By this time next week Drayton Valley will have a new mayor. Before you make your choice at the ballot box on Monday we wanted to give you a little more information on the two candidates who are seeking Drayton Valley’s top job. We asked Corey Peebles and Nancy Dodds to answer 10 questions in their own words. Below are their responses.
Who is Nancy Dodds?
Why do you want to be mayor?
I believe Drayton Valley residents want and need a mayor that will lead the community with openness, transparency, and good governance. Who is fully committed to put in the hard work and has the community in mind.
I love this community, the spirit of hope, innovation and drive resonates within me. I want to give back to my home, ensure everyone’s voices are heard and create a safe, thriving community for years to come.
I have the experience, education and knowledge to continue pushing forward. I know how to build consensus through hard work and achieve success. I am so inspired and excited to be the voice and the action to create a community that works for all of us and is stronger together..
What do you like best about Drayton Valley?
Drayton Valley is a wonderful community full of spirited, strong residents, and endless opportunities. I love the work hard, play hard mindset, the innovation and creativity that runs deep in our roots. When crisis hits, we pull together.
What’s your favourite TV show?
Not a TV show kind of person, I’m more of a binge watcher when I get the chance. Love a good Apple or Netflix series…too many to pick a favourite.
Who was your childhood hero?
I have three : Wonder woman – I have a scar on my head that connects us. Bob Geldof – As a child I was inspired by the movement he started and wanted to make a difference. It inspired me to make a difference in the world and fight for things I believe in. My Mom – One of the hardest working women I know and she would drop everything if I needed her.
What are your hobbies/interests?
Time with family, I love the seasons and getting outdoors; skiing, snowboarding, skating, nature, meditation, qigong, chess, designing and a good book!
What’s your proudest accomplishment?
University graduate! I started my post-secondary studies fresh out of high school with a love for architecture and drafting, however I did not graduate.
I overcame the fear, and decided to go back to school while I owned a business (partnership), family and having two young daughters. I decided instead of building houses I would build cities, and out of this came my education and passion for Land Use Planning and Development.
What have you been hearing from people during the campaign?
They are proud of the community that they live in and are generally happy. They’re happy to see me and thank me for coming out. Some of the areas of concern are pot holes, homelessness, rural crime and the need for local enforcement.
How would your friends describe you?
Organized, dependable, hard working and creative.
What’s something about you people don’t know?
I have a yellow belt in Tae Kwon do. I know what you’re thinking, “ it’s not a black belt.” But this is where the seeds of knowledge have really been planted and I sure do love sparring.
Where would you like to see Drayton Valley in four years?
We seem to have hit a few bumps in the road over the last few years, but our journey is changing. The next four years are going to be exciting for Drayton Valley. We will build an asset management plan that prioritizes our projects and looks at the best possible investment decisions for our infrastructure assets. Our local College is buzzing with students, creating entrepreneurial opportunities and transitioning students into job placements. Our economy is thriving and moving forward, creating opportunities for everyone. A healthy, safe vibrant community with endless opportunities has made its way back into our community. The spirit is high and we are stronger together.
Here’s an important question. Will you have enough money to live comfortably when it’s time to retire? Actually, scratch that. Here’s an even more important question. Will I have enough money to live comfortably when it’s time to retire?
It’s a question that’s worth asking, especially if, like me, you are haplessly stumbling toward your mid-sixties with no clear goals and no plan for the future whatsoever other than the half-formed notion that you’d like to make it to the pub on Friday if possible. And oh yeah, wouldn’t it be nice if you didn’t have to spend the rest of your life collecting carts at the grocery store?
Retiring is expensive. You need money. Quite a lot of money. The gravity of the situation was brought home to me last week while I was slogging my way through my 2025 tax return (oh, the memories!) It turns out I have enough unused contribution room on my RRSP to fund the purchase of a mid-sized airline. But sadly I have so little money that I can’t even, well, I can’t even afford to pay someone else to do my tax return.
