can match the miracle of the microwave.
Local baseball player, Caedyn Colford, has recently started his summer baseball season playing in front of thousands of Edmonton Riverhawks fans.
Colford has been playing baseball since he was three-years-old. He has been playing college-level baseball in the United States for a few years. Two years ago, he decided to move closer to home. Now he plays baseball year-round between two different teams.
“It was pretty cool, a little nerve-wracking,” says Colford. “I’ve never played in front of 6,000 fans. It was a really cool experience, and being able to do it in front of friends and family made it that much better.”
Since the fall of 2023, Colford has been playing for the Edmonton Collegiate Hawks, which runs under the Canadian College Baseball Conference, during the school year, and the Edmonton Riverhawks in the West Coast League over the summer. During the 2026 season, Colford set a new record for single-season home runs with 15 home runs, and the team took silver at the finals in Lethbridge May 21-24.
Jake Lanferman, the head coach for both the Edmonton Collegiate Hawks and the Edmonton Riverhawks, says he was impressed by Colford’s performance.
“He had 12 [home runs] in the regular season, and three in the playoffs,” says Lanferman. “He had a really strong year.”
The ERH play in the West Coast League, says Lanferman, and by playing for the Riverhawks, Colford will be performing in front of scouts for Major League Baseball.
“He’s always had power in his bat,” says Lanferman. “This year he really showcased that well. He led the team in multiple categories, but he also led the team as a leader off the field.”
Lanferman says as coach for the Hawks and the Riverhawks, he gets to see the local talent and tries to bring on as many of them as he can for the Riverhawks, though there are players from other areas as well.
“He’s got a strong glove; he’s a power hitter; he changes approaches here, so he hits for more contact and more average, too,” says Lanferman. “He’s done a really good job of promoting himself and playing good baseball.”
Colford says playing for the league can be tough, but he tries to stay humble and not let his success go to his head.
One of the main reasons he decided to stay in Edmonton was that he wanted to attend the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT). Currently, he’s enrolled in their electrical program and works a job while playing baseball.
Colford’s mother, Krista, says the family loves having him close to home.
“There’s nothing better than watching your kids play a sport that they love and succeed,” she says.
Krista says the dream of these players is to just continue playing baseball. Having them in their own backyard allows them to play the sport they love without having to be away from the support of loved ones.
“The skill level and quality of baseball that these kids are playing here is equivalent to playing junior college baseball in the States,” says Krista.
The next home game for the Riverhawks is on June 9. Tickets can be purchased on their website, www.riverhawksbaseball.com.
Here we go then. In October we’ll be heading to the polls to vote on the future of this province with respect to its role in Canada.
Sort of.
This is not a referendum on whether Alberta should leave Canada. This is a referendum on whether Alberta should have a different, separate referendum on whether Alberta should leave Canada at some indefinite point in the future.
Hmmm.
If Premier Danielle Smith called the vote in order to take the wind from the sails of separatists within her own party, there’s an obvious and not terribly promising comparison in recent history.
That obvious comparison is with the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union. Prime Minister David Cameron decided to call a referendum on the issue in order to quiet a noisy section of his party. Cameron campaigned to stay in the EU, as did both the major opposition parties. What could possibly go wrong? Just about everything. The vote was lost. Cameron had to quit. And then: turmoil. The aftermath was reminiscent of that scene from the Simpsons where Sideshow Bob repeatedly steps on a series of rakes, each one of which hits him squarely in the face. It’s hilarious when it happens to someone else, but if it’s your face getting the rake handle treatment, you might not like it so much.
Since then the UK has stumbled along in a manner that makes headless chickens look like they’ve really got it together. And they’ve gone through a series of prime ministers none of whom have done much to impress. That list includes, at the absolute lowest point, a woman by the name of Liz Truss who did a pretty good job of tanking the economy in spite of only being in charge for about 20 minutes.
So not great then.
But enough of laughing at other people’s misfortunes. What does this all mean for Alberta, or for Canada, or for both?
What the Brexit experience teaches us that seismic events have repercussion upon repression upon repercussion.
If the separatist side loses the vote they are unlikely to just go away. Two lost referendums in the the late 20th Century did little to dampen the enthusiasm of the Parti Quebecois. Quebec and Alberta are very different places but there’s no reason to believe that the outcome of a defeat here will be any different than it was for our friends to the east. A loss would see the separatist side withdraw and regroup before attempting to start the whole process again using what they’ve learned the first time around as a spring board.
