Ed McNally, founder of Big Rock Brewery, is celebrating 25 years of making real beer.
There was a time that Okotoks was considered as the site for the Brewery as Ed lives close to our community. In our eyes Ed is an Okotokian and we are real proud of him and his team for providing real beer for 25 years and growing.
It is indeed a major accomplishment to take an idea and grow it to the success story of Big Rock Brewery.
In their honour let’s all go out and buy a …

The Olympic flame was extinguished during the Closing Ceremonies at the Winter Olympics Sunday in Vancouver
However, the spirit and memories will burn on in the foothills for years to come.
Okotoks didn’t start getting into the Olympic spirit just when the flame was ignited during Opening Ceremony on Feb. 12. The foothills community got the Games bug back in 2009 when it learned the Olympic torch would make its way through Okotoks during its historic trek across Canada.
Thousands of children, and the young at heart, lined the streets of Okotoks to …

Like a high water mark on a bridge, or a newspaper headline announcing devastating tidal waves, water has a way of making history.
Take, for example, the recent earthquakes of Haiti and Chile. These severe events have shown us how clean, fresh drinking water is one of our most precious resources.
With water facilities and pipelines in shambles, many quake victims must resort to looting water for their survival.
One of the most important things disaster relief crews can do is provide clean water for drinking and hand washing.
But, it’s not just physical …

I am an Olympics junkie. Seriously, whether it is ski jumping or ski-cross, freestyle aerials or figure skating I am watching it all.
In fact, as I write this I am watching/listening to the ice dance freeskate on my computer. Yeah, I know ice dance.
I am as patriotic as anyone, perhaps moreso, but once the Olympics begin my patriotism goes into hyperdrive. I was wearing red all weekend in anticipation for some medals and a big win in men’s hockey.
To say the results of the weekend were disappointing would be an …

It is too bad the Winter Olympics come by only once every four years as they are indeed a pleasure to watch.
As I was down in Florida last week freezing to death it was great to watch all the events. The American coverage was warm to the Canadians and several times gave excellent accolades to our athletes. They didn’t even make rude comments when the fourth leg of the caldron would not come up.
Our medal count is a bit disappointing as we have come so close on several events. Oh …

The fate of a new community hall in the High Country area is in limbo, but successfully completing the
project will be a group effort not one of alienation.
The Diamond Valley Community Centre 78 Society has abandoned its initial plan to build the new facility in Turner Valley and have now formally approached the Town of Black Diamond about coming on board.
The relationship between the
Centre 78 Society and the Town of Turner Valley was rocky from the
beginning and when the two could not come to an agreement the
society, like a jilted …

Dear Editor,
As you know there are between 2,000 to 2,500 employers that Turner Valley town council is accountable to. I am just one of these. I deem it necessary to remind you of the salary we are providing to you, in return of which your employers expect the Town of Turner Valley to be uppermost in your minds.
We (your employers) put you into your positions with the understanding this town would be your top priority. I also will remind you that in October you will be having your job performance …

With all of the current uproar over the prorogation of our parliament I thought I should shed some light on what is happening.
Personally, I have to admit when Prime Minister Stephen Harper went through with the suspension of parliament, so as a nation we could enjoy and embrace some good old-fashioned patriotism; it made perfect sense to me. Look, I know the media down east towards the centre of the universe is beside themselves, who wouldn’t be? I mean they have nothing to write about now.
I could be generous and …

Sometimes it can be so frustrating when we are so, well, Canadian.
As Canadians we often criticize our own rather than simply enjoying something for what it is.
The flame from the Olympic cauldron had barely flickered before criticism regarding the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver began spewing from politicians, the media and the like.
Many of the complaints were focused on the Opening Ceremony as some were disappointed with the people chosen to perform, chosen to represent Canada and the alleged lack of Quebec representation.
Now the international media is jumping on the …

While the Alberta government prepares for a $4.7 billion deficit – a number the Wildrose Alliance challenges is closer to $7.5 billion – and boasts not cutting programs it is clear throwing money at a problem is not the best fix.
Just days after the provincial government tabled its 2010-2011 budget, which included $759 million to erase the Alberta Health Services’ debt, Foothills Regional EMS revealed the new regional dispatch system is a mess.
Foothills residents have been waiting up to 45 minutes for an ambulance due to an embarrassing array of …