Vacations are about relaxing, getting away from the grind of every-day life, and learning new things. A stay-cation gives you all of those benefits, plus you get to sleep in your own bed! Glenbow Ranch is providing some great opportunities to enjoy the end of the summer while sticking close to home. Read on to learn about the programs that are being offered, which you can use as stay-cation ideas at Glenbow Ranch!

Pond Exploration
August 6 – 10:00am – 12:00pm
Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park
Kids and adults alike will love the opportunity to explore the pond with nets and buckets. A simple prairie pond or slough is fully of tiny creatures! Remember to wear your rubber boots so you participate without getting your shoes wet.

Amazing Amphibians
August 7 – 11am – 1pm
Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park
The sound of frogs in the Park’s wetland areas is common. But how much do you actually know about the park’s amphibians? Spend a couple of hours at the park and learn some neat trivia about these amazing critters.

Breathtaking Birds
August 7 – 2pm – 4pm
Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park
You’ve probably looked up to the sky in wonder before as you watched birds fly. If you want to learn more about these amazing creatures, then join this program to learn what features and adaptations make birds different from all other animals.

Golf Cart Tours
EVERY DAY – all summer long!
Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park
Our final suggestion for stay-cation ideas at Glenbow Ranch is something you can do any day. These special tours are truly are a great way to enjoy your stay-cation. Sit back and relax as you enjoy some of Alberta’s most stunning scenery and listen to a guide sharing insightful tidbits about the park.

The 80th anniversary of the Ponoka Stampede was an action packed celebration. Our writer and rep Ray Johnson covered the event, which took place from June 27 – July 3. Check out the Box J Bar Ranch facebook page to view Ray’s photos and writeups about the Stampede.

Photo courtesy of Box J Bar Ranch

Courtesy of Box J Bar Ranch

Photo courtesy of Box J Bar Ranch

On June 30 Ray wrote, “Weather warnings, ominous clouds and nasty storms invade Alberta, but you can still enjoy the Ponoka Stampede. Lots of fun, Pro Rodeo, World Professional Chuckwagon races and midway.” Plus June 30 was also designated as kids day, making it the perfect time to bring the whole family. Dallas Smith provided music for the crowd in the evening, and there was also dancing in the Stagecoach Saloon. The evening ended with a spectacular fireworks display.

Courtesy of Box J Bar Ranch

It wasn’t only horses that were found at the Stampede – even a zebra made a debut!

Photo courtesy of Box J Bar Ranch

July 3 started with the opening ceremonies followed by the Bareback Bronc Riding event. All of the participants were competing for some amazing prizes. The winner of the Pony Chuckwagons received a payout of $10,000.00. As an exciting bonus, the Pro Rodeo Stampede Showdown also gave away $105,000.00 of bonus prize money! Colt Cosgrave won the World Professional Chuckwagons Tommy Dorchester Dash For Cash. The prize included a sweet $50,000.00 cheque from sponsor Trailblazer RV, a one year lease on a brand new GMC crew cab, a huge bronze sculpture and trophy buckles for himself and his Outriders.

Courtesy of Box J Bar Ranch

It’s never too early to book your tickets early for the 2017 Ponoka Stampede. A hard working committee is already planning another amazing event for next year, and 700 volunteers are sure to help make the 2017 Stampede a success!

Saddle Bronc riding – photo courtesy of Box J Bar Ranch

And although the 2016 Stampede has already passed, there is still plenty to do in Ponoka. Read this article Ray Johnson wrote about Ponoka that details some of the history and sights of this bustling town!

The Southern Alberta Land Trust Society has recently provided education on bear safety through two successful Bear Spray Workshops. Participants learned how to respond to bear encounters. One workshop took place at the Bar U Ranch and one took place in Beaver Mines. The Calgary Herald recently published a video about the workshops which featured Mike Gibeau practicing his “spraying” along with Glen (SALTS’ stewardship coordinator husband).

Screenshot from Calgary Herald video about bear safety workshops

Although spraying bears won’t prevent problems in all cases, studies have shown it has stopped aggressive bear behavior more than 90 percent of the time. In the video Jay Honeyman of Alberta Environment and Parks reminds viewers that they can just enjoy the moment if they spot a bear from a distance. Action only needs to be taken if the bear interaction is not benign.