And if the separatist side wins and we vote to have that second referendum then, well, all bets are off.
In the meantime we have several months of uncertainty that will only serve to weaken Canada’s hand in negotiations with the United States, or anyone else for that matter. Meanwhile here in Alberta we can expect increasingly shrill rhetoric and mounting conflict between now and October, culminating in a vote that, either way, is going to leave some people extremely unhappy.
Doesn’t sound great, does it?
The Awaso Canadian Academy Foundation had another successful fundraiser to support a school in Ghana last weekend.
Anne Murphy, one of the volunteer organizers and master of ceremonies for the event, says it was such a success because the community came together to make it possible.
“There were a lot of volunteers on board. We want to thank the very generous donors who contributed from the community in live and silent auction items,” says Murphy. “There were many volunteers who were available and really helped to get the event organized.”
During the evening there was a silent auction, a live auction, a game of Deal or No Deal, and student sponsorship packages available. They also had four more people sign up to sponsor a student for a year.
“It’s a one-time payment of $400, and students get what they need,” says Murphy. “That includes daily meals, supplies, and school uniforms.”
Murphy says every penny raised goes to the school. Volunteers who travel to Ghana to volunteer there pay their own way, and the entire organization is composed of volunteers.
“We have no overhead costs and any of the trips, including the very last group which went in January of 2025, all of our travel expenses from our committee end has always been done on our own, independently,” she says.
Emphasizing that all the money goes to the school is important, says Murphy, and she says that’s not common with non-profit organizations. She says many solid sponsorships have come on board due to the fact that ACAF keeps none of the money.
The academy in Awaso, Ghana was the dream of Father Paul Mensah, the priest for the St. Anthony Catholic Church, in 2000. He shared stories about his hometown, Awaso, with his parishioners, and they made his dream a reality.
The first visit to Awaso was in 2007, and by 2010 they had built two classrooms for girls in the community. Since then, they have been adding pieces to the school.
Over the years, there have been many additions to the building and many student success stories.
“Since adding a junior high, the students graduating from Grade 9 have graduated with distinction, giving them all the opportunity to move to a good high school in the larger cities and do extremely well academically,” says Murphy. “Now the school is seeing the fruits of its labour, as alumni are returning to encourage the students to reach their potential.”
Since their last fundraiser in 2024, the ACAF has funded two major updates regarding the academy. One was an upgrade to the water filtration system to provide safe drinking water to the students and the staff. They also drilled a new well that has purification equipment.
They also provided safe drinking water to the entire community.
“This necessitated the improvement of road access, the upgrading of the existing generator, and additional equipment and tanks, as well as the purchase of recyclable water bottles and dispensers so the community can come get their water there,” she says.
The second update is that the school is now offering a music program thanks to a generous donation.
“Last year, the academy purchased new instruments for the academy to form a band,” says Murphy. “That’s been really exciting for them.”
The ACAF is currently looking for volunteers for the foundation, as the board still consists of many original members. Murphy says they would like to have younger people involved so the academy can still be successful for years to come.
Those looking for more information, how to volunteer, or a way to donate to the cause can visit www.awasoacademy.ca and receive a charitable receipt. The ACAF can also reach out to the organization at admin@awasoacademy.ca.
What’s this World Cup I keep hearing about?
It’s the global festival of football that takes place every four years.
Football? I love football! Go Esks … sorry, I mean Go Elks!
Er, it’s not that kind of football. We’re talking about the game where you actually kick the ball with your foot. Not the game where you pick the ball up and run around a bit.
So when you say football you mean soccer. Stop being deliberately difficult.
OK, anyway, the World Cup is kicking off next month. It’s the world’s biggest sporting event and some of the action is taking place right here in Canada.
Right here?
Well, not right here. In Toronto and Vancouver.
Neither of those is anywhere near here.
Fair point. There are also games in cities in the United States and Mexico.
This is starting to sound familiar. Did Canada qualify?
As one of the host nations we get a free pass to the tournament, so Canada will be there without having to go through all the inconvenience of the qualifying rounds. Also in the mix are the usual big boys from the likes of Brazil, Argentina and Germany along with some places that aren’t traditional powerhouses like Haiti, Uzbekistan and England.
