okotoks.news

Tag: Events

  • High River homicide suspect due in Okotoks court as fundraiser supports victim’s family

    The community is helping carry the weight, one High River ripple at a time.

    A fundraiser has been started for the family of Cayla Bleeker, a High River mother of two who died after a domestic homicide on July 28.

    The GoFundMe was created by close friend Cory Rockley to help Bleeker’s family with expenses, including possible legal costs.

    Bleeker leaves behind two daughters, ages 10 months and six years. Rockley described her as a single mother and sole provider whose children were central to her life.

    The fundraiser had raised more than $7,000 within 18 hours toward a $24,000 goal.

    Jarrett Stobbe, 36, of High River has been charged with second-degree murder in Bleeker’s death. Police said Stobbe called 911 at 9:24 p.m. on July 28. Officers found Bleeker with gunshot wounds, and she later died at High River General Hospital.

    Stobbe was remanded into custody after being held for a judicial interim release hearing. He is scheduled to appear in Alberta Court of Justice in Okotoks on July 31.

  • Okotoks events anchor Heritage Day weekend plans across the Foothills

    With art, baseball and rodeo on deck, the Foothills weekend has all its bases covered.

    Okotoks residents have several local and regional options for the Heritage Day long weekend, with events running from Saturday, Aug. 1, through Monday, Aug. 3.

    In downtown Okotoks, the Nooks and Crannies Festival continues through the weekend with nine installations by local artists using discarded and repurposed materials.

    Families can also try Mouse Adventures, a self-guided scavenger hunt with seven downtown stops inspired by Okotoks author Laurie Carmichael’s The Longtail Brothers Misadventures book series.

    The Okotoks Art Gallery is hosting two family-friendly shows: Colour Your World, where visitors can add to oversized colouring pages, and the annual Members Show and Sale, featuring original work by local gallery members.

    Saturday’s Okotoks events include the free Okotoks Cemetery Tour at 10 a.m. Karen Petres will lead the walk through the older section of the cemetery, with this year’s theme focused on Chinook Country influences and icons.

    The Okotoks Dawgs host the Cactus Rats at Seaman Stadium on Saturday at 7 p.m. as the Western Canadian Baseball League regular season nears its close. The Dawgs are back at Seaman Stadium Sunday at 2 p.m. against the 57’s.

    Other weekend events in the region include the Millarville Farmers’ Market on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Millarville Racing and Agriculture Society, with more than 100 vendors.

    Nanton Round-Up Days runs all weekend with rodeo events, entertainment and family activities. Saturday includes a morning farmers’ market, a children’s festival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., open swim and Nite Rodeo at 5 p.m. Sunday features a free pancake breakfast, festival activities, a chili cook-off, family dance and fireworks. Monday includes parade day, with a pancake breakfast, the Nanton Boosters Parade at 10 a.m., the Bomber Command Museum Engine Run at 2 p.m. and Nanton Nite Rodeo Finals at 3 p.m.

    On Sunday, a backyard concert in Crystalridge will feature musicians Celin and Regina Espina. Tickets are $40 and include desserts and refreshments, with proceeds supporting the performers. More information is available by emailing [email protected].

    On Monday, High River will mark Heritage Day at Sheppard Family Park. Admission is by donation, with a vintage sale, live music, old-time games, blacksmith demonstrations, a barbecue lunch and other activities planned.

  • Okotoks Food Bank receives peanut butter and program funding from golf fundraiser

    This donation should help spread support through Okotoks hampers.

    The Okotoks Food Bank received 600 jars of peanut butter and a $5,000 donation from the Peanut Butter Classic Golf Tournament.

    The annual ladies golf tournament was held June 8 at Elbow Springs Golf Club. Participants register for $325 and bring two jars of peanut butter each.

    The food bank said in a Facebook post that the peanut butter will be added to food hampers. Tournament founder Heather Forsyth also provided $5,000 for the food bank’s Prenatal and Baby Hamper Program.

    The Peanut Butter Classic supports Calgary-area charities, including HER Victory, #NotInMyCity, Dogs with Wings, and the Firefighters Assistance Charitable Society. Since it began in 2003, the event has donated more than 12,000 jars of peanut butter to food banks and contributed more than $2.9 million to charitable causes.

    Organizers say more than 98 per cent of funds raised through the tournament go directly to women in need.

