If you’d like to help support the work of the Drayton Valley Library there’s never been a better time to put your name forward. This month steps are being taken with the aim of setting up a Friends of the Library group in this community.
Friends of the Library groups are fairly common across Canada. Broadly speaking they focus on raising awareness of library services and on fundraising for items which fall outside of the library’s regular budget. Members are volunteers and are neither library staff or members of the library board. The group operates as a society with charitable status, which opens the door for fundraising initiatives which are not otherwise available.
Jaw’s Backhoe Service Ltd.
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Life Church Drayton Valley
We know that exploring a new church can be an overwhelming experience. To help you
All Saints Anglican Church
Drayton Valley, All Saints Anglican Church participates in the Anglican Liturgy, which comforts and sustains us. Many have said that in such a busy and changing world it is important to come to a place that feels like home.
"The potential is endless."
For those looking to learn more about plans to set up a Friends of the Library group in Drayton Valley, information sessions are set for Thursday January 13 at 1:15 p.m. and Thursday January 27 at 6:30 p.m. Anyone interested can register to attend via Zoom by calling 780-514-2722. Those who prefer can also attend in person at the library, although space is limited.
Download your Brazeau and Beyond Experience Guide
If you’re tired of trying to watch live performances from the balconies with binoculars, which is often the case at the large venues found in the city, then the intimate settings of the Eleanor Pickup Arts Centre and the Max Centre are just the ticket.
The two facilities have a full calendar of performances throughout the fall and winter months and they offer two completely different experiences.
The Max Centre is located in Frank Maddock High School and offers a wide array of “dinner and a show” packages featuring performances by tribute acts showcasing the work of some of the world’s best known musicians. When you book a ticket at the Max you get your money’s worth. An evening can last anywhere from three to four hours and includes a catered meal, a live performance and well priced drinks. By the end of the night there are almost always people on the dance floor or singing along with the performers. This is an excellent venue to get out with a group and have some fun.
The Eleanor Pickup Arts Centre is another performing arts venue that packs a punch.
The arts centre, formerly known as the Cardium Theatre, was the entertainment anchor in downtown Drayton Valley at the height of the mid-century oil boom. In recent years it was purchased by the local municipalities and refurbished into its current form, where it now acts as a venue for live music, comedians and other entertainers.
The Eleanor Pickup Arts Centre is the largest stage in this part of Alberta, is managed by a group of dedicated volunteers and works to bring in up and coming and independent artists to the area.
A night at the theatre includes moderately priced beverages and snacks, comfortable theatre chairs, and there is no bad seat in the house. If you are working dinner into your evening I would recommend going out for supper at one of the 40 different restaurants in town, and heading out for after-show drinks at nearby lounges and bars.
Upcoming performances at both venues are regularly advertised on social media or in the Drayton Valley and District Free Press.
Society raising funds for child with cancer
The Drayton Valley and District Agriculture Society is raising funds for a local family whose child is fighting a rare form of cancer.
Shortly after his third birthday, Leo Grosjean was diagnosed with a rare cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma.
“His mom had just come off of maternity leave, and it turned out he needed 42 weeks of treatment including chemo, radiation, and possibly surgery,” says Tayler Vakoulich, one of the organizers of the fundraiser. “Even after that, there is a follow-up of 24 weeks of maintenance therapy.”
The ag society is working with a group called the Golden Circle of Champions, a program that originates in the United States and is just starting up in Canada, to help the Grosjean family cover costs while they care for their son. The group is similar to the Make-A-Wish Foundation with a cowgirl/cowboy focus.
The society was the one to approach the Golden Circle and put Leo forward as a candidate for their program. Typically, the candidates come through rodeos.
“[We] sponsor them and then this program sends them to the [Canadian Finals Rodeo] for the week, it gets them a hotel room, and it gets them all these really cool experiences where they get to go meet the animals and cowboys, and they get their own banquet,” says Vakoulich.
The Golden Circle also sends one of its Canadian candidates to the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.
The ag society was the one who put forward the funds to cover the expenses of the CFR, says Vakoulich, because they wanted to go with a second option that the program offers. It helps people with different fundraisers to help out families.
Some of the fundraisers they have include the Golden Boot, which is a golden cowboy boot that gets passed around during the Thursday Night Rodeos.