I see what you did there. What are our chances of winning?
The entire thing? Remote. But Canada did manage to get drawn in one of the easier groups for the round robin. We’ll be facing Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar and Switzerland during the group phase. Those are decent teams, especially the Swiss, but none of them are unbeatable. And if we make it to the knockout rounds, anything can happen. Although, to be honest it usually doesn’t.
Any particular players to watch out for?
Alphonso Davies is probably Canada’s brightest star. In his day job he’s a regular starter for Bayern Munich so officially counts as being Quite Good at Football. And he grew up in Edmonton! So far so good, but he stretched the bejesus out of his hamstring (this may not be the correct medical term) in a match against Paris Saint-Germain May 6 and is expected to be out of action for several weeks.
Oh dear. And when is Canada’s first World Cup match?
We face Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday June 12. So depending on your definition of “several weeks” Davies may or may not be able to play.
I can already feel the tension building. Any other drama to look out for?
Plenty. This will be the last World Cup for Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, both of whom are getting on a bit and will be very keen to go out with a bang. Scotland, Austria and Norway are back in the competition for the first time since 1998. We’ll see the World Cup debut of a number of nations including the likes of Curacao (population 180,000 and land area of 444 square kilometres) which is the smallest country ever to make it to the finals.
And Iran have qualified and have games in Los Angeles and Seattle.
You have captured my imagination with your insights. I can’t believe I used to say there was nothing interesting in the paper. I will purchase a large flag and a novelty inflatable maple leaf prior to June 12. Is there anything else I’ll need to get the most out of the tournament?
Patience. The first game kicks off June 11, but the final isn’t until July 19, 102 games later. That is a lot of football.
Angela Patty and her family have lived in the Berrymoor area all her life, and she would like to see the Berrymoor Centre as busy as it was when she was younger.
“Berrymoor seems to have grown so much in the last while that we don’t even know who our neighbours are anymore,” says Patty.
She wanted a way to get to know the families in the area better, and since she has a love of reading, she felt encouraging youth to join a book club could be a good way to achieve that.
“I know there’s a lot of kids who are struggling in the schools and just in general with reading, and I want to bring excitement to the stories,” she says.
The Bookaneers have been meeting at the Berrymoor Centre every Thursday night from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for the past couple of months. Patty says the use of the hall was donated to them, courtesy of the 3Bs Board. The club has received book donations, and parents have been helping out by bringing healthy snacks, but the remaining costs come out of Patty’s pocket.
“It just makes me happy. I love seeing how excited the kids get with the books, and I’m very grateful that they’ve all really enjoyed the book choices that we’ve had so far,” she says.
Originally, the plan was to make it just a junior book club. However, it has become much more than that. Patty brought some of the toys her kids had used to the hall, and now they also have activities to participate in before they settle in to read.
“A lot of aunts, grandparents, and parents come, and then everyone just kind of gets to visit as well,” says Patty.
Though the book club is aimed at area residents, Patty says she wouldn’t turn away anyone who was willing to drive out to the club. The club is free to join, though donations are appreciated.
“We’re willing to expand and I can definitely get more parent volunteers to come out,” she says.
Currently, there are two groups reading two different books. The members get to choose which book they are more comfortable reading. The ages of the children are five to 13.
Patty says the children are always given the option to read aloud if they would like to, but she won’t ask them to because she wants them to feel comfortable.
“The last thing I want is for anyone leaving our group feeling discouraged,” she says.
Patty is also considering holding an adult book club in the future. She says she’s been putting feelers out to see if any parents would be interested.
Along with the book club, Patty also has a park play at the playground at the Berrymoor Centre every second Monday. She brings her son Atlas along for 5 p.m. and any kids are welcome to come out and join in.
“Whoever comes, great. Sometimes they don’t and sometimes they do,” she says. “I’m just trying to bring life to our little centre.”
Brazeau County’s Violet Grove Constructed Floating Wetlands System with Aeration is shortlisted under the government category. Wetlands act as a natural system for filtering and purifying surface water. Constructed Floating Wetlands aim to replicate that process over the County’s lagoons in order to enhance the treatment of domestic household wastewater. Native wetland species of plants are allowed to grow over the wastewater, and their root systems take up nutrients and release oxygen into the lagoon. The project aims to extend the lifespan of the lagoon and ensure cleaner runoff enters rivers and lakes.
