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  • Okotoks to welcome 200 motorcycles as PTSD fundraiser Rolling Barrage arrives Aug. 19

    It’s a rolling fundraiser that really puts the “cycle” in “recycle” — turning miles into mental‑health support.

    About 200 motorcycles will reach Okotoks on Aug. 19 as part of the 10th‑anniversary Rolling Barrage cross‑Canada ride supporting PTSD programs.

    The annual coast‑to‑coast journey began Aug. 1 in St. John’s, N.L., with 142 full‑route riders this year — up from the usual 40 — and will finish Aug. 22 in Aldergrove, B.C. Casual riders joining along the way are expected to bring the Okotoks contingent to roughly 200 motorcycles.

    Rob Calvert, co‑coordinator of the Okotoks reception, said participants include former military members, firefighters, paramedics and other emergency workers. Since 2016 the ride has raised more than $600,000 for PTSD initiatives across Canada.

    Riders are expected to travel down Veterans Way around 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 19, followed by a community reception at the Viking Rentals Centre supported by the Town of Okotoks. The following morning they will head to Diamond Valley for breakfast at the Turner Valley Legion before continuing to Cranbrook, B.C.

    Okotoks Legion Branch 291, which is organizing the local reception, is contributing $2,000 toward fuel costs. Calvert noted that fuel expenses for the cross‑country trip will exceed $100,000 this year, with some costs covered by riders themselves and some by sponsors.

    Calvert, who is vice‑president of training with Veterans Elite Drone Training Services, plans to capture drone footage of the motorcycles on Veterans Way and will ride with the group on Aug. 20 as far as the Highway 1 turnoff toward Radium Hot Springs before returning to assist with post‑event cleanup.

  • Okotoks Recreation Centre and local rivers offer ways to beat the Heritage Day heat

    Hope everyone has a splashing good long weekend.

    With Heritage Day weekend temperatures expected to hit the mid-30s on Saturday, Okotoks residents have several nearby options to cool off, from local pools to the Sheep River.

    The Okotoks Recreation Centre is running public swim sessions throughout the long weekend. Saturday hours are 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 to 6 p.m., Sunday from 12:30 to 5 p.m., and Monday from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 4 p.m. A Public Toonie Swim is also available earlier in the day.

    For those who prefer the outdoors, the Sheep River in Okotoks provides wading spots along local pathways. However, the High River Fire Department cautions that rivers can be unpredictable after recent high water levels. They advise checking conditions before entering, wearing a lifejacket regardless of swimming ability, and closely supervising children.

    Other nearby outdoor options include the Dr. Lander Memorial Swimming Pool and Spray Park in Diamond Valley, with public swim from 1 to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and holiday hours on Monday. The Tom Hornecker Recreation Centre in Nanton is also offering open swim times, including a free public swim from 1 to 8 p.m. on Heritage Day Monday.

    For a beach experience, Little Bow Provincial Park is just over an hour from Okotoks, with a sandy beach on Travers Reservoir. In Calgary, the Sikome Aquatic Facility at Fish Creek Provincial Park offers a supervised beach for a fee.

    Wading areas are available at Lake McGregor, Ghost Lake Provincial Recreation Area, Chain Lakes Provincial Park, and Pine Coulee Reservoir, though these locations do not have designated swimming beaches.

  • Okotoks opens cooling stations and extends spray park hours during heat warning

    We hope residents find these cooling stations a breeze to use.

    The Town of Okotoks has opened several air-conditioned cooling stations and extended spray park hours in response to a heat warning from Environment and Climate Change Canada. The stations will be available from Wednesday, July 29 through Tuesday, August 4 during regular business hours.

    Residents can find relief at the Okotoks Recreation Centre, Okotoks Municipal Centre, Viking Rentals Centre, Okotoks Public Library, Okotoks Art Gallery, and the Okotoks Museum & Archives. Free water bottles are provided at all locations. Town officials also noted the spaces can offer a break from poor air quality.

    The Okotoks Spray Park hours have been extended to 9 a.m. through 9 p.m. Residents are advised to check okotoks.ca/getactive for any schedule updates.

