okotoks.news

Tag: Events

  • Okotoks hosts second annual competition powwow

    The weekend gave Okotoks plenty to drum up community spirit.

    Hundreds of people gathered at the Viking Rentals Centre in Okotoks for the town’s second annual competition powwow.

    The two-day event featured dance and drum contests celebrating Indigenous culture and identity. Dance categories ranged from Tiny Tots to Golden Age competitors 55 and older.

    The drum competition awarded $12,000 for first place, $9,000 for second place and $7,000 for third place. Motown from Red Lake, Minnesota, served as the host drum for the weekend.

    During Saturday’s supper break, an Indigenous high school graduation ceremony was held in partnership with the Foothills School Division. An Indigenous auction was also held Sunday before the second day’s grand entry.

    The Town of Okotoks said the powwow, held shortly before National Indigenous History Month begins in June, reflects its commitment to Truth and Reconciliation.

  • The Town’s Annual Powwow, Tipi Camp & All-Indigenous Artisan Market return to Okotoks this weekend!

    The artisan market is a fitting place to drum up support for Indigenous creators.

    Indigenous culture, art, music and tradition are taking centre stage in Okotoks this weekend as the Town’s annual Powwow, Tipi Camp and All-Indigenous Artisan Market continues through Sunday, May 31.

    The free event is being held at the Viking Rentals Centre, 204 Community Way. The Powwow and artisan market are indoors in the Infinity Paving Arena and Events Hall. The Tipi Camp is behind the facility in Howard Park, 229 Woodhaven Drive.

    Sunday’s schedule includes the All-Indigenous Artisan Market from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the Competition Powwow, with Grand Entry at 1 p.m.

    The event reflects the Town’s Truth and Reconciliation efforts and honours the ceremonial transfer of a Blackfoot-style painted lodge to Mayor Tanya Thorn and Chief Administrative Officer Elaine Vincent by Blackfoot Elders and Knowledge Keepers on June 3, 2023. That transfer also marked the introduction of the Town’s first Tipi Camp and All-Indigenous Artisan Market, known as Iitohpoom’op, a Blackfoot word meaning “store.” The program expanded to include a competition Powwow in 2025.

    Visitors can watch dancers and drummers, hear live music, shop for handcrafted goods from Indigenous artisans and purchase food and beverages inside the facility or from food trucks at the north end of the parking lot.

    On-site parking is available in front of the arena and events hall. Overflow parking is available at Foothills Composite High School.

  • Environment Week in Okotoks: Learn, repair, swap and explore

    Okotoks residents have plenty of opportunities to turn over a new leaf during Environment Week.

    Okotoks residents can take part in free activities for all ages during Environment Week from June 1 to 8, with events focused on nature, waste reduction, reuse and repair.

    The Town of Okotoks is hosting the following activities:

    Trash to Treasure – Recycled Art Creations runs June 3 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Environmental Education Centre, 1118 North Railway Street. Participants will create mixed-media artwork using recycled materials while learning how to keep resources in use longer. Space is limited and registration is required.

    Nature Friday takes place June 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Residents can celebrate World Environment Day by making nature-inspired letters from compostable materials.

    Document Shredding is available June 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Okotoks Operations Centre parking lot at 1118 North Railway Street. Residents can securely shred and recycle sensitive documents, with a limit of three boxes per household.

    A Repair Café runs June 6 from noon to 4 p.m. in the Olympic Room at the Viking Rentals Centre, 204 Community Way. Volunteers will help repair household items, small appliances, electronics, clothing and other items to extend their useful life and keep them out of the landfill.

    A Clothing and Sports Equipment Swap will be held June 7 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Environmental Education Centre. Residents can bring clean, gently used clothing, shoes and accessories for all ages. The swap has expanded this year to include sports equipment such as sticks, bats, racquets, skates, bikes, skis and snowboards. Undergarments, intimates, helmets and protective gear will not be accepted. Advance drop-off is available from June 2 to 6 at the Eco Centre.

    Throughout the week, residents can join the Environment Week BioBlitz by photographing animals, insects, plants or fungi in Okotoks and sharing their observations through the iNaturalist app. The records will help the scientific community better understand local biodiversity and support nature protection.

    Full details are available at okotoks.ca/Environment-Week.

    Canadian Environment Week was established in 1971 to celebrate environmental accomplishments and encourage conservation.

  • Bonus Bid Online Auction ends today!

    It is time to make a bid farewell.

    The OkotoksOnline Bonus Bid Online Auction ends today, May 31. Every item starts at 70 per cent off its retail price. Residents can browse the available items and place bids before the auction closes.

  • McHappy Day returns May 6 to support Ronald McDonald House and local charities

    Every order on McHappy Day can help serve up support for families.

    McHappy Day returns Wednesday, May 6, with a portion of all McDonald’s food and beverage sales supporting Ronald McDonald House Charities and other local children’s charities.

    Orders placed in person, online or through delivery services will count. McDelivery orders made through the McDonald’s app, DoorDash, Skip and Uber Eats will have a $0 delivery fee across Canada that day, although service fees still apply.

    Terry Van Veen with The Eagle 100.9 will broadcast live from the McDonald’s location at 600 Big Rock Lane in Okotoks from 9 a.m. to noon.

    Okotoks staff raised more than $36,000 during last year’s event.

    Ronald McDonald House Alberta operates houses in Calgary, Edmonton, Medicine Hat and Red Deer. The organization supported families from nearly 345 communities last year. The Calgary House expanded in 2025 to 91 bedrooms, making it the largest Ronald McDonald House in Canada.

    Across 32 McHappy Day events, more than $111.3 million has been raised to support families accessing medical care for their children.

  • Art, culture and community on display at Indigenous Artisan Market in Okotoks

    The market gave local shoppers an artful way to bead part of the community.

    Okotoks welcomed the fourth annual Iitohpoom’op Indigenous Artisan Market at the Viking Rentals Centre Event Centre on Saturday.

    More than 49 Indigenous, First Nations and Métis artists and creators from across Canada sold crafts and artwork, with proceeds going directly to the creators. Shoppers browsed clothing, paintings, jewelry, toys, soaps and other handmade goods while Okotoks musician Brettyn Rose performed live.

    The market ran alongside a powwow in the Viking Rentals Centre’s Infinity Paving Arena.

    Held just before National Indigenous History Month begins in June, the annual market is part of the Town of Okotoks’ commitment to advancing Truth and Reconciliation through the celebration of Indigenous art and culture.

  • Okotoks youth get hands-on with traditional tipi building

    The young participants had a pole lot to learn.

    Local youth learned how to raise a tipi during the Mini Tipi Camp Races at Howard Park North Soccer Field in Okotoks on Saturday.

    The activity was part of the town’s annual Powwow, All-Indigenous Artisan Market and Tipi Camp. The Tipi Camp ran from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

    Participants learned how to set up and secure the poles, place the covering, hammer in support pegs and take the structure down afterward.

    Traditionally built with wooden poles and bison-hide coverings, tipis continue to hold cultural significance for many Indigenous Peoples. The activity helped pass the tradition on to younger generations.