Places & Spaces: Heritage Acres Farm Museum

Town and MD approve $467,255 for six community groups

Written on September 23, 2026. Posted in Civic & Government.

Six local organizations will receive a combined $467,255 in 2026 funding from the Town and Municipal District of Pincher Creek after councils reviewed their requests at a special joint budget meeting Sept. 9.

Funding amounts are split equally between the town and MD.

The meeting also prompted a push to rethink the joint budget process, after councillors questioned whether recurring recipients should be treated as ongoing budget lines and raised concerns about incomplete financial information.

Councils also approved 2027 per-capita grants for 21 community groups.

Pincher Creek Municipal Library

The largest allocation is $285,000 for the library.

The library requested a 7.5 per cent increase in its municipal funding for 2027, followed by annual increases of five per cent from 2028 through 2030.

Representatives told councillors library visits are up an average of 10 per cent since 2022 and cardholders by six per cent. Programming sessions are up 25 per cent and participation is up 20 per cent over the same period.

The library also highlighted expanded programming, a reorganized children’s section and a partnership with United for Literacy. It would like to use the former Consistent Fitness space in the multipurpose facility for programming.

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Library board members asked why they had not heard back on three expansion options presented months ago. Town officials said they cannot afford the $4 million originally sought from the town but are open to a lower-cost option.

Grant specialist

The Southwest Alberta Sustainable Community Initiative will receive $80,000 for its grant specialist position.

SASCI representatives said the program has helped secure $13.2 million in funding since it began in 2018.

The grant writer applied for $2.1 million and obtained $1.12 million in funding for 2025.

Humane society

The Pincher Creek Humane Society will receive $40,000. The shelter helped 276 animals in 2025.

The organization said veterinary costs are its largest expense at about $100,000 annually. It is exploring an in-house veterinary service to reduce those costs.

Heritage Acres

The Oldman River Antique Equipment and Threshing Club, which runs Heritage Acres Farm Museum, will receive $35,000.

The group had asked for $200,000 for redevelopment, conditional on securing more funding to hire staff. The club said the $200,000 would help unlock matching grants rather than cover operating costs.

Event poster for a Secondhand Dreamcar concert at the Empress Theatre on November 20, 2026, at 7:30 PM, featuring a photo of the band members.

Heritage Acres representatives said gate admissions for the museum’s annual show increased 64 per cent over the previous year.

The funding motion included an offer of a letter of support and future case-by-case funding talks.

Search and rescue

The Southwest Alberta Regional Search and Rescue Society will receive $22,255. The society’s 30 members have volunteered more than 2,600 hours, not including administration and equipment maintenance.

The group responded to 22 call-outs in the previous 12 months, including incidents requiring helicopter and long-line rescue resources.

Historical society

The Pincher Creek and District Historical Society, which runs Kootenai Brown Historical Park, will receive $5,000.

Council members said incomplete financial information from the society made it difficult to make decisions involving taxpayer funds.

The society’s board president said there was confusion over what financial information had been requested and what had been submitted.

Joint grants under review

The councils directed the joint grant subcommittee to review the history of the six organizations included in the joint budget and develop a policy and framework for the process. Councillors also raised concerns about financial reporting from some organizations.

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Councillors said joint grants are discretionary and do not guarantee ongoing funding. The review is intended to clarify how organizations become part of the joint budget and how future requests should be assessed.

Per-capita grants

For 2027, councils also approved per-capita funding for 21 community organizations:

—Syncline Castle Alpine Trails Association, $380

—McMan Youth, Family and Community Services Association, $500

—Pincher Creek Dolphins Swim Club, $1,500

—Five-Pin Bowling Association, $2,000

—Pincher Creek Mustangs Football Club, $2,000

—Windsor Heritage Drop-In Centre, $2,000

—Coalfields Community Centre, $2,500

—The Cowboy Show, $2,500

—Group Group Youth Society of Pincher Creek, $2,500

—Adaptable Outdoors, $3,000

—Pincher Creek and District Agricultural Society, $4,000

—Pincher Creek Care Bears Society, $5,000

—Pincher Creek Royal Canadian Legion Branch 43, $5,000

—Pincher Planters $5,000

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—SASCI, $5,000

—Pincher Creek and District Community Food Centre, $7,160

—Pincher Creek and District Chamber of Commerce, $7,500

—Community Hall, $15,000

—Pincher Creek Handi-Bus Society, $15,000

—Allied Arts Council of Pincher Creek, $20,000

—Pincher Creek Family Centre, $30,000

Correction: A Sept. 23 version of this story incorrectly reported that overall attendance at Heritage Acres Farm Museum rose 64 per cent over the previous year. The 64 per cent increase was in gate admissions for the museum’s annual show.

