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Category: Community

  • Okotoks Toyota Partners with Variety for Inclusive Ride-on Car Build

    Wheels of kindness are in motion in Okotoks.

    Children with mobility challenges in Okotoks will gain greater independence this weekend thanks to a unique partnership between Okotoks Toyota and Variety – the Children’s Charity of Alberta. The organizations are teaming up for a Go Baby Go event, which brings together volunteers, community partners, and local families to build battery-powered ride-on cars tailored to the needs of participating children.

    “We are excited to welcome Okotoks Toyota as a community partner and host for this Go Baby Go build,” said Kari Richardson, Director of Partnerships with Variety – the Children’s Charity of Alberta. “These events are about so much more than building cars. They give children an opportunity to move, explore and play more independently, while bringing the community together around the families we serve.”

    The event will take place on Saturday, Sept. 12, starting at 10 a.m. Volunteers and partners will modify the cars to meet the specific needs of each child, including accessible switches, seating support, and other necessary modifications.

    The day will conclude with a Go Baby Go car parade at 1:30 p.m., where the children will get to test their new cars for the first time.

  • Okotoks’ North Railway Street Set to Open Ahead of Schedule

    The town is "rail"-ly excited to open the street!

    Construction on North Railway Street in Okotoks is nearing completion, with the Town of Okotoks preparing to open the road in the next few days. According to a recent social media post by Mayor Tanya Thorn, the town is expecting to meet its deadline more than a month ahead of schedule.

    The upgrades to the street include new landscaping, lighting, and seating, which aim to improve pedestrian accessibility and introduce more public space. While parking may be slightly narrower, it will remain in the same manner as the first phase.

    The North Railway Street improvements are part of the Downtown Improvement project, with Phase 2 commencing in the spring and closing the street from Alberta Avenue to McRae Street. In addition to the above-ground enhancements, underground utility work was also completed.

  • Okotoks Rubber Duck Race Returns for Fourth Year

    It's a quack-tastic way to support local sports!

    The Rubber Duck Race and Family Fun Carnival is back in Okotoks this weekend, bringing with it hundreds of rubber ducks racing down the Sheep River to raise funds for the Simpora Foundation.

    The Simpora Foundation, a local non-profit that supports local athletes and sports teams, will benefit from the event. The foundation provides grants to local sports teams and athletes, with recipients asked to give back and support the community in return.

    The Duck Race gets underway at 12 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12, launching near Sheep River Bridge and ending at Laurie Boyd Bridge. Last year, over 1,500 rubber ducks participated in the event.

    Adopt-a-Duck tickets are available, with solo ducks costing $10, Quack Packs of six ducks available for $50, and a Flock of 12 Ducks available for $100. Community members can cheer on their ducks as they float down the river, with Simpora Foundation volunteers making sure no duck is left behind.

    Four winners will be chosen, with first, second, third, and last place prizes available. The first-place winner will receive the grand prize of $2,000, while the second-place winner takes home $1,000, the third-place winner takes home $500, and the very last duck to be plucked from the river gets $500.

    The Family Fun Carnival runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Ethel Tucker Centennial Park, featuring games, a dunk tank, food trucks, and more. All proceeds raised at the carnival and duck race support the Simpora Foundation in its mission to uplift local sports programs.

    Adopt-a-Duck sales end at 11:15 a.m. on Saturday. For more information, visit the Rubber Duck Race and Family Fun Carnival website.

  • Okotoks Food Bank Prepares for Annual Community Food Drive

    "Food for thought" is being collected, but the real food is for those in need.

    Residents of Okotoks can expect to see donation bags arriving at their homes on September 12, as part of the annual Community Food Drive. The initiative, hosted by the Okotoks Food Bank with support from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, aims to collect essential items for those in need.

    “We’re honestly a supporting body. Bente and her crew at the Okotoks Food Bank do year-round heavy lifting,” said Arielle Quinton, Communications Director for the Okotoks Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

    Residents are asked to leave their donations on their doorstep by 9 a.m. on September 19 for volunteers to collect. Alternatively, they can drop off their donations at the Okotoks Food Bank, where volunteers will help unload their vehicles.

    The Okotoks Food Bank has seen an increase in demand throughout the year, with many residents struggling to make ends meet due to rising grocery costs. Quinton encourages anyone who is able to donate to take part, highlighting the significant impact it can have on those utilizing the food bank.

    The collected donations will support the food hamper program and help fill shelves ahead of the holiday season, alleviating food pressure for those in need.

  • Okotoks rodeo queen aims for Miss Rodeo Canada title

    Mangone is lassoin' her dreams, one rodeo at a time.

    Outgoing Miss Rodeo Okotoks Karina Mangone is taking her passion for rodeo to the next level by competing for the Miss Rodeo Canada 2027 title.

    Mangone, who wore the Okotoks crown for the past year, fell in love with being a rodeo queen and the community connections she built during her tenure.

    “I thought to myself, ‘I don’t want to end this,’” said Mangone. “I want to keep going, I want to make more connections, I want to meet more people, and I want to represent rodeo on a bigger scale.”

    To become Miss Rodeo Canada, Mangone will be evaluated in various judging categories, including public speaking, modelling, a written exam, a personal interview, and horsemanship. The winner will be crowned at the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR) in Edmonton on Oct. 9.

    Mangone is competing against five other contestants, and she is looking forward to getting to know them and celebrating rodeo during the CFR.

    Mangone’s journey to becoming a rodeo queen began two years ago when she purchased her first horse, Clifford. She was encouraged to apply for Miss Rodeo Okotoks, and although she initially thought it was impossible, she eventually submitted her application and won the title.

    During her year as Miss Rodeo Okotoks, Mangone learned valuable skills, including public speaking, which has helped her in her career as a Grade 2 teacher.