“Brazeau County is a leader in harnessing the power of nature to treat municipal wastewater,” said Reeve Bart Guyon. “The fact that there are four local projects shortlisted for these awards is confirmation of the fact that Brazeau County is on the leading edge of innovative and unique approaches to environmental sustainability and infrastructure.”
Downtown Drayton Valley summer pub crawl: A girls’ night to remember
The other local nominees are Solar Aquatic Systems Wastewater Treatment, which is shortlisted in the infrastructure category, and GreenLearning’s Eco 360 program: Transitioning to a circular economy for plastic waste which is shortlisted for public engagement and outreach.
“Those represented in this year’s shortlist demonstrate the incredible dedication that Albertans have toward protecting our environment and taking action against climate change” said The Alberta Emerald Foundation’s Executive Director, Marisa Orfei, “The diversity in the shortlist is also astounding, there’s small grassroots organizations, large corporations, and everything in between. We’re also incredibly proud to have 17 communities across Alberta represented in this year’s shortlist, including Drayton Valley, Grande Cache, Canmore, and many more.”
Drayton to host regional one act plays
The Eleanor Pickup Arts Centre will be hosting the Yellowhead Regional One-Act Plays Festival on April 10 and 11 this year.
Here come the cobra chickens
Doomscrolling is a terrible habit for sure, and it’s one that I’m guilty of from time to time. It mostly depends on my mood, energy levels, and whether I have to sit and wait for an extended period of time.
First funding for replacement school
St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic School Division (STAR Catholic) received planning funding from the Government of Alberta to support the future replacement of the school.
Loving where you live
Do we have what it takes to be a tourist destination?
I spent the last week in Canmore with the intent to ski. However a bout of flu and cough plagued our travel party and we didn’t venture too far from the condo.
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Do we have what it takes to be a tourist destination?
I spent the last week in Canmore with the intent to ski. However a bout of flu and cough plagued our travel party and we didn’t venture too far from the condo. But I did get out enough to purchase an expensive coffee and eat some expensive ice cream.
Visiting Canmore is nice, but I cannot imagine living there. This is the time of year when Free Press HQ is putting together the Brazeau and Beyond Summer travel guide, so I am always looking for editorial inspiration for the magazine. Canmore as a tourist community provided a lot of fodder for the 2026 guide, but it also got me looking deeper into what makes Drayton Valley a much more amazing place to reside. Okay, so we don’t have the mountains. But parking is easy, and driving across town isn’t a headache. The drivers here, although slightly more pushy than I remember as a kid, are nowhere near the aggression you get in Canmore. In Canmore it’s city driving in a small town.
In-fills are a big part of Canmore’s most recent economic development: condos and townhouses are popping up like mushrooms after a fall rain. But eavesdropping in the elevators I heard plumbers, who were doing work on our building, discussing water pressure issues and wastewater and sewage issues the town is facing amidst all these new builds.
Real-estate prices are through the roof. A quick look at Canmore’s local newspaper informed the husband and I that for the same sum that got us a three acre property on the ring road would get us a 30 year old, 1 bed, 1 bath 451sqft condo.
But, it’s all worth it for the outdoor playground…right?
Well, now that I am back sleeping in my own bed, and into my own routines I would say…wait a moment, I’d argue that what we have in Drayton Valley, Brazeau County and the surrounding regions provides an exceptional outdoor recreational lifestyle at the fraction of the costs and with 100 percent more convenience. We’ve got; lakes, rivers, hiking trails, mountain biking, atv trails, events, entertainment, provincial parks and if you are really jonesing for the mountains Nordegg is just two hours away.
But, what we do have is not as exceptional as what we don’t have.
We don’t have crowds, a coffee is still less than $5, you can park almost anywhere and it’s free, strangers are few and far between, and an army of volunteers maintain some amazing trail systems right on our doorstep. So as I am percolating ideas on what to write about for the 2026 Brazeau and Beyond Travel Guide and researching Alberta towns that won the tourism lottery I get more and more grateful for the little slice of heaven I call home.