Screenshot from Calgary Herald video about bear safety workshops

The Bear Spray Workshop in the MD of Bighorn had to be postponed but will take place in the fall 2016. Contact the Southern Alberta Land Trust Society if you are interested in participating in this workshop.

Screenshot from Calgary Herald video about bear safety workshops

Click here to view the Calgary Herald article with the embedded video demonstrating bear spraying.

You’re invited to participate in the 9th annual Motorcycle Ride for Dad on June 18 – this Saturday – in Calgary. The ride raises funds to fight prostate cancer through research and education. The organization has donated more than $15,000,000.00 to the cause and has sponsored prostate cancer testing for over 1,500 men at various events in our city.  All of the money that the riders raise stays here in Calgary.

HWY 22x

Longview stop

Many men will have the opportunity to have free prostate cancer testing Man Van™ events throughout the city, which raise awareness and bringing the PSA testing out to where the men are. The Calgary Chapter will sponsor 10 Man Van™ events in 2016. The van has been operated by the Prostate Cancer Centre since 2009, and offers free Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood tests to men over 40 years old. PSA is a protein produced by prostate cells and can assist in the diagnosis of the cancer.

This year’s Motorcycle Ride for Dad will last approximately 2.5 – 3 Hours. It will begin with a parade of motorcycles escorted by the Calgary Police Service through the city, followed by a scenic country poker tour.  Afterward, riders can enjoy a live & silent auction, door prizes, awards and a BBQ at the Springbank Park For All Seasons Community Centre 32224A Springbank Rd.

Springbank

In 2014 over 600 riders participated in the 8th “Motorcycle Ride for Dad.” Last year 430 riders attended and raised $55,275 for the Prostate Cancer Institute in Calgary. You can make this year’s event another success by participating in the ride or by helping to raise funds. Corporate sponsorships, donations in kind, auction items or prizes are all appreciated.

You can register online at www.ridefordad.ca. Alternatively, you can register on site today (Friday June 17th) from 5:30 pm or register before the race tomorrow (Saturday, June 18th) starting at 8:30 am. The cost for riders is $30 which includes your BBQ ticket. You can also create your own team and register online to raise funds for the ride. Registered participants will receive a chance to win a custom motorcycle, valued at $124,000, for every $200 in donations raised!

The ride will be departing from the First Alliance Church parking lot at 10:30 am Saturday, June 18th.

For more information, visit the Ride for Dad website or contact one of the executives:

Steve Adair, Co-Chair 2016, 403-369-0044, esucal@gmail.com

Blair Nicholls, Co-Chair 2016 403-612-3301, Blair.mrfd@gmail.com

Ron Parkinson, Sponsorship 2016, 403-815-4424, ron.parkinson001@gmail.com

David Saxby, Sponsorship, 403 585-9870, davidsparkcom@gmail.com

Our Central Alberta Rep, Ray Johnson sent us the following note. The 2016-2017 Experience the Cowboy Trail (ECT) guide was a hit with Leduc Black Gold Rodeo attendees! 

It was a busy weekend with the Leduc Black Gold Rodeo and the trade show in town.

We delivered 525 ECT via the Ticket sales desk, the Rodeo volunteer and information desk, a booth in the trade show and the contestants registration and entry fee desk.

Leduc Black Gold Rodeo Ticket Sales Desk

For three days ECT was given out to contestants, locals and tourists as it was the prominent publication on all four desks.  I spent some time with the people that were handing out the magazines and gave an overview of what ECT is all about, so people picking it up had an idea of what to expect.

Leduc Black Gold Rodeo Trade Show Booth

They were a huge hit, extremely popular and flew out the door like “hotcakes.”  I have included some photos for the record.

Leduc Black Gold Rodeo Volunteer Desk

Ray Johnson

Howdy, the first three stops on my 2016 Cowboy Trail Tour were terrific. The first day, I spent the afternoon with the fine folks at the Galt Historic Railway Park just north of the U.S. border in Sterling Alberta.