  • Foothills Pride events set for Saturday in Okotoks and Diamond Valley

    With celebrations in two communities, Foothills Pride is ready to raise the flag and the fun.

    Foothills Pride celebrations are scheduled for Saturday, June 13, with events planned in Okotoks and Diamond Valley.

    The day begins in Okotoks with a flag raising at the Okotoks Municipal Centre at noon. An all-ages Pink Pony Party will follow from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Ethel Tucker Centennial Park.

    Okotoks Pride’s park festival will include live entertainment, games and food trucks. Cabaret Co. is among the performers, bringing acts that can include burlesque, drag, comedy, live music and circus-style performance.

    Later in the day, The Stop Coffee House and Gather Place will host a Pride Extravaganza at The Feed Lot in Diamond Valley from 5 to 8 p.m. The evening event will feature live performers and costumes. Advance tickets are required and cost $21.

    Organizers are also looking for volunteers to help with the Okotoks event, including people able to assist with setup tasks such as lifting and carrying, as well as allies to help support event safety.

    The events are part of Pride Month, which commemorates the 1969 Stonewall riots and is now marked by events recognizing 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and culture.

  • Foothills student bands recognized at provincial festival

    These Foothills students clearly struck the right chord.

    Several Foothills-area school bands earned Superior Band Awards at the Alberta Festival of Bands, held in Red Deer in May.

    Holy Trinity Academy said its Grade 10 Symphonic Band received a Superior Band Award in the Grade 3 category after performances, sight-reading and adjudication. The school’s Grade 11 and 12 Wind Ensemble also received a Superior Band Award and an Adjudicator’s Choice Award in the Grade 5 category.

    Only four of the 154 bands at the festival received an Adjudicator’s Choice Award.

    Holy Trinity Academy’s bands are directed by Brianne Coventry.

    Other Foothills-region groups were also listed among the festival’s Superior Band Award recipients.

    • Foothills Junior Concert Band, directed by Breanne Jamieson, in the Grade 1 category.
    • Senator Riley Middle School Grade 7 Concert Band, directed by Paul Stetler, in the Grade 1 category.
    • St. John Paul II Collegiate Grade 8 Concert Band, directed by Jennifer Ralph, in the Grade 2 category.
    • Alberta High School of Fine Arts Concert Band, directed by Matthew Ellis, in the Grade 4 category.
    • Highwood High School Grades 9-12 Concert Band, directed by Jace Stearn and Dylan Wiest, in the Grade 4 category.

    The Alberta Festival of Bands drew more than 150 bands from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

    In a Facebook message, Stetler said 51 bands performed in the Grade 1 category. He said the Okotoks middle school was one of two bands in that category made up of Grade 7 and 8 students, and credited school support and the middle school’s Grade 6 band start for helping students take part.

  • Foothills riders prepare for Diamond Valley and Stampede parades

    The team is looking to stirrup plenty of community support this summer.

    The Foothills County Riding Team is preparing for a busy summer parade season, beginning with the annual Diamond Valley Parade on Saturday.

    The team includes riders from a range of backgrounds, including law enforcement, health care and education. Twelve riders are expected to represent the Foothills in Diamond Valley before the group turns its attention to the Calgary Stampede Parade in early July.

    Kelly Hamzic, a longtime organizer and 15-year member of the team, said the group is built around volunteer commitment and a shared interest in representing the region at community events.

    Hamzic said the Diamond Valley entry will be larger than most equine groups in this year’s parade, with the team bringing about a dozen horses. She selects riders each year for appearances at regional events, including the Diamond Valley Parade, Santa Claus Parade, Okotoks Parade, Calgary Stampede Parade and Little Britches Parade.

    The Little Britches Parade was cancelled in mid-May because of weather, making Diamond Valley the team’s first summer parade of 2026.

    After Diamond Valley, the team is scheduled to appear in the Calgary Stampede Parade. Hamzic said horse entries for that parade are now invitational, with a limited number chosen each year.

    Team members volunteer their time and cover their own costs, including travel, lodging, horse stabling, food and fuel. Hamzic said one participant travels from the Edmonton area to ride with the group.

    Hamzic encouraged residents to attend the summer parades and support the local riders as they represent the Foothills across southern Alberta.

  • Okotoks swap event offers second use for clothing and sports gear

    This swap gives old gear a sporting chance.

    Okotoks residents can take part in a clothing and sports equipment swap on Sunday, June 7, as part of Environment Week.