After combing through hundreds of colourful pictures, Drayton Valley Enforcement Services gave the four winners a special prize for their efforts on St. Patrick’s Day.
Cody Rossing, the manager of enforcement services and emergency management for the town, says when they first saw the kids, they seemed both excited and nervous about talking to the peace officers.
“It quickly shifted to a lot of excitement, especially when they knew they were going for some ice cream,” says Rossing.
There were four winners of the contest. Two of the students came from Aurora Elementary, one was from Evergreen Elementary, and one winner was a member of the public. Those who were in school were given permission from their school and parents to get out of some schoolwork so they could hang out with the peace officers.
Rossing says the kids all got to ride in the cruiser on their way to Dairy Queen, where they were treated to ice cream. He says while they were there, they got to know the kids a little bit and then chatted with them about traffic safety.
“I think overall it was a very good experience for the kids,” says Rossing. “It was a good experience for our department to be able to interact with youth in a different light.”
He says the experience showed the ongoing need for law enforcement to build various connections within the community, including the youth. Rossing says children and youth need to realize that law enforcement officers are people you can go to when they need help.
“Although often parents like to make comments along the lines of, ‘If you’re bad you’re going to go to jail,’ kind of thing, the reality is that often makes kids terrified of law enforcement when it should be the opposite,” says Rossing.
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Officers also made a special trip to the Early Childhood Development Centre on St. Patrick’s Day. There they spoke to the kids about safety topics like when to call 911, how to recognize community helpers, and what to do if they come across an unfamiliar object on the ground.
Going forward, Rossing says the team is going to continue to find different ways to positively interact with the younger residents of the community. He says they will continue to review the different activities they undertake to see how they worked out.
“Something as simple as a colouring contest is able to spiral into those bigger engagements,” says Rossing.
He says there will be a dodgeball game taking place sometime in April against grade four students at Evergreen.
Download your experience guide
If your idea of a great summer includes trading cell service for campfires and crowds for calm waters, you’re in for a treat. Out in Brazeau Country—just 40 minutes west of Drayton Valley—there’s a wild slice of Alberta that’s perfect for escaping the noise and diving into real-deal wilderness vibes. Think remote lakes, winding rivers, and chill campsites where you can cast a line, crack a cold one, and feel like you’re the only person in the world.
Before we head out—Drayton Valley is your last stop for gas, groceries, and snacks. After that, it’s pretty much you, the road, and the wild.
1. Brazeau Dam
Let’s start with the most beginner-friendly option. Brazeau Dam isn’t exactly secluded right at the boat launch, but if you’ve got a watercraft (or even an ATV), you can find your own little corner of paradise. Tucked-away beaches, random campsites, and quiet trails make this a perfect intro spot for anyone new to the west country. There are two provincial campgrounds in the area, and tons of random camping options too—just pick a spot and set up. Bonus: this is a great place to link up with friends and try some kayak fishing.
2. Upper Pembina River
Heard of the Pembina River? Probably. But this isn’t the tubing hotspot near Evansburg. Go west—waaay west—down Tidewater Road, and you’ll find the real hidden side of the Pembina. Out near the junction with Wolf Lake Road, the river winds through thick forests and wildlife-rich landscapes. You might spot deer, bald eagles… maybe even a bear fishing beside you (bring your bear spray!). It’s remote, peaceful, and a dream for anglers looking to fish undisturbed.
3. Wolf Lake
Wolf Lake feels like it’s at the edge of the world—and that’s kind of the point. You can reach it from Tidewater Road or Elk River Road (just be ready for some dusty gravel driving, especially with industrial trucks passing through). The area was hit by wildfires in 2023, so the landscape looks a bit raw, but the fishing is still solid. The lake’s known for Northern Pike, and it was stocked with Walleye in the ’90s, so you’ve got good odds of a bite. There’s a small first-come, first-served campground—check Alberta Parks before heading out.
4. Fairfax Lake
A bit off the beaten path, Fairfax Lake is a quiet gem perfect for paddling, casting, and unplugging. You’ll find Rainbow and Brook Trout here, plus nearby reclaimed pit lakes if you’re up for exploring more fishing spots. The lake is shallow but cold—great for fish, not ideal for swimming unless the weather is really hot. The campground is surprisingly spacious, with sites redesigned in 2010 for more privacy. Bring a canoe or kayak, enjoy the trails, and settle in for a relaxed weekend.