From Mounties to Mountains grows to 25 years of regional collaboration

Written on July 4, 2026. Posted in Business & Economy, Community Life.

“I never miss an AGM. Alberta SouthWest is the most important organization in the region,” said the mayor of Nanton, Jennifer Handley, referencing the Alberta SouthWest Regional Alliance and its June 3 annual general meeting.

The organization is the original on which eight other alliances across the province were modelled. Each brings together municipal governments, non-profits, businesses and other organizations to promote economic and tourism activities. AlbertaSW stretches from Nanton to Cardston to Crowsnest Pass.

Speakers at this year’s AGM paid tribute to the people who have made the alliance’s work possible for a quarter-century, in particular thanking executive director Beverly Thornton for her leadership.

Alberta SouthWest is a driving force in attracting tourists, entrepreneurs and investors to the region. With its unique landscapes and mix of industry, people and resources, the area attracts people interested in sustainable economic development, community growth and wealth generation.

Following a dinner served in the Zoeteman-Vogelaar Dairy Barn at Heritage Acres Farm Museum, former Pincher Creek mayor Art Bonertz outlined the early days of the alliance.

“People refer to me as the instigator for getting things going,” he said.

As newly elected mayor, Bonertz called local businesspeople and asked, “What can Pincher Creek do to help you guys succeed?”

In 2001, he also reached out to elected officials in Fort Macleod, asking what would happen if both towns pooled their tourism budgets. This led to a series of partnerships and production of a promotional brochure for the entire southwestern region, a project matched by provincial funds.

Poster for Pincher Creek Chamber’s 31st Annual Awards of Excellence on October 23, 2026. Ticket prices and event details are listed, with a link for tickets at PincherChamber.ca/tickets.

The communities involved at the time were Pincher Creek, Crowsnest Pass, Fort Macleod, Cardston and Claresholm.

By 2003, 11 communities had signed the joint-venture agreement running under the name From Mounties to Mountains Economic Regional Initiative. The name Alberta SouthWest was suggested in 2005 by John Irwin, then mayor of Crowsnest Pass.

The Reel Adventures Alberta Movie Map Project launched in 2007. It serves a dual purpose — attracting filmmakers to the area and allowing moviegoers to follow the steps of their favourite on-screen characters across the regional landscape.

Bonertz said the five communities that signed the original memorandum of understanding in 2001 started by looking for “low-hanging fruit,” carrying out simple actions that promoted municipalities while saving money. Regional business licences were also established to support more than 350 businesses.

Bonertz encouraged current leaders to continue collaborating.

“I don’t think there has ever been a time when we needed each other more,” he said.

Mickey Vallee addresses AlbertaSW members gathered in the loft at Heritage Acres Farm Museum.

Speaking to a full loft in the Z-V Barn, Heritage Acres executive director Mickey Vallee welcomes everyone to the farm museum.

Livingstone-Macleod MLA Chelsae Petrovic speaks during the AlbertaSW annual general meeting.

Livingstone-Macleod MLA Chelsae Petrovic thanks members of AlbertaSW for their leadership.

Sahra Nodge presents a bouquet to Beverly Thornton while AlbertaSW executive members stand nearby.

As members of the AlbertaSW executive look on, secretary-treasurer Sahra Nodge presents a thank-you bouquet to longtime executive director Bev Thornton.

Shawn Patience, former Fort Macleod mayor, echoed the sentiment. He remembers being elected to council in 1989, when local governments rarely spoke to one another.

Working through AlbertaSW taught him “it is to our benefit to work together,” he said. “We are not competitors, we are allies.”

Informal conversations over dinner indicated how much attendees appreciate the opportunity to gather.