There’s always the Canada Pension Plan. I’m a big fan of the CPP, but even there I have a problem. What you get out is determined by what you put in. I didn’t start making contributions until I was 24 on the not unreasonable grounds that I didn’t live in Canada. There’s another gap in my contribution history from the five years I spent at university while I was in my thirties. Hey, it was a tough course and I didn’t want to rush things. Anyway, after that I got a job as a junior reporter with wages so low that my CPP contributions were virtually zero anyway … I think the thrill of getting my photograph in the paper every week was supposed to be reward enough for my efforts. After all that … you get the picture, and as pictures go, it ain’t particularly pretty.
So, what’s a boy to do?
It’s not that I don’t like working. OK, well maybe it is a bit. But it’s more that I’m starting to feel, if not actually old, then rather less young than I used to. I’ve still got some working years left in me, but I can see a time when I’ll be ready to spend my days sitting on the deck composing long and frequently incoherent letters to my Member of Parliament on a variety of issues, none of which I fully understand, before hiking my pants up somewhere in the direction of my armpits and heading off for my evening meal at 4 p.m.
So how do I get there? How do I put away sufficient dosh over the next couple of years to be able to keep myself and the current Mrs. Long in the necessities of life (Preparation H, gin and Maalox as I understand it) through our declining years? It is, as I said earlier, a question worth asking. And, if I had to do things over again, it’s a question I would probably have asked myself before things went quite this far.
There is a little bit of a stereotype around newspapers. Some people think that the only people who read them are seniors. Our data shows otherwise. Typically as soon as you own property or enter the family phase of life you get more involved in the community. And that includes reading the newspaper. So our range of avid readers tends to be 34 plus, not 65 plus. But, regardless, many business owners will decline to advertise in the paper because, “It’s only read by seniors.”
Even if that was the case, I am writing today to say; don’t write off seniors.
Seniors make up about 17.5 percent of the Drayton Valley population according to the 2021 census. Census data states that in 2021 our community has a population of 6,970, and 1,040 of that is 65+. So why is this important information to know?
Boomers’ spending power is stuff of legend. In September 2025, McLean’s Magazine featured a long form article titled “The Jackpot Generation.” The article explored the wealth transfer of $1 trillion from boomer parents to their children or grandchildren that is expected over the next 10-15 years.
Drayton Valley has typically been considered a young community with the bulk of our population being well under 65. However, as community founders, and boomers who moved here in the early days of the oil boom age in this community we are lucky to have a portion of our population who have strong community ties, some disposable income, and still favour the traditional ways of doing commerce – face to face.
While this population is on the rise in our community, I am not so sure our businesses have grown to include this demographic in their marketing mix.
Last Wednesday at 2:30 pm I went grocery shopping, and I was amazed at how packed the parking lot was. It was seniors’ discount day, and so on top of your regular shoppers you are now seeing an influx of seniors who are discount savvy and are looking to experience the community while doing so. This got me thinking. Why didn’t other retail locations piggy back on the success of the grocery store with a Wednesday seniors’ discount day? Or where are the early bird dinner specials to fill up the slow 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm time slots in the restaurants?
Seniors in 2026, are not shut-ins. They are active in the community, and in life. They have disposable income, and they still believe in traditional business transactions. If you think the newspaper is “only read by seniors,” you’re wrong. But even if it was, then choosing not to advertise because of this fact may mean that you are not reaching a critical demographic in this community and you are leaving money on the table.
Looking forward to a nice relaxing summer? Not so fast. As we (finally!) approach the nice bit of 2026, I thought it would be useful to put together a list of the things I am currently worried about. And if I’m going to worry about them, so should you.
I’m worried about the way our provincial government is extending its own powers. The UCP is attempting to broaden its authority in areas that have traditionally been under federal jurisdiction. At the same time they are limiting the powers of municipalities and school boards to act without provincial approval. If all this comes to pass we are going to have one honking big (and powerful) government in Edmonton. That should give every one the collywobbles. If the NDP had tried something like this while they were in power we’d have been screaming to the high heavens.
I’m worried about our friends to the south. Every time you think America can’t get any more dystopian they find a way to prove you wrong. And the noise! It’s like living next door to a frat house.