“It goes from $400 to $700 every night,” says Vakoulich.
Other fundraisers include 50/50s at their markets. For the past three months, all of those funds have gone to Leo’s family.
The group is also partnering with Stella Stevens from CFCW Edmonton, who works with the Golden Circle, to put on a concert in the fall, says Vakoulich.
“She’s helping us get an artist to do a nice big concert in town,” says Vakoulich.
They are also looking for items that can be raffled off at the Thursday Night Rodeos, she says.
Over the next few weeks, the Grosjean family will be incurring far more expense than usual, says Vakoulich. Leo will be headed to Florida for treatments with the hope that a change in treatment will keep the toxicity levels in his lungs down.
Those who would like to donate to the cause can participate in any of the fundraisers, such as the Golden Boot or the 50/50 raffles. They can also reach out to the Ag Society at 780-621-0030 or they can send an email to dvagsocietyinfo@gmail.com.
My battle with birds and my war on wasps
Folks, this month I find myself at war with nature. And so far it looks like nature is winning
Last night I was awoken by the sound of crashing from right outside the bedroom window. I looked out to see half of one of my tomato plants lying on the ground, while the other half was steadily being chomped by a full sized whitetail. Unruffled, the deer gave me a not particularly apologetic look before wandering over to poop on the lawn.
I suppose at least the deer are nice to watch, unlike the caterpillars we saw earlier in the season. The lesson we learned then is that while a single caterpillar is interesting to look at and potentially even cute in a creepy crawly kind of way, when that same caterpillar is accompanied by several thousand of his friends and relations it’s really kind of gross.
Meanwhile, as summer has hit its stride over the last couple of weeks it’s become increasingly important to sleep with the window open. At least it is if you’re me. It’s something that was driven into me by my grandmother; a woman who had tremendous belief in the health benefits of fresh air. Mind you, she also believed that if you ate apple seeds a tree would grow inside you, and that you could never have too much slightly used Christmas wrapping paper. But when it comes to fresh air, you know, I think she had a point.
A few lungs full of the evening air, redolent with the scents of roses and honeysuckle and carried through the bedroom window on the gentlest of zephyrs, lulls you to sleep like a half bottle of cheap Scotch on an empty stomach. But staying asleep, well, that’s a different matter, because sometime around 4 a.m., just as the sun is starting to sneak over the horizon, Mother Nature lets go with a positive cacophony of squawks and screeches as the magpies in our backyard prepare to greet the day.
Now don’t get me wrong, I am a big fan of birds. I especially like them roasted, with gravy and new potatoes. But I speak as someone who finds it increasingly hard to stay asleep over the sound of his own snoring, so I could really do without any outside interference.
My final brush with nature (so far) has come in the form of a merry band of wasps who have set up home underneath our deck in an area that is both annoyingly close to the back door and inaccessible for wasp spray unless I’m prepared to go to the lengths of removing a couple of planks to allow me to get at them. I’ve set up a system where I sit in a lawnchair every afternoon and try to hit the wasps with a fly swatter as they come and go. It’s a simple task, but it involves quite a lot of swearing, because most of the time the wasps refuse to sit still and accept their fate. I suppose, on the plus side, it gives the neighbours something to talk about, but I can’t help but feel that somehow this is going to end badly.
Rocky Rapids Veterinary Services LTD
Services
- Companion Animals
- Emergency and After Hours Services
- Ovine and Caprine Health
- Bovine Health
- Equine Health
- Avian Health
IG Wealth Management
780-236-0654
- Investments
- Retirement Planning
- Tax Planning
- Estate Planning
Jaw’s Backhoe Service Ltd.
Services Offered
- SEPTIC SYSTEM INSTALLATION
- NEW SERVICES DUGIN
- WATERLINE INSTALLATION AND REPAIR
- GRADE FOR FOUNDATION
- RV/PARKING PAD
- HYDRANTS AND CATTLE WATERERS REPAIRED AND INSTALLED
- COMPACTION AND PLATE TAMPING
- TRENCHING
- CULVERTS CLEANED AND REPAIRED
- FRENCH DRAINS
- DUMP TRAILER SERVICES
- ASPHALT AND CONCRETE CUTTING
- TRACKED SKID STEER WITH 78" BUCKET AND FORKS
- MINI SKIDSTEER
- LANDSCAPING
- INTEGRITY DIGS
- DRAINAGE
“We’ll be talking about what Friends can do and can’t do and what kind of commitment is involved,” says library director Doug Whistance-Smith.