What’s fantastic is that they moved the original 1890 train station found on the Canadian/U.S. border and turned it into a terrific museum! Also, I learned that the inmates from the Lethbridge Correctional Services helped with lots of the work to make it happen! I plan to write a song about the great historic station and sing it for the inmates in Lethbridge, something one of my heroes Johnny Cash did!

Second stop the following night, I was joined by my Dusty Saddle Gang band in the heart of the Cowboy Trail in Turner Valley! What made the packed event that much more special was that the band performed at the Grand Opening of the Country Store Diner! Lots of highlights but performing my crowd pleasing song “We Got Oil” that features Turner Valley’s May 14th, 1914 oil discovery was one of my favorites, apart from the great cake Curtis the owner of Country Store Diner served up to an appreciative crowd!

Third stop, which was slightly off the Cowboy Trail, saw me performing on the Aspen Crossing Train for a three hour sunset journey!  The hospitality of Jason and his crew in Mossleigh was fabulous and the train robbers added some great action to the terrific evening on the historic train ride! One of the many highlights was performing my Cowboy Trail Song joined by the sheriffs on the train!

Until next time HAPPY TRAILS from Alberta’s History Wrangler

Rob Lennard, also known as “the History Wrangler,” combines his passion for Alberta history with his love of entertaining. He provides memorable experiences as he educates audience members throughout Alberta about the province’s history.

The History Wrangler’s “Cowboy Trail 2016 tour” kicked off today at the Galt Historic Railway Park. Rob Lennard (a.k.a. the History Wrangler) captivates audiences by using his music, singing, and songwriting skills to bring history to life. He’s also an award winning historical fiction writer. His performances feature classic western songs from Johnny Cash and others, historically based songs, and fascinating stories of the role of railways in Alberta.

On Thursday night the History Wrangler will perform in the heart of the Cowboy Trail in Turner Valley with his Dusty Saddle Gang Band. The he’ll perform on a 3 hour train ride on Friday! It’s sure to be a busy and fun season. We hope you can make it to one of the performances!

For over 20 years the Canmore Mountain Market has offered a variety of locally and regionally produced items. The 2016 season starts next Thursday!

The Canmore Mountain Market will be open on Thursdays May 26 – October 6, 2016, rain or shine. The market is located at Civic Centre Plaza on 7th Avenue and will be open from 10am – 6 pm on Thursdays. As you stroll among the stalls and greet neighbors you’ll hear live music being softly played. To top it off, the Rocky Mountains are the backdrop of this special shopping venue. Stop by for lunch or a snack on Thursdays.

When you shop at the Canmore Mountain Market you’ll be supporting local businesses and enjoying the opportunity to purchase unique items. Browse fresh organic food, cedar furniture, delectable sweet treats, wearable art, and much more. Click here for the complete list of vendors. (There are over five dozen vendors this year!)

And for some more Kananaskis Country news. . . Boundary Ranch is now open for the season! You can book trail rides, whitewater rafting, hikes, and more through Boundary Ranch.

The following story about exploring Kananaskis Country by Bike is written by Tanya Koob, one of our regular contributors. She also blogs at www.rockiesfamilyadventures.com.

I’ve hiked most of the popular trails in Kananaskis along with many of the hidden gems as well. Biking some of these same trails though is a new activity for me and I owe my love for mountain biking to my six year old son. Until recently, I hadn’t ridden a bike since I was a child and I’m pretty sure that bike had brightly coloured tassels and a banana seat. Things changed quickly however when I discovered how much my son, three at the time, absolutely loved riding his little balance bike. He rode a bright orange Strider bike without pedals and could fly down hills faster than I could run. He was fearless on this little beginner bike and we soon started bringing it on our mountain hikes to lengthen how far we could go in a day. Suddenly the old gravel road into Watridge Lake became a sweet little bike ride and completely doable by a young child who would never have hiked 7 km on his own steam.

