okotoks.news

Business Community Local News Public Safety Sports Town Council Utilities Weather

Category: Community

  • Okotoks Wood Bat Tournament Donates $5K to Foothills Country Hospice

    The Kin Club's home run for hospice care is a grand slam for the community.

    The Foothills Country Hospice has received a significant boost in its fundraising efforts, thanks to the annual Okotoks Wood Bat Tournament. The event, hosted by the Kin Club of Okotoks and the Percy Pegler Men’s Slo-Pitch League, raised $5,000 for the organization.

    The tournament, which takes place each July using wooden bats, was inspired by Kin Club member Bob Bayley, who received care at Foothills Country Hospice. The funds raised will directly support the organization’s end-of-life care services, as well as outreach initiatives such as Grief Support and Compassionate Communities programs.

    According to Timmi Shorr, Foothills Country Hospice Fund Development Officer, the donation is a testament to the strength of the local community. “Generosity like this directly touches the lives of the individuals and families who rely on us, allowing us to deliver compassionate, end-of-life care,” Shorr said.

    The Kin Club of Okotoks and the Percy Pegler Men’s Slo-Pitch League have been long-time supporters of Foothills Country Hospice, and their efforts have made a significant impact on the organization’s ability to provide care to those in need.

    For more information about Foothills Country Hospice and its services, visit their website.

  • Okotoks’ Old Church Theatre Unveils Diverse Season of Music, Theatre, and Comedy

    The Old Church Theatre is "stringing" together a great season of entertainment!

    Okotoks residents are in for a treat as the Old Church Theatre announces its upcoming season of live music, theatrical productions, and stand-up comedy. Running from September 2026 through May 2027, the diverse lineup brings together national award-winning performers and local talent for the community.

    The season’s concert offerings feature a range of genres, including 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.

    Patrons can take advantage of tiered season ticket discounts by 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. See the schedule for complete artist details, showtimes and ticket purchases.

  • Okotoks Oilers Seek Host Families for Upcoming Season

    It's a "power play" for the community to come together and support these young athletes.

    The Okotoks Oilers are gearing up for the new season and are in need of host families to provide accommodations for their young players. Each year, the team relies on local families to open their homes to players from around the world, aged 16 to 20, from the start of training camp in September to the end of March or April, if the team makes the playoffs.

    In exchange for their hospitality, host families receive a $500 stipend for groceries, exclusive grocery discounts, and season tickets. This year, the team has also partnered with Soul Sugar Catering to provide pre-cooked meals for the families. According to Sheena Denscombe, who coordinates the billet program, the athletes can eat up to 10,000 calories a day, making the grocery stipend and discounts a welcome support.

    Jenn Ashton, coordinator for the U17AAA & U17AA boys and U18AAA girls, emphasizes that being billeted is a privilege for the players, and that the families provide a “soft place to land” for young people who are often away from home for the first time. The Okotoks Oilers Athletic Association (OOAA) is looking to billet up to 18 student athletes this season, most of whom will attend Foothills Composite High School.

    The OOAA has a strong partnership with the school, which works with the students to arrange their schedules and timetables to accommodate their hockey program. The program also emphasizes the importance of being responsible students, and provides tutors to support the players with their studies.

    If you are interested in becoming a host family or would like more information, please contact [email protected].

  • Okotoks Reminds Residents: Referendum Signs Don’t Imply Town Endorsement

    Okotoks is 'posting' a reminder to respect differing views.

    The Town of Okotoks is reminding residents that referendum signs in public spaces do not represent the municipality’s endorsement of a particular position. This reminder comes ahead of Alberta’s Oct. 19 referendum, which will feature 10 questions on the ballot.

    The town supports the democratic process and the respectful exchange of different views. Provincial referendums can bring a range of perspectives into public spaces, and the town’s role is to help ensure those spaces remain safe, respectful, and welcoming for everyone.

    Residents are encouraged to get involved in the upcoming referendum by learning about the questions, understanding their options, and getting out to vote. The town also encourages people to share different points of view respectfully as part of the democratic process, while remembering that they are all neighbours.

    Recent changes to Alberta’s Election Act through Bill 54 mean that municipalities cannot make local rules or decisions regarding provincial election signs or advertising. Under the new legislation, the Town of Okotoks cannot regulate referendum signs or advertising related to provincial issues.

    Those looking to place signs on private property must have permission from the landowner, and signs should not obstruct traffic sightlines or create hazards for road users. The town encourages the use of election sign corrals throughout the community, which will be identified in early September. Signage that creates a safety concern will be removed or moved to a safer area.

  • Riverside Drive Closure in Okotoks for Sewer Upgrades and Road Improvements

    It looks like Okotoks residents will have to "drive" around the issue for a while.

    The Town of Okotoks has announced that Riverside Drive will be closed between Veterans Way and the Okotoks United Church until late October for sewer upgrades and road improvements. The project, part of the River’s Edge Infrastructure Improvement initiative, aims to enhance sanitary sewer capacity and reliability in the area while adding new on-street parking and upgraded roadway infrastructure.

    Construction is expected to begin on August 19, 2026, and will be carried out in two stages. Stage 1, which will last from August 19 to 28, will involve deep utility work at the Veterans Way/Riverside Drive intersection. Stage 2, which will run from late August to late October, will focus on roadway and utility construction along Riverside Drive toward the Okotoks United Church.

    The closure will impact traffic patterns, with detours and delays expected throughout the project. Significant congestion is anticipated at the Elizabeth Street/Northridge Drive intersection, particularly for westbound traffic turning left onto southbound Northridge Drive. Access to the Okotoks Public Library and the Okotoks United Church will be maintained through a temporary connection between the church and library parking lots.