I’m worried about retirement. The Canada Pension Plan works just fine. I’m looking forward to collecting my CPP in a year or two. Brand name beer here I come! The thought of ditching the CPP for a new and untried Alberta Pension Plan makes me more nervous than a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. And yet that’s what the provincial government seems intent on doing. I’m sorry, I’m sure Danielle and the gang have nothing but good intentions, but I don’t trust them not to make a complete and utter mess of things. If they feel like gambling I wish they’d do it with their own money.
I’m worried about the amount of ill-informed bile I see on social media and elsewhere directed at immigrants and refugees. This stuff invariably comes from people who claim to be acting to protect Canadian values. Clearly we have a different view on exactly what Canadian values are.
I’m worried that our thoughts and prayers don’t seem to be doing enough to prevent school shootings, public transit attacks or any of a raft of other atrocities. And I’m worried that I seem to have lost count of the number of those atrocities that have happened already this year. Perhaps we should all try thinking and praying harder?
I’m worried that we seem to spend more time focussing on the things that divide us than on the things that unite us.
I’m worried that these days, when you come across something that doesn’t match your own narrow world view, you’re free to select your own set of alternative facts to back up whatever bonkers theory you’re supporting. And if someone points out that your set of facts aren’t actually very, umm, factual, you’re able to label him as a stooge of big government who’s too blind to see that the Earth really is flat, 9/11 was the work of the Illuminati, the Kremlin is controlled by Disney etc. etc. etc.
I’m worried about inflation. I’m worried about Iran. I’m worried about the Blue Jays’ pitching. I’m worried about gas prices and I’m worried about property tax.
There. I’m glad that’s off my chest. Now It’s time to get out and enjoy that sunshine!
Three degrees with a chance of flurries? I did not see that coming. Dammit!
The Hearts and Hands Quilters’ Guild did more than just draw winners for their annual quilt raffle last week. They also presented 14 quilts to All Are Daughters for use at their women’s rehabilitation facility.
The guild boasts 28 members from the community, and all of them work to build quilts that can be donated to people in need. Each year, they hold a raffle fundraiser for three quilts, and the proceeds are then split between three different organizations.
This year they raised about $700 for their guild, the Kickstand Youth Hub, and STARS, along with their donation of quilts to All Are Daughters.
Trina Beckett, the vice president of All Are Daughters, was on hand at their meeting to accept the donation.
“About a year-and-a-half ago, a group of us women got together to start working on this dream of so many of us to open this recovery centre for women,” says Beckett.
She says there are members of the board who have gone through addiction and have been in recovery for years. Beckett is the mother of an addict, and her experience helping her daughter get through the first few months of recovery made her want to help others going through something similar.
“As a parent, you do anything to help your child because you know they’re in there somewhere,” she says.
Beckett says her daughter was involved with the centre before she passed away last summer. Despite the loss of her daughter, Beckett still wants to see the centre completed.
Right now, the facility is ready to go, but they don’t have an open date just yet. The organization is currently waiting for funding from the Province to cover operating costs, as well as getting licensing in order.
“We do have all our rooms spoken for as sponsor rooms right now,” she says. “We are just waiting for the go-ahead to get open.”
She says there aren’t any recovery centres for women in rural communities. Having both a men’s and a women’s centre is a positive thing, she says.
“We thank you guys for your support as well,” she told the guild. “Without the support of the community, we wouldn’t be able to do so far what we’ve done.”
The winners of this year’s raffles were Mel Sibley from Warburg, who took home Wolves on the Prowl; Pam Baker, who won Winter’s Day; and Wendy Nordell received One Up One Down.
The guild is always looking for new members, and they meet on the third Thursday of each month at the Beehive Support Services Building, but don’t meet in July or August. They also have regular sewing days on Wednesdays.
Spring Shaker sells out
Opportunity Home’s first Spring Shaker was a success, says executive director Danna Cropley.
“The event sold out within the first few weeks,” says Cropley. “Beyond that, the event went absolutely amazingly.”
The evening had a dance, a catered dinner, and silent auction items to help raise funds for the rehabilitation centre. Cropley says it wouldn’t have been possible without the volunteers who helped put the event together. About 230 people attended.
“Jen Winter, Janice Kupsch, and their crew organized the event. The room was full of energy and community; it was so great,” says Cropley.
