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Category: Community

  • Okotoks Food Bank harvests bounty from Community Learning Garden

    The garden's harvest was a "rooting" success for the Okotoks Food Bank!

    Members of the Rotary Club of Okotoks recently lent a hand to the Okotoks Food Bank by harvesting a bountiful crop from the Community Learning Garden. The evening effort yielded 229 pounds of fresh carrots and garlic, which will be used to support local families in need.

    The Community Learning Garden, established in 2017 through a partnership with the Healthy Okotoks Coalition, has been a vital source of fresh produce for the Okotoks Food Bank. Volunteers and community groups have played a crucial role in maintaining the garden, providing gardening advice and assisting with various tasks throughout the growing season.

    The Okotoks Food Bank expressed gratitude to the volunteers for their hard work, ensuring a successful harvest. The garden’s produce is used to create food hampers, providing essential support to local families.

    The garden’s success is a testament to the community’s dedication to supporting those in need. The Okotoks Food Bank‘s efforts, combined with the Community Learning Garden, demonstrate the power of collaboration and community spirit.

  • Okotoks playgrounds reopen with fresh upgrades and new play equipment

    The town's playground upgrades are a "step" in the right direction for Okotoks families.

    The Town of Okotoks has completed upgrades at the Ardiel and Kinsmen Park playgrounds, making them officially open for play as of August 28.

    The refreshed playgrounds feature new playground structures, wood-chip surfacing, and landing pads under the existing swings.

    Community members were asked for input on the refreshed playground designs, with the Ardiel Park playground collecting feedback in April and the Kinsmen Park playground collecting feedback in April and May.

    The Ardiel Park playground, built in 1999, features a variety of play equipment for children aged two to five and five to 12, including a duo spinner, stainless steel straight chute slide, and trillium climber.

    The Kinsmen Park playground, built in 2007, includes a variety of similar features, such as a tic-tac-toe panel, duo spinner, and two stainless steel chute slides.

    The town thanked residents for their patience while improvements were made and encouraged families to enjoy the refreshed spaces for climbing, swinging, sliding, and making memories.

    For more information on the playground upgrades, visit the Town of Okotoks‘ website at www.okotoks.ca.

  • Okotoks Public Library Unveils Fall 2026 Program Guide

    The library's program guide is a "page-turner" for Okotoks residents.

    The Okotoks Public Library has released its Fall 2026 Program Guide, offering a diverse range of activities for residents of all ages.

    The guide features programs and workshops catering to various interests, including arts and crafts, movies, games, book clubs, and skill-building opportunities.

    Programming is designed to foster connections within the community, allowing residents to explore their interests and participate in activities that promote early learning and hands-on engagement.

    From family storytimes to book clubs and skill-building workshops, the Okotoks Public Library aims to provide something for everyone in the community.

    • Programming for all ages, including families, babies and toddlers, preschoolers, children, pre-teens, teens, and adults
    • Activities covering arts and crafts, movies, games, book clubs, and skill-building opportunities
    • Early learning programs, such as storytimes, and hands-on learning opportunities for children

    For more information, visit the Okotoks Public Library website.

  • Okotoks area sees surge in student enrolment, Foothills School Division prepares for growth

    It looks like the Foothills School Division is "grading" well on its growth strategy.

    As the 2026/2027 school year begins, the Foothills School Division (FSD) has seen an increase in student enrolment, with approximately 7,800 students across the system, up from the previously projected 7,750.

    According to Chris Fuzessy, Superintendent of Schools at FSD, this trend is a positive outcome for the division, which has been anticipating a surge in enrolment due to Okotoks’ growth.

    Fuzessy noted that the division has been expecting a spike in enrolment for several years, and is now seeing the trend upwards, which is a positive development from a planning standpoint.

    With the increased enrolment, FSD will be allocated additional funding from the provincial government, which will be used to bring in more school staff across the division.

    The additional funding will be used to support frontline resources, including teachers and support staff, which are essential for teaching and learning.

    Recently, FSD received 11 additional teacher posts and two complexity teams with four teachers and educational assistants, which has provided a sigh of relief for schools and improved morale.

    The final enrolment numbers will be submitted to Alberta Education on Sept. 30.

  • Okotoks Council Considers Regulations for E-Bikes and E-Scooters

    The wheels are in motion for Okotoks to regulate e-bikes and e-scooters.

    The Town of Okotoks is taking steps to regulate the use of e-bikes, e-scooters, and other electric mobility devices on public municipal land. At the August 17 council meeting, Coun. Ryan Nix made a motion to direct administration to review and prepare a bylaw regulating the operation of electric bicycles and other electric mobility devices within Okotoks.

    The proposed bylaw could cover the use of these devices on roadways, sidewalks, pathways, parks, and other municipal property. Nix stated that his intention is to align the municipal bylaw with Alberta regulations.

    Council also asked administration to consider regulatory approaches used by other Alberta municipalities, including the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. Wood Buffalo’s Road and Transportation Bylaw prohibits e-scooters in public spaces, while e-bikes are classified as “power bicycles” and are subject to provincial laws under Alberta’s Traffic Safety Act.

    Mayor Tanya Thorn noted that there is a gap in the Traffic Safety Act that allows for some municipal control, and that the province is not currently prioritizing changes to the act. Thorn stated that a municipal bylaw would be necessary to address this gap until the province makes changes.

    Recommendations and a proposed bylaw are expected to return to council for consideration by the fourth quarter of 2026.

  • Okotoks Extends Thursday Nights at the Plaza Concert Series

    The town is "plaza-ing" its bets on the concert series.

    The Town of Okotoks has decided to extend its popular Thursday Nights at the Plaza concert series, which was forced to cancel last week’s performance due to severe weather.