    The event runs from noon to 4 p.m. at the Environmental Education Centre. Residents may drop off clean, gently used clothing and sports accessories at the Eco Centre until Saturday, June 6.

    Accepted clothing items include all sizes of outerwear, footwear, jewelry, bags, purses, backpacks and belts.

    Non-protective sports equipment can also be donated, including sticks, clubs, bats, racquets, balls, skates, cleats, bikes, gloves and snowboards.

    The town will not accept intimate items such as undergarments, socks or jock straps. Hockey pads, helmets and other protective equipment will also not be accepted.

    Items left after the swap will be donated to support local residents in need.

  • Heel & Hoof fundraiser market planned southwest of Okotoks

    Organizers are hoping the fundraiser gets plenty of neigh-bourly support.

    Heel & Hoof Horse Rescue is holding its second annual Spring Market on Saturday, June 6, to raise money for its horse rescue work southwest of Okotoks.

    The market runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 418113 16 St. W. The event will include local vendors, a garage and plant sale, a silent auction and opportunities to take photos with rescued horses.

    The non-profit, founded by Ruth McDonald, works with unwanted horses, including animals that were headed to slaughterhouses. The rescue helps horses regain health and become more comfortable around people before they are rehomed.

    Funds raised at the market will go toward the costs of feeding, housing, rehabilitating and rehoming horses in the rescue’s care.

    Vendors are expected to offer items such as homemade bread, candles, books, greeting cards, metal work, crystals, canned goods, horse-themed treats, shopping bags, jerky and pepperoni, essential oils, floral photo art, leather goods and equine supplements.

    Wild Rose Rabbit Rescue, which helps feral rabbits find homes, is also scheduled to attend.

  • Seniors’ Week events planned in Okotoks and High River

    The Foothills celebrations are shaping up to be a senior moment worth remembering.

    Seniors’ Week is underway in the Foothills, with activities scheduled In Okotoks and High River.

    Okotoks events begin June 1 with a free pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon at the Viking Rentals Centre. The event includes entertainment, line dancing and door prizes.

    The Okotoks Public Library will host several activities:

    • June 2: An Age-Friendly Speaker Series session with home care physician Dr. Charles Wong and a Sit and Knit gathering.
    • June 3: Coffee and Conversation.
    • June 4: A financial wellness session facilitated by ATB Wealth and an evening screening of A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood.

    Okotoks events conclude June 6 with the Heartland Community Tailgate Party from 1 to 4 p.m., featuring food, entertainment and activities.

    In High River, Music in the Park runs June 3 from 1 to 3 p.m. at George Lane Park. The free event includes music by the High River Jammers and a barbecue lunch fundraiser organized by the High River Hospital Auxiliary.

    On June 5, seniors can pick up fresh flowers at the High River Family and Community Support Services Resources Centre at 251 9th Ave. SW. The High River and District Seniors Friendship Centre is also hosting an afternoon high tea for members.

    The Seniors Showcase runs June 6 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It will bring together local organizations, wellness groups, emergency services, museums and retirement organizations to provide information about summer programs, events and services.

    The Town of High River and Foothills County are also presenting free movies at the Wales Theatre at 1:30 p.m. The first 50 seniors at each screening will receive a small popcorn and pop:

    • June 2: Rio Bravo
    • June 3: The Odd Couple, followed by a Seniors Movie and Film Tour at the Museum of the Highwood at 4 p.m.
    • June 4: Grease

  • Tributes shared for Okotoks teen Jasper DeBoer after fatal collision

    The community is stepping up to the plate for the DeBoer family.

    Okotoks residents and local organizations are sharing condolences following the death of 19-year-old Jasper DeBoer in a motorcycle collision on May 26.

    A GoFundMe organized by Carlin Lutzer to help the DeBoer family raised more than $14,000 within two days.

    The Foothills Minor Baseball Association shared condolences and noted the family’s long-standing involvement in Okotoks minor baseball. The association also remembered DeBoer as a member of the Okotoks Outlaws.

    Yooneek Books also posted a message of support for the family and shared the fundraiser.

    A celebration of life is scheduled for June 10 at 1 p.m. at the Viking Rentals Centre Events Hall. The family has asked that, instead of sending flowers, people consider donating in DeBoer’s memory to a charity of their choice or an organization supporting youth sports or outdoor activities.

    DeBoer is survived by his parents, Scott and Jen, and his brothers, Kruz, Rocky and Sonny.