One of the reasons for the event, along with raising funds to help run the facility, was to educate the public about what the facility does and how it helps those in need. Opportunity Home opened its doors in February 2023, and has seen numerous people complete the 90-day program during its three years of operation.
Earlier in the week, Cropley also spoke to town council with the same goal in mind.
“Because the council is fairly new… we just wanted to update them on Opportunity Home’s mission, vision, and values, [as well] as the value our project brings, not only to the municipality but also our provincial community and out to our country.”
Cropley says the facility has offered beds to people from across the province, British Columbia, and some from the United States. She says she wanted council to see the reach that they have now and how they are supporting Recovery Alberta’s response to the current opioid crisis.
In her presentation to council, Cropley touched on the community, social, and economic value the centre brought to the community. This included the volunteer work the clients provided, homelessness and poverty prevention, as well as reducing taxpayer costs for emergency, health, and justice services.
She says community investment is a crucial part of the success of the centre, not in terms of dollars, but in terms of interest from the community, volunteers, and feedback.
“I just really wanted to make sure that town council was aware of who we are and what we do,” says Cropley.
Opportunity Home is hosting another event on June 19 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. that is open to the public: a memorial tree planting ceremony, along with a barbecue and tour of the facility. Cropley says they will also have different resources and services at the event for people to connect with if needed.
She says the tree-planting ceremony will be in honour of some community members who have recently passed away. Members of the public are welcome to donate to plant a tree in memory of someone they have lost.
Potholes and personal faces: Why relationship loyalty wins in regional print
All advertising is bad advertising when you don’t have a marketing goal in mind.
Whether it’s direct mail, digital marketing, broadcasting or newspaper; when you’ve undertaken an ad campaign with no consideration for your marketing goals you’ll be disappointed every time.
Every local business goes through a marketing lifecycle: awareness – consideration – conversion – retention and loyalty. Where your business is at in that lifecycle has to be a primary consideration when you develop a newspaper advertising campaign.
Awareness marketing has its place
If you’ve just opened your doors and you’re new to the community you need to create awareness. You literally need to be the town crier and tell people that you exist. Newspaper ads that announce events and grand openings, publicize your contact information, and let folks know who you are, what you’re doing and why you’re doing it are all part of a general awareness campaign.
When a company says that their newspaper ad is no longer working for them it’s more than likely they’ve gotten in the rut of continually advertising for awareness. The problem with getting stuck in an awareness mentality for too long is that it doesn’t deepen your relationship with the reader. “I’m here!” you say. “Yeah, so what!” They shout back. Once a business is launched the focus should shift to building relevancy, and moving a customer to considering your business over anyone else’s.
Relationship marketing: What does this look like in your local rural newspaper? A little different than you may think.
Local businesses are not global brands, and to advertise the same way would whitewash all the character that you bring to the table. Most certainly locals are looking for a product to satisfy a need but that isn’t the only input that goes into their buying decision. What looks like brand loyalty at a global level is actually relationship loyalty at a local level. Locals love doing business with people they know, either directly or indirectly. Since starting the newspaper there have been many people who have bought subscriptions and purchased advertising, not because they knew me, but because they know someone in my family, or someone on our staff. Locals are relationship loyal and love to support the names and faces behind the business. Don’t believe me – ladies how many candle parties, or tupperware parties have you gone to even though you have way too many candles and storage containers already? Exactly. People love to support people they know.
Leveraging your own name, and staff is one way you create the mental space for consideration and gets you away from general awareness marketing.
Secondly use the medium as a targeting method. When you advertise in the Drayton Valley and District Free Press, you can make some broad assumptions about who may see your ad: they read, more specifically they read the Free Press, they live in the region, they are one of thousands that are getting the same newspaper with the same information on the same day, to name a few.
As you personalize your ads to reflect the deeper character of your business you can also personalize your ads to focus on what’s happening in the community and make connections by resonating with local pain points – “Hey Free Press readers how about that wind storm last week! Sticks and leaves everywhere. Did you know we sell leaf blowers year round?…” “Spring potholes getting your down, come in for a spring tune up to make sure your car is on-road and off road ready…”
Positioning is important
On a local level building relevancy is not just about pushing product it is about positioning. At the end of the day you want locals to know who you are, what you do, and why your business is worth supporting and that you are one of them. You hate potholes too, you have a yard full of sticks too, their pain points are your pain points. To move from awareness to consideration you have to stop crying for customers and start connecting with customers – beginning with who you are.