The Best Easy Bike Trails in Kananaskis for Families and Novice Riders

Watridge Lake – 7.5 km round trip from the Mount Shark Trailhead off Hwy 742 (the Smith Dorrien Trail out of Canmore.) Expect easy double track riding on a wide gravel road that serves as a cross-country ski trail in winter. What this trail lacks in excitement, it makes up for in destination. Watridge Lake is a beautiful spot for a lunch break after a fun family-friendly bike ride. Expect a few rough sections and a couple of steep hills but fit parents could pull tots in a bike trailer or Chariot on this trail. Extend the trip with an easy hike up to Karst Spring where you can see water shoot out of a hole in the rock. Complete round trip distance including the hike is 9 km and bikes should be left at the lake while you hike to the spring.

Watridge Lake

The Paved Bike Trails of Peter Lougheed Provincial Park – 12 km one way on the Lodgepole, Wheeler, and Lakeside trails of Peter Lougheed Provincial Park off of Hwy 40.   The three trails above are paved with gradual hills that most children should have few problems with.  The odd steep hill can be walked and there are good signs in place when approaching a big hill. We like to get on the bike trails at the Boulton Creek Campground and ride one way to the Canyon Campground (mostly downhill riding) with a second vehicle waiting at the end. There’s a playground at Canyon and a fun little interpretive hiking trail that can be done if you’re waiting for somebody to go back for the car. Both can be found in the B Loop which is accessed by riding down the campground road from the bike trail. These trails are all great for families using a bike trailer for young tots and kids could be motivated to bike uphill towards Boulton Creek with a reward of ice-cream from the Trading Post.

Peter Lougheed Provincial Park Bike Trails

Troll Falls – 3.2 km loop from the Stoney Trailhead near Kananaskis Village off of Hwy 40. Expect easy double track riding on wide cross-country ski trails. While most people hike this trail, we have found it to be an amazing family bike ride with some fun hills, a scenic ride through Hay Meadow, and a great destination to a set of waterfalls. For a trip that feels more down than up, ride through Hay Meadow first and make your way over to Troll Falls (parking your bikes for the final 0.3 km hike to the falls). From the Troll Falls Junction, take the Troll Falls Trail back to the Stoney Trailhead parking lot. Young kids may have to walk one hill in the upward direction on the Troll Falls Trail but most of the ride is easy coasting downhill to the car. And if your family likes geocaching, don’t forget the GPS along with some fun trinkets to trade. This loop is full of caches. For families with young tots, you can also use a bike trailer or Chariot for this ride.

Troll Falls and Hay Meadow

The Bill Milne Paved Bike Trail – 9.7 km one way from Kananaskis Village off of Hwy 40 to Wedge Pond further down the highway. You can avoid the big hill down from the Village by starting at the Kovach Day Use Area by the highway below. We rode the 17 km return distance between the Kovach Day Use Area and Wedge Pond at the far end in less than 2 hours at the pace of a 6 year old so it’s fair to say that it’s easy riding. The trail climbs very gradually from the Kovach Day Use Area to Wedge Pond with a big hill that can be walked near the pond. The return is fast and young kids would enjoy doing the trail one-way in the downhill direction with a shuttle. Since this trail is paved, it is ideal for families pulling bike trailers or even for children just learning to ride. And make sure you visit the Village after for some ice-cream or for coffee and pastries from the café in the Delta Lodge.

Bill Milne Trail

Banff Trail at the Canmore Nordic Centre– 6 km round trip to the meadow and back from the Canmore Nordic Centre Day Lodge located just outside of Canmore off Hwy 742 (the Smith Dorrien Trail). Expect easy double track riding with a few hills that can be walked by young children on this wide cross-country ski trail that parallels the paved Roller Skiing trail. Single track trails depart from the main Banff Trail for those wanting more excitement and the green loop is only 2 km in distance. We like biking to the meadow for a picnic before heading back to the day lodge. As with the other trails above, Banff Trail is Chariot or bike trailer-friendly.