    The town shared several safety tips for extreme heat, including avoiding intense outdoor exercise, staying hydrated, wearing loose-fitting clothing and sunscreen, and never leaving people or pets inside a parked vehicle. Residents are urged to check on family, friends, and neighbours who may be alone or without air conditioning.

    Information on recognizing heat-related illness is available through Alberta Health Services. The town also reminded pet owners to watch for hot surfaces and ensure animals have plenty of water, and to call 9-1-1 if an animal is seen in a parked vehicle.

    River safety precautions include wearing a properly fitting life jacket and exercising caution around riverbanks. Swimming in storm ponds is prohibited. The outdoor watering schedule remains in effect, with details at okotoks.ca/water.

  • Okotoks enforcement officers step up pathway patrols as e-dirt bike confusion grows

    It’s a charged topic, but knowing the rules keeps everyone on the right path.

    Okotoks Municipal Enforcement officers are spending more time on local pathways to educate riders about provincial rules for small vehicles, as the popularity of e-scooters and high-powered e-dirt bikes continues to rise.

    The Town of Okotoks is reminding residents that “Sur-Ron style” e-dirt bikes are not legal on any public roads or pathways in the community. These devices, often sold online, do not meet the requirements for street-legal operation under Alberta’s traffic safety laws.

    Rules for e-bikes, e-scooters, mobility aids and other small vehicles are set by the Province of Alberta, not the municipality. The provincial handbook, Rules and Regulations Applying to Small Vehicles, outlines which devices are permitted and where they can be used. Okotoks Municipal Enforcement officers focus on education, safe riding promotion and enforcement of those provincial standards.

    The town urges parents and riders to verify a device’s legal status before purchasing and to discuss safe, lawful riding with children. Officials say every safe choice on roads and pathways helps protect the community.

  • Okotoks RCMP confirm drowning death of 35-year-old man at Nature’s Hideaway Campground

    This tragedy is a sobering reminder that cliff jumping can be a leap of faith with no safety net.

    A 35-year-old man from Mexico died Saturday after jumping from a cliff into the water at Nature’s Hideaway Campground in Foothills County.

    Okotoks RCMP responded to a report of a missing swimmer around 12:23 p.m. Witnesses told police the man did not resurface after the jump.

    Okotoks RCMP, Foothills Fire and Emergency Services, and the Calgary Police Service HAWCS helicopter searched the area and located the man in the water. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

    The body was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. RCMP offered condolences to the man’s family, friends, and community.

    Police are warning the public to avoid cliff jumping, citing dangers such as submerged rocks that may not be visible from the surface and strong water currents.

  • Heat warning remains in effect for Okotoks-area Foothills County

    With temperatures climbing, it is a good week to keep cool heads in the Foothills.

    A heat warning remains in effect for Foothills County near Okotoks and De Winton, with daytime highs expected to reach 30 C to 34 C this week.

    Environment Canada says the hot conditions are expected to continue throughout the week across parts of Foothills County, Vulcan County, the M.D. of Willow Creek and Siksika Nation.

    People in affected areas are advised to reduce heat risks by moving outdoor activities to cooler parts of the day when possible, taking regular breaks in cooled indoor spaces, and drinking plenty of water or other non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated drinks.

    Officials also remind drivers to check vehicles before leaving and never leave children or pets inside a parked vehicle, even briefly.

    Environment Canada says residents should watch for signs of heat-related illness, including heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Symptoms can include high body temperature, confusion, fainting, unconsciousness and a lack of sweating.

    People who may be more vulnerable in hot weather include infants, children, seniors, outdoor workers, people who are socially isolated, and those with pre-existing lung, heart, kidney, nervous system, mental health or diabetic conditions.

    The warning also applies to several nearby and regional areas, including Foothills County near High River and Aldersyde, Diamond Valley, Longview and Eden Valley, Cayley, Blackie, Priddis and Brown-Lowery Provincial Park, as well as communities in Vulcan County and the M.D. of Willow Creek.

    heat warnings are issued when very high temperatures are expected to increase the risk of heat-related illness.