Today, AlbertaSW brings together municipal staff and elected officials from Glenwood, Hill Spring and Cowley with those from organizations like Heritage Crowsnest, Alberta Innovates, the Regional Innovation Network of Southern Alberta and many others.

Sahra Nodge, a Pincher Creek town councillor, was reconfirmed as secretary-treasurer, with Fort Macleod Mayor Brent Feyter continuing as chair and Claresholm Mayor Brad Schlossberger as vice-chair.

Livingstone-Macleod MLA Chelsae Petrovic said, “Getting this many people and players organized for 25 years is no small feat.”

Great ideas, she said, come directly from people who understand what is needed in communities and who work to make things happen.

“That kind of insight is invaluable,” she said.

Guest presenters shared examples of projects they are working on.

Brad Donaldson, president and CEO of Lethbridge Polytechnic, referenced his school’s motto: Preparing Learners, Shaping Communities. He explained how recent modernization work supports the school’s new course offerings.

By adding 23 programs, including pre-veterinary medicine, the polytechnic is helping young people access educational opportunities locally so they can build careers in the region, rather than going to larger cities for schooling and settling far from home.

Sean Miles, director of investment development for AlbertaSW, put it this way: “I consider myself a possibilist. I consider what I can do.”

That pragmatic can-do attitude has served the regional alliance well for 25 years and carries forward.

Anniversaries, economic development, Tourism

A bee gathers nectar from a pink Morden Centennial rose as an ant stands nearby.

The small workers behind Alberta’s 40 million pounds of honey

Written on July 4, 2026. Posted in Agriculture & Rural Life, Environment.

One-third of the global food supply is pollinated by non-native honeybees, a fact that becomes easy to appreciate once you understand how much these small workers carry.

That was among lessons Calgary gardener Sheryl Normandeau shared May 28 in the gardening speaker series hosted by Pincher Creek Municipal Library.

While honeybees are kept in hives, registered to either commercial or hobby beekeepers, native bees nest on their own. Together, they are the workhorses that ensure flowering plants turn into seeds, grains, berries, fruits and many vegetables.

Without a strong bee population, animal and human life would be severely disrupted. Ants, beetles, butterflies, hummingbirds and other lesser-known pollinators would not be able to keep up.

Among native bees, Normandeau said, it is the females that build the nests in the ground or in decaying trees and gather the pollen that feeds the larvae when they hatch. This begins when the willow trees bloom — their shimmering green and yellow catkins are often the only food source for native bees in early spring, until other plants start blooming.

As bees fly from flower to flower to gather pollen, they spread small amounts of pollen caught on tiny hairs on their bodies. Plants as diverse as canola, cranberries, apples and broccoli all require cross-pollination for successful production.

Normandeau referenced the Alberta Native Bee Council and its mission to promote conservation and enhancement of native pollinators and their habitats. The council has noted that of the 903 species of native bees across Canada, 375 can be found in Alberta.

The council works with the Agroforestry and Woodlot Extension Society to build capacity and expand knowledge about native plants that are particularly appealing to pollinators.

Ace of spades card on ad for Chase the Ace at the Pincher Creek Legion

The Alberta Beekeepers Commission notes Alberta is home to more than 150 commercial beekeepers, including the Liquid Gold Honey Co. of Cayley.

Collectively, they manage more than 315,000 honeybee colonies and produce more than 40 million pounds of honey each year. That makes Alberta the largest honey-producing province in Canada and the third-largest in North America.

Small-scale local hobby beekeepers may set up only one or two hives, simply out of fascination with these creatures that carry out so many different tasks. They make the wax that builds the combs that hold the honey and hunt for flower nectar, swallowing it into their special honey stomachs and taking it back to the hive, where other specialized bees remove the moisture so that it can be better preserved.

A hobby beekeeper holds up a frame taken from the centre of a hive. The yellow sections near the left are honeycomb cells already filled with honey and sealed with wax. | Photo by Jan Frith

One tactic is to have hundreds of bees fan their wings in unison to help remove moisture from the nectar. The resulting honey is then stored in the honeycombs and keeps the bees alive until the next season’s blossoms appear.

The fewer flowers and the less nectar, the farther bees must fly to hunt for food, and the more plant fertilization and food production are threatened. At these times, beekeepers may provide sugar-water mixes to help keep the bees fed.