    The Prairie Dogz, who were originally scheduled to perform on August 20, will now take the stage on September 3.

    In the meantime, the Dino Martinis will entertain the crowd tonight, August 27, at the Arts and Learning Campus Plaza.

    The free, family-friendly concert series runs from 7 to 9 p.m. and is a staple of Okotoks’ community events.

    For more information and to view the updated concert schedule, visit the Town of Okotoks’ community event calendar.

  • Okotoks Lions Campground serves as hub for Friends of Sheep River planting event

    Planting seeds of community spirit in Okotoks!

    Friends of Sheep River is shifting its planting location this Saturday, August 29, due to ongoing construction on Riverside Drive and South Railway Street. The group will now plant south of the Riverside Disc Golf Course, adjacent to the water treatment plant.

    The native plants being planted were rescued from Cochrane’s Fireship development area. Volunteers are invited to lend a hand, with parking available at the Okotoks Lions Campground. The event is expected to take about two hours, starting at 3 p.m.

    Group manager Ryan Hayward advises participants to bring their own shovels, appropriate footwear, and necessary accessories. Snacks and drinks will be provided, and participants will be entered into a raffle for local business merchandise.

    At the group’s first public planting on August 15, 10 volunteers reintroduced 239 native plants to the Sheep River, valued at $4,323. For more information, visit the Friends of Sheep River website.

  • Okotoks Celebrates Alberta’s 121st Anniversary with Free Outdoor Movie Night

    It's a "cool" way to celebrate Alberta Day!

    To mark the 121st anniversary of Alberta’s provincial status, the Town of Okotoks is hosting a free outdoor movie night, Movies in the Park, at Ethel Park on Friday, August 28th. The festivities begin at 4 p.m. with face painting and food trucks, followed by a historical performance by the Guns of the Golden West from 5 to 6 p.m.

    The Calgary-based troupe will perform an educational re-enactment featuring Fur Trade and Old West-era characters, including an Old West-style theatrical shootout. Please note that all firearms used during the performance are non-lethal theatrical props and do not use live ammunition.

    The movie night kicks off at 6:30 p.m. with a showing of Cool Runnings, released in 1993, followed by Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Attendees are asked to bring their own blankets and lawn chairs for seating, and are also welcome to bring their own snacks.

    Alberta Day celebrates the province’s culture and heritage, commemorating its official status as a province on September 1, 1905. Despite construction on Riverside Drive, parking remains available for those attending the event, with the Okotoks Public Library parking lot and parking throughout downtown available for attendees.

    For more information on the event, visit the Town of Okotoks’ website at www.okotoks.ca.

  • Okotoks’ Old Church Theatre Unveils Vibrant 2026/2027 Season Lineup

    It looks like the curtain is about to rise on a fantastic season in Okotoks!

    Raise the curtain on a year of entertainment in Okotoks! The Old Church Theatre has announced its upcoming season, featuring a diverse lineup of live music, theatrical productions, and stand-up comedy. Running from September 2026 through May 2027, the season promises to bring together national award-winning performers and local talent to the community stage.

    The concert offerings include performances by Canadian folk icon Valdy, contemporary folk singer-songwriter Jeffery Straker, Edmonton vocal sensation 6 Minute Warning, Calgary vocalist ANNIKA, and traditional Irish quartet Tulua. Audiences can also look forward to musical comedy from prairie duo Lewis & Royal, an all-Canadian sing-along with Piano Heist, and a stand-up comedy night presented by Yuk Yuk’s on Tour.

    Live theatre remains a highlight of the season, with the Erratic Players presenting a two-actor reimagining of “The Adventures of Robin Hood,” alongside three productions from the Dewdney Players: the curling comedy “Hurry Hard,” the spring farce “Bare Bones,” and their annual showcase of One Act Plays. The season opens this fall with an interactive “Beetlejuice” Movie Party complete with audience participation.

    For those looking to save, the Old Church Theatre is offering tiered season ticket discounts for purchasing tickets to multiple regular season performances in a single transaction. Discounts range from 10% for 3-4 shows to 20% for 7 or more shows.

    Tickets are available in advance online or at the door prior to each performance, subject to availability. For complete artist details, showtimes, and ticket purchases, see the schedule or call the box office.

  • Okotoks Municipal Enforcement Clarifies E-Bike and E-Scooter Regulations

    "Riding the rules of the road is a two-wheeled affair in Okotoks."

    Okotoks Municipal Enforcement is reminding residents of the rules for permitted e-bikes and e-scooters on Okotoks roads, sidewalks, and pathways. With the increasing popularity of small electric vehicles in the community, there has been confusion about what is permitted and what is not.

    According to Municipal Enforcement officers, there has been a rise in illegal and dangerous use of “Sur-Ron-style” e-dirt bikes, with riders doing wheelies on public roads, weaving in and out of traffic, and riding through public places like sports fields, parks, sidewalks, and pathways.

    An e-bike is considered illegal if it does not have functioning pedals, can exceed 32 km/h with motor assistance, or has an electric motor that produces more than 500 watts of power. Legal e-bikes have a manufacturer label identifying them as power-assisted bicycles and are permitted on pathways, sidewalks, and roadways.

    E-scooters are permitted on pathways and sidewalks in Okotoks but are not permitted on roadways. On pathways, riders must follow the 20 km/h speed limit, have a bell or horn, and always yield to pedestrians.

    Operating a prohibited e-scooter or e-dirt bike can result in charges for operating a motor vehicle without a proper driver’s licence and without insurance. Combined penalties can add up to thousands of dollars in fines or even a trip to court.

    For more information on the rules and regulations for e-bikes, e-scooters, and other small vehicles, residents can refer to the provincial handbook, Rules and Regulations Applying to Small Vehicles.