Who is Corey Peebles?
Why do you want to be mayor?
Throughout my life, I’ve been a guy that when things get tough, I step up. I love Drayton Valley and I feel that I have the skills to work closely with the community to take us to the next level.
What do you like best about Drayton Valley?
Besides our amazing choices in restaurants? It’s the people! Drayton Valley is full of Friendly, encouraging, approachable and entrepreneurial people.
What’s your favourite TV show?
Right now, I would have to go with Ted Lasso. A football coach moves to the UK to be a Soccer coach. New Culture, knows nothing about the sport, but his passion for people and building teams makes all the difference (don’t want to spoil it for you with any more details)
Who was your childhood hero?
My Uncle Kevin. He was a bodybuilder, didn’t drink coffee and was huge! Kids in the school yard would say “my dad can beat up your dad” and I would say “my uncle can beat up all your dads”
What are your hobbies/interests?
I love anything fun with a group of people, working out, spending time with my wife and kids and lately…disc golf! Surprisingly fun once you stop losing the discs in the bushes
What’s your proudest accomplishment?
I’m really glad you didn’t ask me this in person as I feel like the long pause to reflect on this would be quite awkward for you. I would say being a dad. There is something about actively watching the legacy you are trying to build into your kids that is incredibly rewarding. Even with the mayoral race. Win or lose, my boys will see that I did my best and that’s all I ask of them.
What have you been hearing from people during the campaign?
Fix the Roads!
How would your friends describe you?
Energetic, visionary and funny (I’m assuming they say the last one…because I think I’m funny)
What’s something about you people don’t know?
I can’t skate! I love hockey, but never learned how to stop on skates. I think there should be a midnight CanSkate course for people like me that can learn without fear of being seen.
Where would you like to see Drayton Valley in four years?
Unified in community spirit
In agreement for our plans for economic growth (and utilizing a redeveloped program for job creation)
Having clear long range plans for our infrastructure needs
Great working relationship with the County and the Province
Having practical solutions for addressing homelessness and poverty
Seeing our region full of tourism opportunities!
Here’s an important question. Will you have enough money to live comfortably when it’s time to retire? Actually, scratch that. Here’s an even more important question. Will I have enough money to live comfortably when it’s time to retire?
It’s a question that’s worth asking, especially if, like me, you are haplessly stumbling toward your mid-sixties with no clear goals and no plan for the future whatsoever other than the half-formed notion that you’d like to make it to the pub on Friday if possible. And oh yeah, wouldn’t it be nice if you didn’t have to spend the rest of your life collecting carts at the grocery store?
Retiring is expensive. You need money. Quite a lot of money. The gravity of the situation was brought home to me last week while I was slogging my way through my 2025 tax return (oh, the memories!) It turns out I have enough unused contribution room on my RRSP to fund the purchase of a mid-sized airline. But sadly I have so little money that I can’t even, well, I can’t even afford to pay someone else to do my tax return.
There’s always the Canada Pension Plan. I’m a big fan of the CPP, but even there I have a problem. What you get out is determined by what you put in. I didn’t start making contributions until I was 24 on the not unreasonable grounds that I didn’t live in Canada. There’s another gap in my contribution history from the five years I spent at university while I was in my thirties. Hey, it was a tough course and I didn’t want to rush things. Anyway, after that I got a job as a junior reporter with wages so low that my CPP contributions were virtually zero anyway … I think the thrill of getting my photograph in the paper every week was supposed to be reward enough for my efforts. After all that … you get the picture, and as pictures go, it ain’t particularly pretty.
So, what’s a boy to do?
It’s not that I don’t like working. OK, well maybe it is a bit. But it’s more that I’m starting to feel, if not actually old, then rather less young than I used to. I’ve still got some working years left in me, but I can see a time when I’ll be ready to spend my days sitting on the deck composing long and frequently incoherent letters to my Member of Parliament on a variety of issues, none of which I fully understand, before hiking my pants up somewhere in the direction of my armpits and heading off for my evening meal at 4 p.m.
