My New Year prediction was half right.
Excerpt from January 4, 2017 Rockley’s Rambles, predictions for the year ahead:
“There will be a large turnout of candidates running for council seats in Okotoks. At least four mayoral candidates and at least 18 council candidates. The municipal election is scheduled for October 16, 2017.”
I was way off on the mayoral candidates. Carrie Fischer and Bill Robertson officially entered the campaign to be elected as the Mayor of Okotoks when they submitted their nomination papers on Monday.
I had a lucky guess with the number of council candidates though - 18 candidates submitted nomination papers to be elected as an Okotoks town councillor.
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The Kenow Fire that burned some of Waterton Park broke my heart. My grandpa on my mother’s side was a trail guide at the Alpine Stables in Waterton for many years. His pay was hay. He would take tourists out on amazing horseback trail rides throughout the summers and the stable owners would provide hay for his horses over the winter.
I would stay with him in his truck camper and take trail rides out with him in the summers when I was a boy, typically two to four weeks per summer. I have so many fond memories from Alpine Stables. It was a special place and now it’s gone. Ash remains where the stables once stood.
I will need to go back for a trail ride with my family to make some new memories when the stables have been rebuilt. Joni Mitchell is right, you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone.