5. Pembina Forks
Nestled right beside the Pembina River, this medium-sized campground offers classic river fishing for rainbow, brook trout, whitefish, and even bull trout. It’s peaceful, has hiking and paddling options, and makes a great weekend basecamp if you’re looking to stay off-grid but not feel totally lost in the woods. Think of it as your middle ground between wilderness and comfort.
What to Know Before You Go
You’ll be off-grid. There’s no reliable cell service out here. Download your maps, let someone know your plans, and be ready to rough it.
Bring bear spray. You’re in bear country. Stay alert, keep your site clean, and be smart about food storage.
Fires & damage: Wildfires in 2023 hit parts of the region hard. Some sites are still recovering—check Alberta Parks or county websites before heading out.
Flat tires happen. These gravel roads are tough on vehicles. Carry a spare, bring tools, and know how to handle a roadside hiccup.
Know the fishing rules. Each lake may have different regulations. Alberta Fishing Regulations will have all the info you need.
Whether you’re a weekend warrior or just want to see how it feels to disconnect for a few days, Alberta’s west country has the perfect fishing escape waiting for you. Pack up, head west, and find your new favourite spot—before the rest of the world finds out about it.
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If you’re searching for the perfect small-town adventure; packed with fun, food, and unforgettable memories, then mark your calendar! A summer trip to Drayton Valley in late June is just what you need. This vibrant Alberta community comes alive with the annual Drayton Valley Midway, hosted by the local Lions Club. It’s an event that brings out the very best in community spirit and summer magic.
This year, the midway takes over town from June 20 to 22, transforming Drayton Valley into a hub of colour, music, and excitement. It’s the perfect weekend to visit, especially with school letting out and the weather warming up. The entire town buzzes with anticipation, and families, friends, and visitors come together to enjoy the festivities.
At the heart of the weekend is the midway, packed with thrilling rides for all ages—from gentle fun for the little ones to heart-pounding adventures for the brave. And don’t forget the food! You’ll find the mouthwatering classics like funnel cakes and mini donuts, now served from a dedicated food wagon that brings that authentic fairground flavour to life. The smells alone are enough to draw you in!
But that’s not all. Friday night, the fun continues with the Drayton Valley Community Foundation’s Small Town Big Life Party. Last year’s party featured two bands battling it out across the dance floor, and this year promises even more high-energy entertainment. So grab your dancing shoes, bring your friends, and get ready for a night of music, laughter, and pure summer joy.
If one weekend isn’t enough to satisfy your summer spirit, don’t worry—there’s more! Just a few weeks later, head about half an hour down the road to the cozy hamlet of Evansburg for their famous Pembina Valley Daze on July 11 and 12. This event takes over the entire community, turning Evansburg into one giant fairground full of fun and charm.
Pembina Valley Daze kicks off with a delicious pancake breakfast at Tipple Park Museum, followed by a Main Street parade, a classic car show, and countless local attractions that make this event a must-visit. Of course, there’s a midway here too—and the best part? Even if you already hit the Drayton Valley Midway, you’re in for a brand-new experience in Evansburg with entirely different rides.
Whether you’re a ride-all-day wristband warrior or just want to enjoy a few thrilling spins, there are options for everyone. Buy a wristband for unlimited fun or grab a few tickets for your favourite rides—the choice is yours. And with events like these, every moment is packed with joy, laughter, and the kind of memories that last a lifetime.
So, this summer, grab your sunscreen, pack your sense of adventure, and make Drayton Valley and Evansburg your go-to getaway spots. With small-town hospitality and big-time fun, these Alberta gems offer everything you need for the ultimate summer escape. Don’t miss it!
The Roots of Resilience Charter School has been receiving attention from education and indigenous authorities, as educators hope to learn from their model.
Charlene Bearhead, the principal of the school, says she has been receiving phone calls from indigenous groups and school divisions that wish to visit the school. Most recently, four educators travelled from the Fisher River Cree Nation in Manitoba for a practicum at the school.
