High River Times

Heather Milligan’s poem If my Heart Were a Home was chosen to be published in the book Broadcast a Collection of Canadian Poetry by Polar Expression Publishing. Poems were chosen through a national competition and the top three, along with 10 honourable mentions were chosen to be published in the book. Milligan received an honourable mention...

Bob Snodgrass Recreation Complex Closed Until Further Notice In response to updated public health restrictions outlined on Jan.14 by the provincial government, the Bob Snodgrass Recreation Complex will remain closed to the public until further notice. Updated provincial restrictions, can be found here:... https://www.alberta.ca/enhanced-public-health-measures.aspx Recreation staff will continue to offer virtual fitness courses during the building closure. Info about the courses and on how to register can be found at https://highriver.ca//Winter-2021-Parks-Recreation-Communi

Monty Beagle, who lives in Aldersyde was named the Champion and Pro ET Champion of the CDRA, while 15-year-old Morgan Caron, who attends Highwood High School was named Jr. Champion. The CDRA has crowned an Alberta Drag Racing Champion for the past 40 years. The club races in spring time, once the weather is nicer. They currently hold monthly meetings, bench race and organize the memberships. The club has been known to donate funds to local charities...

MP for Foothills, John Barlow spoke to the High River Times about some of the challenges he faced as an MP in 2020...

High River’s Mya George, recently won the CIBC Future Heroes Bursary to pursue her ambition of becoming a healthcare professional... At the end of high school, I really kind of settled in wanting to go into the health care field and wanting to be a physician, particularly something in pediatrics or neurology, kind of combining that potentially into pediatric neurology, just because I love learning and I also love interacting with people, she said. Something that is maybe more difficult for me because of my Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis, but I wanted to be a part of that care with patient and be able to improve that and really have a lasting impact on people.

Christmas will in fact be different this year due to COVID-19, but the message of kindness, caring and community remains the same especially in High River, where an old-fashioned Christmas spirit is alive and well. Folks in this town know how to pull together. Kudos to the organizers who have put a great deal of thought and care into the unique porch parades and virtual events this year, said High River Mayor Craig Snodgrass...

Some big projects were accomplished in High River in 2020, but like the rest of the world, the year was dominated by COVID-19... Mayor Craig Snodgrass looked back at 2020 and felt that COVID-19 dominated the year. Dealing with the repercussions of COVID that changed all of our lives, he said...

Important to all High River residents in regards to the Province's Public Health Emergency - that face masks are now required for all public spaces in the Calgary area, which includes the Town of High River...

The 2020 Foothills Salvation Army’s Kettle Campaign officially began Nov. 20. Kettles will be located at Sobeys, No Frills and Co-op in High River and at Sobeys, Walmart and Costco in Okotoks. People can drop money into the kettles or donate by tapping their cards (debit or credit) with the help of a volunteer that will be stationed at the kettle at all of these sites. Donation by tapping your card is recommended because of COVID. There is another way to donate. People can vi...sit fillthekettle.com and look for the High River Foothills Salvation Army kettle and you can tap to donate online. This is the Salvation Army’s largest fundraiser of the year and funds raised from the event allow them to provide the necessary services they do in the community, which include shelter programs, fighting homelessness and having a food bank for those in need. It also helps fund its Christmas hamper program. The Salvation Army’s Kettle Campaign is the one time of the year where we seek funds from the public, said Lt. Chad Cole of the Foothills Salvation Army...

Calgary-based folk duo Two Late to The Party have released their debut album The Great Unraveling. The album was recorded at Wheelhouse Studios in High River. Wheelhouse Studios’ Paul Zacharias also produced the album. The Great Unraveling is now available on all major streaming services and on their website www.twolatetotheparty.com. Known for their soulful songs and rich harmonies Two Late to The Party was formed by Alessandra Enns and Adam Corkett in 2017. The singer-songwriters met while performing at Friends Church in Calgary, which was the start of their collaboration. Enns and Corkett began performing their original songs at music festivals across Alberta over the last three years...

The Literacy for Life Foundation, who shut down operations in December 2019 due to reduced funding they were receiving over the previous couple of years, started operations once again in September. With a new board, the committee has decided to focus on offering programs virtually, because of COVID-19. The programs have the same focus as always in building the essential literacy skills needed to lead a successful life in family, work and community. They have many programs com...ing up in November with more info at www.litforlife.com.... Full article here... https://www.highrivertimes.com//the-literacy-for-life-foun

The Town of High River’s Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) held a ribbon cutting ceremony where they unveiled the FCSS Information Booth, located at the southeast corner of 3rd Avenue SW and 1st Street SW, to the community on Oct. 20. The Information Booth is meant to be used by residents where they will be able to find information on basic resources available in the community such as where to access food, shelter, and clothing and more...

With no traditional Christmas Parade, organizers are still planning for a holiday season filled with Christmas themed events in High River. The traditional High River Christmas parade that takes place every year was cancelled due to COVID-19, but the organizers of the parade have been hard at work to make it a very enjoyable Christmas season in High River with lots of events planned including a virtual parade, the traditional Light up George Lane Park, Santa in the Park, Santa at the Museum and a Porch Parade, which will kind of be like a mini parade, where a few floats, including Santa’s float will drive through neighbourhoods in High River...

On Oct. 8 at a special drive-thru scholarship and awards ceremony outside of Highwood High School, students drove up one by one and accepted their awards. Here, Amelia Shortt accepted her Toy Quon Memorial Scholarship and Governor General award from Vice Principal Michelle Alberts and Principal Bryan Brandford...