Motorists may notice, at times, that hives in fields alongside the highway are set only two boxes high, while later in the season they appear taller. Beekeepers wait until the bees have filled the lower two boxes with honey. The bees use these for their own needs over the winter. Honey deposited in the third and higher boxes is considered surplus and can be harvested.

For those whose curiosity is piqued, there’s a chance to learn more on July 4, when Heritage Acres Farm Museum hosts a hands-on honeybee demonstration.

Kathryn Knowles, a master’s student at the University of Lethbridge, will speak at 10 a.m., followed by a live demonstration of hives located on the museum grounds.

An older couple smiles while leaning on a wooden railing outdoors, above text describing their $879 profit share from Vision Credit Union and a website link.

Preregistration and proper footwear are required. More information can be found at bit.ly/3SCUUh9.

Beekeeping, bees, Honeybees, Native Bees, pollinators

Graphic with the text "Municipal News from the MD of Pincher Creek" across the top, featuring an image of large windmills in a field with mountains in the background.

News briefs from May 26 MD of Pincher Creek council table

Written on June 10, 2026. Posted in Civic & Government, Environment.

Municipal District of Pincher Creek council heard updates on a proposed water management approach linked to Northback Holdings and made several decisions on local infrastructure and community funding during its May 26 committee and regular meetings.

Highlights included approval of emergency bridge repairs near Connelly Creek, the defeat of a Fish Lake pumping proposal and the acknowledgment of a conservation easement notice from the Southern Alberta Land Trust Society.

Northback outlines revised water management approach

Mike Young, chief executive officer of Northback Holdings, presented updates to the company’s water management plans tied to its proposed coal mine development. He told council Northback has revised its approach in response to changes made to the final terms of reference and its term licence Water Act application.

Young said the revised approach removes any direct water withdrawal from creeks or streams. Instead, Northback would meet operational water needs using precipitation captured on-site and water generated through mine dewatering processes, which involve removing water during mining operations.

Water would be collected and stored in dams during precipitation events and seasonal freshet flows, and Young described the model as similar to water storage approaches used in Alberta’s irrigation systems. Because the collected water would be stored and used under this system, it would still require licensing under Alberta’s water allocation framework.

Council was told further information will be provided to the public as it becomes available throughout the application process.

Emergency bridge repairs approved for Connelly Creek crossing

Council approved $37,500 in emergency capital repair funds for a bridge crossing on Range Road 23A over Connelly Creek, after the MD’s bridge inspector flagged a structural concern during spring checks.

Administration reported the northwest bank at Bridge File 13957 is being undermined, with water flow beginning to move behind the north abutment back wall. An assessment strongly recommended placing riprap on the toe of the embankment and upslope to maintain slope stability and prevent further deterioration.

Event flyer for International Credit Union Day at Vision Credit Union on October 15, inviting community members to bring food bank donations in exchange for a wall calendar.

As Connelly Creek is home to species protected under the federal Species at Risk Act, work in the bed and banks carries stringent permitting requirements, including recommendations from a qualified aquatic environmental specialist.

However, administration noted that given the bridge’s proximity and habitat similarity to a nearby crossing — Bridge File 1348, already an approved 2026 capital project — the work can be carried out concurrently to avoid duplicating environmental assessment and permitting efforts.

Administration noted that Bridge File 13957 is on the 10-year prioritization list with a target replacement year of 2036 due to other existing deficiencies. Completing those repairs in full this year was deemed not feasible, given the scope of land acquisition, permitting requirements and preliminary engineering work that would first be needed.

Council approved the funding and awarded the work through the bridge reserve.

Library system funding update received

Council received as information a presentation from Chinook Arch Regional Library System, originally delivered at the May 12 council committee meeting.

The presentation outlined the structure of the regional system and how it supports Pincher Creek Municipal Library through shared access to resources and interlibrary services. It also included budget details for the 2023–26 cycle.

For 2026, the per capita levy was $7.76, with a proposed increase to $8.17 for 2027. A formal request for that increase is expected to come before council at a later date.

Fish Lake pumping proposal defeated

Coun. Dave Cox moved that funds be drawn from the tax rate stabilization reserve to pump water to Fish Lake at a cost of $81,250.