Bearhead says many of these groups heard about RRCS at the National Indigenous Education and Reconciliation Network Gathering last May, before the school was officially approved. Bearhead and Dr. Jennifer Tupper, the dean of education at the University of Alberta, gave a presentation about the school at that time. Once it was announced that the school was approved, inquiries began to come in from many indigenous groups, educators, and other organizations.
“I got an email from a young woman that is a teacher at Fisher River Cree Nation in Manitoba, and she is part of a cohort of 40 indigenous educators that are working on the Education Leadership certificate,” says Bearhead.
Bearhead says there was a component in their practicum that they needed, which was a placement in a school outside of their jurisdiction or in some place that is showing leadership and innovation in education.
“She found us online and reached out to us to see if she could do her three-day placement in our school,” says Bearhead.
In total, four educators came to RRCS from the Fisher River Cree Nation. Three were teachers and one was the cultural coordinator.
Bearhead says she was a little bit nervous at first, but everything worked out really well. When they first arrived, they were given a history of the school, information about how they teach the students and what’s all involved with their education, and a tour of the school.
“It was so interesting. They said, ‘Can we just sit here for a minute and take this all in?’ This is blowing our minds. This is amazing,’” says Bearhead.
Kea York, the cultural coordinator for the Fisher River Board of Education, says that while RRCS wasn’t on her radar at the time, when she looked into the school after one of her classmates mentioned it, she was excited.
“Their missions and goals were right in line with how I viewed education,” says York in an email interview.
She says she loved the passion that the students and staff had for the way of knowing, being, and doing.
“RRCS was right in line with what we are doing in our community of Ochékwi Sípí with our recently implemented Band Council Resolution to put land, language, and culture first in all subject areas of learning for our students. Seeing this happen in a town was great. As people living on this land, we all need to learn Indigenous education and the reciprocity that goes along with it; the children are learning just that,” says York.
Kaitlyn Bear, an educator who has been with the Fisher River Cree Nation for 10 years, says she was impressed by the way language and culture were being incorporated in the school.
“Not many schools allow that, so it was so amazing to see,” says Bear in an email interview.
She says the energy of the staff and students was different from what she’s experienced in the past and the school felt very welcoming.
“I will definitely be keeping in touch with the staff at RRCS,” says Bear. “Over the three days we made so many wonderful connections and relationships that l will hold closely to my heart.”
Stephanie Cochrane, another teacher at Fisher River Cree, says she hadn’t realized she could pick a placement outside of Manitoba, so she didn’t do much research on RRCS before they came out.
“I did not know what RRCS was all about, except that it was a charter school. I did not have many expectations,” says Cochrane in an email interview. “What I found was an amazing, close-knit professional family that consists of super passionate teaching staff and students who have found an academic foundation that nourishes their curiosity as they learn using a First Nation pedagogy.”
Cochrane says the in-house elder at RRCS is a benefit to the students in that he can offer teachings, oral stories, songs, and values that are embedded in the indigenous culture.
“It was so beautiful to witness and be a part of sharing circles that happened right in the
classrooms of RRCS,” she says.
Bearhead says she is happy to have people come visit the school and see how they are doing things.
“Public charter schools are intended to be model schools to show how education might work, or what it could look like,” says Bearhead.
She says it was interesting to hear from these visitors that they have access to knowledge holders and they aren’t yet at the point that RRCS is already at.
“It’s interesting to us because we know we’re not even close to where we want to be yet, but we know we have a really good start,” she says.
During their time at the school, the teachers spent time teaching cooking classes, helping with hot lunch, teaching other classes, scraping a buffalo hide, and reading stories.
“They were just all in with every aspect of the school,” says Bearhead.
Though their time at RRCS is done, each of the educators interviewed said they would highly recommend other school divisions and indigenous groups visit the school and see what they’ve accomplished thus far.
I suggested to my daughter that she name her first child Grahamina if it’s a girl. I haven’t managed to come up with a good boy’s name yet.
Here in Alberta, Noah is once again the most popular name for newborn boys, according to info that winged its way into my inbox a couple of weeks ago from the nice people at Service Alberta. On the girls’ side Olivia took the top spot in 2025, as she has done for the last several years.