So how do I get there? How do I put away sufficient dosh over the next couple of years to be able to keep myself and the current Mrs. Long in the necessities of life (Preparation H, gin and Maalox as I understand it) through our declining years? It is, as I said earlier, a question worth asking. And, if I had to do things over again, it’s a question I would probably have asked myself before things went quite this far.
There is a little bit of a stereotype around newspapers. Some people think that the only people who read them are seniors. Our data shows otherwise. Typically as soon as you own property or enter the family phase of life you get more involved in the community. And that includes reading the newspaper. So our range of avid readers tends to be 34 plus, not 65 plus. But, regardless, many business owners will decline to advertise in the paper because, “It’s only read by seniors.”
Even if that was the case, I am writing today to say; don’t write off seniors.
Seniors make up about 17.5 percent of the Drayton Valley population according to the 2021 census. Census data states that in 2021 our community has a population of 6,970, and 1,040 of that is 65+. So why is this important information to know?
Boomers’ spending power is stuff of legend. In September 2025, McLean’s Magazine featured a long form article titled “The Jackpot Generation.” The article explored the wealth transfer of $1 trillion from boomer parents to their children or grandchildren that is expected over the next 10-15 years.
Drayton Valley has typically been considered a young community with the bulk of our population being well under 65. However, as community founders, and boomers who moved here in the early days of the oil boom age in this community we are lucky to have a portion of our population who have strong community ties, some disposable income, and still favour the traditional ways of doing commerce – face to face.
While this population is on the rise in our community, I am not so sure our businesses have grown to include this demographic in their marketing mix.
Last Wednesday at 2:30 pm I went grocery shopping, and I was amazed at how packed the parking lot was. It was seniors’ discount day, and so on top of your regular shoppers you are now seeing an influx of seniors who are discount savvy and are looking to experience the community while doing so. This got me thinking. Why didn’t other retail locations piggy back on the success of the grocery store with a Wednesday seniors’ discount day? Or where are the early bird dinner specials to fill up the slow 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm time slots in the restaurants?
Seniors in 2026, are not shut-ins. They are active in the community, and in life. They have disposable income, and they still believe in traditional business transactions. If you think the newspaper is “only read by seniors,” you’re wrong. But even if it was, then choosing not to advertise because of this fact may mean that you are not reaching a critical demographic in this community and you are leaving money on the table.
Looking forward to a nice relaxing summer? Not so fast. As we (finally!) approach the nice bit of 2026, I thought it would be useful to put together a list of the things I am currently worried about. And if I’m going to worry about them, so should you.
I’m worried about the way our provincial government is extending its own powers. The UCP is attempting to broaden its authority in areas that have traditionally been under federal jurisdiction. At the same time they are limiting the powers of municipalities and school boards to act without provincial approval. If all this comes to pass we are going to have one honking big (and powerful) government in Edmonton. That should give every one the collywobbles. If the NDP had tried something like this while they were in power we’d have been screaming to the high heavens.
I’m worried about our friends to the south. Every time you think America can’t get any more dystopian they find a way to prove you wrong. And the noise! It’s like living next door to a frat house.
I’m worried about retirement. The Canada Pension Plan works just fine. I’m looking forward to collecting my CPP in a year or two. Brand name beer here I come! The thought of ditching the CPP for a new and untried Alberta Pension Plan makes me more nervous than a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. And yet that’s what the provincial government seems intent on doing. I’m sorry, I’m sure Danielle and the gang have nothing but good intentions, but I don’t trust them not to make a complete and utter mess of things. If they feel like gambling I wish they’d do it with their own money.
I’m worried about the amount of ill-informed bile I see on social media and elsewhere directed at immigrants and refugees. This stuff invariably comes from people who claim to be acting to protect Canadian values. Clearly we have a different view on exactly what Canadian values are.
I’m worried that our thoughts and prayers don’t seem to be doing enough to prevent school shootings, public transit attacks or any of a raft of other atrocities. And I’m worried that I seem to have lost count of the number of those atrocities that have happened already this year. Perhaps we should all try thinking and praying harder?