The Town of High River is reviewing the new public health measures that came into effect for Alberta today. They will be monitoring the situation closely and will let the public know if anything changes in High River. If cases begin to spike, measures will come into affect immediately. This comes after COVID-19 spikes in Alberta forced Premier Jason Kenney to put measures in place basically restricting social gathering in many parts of the province for two weeks from Nov. 13-...27 Currently, High River is fortunate to have a relatively low number of positive COVID-19 cases. This means the town does not fall into the enhanced measures category at this time and facilities will remain operating in their current state. "We ask all residents and businesses to continue following AHS health protocols. The new measures are in place to help flatten the curve, prevent the spread of COVID-19 and ease the growing burden on the health care system as numbers rise with the cold weather. 2020 has been a challenging year as we learn to work and live during a Global Pandemic." Thank you to everyone for your perseverance. We are in this together." - from the town website

Dancin’ for the HEALTH of it is now over. It had a lot of positive effects on its participants and also helped out the Salvation Army Food Bank. Shortly after the pandemic hit, dancers led by Helen McIntyre met twice a week outside in NW High River and line danced. The last time the dancers met outside was at the end of September. It was good both for our physical health and most of all our mental health, said McIntyre who teaches dance classes in High River.... The group raised over $1,400 for the Food Bank...

Two High River skaters won bronze medals at a recent competition and will now have a chance of going to nationals. The High River Skating Club’s two skaters Cassidy Tutt (12) And Caleb Hovelan (16) captured bronze at the 2021 Skate Canada: Alberta-NWT/Nunavut Pre-Novice Pair Sectional, making their supporters, parents and coaches proud...

The Big Screen Harvest Party fundraising concert was a success. The evening featured live performances by country music stars George Canyon and Aaron Pritchett at the High River Sunset Drive in on Oct. 2. The event was put on by the High River District Health Care Foundation, with all proceeds from the concert, like ticket sales, going back to health care workers. We are incredibly thrilled with how everything went Friday night (concert), said Fund Development & Communications Officer of the High River District Health Care Foundation, Cathy Couey...

Story from Andrea Juárez in the Calgary Sun and Calgary Herald... A Southern Alberta family that has been sharing its Mexican culture in High River is now using Day of the Dead traditions to honour COVID-19 victims. No one is prepared for death, but we have hope that they’ll go to the promised land, where they will no longer suffer, says Liz Vigueras, who moved to Canada in 2008.... Sadly, their families couldn’t say goodbye, hold a vigil or bury their bodies, says the High River woman. Pandemic protocols restricted visits to COVID-19 patients in many hospitals and seniors’ homes, meaning some victims died without family members nearby. In High River, COVID-19 hit the town hard in the spring, with many cases linked to a nearby Cargill meat-packing plant... https://calgarysun.com//34dbb84d-dcb0-494f-a127-34b7535185

https://www.highrivertimes.com//the-2020-high-river-herita The 2020 High River Heritage Inn International Balloon Festival had to deal with a lot of wind, but they were still able to enjoy some beautiful skies after a couple of successful flights. The event ran Sept. 23-27 in High River and due to the ongoing pandemic, the Balloon Glow event, which brings thousands of people into High River was cancelled. But people still came to see the balloons in the skies as High River ...was visibly busier than normal during the event. We are happy with the way things went, said Event Chair Jamie Kinghorn... -Photo submitted from Ron Kube Photography

Click on link below to see all the info on our upcoming sessions and call us at 403-652-5090 if you have any questions. https://www.eventbrite.ca/o/literacy-fo...r-life-foundation-12 Please share to help let our communities know we are back offering adult learning opportunities . . #Okotoks #HighRiver #FoothillsCounty #BlackDiamond #TurnerValley #adult #literacy #LifeLongLearning

COVID-19 has changed the world in many ways, and one impact it has had is on large gatherings. The High River Santa Claus Parade committee, after lengthy discussions with Alberta Health Services, and concern for the health and well-being of spectators has decided to cancel this year’s parade. It is with a great deal of sadness that we are announcing the cancellation of the 2020 High River Santa Claus Parade, said Chairman of the Santa Claus Parade, Ted Dawson...

The 14th Annual High River Food Drive took place on Sept. 19, and they set a new record for the most food gathered at 13,672 lbs. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints organized the event with many members of the community helping out and donating food that will go the Salvation Army Foodbank. Last year, the Food Drive gathered 9,925 lbs of food for the Salvation Army... Love our town! We surpassed our goal of 10,000 lbs, said Food Drive organizer Cathy Anderson...

The Heritage Inn International Balloon Festival has had to make adjustments because of the pandemic, but still promises to beautify the skies. From Sept. 23 to Sept. 27, High River residents will once again be able to see hot air balloons flying across the town during the annual event...

https://www.highrivertimes.com//big-screen-harvest-party-f High River District Health Care Foundation is thrilled to announce their October fundraiser, which is a little different than previous years. On Oct. 2, the Big Screen Harvest Party a fundraising concert featuring live performances by Canadian country music stars George Canyon and Aaron Pritchett will be taking place at the new High River Sunset Drive-in...

TraXside Studios in Blackie, a dance and art studio is ready to open to the Foothills Community on Sept. 14. Multiple dance, fitness and art classes will be offered at the studio. Christi Tims has been interested in making art and dancing throughout her entire life. She taught art classes in school and is currently spearheading a mural project in Blackie where her goal is to paint the fence along the railway in Blackie...

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is organizing their 14th High River Food Drive, which is scheduled to begin on Sept. 16. Last year, the Food Drive gathered 9,925 lbs of food for the Salvation Army. This is a big donation that helps the Salvation Army be able to feed those in need for months...