    The CFR gets underway in Edmonton from Oct. 7 to 10.

  • Okotoks residents encouraged to connect across cultures during Welcoming Week

    "Connecting the dots" in Okotoks, one culture at a time.

    Okotoks is participating in the international Welcoming Week campaign, which aims to bring together newcomers, immigrants, and longtime residents. The campaign, running from Sept. 10 to 19, encourages communities to create opportunities for people from different backgrounds to meet and build relationships.

    Stacey Trim, Foothills Local Immigration Partnership Coordinator, explained that the intent behind Welcoming Week is to connect with neighbors who have moved to Okotoks from around the world and let them know they are welcomed in the community.

    • A Social Gathering will take place at the Okotoks Public Library on Sept. 10 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., providing an informal opportunity for residents to meet and chat.
    • A cross-cultural movie night will be held at the Okotoks Cinema on Sept. 18, featuring the film Blinded by the Light, which was intentionally selected to represent multiple cultures.

    Admission to the movie night will be free, with popcorn and pop provided. The Rowan House Society will have a donation bin available for shelf-stable food items.

    Trim emphasized the importance of events like Welcoming Week in finding connections, building community, and celebrating multiculturalism. She noted that connecting across cultures can also help residents better understand their community and create a healthy, friendly, and welcoming environment.

  • Okotoks Skating Community Rallies Around Coach Diagnosed with Stage 4 Cancer

    It's clear that Okotoks' skating community is "on thin ice" when it comes to supporting their beloved coach, Milara Okabe.

    The Okotoks skating community is coming together to support one of their own, Milara Okabe, a 22-year-old skating coach who was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 adenocarcinoma, a type of cancer that begins in glandular cells and can affect different parts of the body.

    The Okotoks Skating Club (OSC) has started a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for Okabe and her family as they navigate treatment. The campaign, which has already reached $91,000, aims to ease some of the financial pressure and allow Okabe to focus on her care and well-being.

    OSC is also collecting cards from skaters, where Okabe’s students can write, draw, or share one of their favorite memories of her. The club will then send a care basket to help brighten Okabe’s days as she continues treatment.

    Okabe’s boyfriend, NHL prospect Austin Roest, has been promoting the GoFundMe campaign and sharing updates on her condition. The hockey community has also rallied around Okabe, with publications like the Daily Mail, E! News, and New York Post Sports sharing the story.

    Okabe announced the news of her diagnosis on Sept. 3, saying there is a lot of fear of the unknown, but that she is extremely lucky to have her friends and family. She expressed gratitude to everyone who has supported her in any way.

  • Okotoks man faces assault charges, 16 firearms seized from family home

    The man's gun troubles are firing up a court case.

    An intimate partner violence incident in Okotoks led to the seizure of 16 firearms from a family home, according to the Okotoks RCMP.

    On July 27, at approximately 1 p.m., the Okotoks RCMP responded to a report of an incident in the D’Arcy community.

    During the response, police observed three firearms that were unsafely stored in the house, with children present.

    A search warrant was issued, resulting in the seizure of 16 firearms.

    A 37-year-old Okotoks man was arrested and charged with careless storage of a firearm, assault against an intimate partner, and mischief under $5,000.

    The man was held for a Judicial Interim Release Hearing and was released with conditions.

    His next court appearance is scheduled for September 11 in Okotoks.

    The name of the man will not be released to protect the identities of the victim and children involved.

  • Okotoks Public Library hosts free vehicle maintenance workshop for newcomers

    "Gear-ing up" for success in Okotoks.

    A free workshop aimed at helping newcomers learn the basics of vehicle maintenance is returning to Okotoks. Car Maintenance 101, hosted by the Foothills Community Immigrant Services (FCIS) and the Foothills Local Immigration Partnership (FLIP), will take place on September 12 at the Okotoks Public Library from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

    The workshop follows a previous sold-out session in June and is designed to help participants learn basic maintenance skills, including tire and brake awareness, vehicle safety checks, and when to seek professional help.

    The session will be led by John Patrick Ballon, an immigrant from the Philippines with experience in the auto repair industry, whose family owns an auto repair shop.

    Admission is free, but registration is required. The workshop is made possible through funding by Okotoks Family and Community Support Services (FCSS).

    For more information and to register, visit the Okotoks Public Library website.

  • Okotoks community comes together to name Kingfisher Lodge

    The kingfisher's got a new nest to call home.

    On September 8, the Okotoks community gathered for the Kingfisher Lodge Naming Ceremony, a celebration of connection, community, and culture. The ceremony was led by Mike Bruised Head, who opened with prayers and was followed by words from Mayor Tanya Thorn and Foothills School Division Board of Trustees Chair Theresa Letendre.

    The ceremony featured a pipe ceremony and a painting ceremony, where Monica Crane, principal at Cameron Crossing School, was chosen to receive the paint and represent the name Kingfisher Lodge. Crane was given the Blackfoot name Siikamm, meaning crane, as part of the ceremony.

    Kingfisher Lodge is a shared gathering place designed for learning, connection, and community events, and is a partnership between the Town of Okotoks and Foothills School Division. The name was chosen to reflect the connection to the land, the Blackfoot territory, and the community being built.

    “It’s an amazing opportunity for us to come together and celebrate education for all peoples of Alberta,” said Crane. “Today was extra special because I was given my own Blackfoot name to carry as part of the painting ceremony.”

    Following the ceremony, attendees shared berry soup and Bannock. The event was seen as more than just naming a building, but as a celebration of the relationships and trust that have made the moment possible.

    “It is about the journey that has brought this place together, and the trust, learning, and generosity that have made this moment possible,” said Letendre. “Relationships grounded in respect, in listening, in curiosity, in humility, and in a willingness to learn from perspectives beyond our own.”