I’m worried that we seem to spend more time focussing on the things that divide us than on the things that unite us.
I’m worried that these days, when you come across something that doesn’t match your own narrow world view, you’re free to select your own set of alternative facts to back up whatever bonkers theory you’re supporting. And if someone points out that your set of facts aren’t actually very, umm, factual, you’re able to label him as a stooge of big government who’s too blind to see that the Earth really is flat, 9/11 was the work of the Illuminati, the Kremlin is controlled by Disney etc. etc. etc.
I’m worried about inflation. I’m worried about Iran. I’m worried about the Blue Jays’ pitching. I’m worried about gas prices and I’m worried about property tax.
There. I’m glad that’s off my chest. Now It’s time to get out and enjoy that sunshine!
Three degrees with a chance of flurries? I did not see that coming. Dammit!
The Hearts and Hands Quilters’ Guild did more than just draw winners for their annual quilt raffle last week. They also presented 14 quilts to All Are Daughters for use at their women’s rehabilitation facility.
The guild boasts 28 members from the community, and all of them work to build quilts that can be donated to people in need. Each year, they hold a raffle fundraiser for three quilts, and the proceeds are then split between three different organizations.
This year they raised about $700 for their guild, the Kickstand Youth Hub, and STARS, along with their donation of quilts to All Are Daughters.
Trina Beckett, the vice president of All Are Daughters, was on hand at their meeting to accept the donation.
“About a year-and-a-half ago, a group of us women got together to start working on this dream of so many of us to open this recovery centre for women,” says Beckett.
She says there are members of the board who have gone through addiction and have been in recovery for years. Beckett is the mother of an addict, and her experience helping her daughter get through the first few months of recovery made her want to help others going through something similar.
“As a parent, you do anything to help your child because you know they’re in there somewhere,” she says.
Beckett says her daughter was involved with the centre before she passed away last summer. Despite the loss of her daughter, Beckett still wants to see the centre completed.
Right now, the facility is ready to go, but they don’t have an open date just yet. The organization is currently waiting for funding from the Province to cover operating costs, as well as getting licensing in order.
“We do have all our rooms spoken for as sponsor rooms right now,” she says. “We are just waiting for the go-ahead to get open.”
She says there aren’t any recovery centres for women in rural communities. Having both a men’s and a women’s centre is a positive thing, she says.
“We thank you guys for your support as well,” she told the guild. “Without the support of the community, we wouldn’t be able to do so far what we’ve done.”
The winners of this year’s raffles were Mel Sibley from Warburg, who took home Wolves on the Prowl; Pam Baker, who won Winter’s Day; and Wendy Nordell received One Up One Down.
The guild is always looking for new members, and they meet on the third Thursday of each month at the Beehive Support Services Building, but don’t meet in July or August. They also have regular sewing days on Wednesdays.
Opportunity Home’s first Spring Shaker was a success, says executive director Danna Cropley.
“The event sold out within the first few weeks,” says Cropley. “Beyond that, the event went absolutely amazingly.”
The evening had a dance, a catered dinner, and silent auction items to help raise funds for the rehabilitation centre. Cropley says it wouldn’t have been possible without the volunteers who helped put the event together. About 230 people attended.
“Jen Winter, Janice Kupsch, and their crew organized the event. The room was full of energy and community; it was so great,” says Cropley.
One of the reasons for the event, along with raising funds to help run the facility, was to educate the public about what the facility does and how it helps those in need. Opportunity Home opened its doors in February 2023, and has seen numerous people complete the 90-day program during its three years of operation.
Earlier in the week, Cropley also spoke to town council with the same goal in mind.
“Because the council is fairly new… we just wanted to update them on Opportunity Home’s mission, vision, and values, [as well] as the value our project brings, not only to the municipality but also our provincial community and out to our country.”
Cropley says the facility has offered beds to people from across the province, British Columbia, and some from the United States. She says she wanted council to see the reach that they have now and how they are supporting Recovery Alberta’s response to the current opioid crisis.