In spite of some interruptions to its operations during the pandemic, Whistance-Smith says the library has seen increased demand for services in recent months and continues to play an important role in the lives of many members of the community. He says he hopes an active Friends group can help to advocate on behalf of the library as well as undertaking initiatives related to fundraising and increasing the library’s profile.
Download your Brazeau and Beyond Experience Guide
If you’re tired of trying to watch live performances from the balconies with binoculars, which is often the case at the large venues found in the city, then the intimate settings of the Eleanor Pickup Arts Centre and the Max Centre are just the ticket.
The two facilities have a full calendar of performances throughout the fall and winter months and they offer two completely different experiences.
The Max Centre is located in Frank Maddock High School and offers a wide array of “dinner and a show” packages featuring performances by tribute acts showcasing the work of some of the world’s best known musicians. When you book a ticket at the Max you get your money’s worth. An evening can last anywhere from three to four hours and includes a catered meal, a live performance and well priced drinks. By the end of the night there are almost always people on the dance floor or singing along with the performers. This is an excellent venue to get out with a group and have some fun.
The Eleanor Pickup Arts Centre is another performing arts venue that packs a punch.
The arts centre, formerly known as the Cardium Theatre, was the entertainment anchor in downtown Drayton Valley at the height of the mid-century oil boom. In recent years it was purchased by the local municipalities and refurbished into its current form, where it now acts as a venue for live music, comedians and other entertainers.
The Eleanor Pickup Arts Centre is the largest stage in this part of Alberta, is managed by a group of dedicated volunteers and works to bring in up and coming and independent artists to the area.
A night at the theatre includes moderately priced beverages and snacks, comfortable theatre chairs, and there is no bad seat in the house. If you are working dinner into your evening I would recommend going out for supper at one of the 40 different restaurants in town, and heading out for after-show drinks at nearby lounges and bars.
Upcoming performances at both venues are regularly advertised on social media or in the Drayton Valley and District Free Press.
The Drayton Valley and District Agriculture Society is raising funds for a local family whose child is fighting a rare form of cancer.
Shortly after his third birthday, Leo Grosjean was diagnosed with a rare cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma.
“His mom had just come off of maternity leave, and it turned out he needed 42 weeks of treatment including chemo, radiation, and possibly surgery,” says Tayler Vakoulich, one of the organizers of the fundraiser. “Even after that, there is a follow-up of 24 weeks of maintenance therapy.”
The ag society is working with a group called the Golden Circle of Champions, a program that originates in the United States and is just starting up in Canada, to help the Grosjean family cover costs while they care for their son. The group is similar to the Make-A-Wish Foundation with a cowgirl/cowboy focus.
The society was the one to approach the Golden Circle and put Leo forward as a candidate for their program. Typically, the candidates come through rodeos.
“[We] sponsor them and then this program sends them to the [Canadian Finals Rodeo] for the week, it gets them a hotel room, and it gets them all these really cool experiences where they get to go meet the animals and cowboys, and they get their own banquet,” says Vakoulich.
The Golden Circle also sends one of its Canadian candidates to the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.
The ag society was the one who put forward the funds to cover the expenses of the CFR, says Vakoulich, because they wanted to go with a second option that the program offers. It helps people with different fundraisers to help out families.
Some of the fundraisers they have include the Golden Boot, which is a golden cowboy boot that gets passed around during the Thursday Night Rodeos.
“It goes from $400 to $700 every night,” says Vakoulich.
Other fundraisers include 50/50s at their markets. For the past three months, all of those funds have gone to Leo’s family.
The group is also partnering with Stella Stevens from CFCW Edmonton, who works with the Golden Circle, to put on a concert in the fall, says Vakoulich.
“She’s helping us get an artist to do a nice big concert in town,” says Vakoulich.
They are also looking for items that can be raffled off at the Thursday Night Rodeos, she says.
Over the next few weeks, the Grosjean family will be incurring far more expense than usual, says Vakoulich. Leo will be headed to Florida for treatments with the hope that a change in treatment will keep the toxicity levels in his lungs down.