    Residents and visitors can expect the following impacts during the construction period:

    • Riverside Drive between Veterans Way and the Okotoks United Church will be closed until late October.
    • Veterans Way/Riverside Drive intersection will be closed from August 19 to 28.
    • On-street parking along Riverside Drive between Veterans Way and the library parking lot will be unavailable during construction.
    • EV charging stations at the ALC campus will be inaccessible during construction. Alternative locations can be found at https://www.okotoks.ca/our-energy.

    For more information on the project, including detour maps and pedestrian routes, visit https://shapeourtown.okotoks.ca/rivers-edge.

  • Okotoks Motorcycle Rally Raises Over $16,000 for Make-A-Wish

    It's clear that the Caltronics Cruisers Motorcycle Rally is "revving up" support for Make-A-Wish.

    The Caltronics Cruisers Motorcycle Rally, which kicked off in Okotoks, has raised over $16,000 for Make-A-Wish Canada. The annual event, sponsored by Prairie Mobile Communications, saw 26 riders travel from Okotoks to Longview along the Highwood Pass before looping back through Kananaskis and into Cochrane.

    Organized by Georges LeBlanc and his wife, Susan, this year marked their 17th year hosting the event. The couple had set a fundraising goal of $10,000, which they exceeded with the final total.

    LeBlanc said the sunshine and warm weather made for a great day, and he enjoys supporting Make-A-Wish each year and bringing more recognition to the foundation. This is the fifth year that they’ve done this particular ride, and it keeps growing every year.

    One of the participants, Dayn Barlow, has been involved in the rally since 2017. He enjoys seeing new and familiar faces each year and getting to know people from all walks of life, including those whose lives have been touched by Make-A-Wish.

    Barlow also appreciates the LeBlancs’ efforts to make a difference in the community. “You get people like George and Susan that invest and support the community in quiet ways,” he said. “It’s really heartwarming.”

  • Okotoks Summer Round Up Crowns Chili Champions

    Looks like the competition was really heating up in Okotoks.

    The Okotoks Summer Round Up, held in downtown Okotoks over the weekend, brought together local chili chefs to compete in the annual Chili Cookoff.

    Residents and visitors were given the opportunity to sample a variety of chili creations and cast their votes for their favorite. Cornerstone’s Bayou Chili took home the Judges’ Choice award.

    In the People’s Choice competition, the Okotoks Junior Elks secured the top spot with 99 votes, narrowly beating French 50 Bakery with 95 votes and Cornerstone’s Bayou Chili with 94 votes. Chili Chungus received an Honorable mention with 78 votes.

    Cornerstone’s Bayou Chili also earned the Most Creative award for serving up five variations of chili.

    The Summer Round Up featured additional activities, including the Cobzilla Challenge, live entertainment, an artisan market, and kids’ activities.

  • Okotoks Museum and Archives Hosts Final Wednesday Walkabout Focusing on Public Art

    It's a brush with history.

    This week, Okotoks residents will have their last chance to participate in the Wednesday Walkabouts, a series of guided walks that have taken place throughout July and August.

    The final walk, scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 26, will focus on the public art found in the downtown core. Led by Kathy Coutts from the Okotoks Museum and Archives, the tour will explore the stories behind the artwork.

    Previous walks have highlighted various aspects of Okotoks history, including historic sites along Elma Street, McRae Street, Elizabeth Street, and North Railway Street.

    The free walk will begin at 10 a.m. at the Okotoks Museum and Archives, located at 49 North Railway Street, and is expected to last between one and 1.5 hours.

    For more information, residents can contact the Okotoks Museum and Archives.

  • Okotoks Summer Round Up Brings Chili, Corn, and Community to Downtown

    It looks like the Okotoks Summer Round Up was the "root" of all the fun in downtown Okotoks.

    The Okotoks Summer Round Up featuring the Chili Cookoff took over downtown Okotoks on Saturday, August 22, bringing a fun-filled day of food, entertainment, and community activities to Elizabeth Street.

    The event featured a variety of local chili competitors, each serving up their unique creations to visitors who voted for their favourite. Some competitors took a non-traditional approach, including Bone & Biscuit’s dog-friendly chili and the Okotoks Elks Club’s candy chili. Another stand, “Chili Chungus,” even leaned into internet culture with a logo inspired by the Big Chungus meme.

    In addition to the chili, the annual Cobzilla Challenge gave competitors a chance to test their speed as they raced to finish corn on the cob as quickly as possible. Separate competitions were held for kids and adults, with the fastest competitors in each age category taking home a prize.

    Live performers took to the stage throughout the afternoon, and more than 50 local and regional artisan vendors filled the east end of the event as part of the Market Zone. The event ran from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with portions of Elizabeth Street and Riverside Drive closed to vehicle traffic.

  • Okotoks RCMP Investigate Backyard Fence Crash Involving Young Driver

    Looks like the young driver's lesson plan included a crash course in fence etiquette.

    A collision involving a small car and a backyard fence is under investigation by the Okotoks RCMP. The incident occurred on August 19 near the intersection of Cimarron Drive and Cimarron Meadows Road.

    According to Staff Sergeant Mike Zinck, Detachment Commander of the Okotoks RCMP, preliminary information suggests that the collision was the result of human error and does not appear to have any criminal element. The driver involved was a youth who was learning to drive.

    The investigation is ongoing, and the incident is being treated as an accident.