In her presentation to council, Cropley touched on the community, social, and economic value the centre brought to the community. This included the volunteer work the clients provided, homelessness and poverty prevention, as well as reducing taxpayer costs for emergency, health, and justice services.
She says community investment is a crucial part of the success of the centre, not in terms of dollars, but in terms of interest from the community, volunteers, and feedback.
“I just really wanted to make sure that town council was aware of who we are and what we do,” says Cropley.
Opportunity Home is hosting another event on June 19 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. that is open to the public: a memorial tree planting ceremony, along with a barbecue and tour of the facility. Cropley says they will also have different resources and services at the event for people to connect with if needed.
She says the tree-planting ceremony will be in honour of some community members who have recently passed away. Members of the public are welcome to donate to plant a tree in memory of someone they have lost.
All advertising is bad advertising when you don’t have a marketing goal in mind.
Whether it’s direct mail, digital marketing, broadcasting or newspaper; when you’ve undertaken an ad campaign with no consideration for your marketing goals you’ll be disappointed every time.
Every local business goes through a marketing lifecycle: awareness – consideration – conversion – retention and loyalty. Where your business is at in that lifecycle has to be a primary consideration when you develop a newspaper advertising campaign.
Awareness marketing has its place
If you’ve just opened your doors and you’re new to the community you need to create awareness. You literally need to be the town crier and tell people that you exist. Newspaper ads that announce events and grand openings, publicize your contact information, and let folks know who you are, what you’re doing and why you’re doing it are all part of a general awareness campaign.
When a company says that their newspaper ad is no longer working for them it’s more than likely they’ve gotten in the rut of continually advertising for awareness. The problem with getting stuck in an awareness mentality for too long is that it doesn’t deepen your relationship with the reader. “I’m here!” you say. “Yeah, so what!” They shout back. Once a business is launched the focus should shift to building relevancy, and moving a customer to considering your business over anyone else’s.
Relationship marketing: What does this look like in your local rural newspaper? A little different than you may think.
Local businesses are not global brands, and to advertise the same way would whitewash all the character that you bring to the table. Most certainly locals are looking for a product to satisfy a need but that isn’t the only input that goes into their buying decision. What looks like brand loyalty at a global level is actually relationship loyalty at a local level. Locals love doing business with people they know, either directly or indirectly. Since starting the newspaper there have been many people who have bought subscriptions and purchased advertising, not because they knew me, but because they know someone in my family, or someone on our staff. Locals are relationship loyal and love to support the names and faces behind the business. Don’t believe me – ladies how many candle parties, or tupperware parties have you gone to even though you have way too many candles and storage containers already? Exactly. People love to support people they know.
Leveraging your own name, and staff is one way you create the mental space for consideration and gets you away from general awareness marketing.
Secondly use the medium as a targeting method. When you advertise in the Drayton Valley and District Free Press, you can make some broad assumptions about who may see your ad: they read, more specifically they read the Free Press, they live in the region, they are one of thousands that are getting the same newspaper with the same information on the same day, to name a few.
As you personalize your ads to reflect the deeper character of your business you can also personalize your ads to focus on what’s happening in the community and make connections by resonating with local pain points – “Hey Free Press readers how about that wind storm last week! Sticks and leaves everywhere. Did you know we sell leaf blowers year round?…” “Spring potholes getting your down, come in for a spring tune up to make sure your car is on-road and off road ready…”
Positioning is important
On a local level building relevancy is not just about pushing product it is about positioning. At the end of the day you want locals to know who you are, what you do, and why your business is worth supporting and that you are one of them. You hate potholes too, you have a yard full of sticks too, their pain points are your pain points. To move from awareness to consideration you have to stop crying for customers and start connecting with customers – beginning with who you are.
Sports! All your questions answered!!!
What’s this World Cup I keep hearing about?
It’s the global festival of football that takes place every four years.
Book club helps build community
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.
It seems like yesterday, but it was not
On a bright sunny day in mid May of 1986 I landed at Calgary airport, ready to build a new life in the Great White North. I had a full head of hair, a heart full of dreams and a full set of teeth. The world lay at my feet.
Upgraded van gives Beehive extra options
After fundraising for a year, the Beehive has been able to purchase a new van, which will help them to better accommodate their clients.