Those who would like to donate to the cause can participate in any of the fundraisers, such as the Golden Boot or the 50/50 raffles. They can also reach out to the Ag Society at 780-621-0030 or they can send an email to dvagsocietyinfo@gmail.com.
Folks, this month I find myself at war with nature. And so far it looks like nature is winning
Last night I was awoken by the sound of crashing from right outside the bedroom window. I looked out to see half of one of my tomato plants lying on the ground, while the other half was steadily being chomped by a full sized whitetail. Unruffled, the deer gave me a not particularly apologetic look before wandering over to poop on the lawn.
I suppose at least the deer are nice to watch, unlike the caterpillars we saw earlier in the season. The lesson we learned then is that while a single caterpillar is interesting to look at and potentially even cute in a creepy crawly kind of way, when that same caterpillar is accompanied by several thousand of his friends and relations it’s really kind of gross.
Meanwhile, as summer has hit its stride over the last couple of weeks it’s become increasingly important to sleep with the window open. At least it is if you’re me. It’s something that was driven into me by my grandmother; a woman who had tremendous belief in the health benefits of fresh air. Mind you, she also believed that if you ate apple seeds a tree would grow inside you, and that you could never have too much slightly used Christmas wrapping paper. But when it comes to fresh air, you know, I think she had a point.
A few lungs full of the evening air, redolent with the scents of roses and honeysuckle and carried through the bedroom window on the gentlest of zephyrs, lulls you to sleep like a half bottle of cheap Scotch on an empty stomach. But staying asleep, well, that’s a different matter, because sometime around 4 a.m., just as the sun is starting to sneak over the horizon, Mother Nature lets go with a positive cacophony of squawks and screeches as the magpies in our backyard prepare to greet the day.
Now don’t get me wrong, I am a big fan of birds. I especially like them roasted, with gravy and new potatoes. But I speak as someone who finds it increasingly hard to stay asleep over the sound of his own snoring, so I could really do without any outside interference.
My final brush with nature (so far) has come in the form of a merry band of wasps who have set up home underneath our deck in an area that is both annoyingly close to the back door and inaccessible for wasp spray unless I’m prepared to go to the lengths of removing a couple of planks to allow me to get at them. I’ve set up a system where I sit in a lawnchair every afternoon and try to hit the wasps with a fly swatter as they come and go. It’s a simple task, but it involves quite a lot of swearing, because most of the time the wasps refuse to sit still and accept their fate. I suppose, on the plus side, it gives the neighbours something to talk about, but I can’t help but feel that somehow this is going to end badly.
Services
- Companion Animals
- Emergency and After Hours Services
- Ovine and Caprine Health
- Bovine Health
- Equine Health
- Avian Health
780-236-0654
- Investments
- Retirement Planning
- Tax Planning
- Estate Planning
Services Offered
- SEPTIC SYSTEM INSTALLATION
- NEW SERVICES DUGIN
- WATERLINE INSTALLATION AND REPAIR
- GRADE FOR FOUNDATION
- RV/PARKING PAD
- HYDRANTS AND CATTLE WATERERS REPAIRED AND INSTALLED
- COMPACTION AND PLATE TAMPING
- TRENCHING
- CULVERTS CLEANED AND REPAIRED
- FRENCH DRAINS
- DUMP TRAILER SERVICES
- ASPHALT AND CONCRETE CUTTING
- TRACKED SKID STEER WITH 78" BUCKET AND FORKS
- MINI SKIDSTEER
- LANDSCAPING
- INTEGRITY DIGS
- DRAINAGE
“The potential is endless,” he says.
The information sessions are open to both town and county residents, and to anyone who is interested in helping support the library.
Project takes snapshots of historic watering holes
Last Friday the Evansburg Inn was entered into the annals of history by the Beer Parlour Project, which has been making a photographic documentary of historic hotels across Western Canada.
Society raising funds for child with cancer
The Drayton Valley and District Agriculture Society is raising funds for a local family whose child is fighting a rare form of cancer.
My battle with birds and my war on wasps
Folks, this month I find myself at war with nature. And so far it looks like nature is winning
Last night I was awoken by the sound of crashing from right outside the bedroom window.
Seasons in the sun (and rain, and smoke)
First it was caterpillars. Then it was rain. Then it was smoke. Then it was more rain. Then it was mosquitoes. Then it was moths. And then it was tornadoes.