It’s an interesting phenomenon* that kids’ names seem to drift in and out of fashion, like long hair, flared jeans and the federal New Democrats. Some of that is probably due to the impact of celebrities. It should surprise nobody if we see an uptick in Taylors due to the global dominance of Taylor Swift, while recent events mean the popularity of Andrew is likely to fall off a cliff.**
Looking back at my elementary school class, we had a couple of Davids, a Stephen, an Allan… on the girls’ side there was Jennifer, June, Dorothy and Elspeth. There was also a cluster of more overtly Scottish names: Alastair, Fraser, Morag and several Fionas. Little did any of them dream that more than 50 years later they’d be name checked in the Drayton Valley and District Free Press. What a strange world we live in.
Anyway, there were certainly no Noahs, apart from that guy with the boat from the Bible, who was not in my class (I’m old but not that old) so doesn’t really count. I don’t remember any Olivias either, although back then girls were both terrifying and mysterious to me, so who knows.
What I can tell you is that you couldn’t swing a cat in 1960s Glasgow without hitting a Graham.*** At one point there were three of us in my elementary class. Since I moved to Canada I believe I’ve only met one. ****
Meanwhile here in present day Alberta the rest of the top six boys’ names for last year were Theodore, Oliver, Henry, Jack and Lucas. Amelia, Emma, Sophia, Charlotte, and Violet round out the girls’ side.
There were more than 52,000 little bundles of joy registered in this province in 2025, with 14,500 unique names. That sounds like a lot, but presumably some are close to duplicates, so Brandy, Brandi and Brandee counts three times, which doesn’t seem fair really.
Anyway, it doesn’t look like there were any Grahaminas, and my daughter didn’t appear to be particularly taken with the suggestion. So if anyone out there is looking for a unique name for their newborn, Grahamina is there for the taking. You can thank me later. Although I suspect your daughter may not be so grateful
* Disclaimer: Phenomenon may not actually be interesting.
** That’s cliff as in geographical feature, not Cliff as in Clifford. Writing is hard.
***This was before the European Union stepped in and banned cat swinging across the continent.
**** I mean one Graham. I’ve met lots of cats. That’s cats as in Tom Kitten, not cats as in Cat Stevens. I’ve never met him.
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Drayton to host regional one act plays
The Eleanor Pickup Arts Centre will be hosting the Yellowhead Regional One-Act Plays Festival on April 10 and 11 this year.
Here come the cobra chickens
Doomscrolling is a terrible habit for sure, and it’s one that I’m guilty of from time to time. It mostly depends on my mood, energy levels, and whether I have to sit and wait for an extended period of time.
First funding for replacement school
St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic School Division (STAR Catholic) received planning funding from the Government of Alberta to support the future replacement of the school.
Loving where you live
Do we have what it takes to be a tourist destination?
I spent the last week in Canmore with the intent to ski. However a bout of flu and cough plagued our travel party and we didn’t venture too far from the condo.
She also feels strongly about the seniors in the community, who have contributed so much of their efforts to make Drayton Valley the town that it currently is.
“I felt that it was past due for our town to give back to our seniors and help them out as much as possible. Without them we wouldn’t have had a town to call home.”
Driessen says the project has taken a while to put together. “It’s been in the works for quite a few years and we have to thank [many] for their contributions. It’s been a community collaboration without a doubt.”
Newberry says she is also grateful for the generosity and hard work of community members, including one local hockey team, that were able to ensure the project was a success.
Driessen says this service isn’t just for medical appointments. She says in some cases that means getting groceries, going to the pharmacy, or sometimes, the polls for an election.
“We will be providing a special in town service every Wednesday, so that our seniors can go shopping and get their groceries or medications along with their senior discounts,” says Newberry.
There will be a fee for the service, says Driessen. The Town researched and found a reasonable cost comparison with cab services in the community. Driessen says it will be comparable to cab services. “It does, of course, give a bit of a break,” she says.
In the future, Driessen says they would like to see some public funding allotted to the service to help lower the cost for those who need it.
Newberry says that paying for the service is set up with a digital payment service, allowing family members to easily help out their loved ones.
“It will work on digital payment service program where a family member or the person (senior or disabled) can purchase a prepaid visa gift card. Every time a person needs a ride the card will be debited the amount of the ride. Until the card is used up. Then it’s a matter of reloading it with money at that time. Could be a great Christmas gift from family to a loved one,” she says.
Those who are interested in registering their family for the service can contact Drake’s Handi Bus at 780-542-8706.