The Canmore Town Trails – 13-15 km of riding on easy gravel trails around the town of Canmore. Pick up a map of the town trails from the Canmore Visitor Center on 7^th Avenue and then head out to explore! We love the Blue Activity Loop (3.1 km) and my son loves riding over Engine Bridge. For a longer ride, we usually tackle the Green Activity Loop for another 4.4 km starting at Engine Bridge. Other highlights are the Millennium Park Pump Track and the West Canmore Playground. You can park at Millennium Park and ride to the playground in an easy 3 km round trip distance. All trails are gradual with minimum height gain as long as you stay down near the river. Trails are bike trailer-friendly and great for beginner riders.

Canmore Nordic Centre

Canmore Trails

Biking – Engine Bridge

Looking for More Challenge? The West Bragg Creek Trails are where it’s at for adults who want to explore Kananaskis by bike and can handle some challenging hills, single track riding, and rougher terrain. Contact the Elbow Valley Visitor Information Centre for maps and trail information.

Advanced riders will also find what they are looking for at the Canmore Nordic Centre once you get off of the main Banff Trail.

Bike Rentals – Bikes and bike trailers can be rented from Trail Sports at the Canmore Nordic Centre or from Kananaskis Outfitters at the Kananaskis Village Centre. There are also rental shops in Canmore if you want to transport your bike to another trailhead.

I can’t wait to meet you on the trails this summer! I’ll be pedalling like a mad woman trying to keep up to my soon-to-be 7 year old and you’ll hear us screaming as we fly down the hills and scare all the bears away for you.

By Tanya Koob

The second installment of our “Films of the Cowboy Trail” series doesn’t actually cover a film. Instead, we’ll be focusing on the TV series “Fargo.” View the trailer below, and then read on to learn more.

Parts of the TV series Fargo were filmed just west of Calgary at the CL Ranch, which has created a fully stocked rustic western town as a permanent movie set. The property includes creek frontage with an ancient evergreen forest, ponds, rolling hills, and open grasslands at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. The location is forty minutes from downtown and fifteen minutes from Springbank airport.

FARGO — “Before The Law” — Episode 202 (Aired October 19, 10:00 pm e/p) Pictured: (l-r) Jesse Plemons as Ed Blumquist, Kirsten Dunst as Peggy Blumquist.
CR: Chris Large/FX

Season 2 was filmed entirely in Alberta —  Didsbury, Fort Macleod, High River. The Waffle Hut was built on the CL Ranch. Areas of Kensington and Calgary’s downtown were also used to portray Kansas City, Luverne and Sioux Falls, South Dakota in Season 2.

FARGO — “Before The Law” — Episode 202 (Aired October 19, 10:00 pm e/p) Pictured: Ted Danson as Hank Larsson.
CR: Chris Large/FX

Calgary’s rugged winters created an ideal setting for the Fargo episodes, which take place in and around frozen Minnesota. Each season includes intrigue, murder, sleuthing, and dark humor. The small-town, innocent characters must grapple with the gruesome violence they face. The show is inspired by the 1996 film “Fargo,” written and directed by the Coen brothers.

FARGO — “Before The Law” — Episode 202 (Aired October 19, 10:00 pm e/p) Pictured: Cristin Milioti as Betsey Solverson. CR: Chris Large/FX

Each season of Fargo features a new cast and is set in a different time frame. The first season premiered in April 2014 and was set in 2006. The second season premiered in October 2015 and was set in 1979.

FARGO — “Fear and Trembling” — Episode 204 (Aired November 2, 10:00 pm e/p) Pictured: (l-r) Kirsten Dunst as Peggy Blumquist, Jesse Plemons as Ed Blumquist.
CR: Chris Large/FX

Although dark, this unique drama has received multiple awards. It won the Emmy Awards for Outstanding Miniseries, Outstanding Directing and Outstanding Casting. It also received fifteen additional nominations including Outstanding Writing, another Outstanding Directing nomination, and acting nominations for Thornton, Tolman, Hanks, and Freeman. Plus, Fargo won the Golden Globe Awards for Best Miniseries or Television Film and Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film for Thornton.

You can find season 1 of Fargo on shomi.

FARGO — “Before The Law” — Episode 202 (Aired October 19, 10:00 pm e/p) Pictured: Patrick Wilson as Lou Solverson. CR: Chris Large/FX