A bearded man in a cap smiles while playing guitar. Text promotes a Lloyd Spiegel concert at Empress Theatre, October 14, 2026, with ticket details and contact info.

The motion was defeated.

Conservation easement notice acknowledged

Council acknowledged receipt of a conservation easement notice from the Southern Alberta Land Trust Society for two parcels of land known as the Lievaart West project, located at NW-11-8-3-W5 and NE-11-8-3-W5, totalling about 322 acres.

Under the Alberta Land Stewardship Act, municipalities must be notified prior to registration of conservation easements. Council also agreed to waive the 60-day notice period, allowing the easement to proceed to registration.

While the MD has the option to register an objection to the easement, administration noted that the easement may still be registered regardless.

Outdated licence of occupation policy repealed

Council repealed Policy C-AES-001, Licence of Occupation, following the adoption of Traffic Bylaw 1365-25, which now covers all use of highways within the MD, including temporary grazing permits and road allowance use, making the existing policy redundant.

Heritage Acres to receive donated gravel

Council agreed to donate remaining waste material from the Heritage Gravel Pit — up to 400 cubic yards — to Heritage Acres Farm Museum for use on its grounds.

Community funding and events received

Council dealt with several correspondence items related to community events, sponsorships and regional participation.

Interested councillors were authorized to attend the Alberta SouthWest annual general meeting June 3 and the Pincher Creek Rodeo Parade and dignitary luncheon Aug. 15.

Council approved a $160 sponsorship for Community Safety Net, a children’s safety program operating in Pincher Creek. The funding will support 10 local families at $16 per family, up from five families sponsored by the MD last year. Funds will come from the grants to groups and organizations budget. Coun. Tony Bruder moved the motion, which carried.

Council received as information an invitation to participate in the Elkford Wildcat Days Parade on June 27.

A call for nominations for the 2026 National Fire Chief of the Year Awards, jointly presented by the Fire Underwriters Survey and the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, was also received. Nominations for both a volunteer and a full-time fire chief are open until June 30.

Council also agreed to provide a letter of support for Kootenai Brown Historical Park in its application to the FCC AgriSpirit Fund.

Alberta Land Stewardship Act, Bridge Repairs, Coal Mining, Conservation Easements, Municipal Governance, Road Allowances, Traffic Bylaw, Water Act, Water allocation, water management

Briefs from April 14 MD of Pincher Creek council table

Written on May 6, 2026. Posted in Civic & Government.

MD of Pincher Creek council addressed a mix of regulatory updates, financial decisions and community matters at its April 14 meeting, with several items carrying long-term implications for residents and local organizations.

Highlights include a public hearing on proposed land-use definitions for dugouts and agricultural reservoirs, passage of the 2026 tax rate bylaw, and approvals related to infrastructure, municipal policy updates and regional emergency preparedness.

No objections to land-use bylaw changes

Council opened a public hearing for Bylaw 1369-26, which proposes amendments to the municipality’s land-use bylaw to better define and regulate dugouts and agricultural water reservoirs in agriculturally oriented districts.

Reeve Rick Lemire said the changes are intended to clearly distinguish between smaller dugouts and larger-scale agricultural water reservoirs, particularly based on size and whether water storage occurs above or below natural grade.

Under proposed definitions, dugouts generally refer to excavated water storage below ground level, while reservoirs exceeding one acre or involving above-grade storage would be classified separately and subject to additional requirements.

The bylaw also introduces provisions allowing certain dugouts and reservoirs to proceed without a development permit if they meet setback, sightline and capacity requirements. Additional rules address safety measures such as setbacks from roadways, potential fencing near residences and engineering requirements for larger projects.

No members of the public spoke at the hearing and no written submissions were received.

Council supports community events and receives gas co-op presentation

Council approved a $300 donation for the Blackfoot Memorandum of Understanding pancake breakfast scheduled for July 18 in Standoff, and authorized Coun. Dave Cox to attend the event.

Council also received as information a presentation delivered by representatives of Chief Mountain Gas Co-op at its March 24 meeting. The co-operative, which serves more than 1,700 members, provided an overview of operations, infrastructure and cost structure compared to other providers.

Councillors raised questions about potential service expansion, though franchise areas are fixed and changes will require formal agreements.

Concerns over litter and overnight parking near Waterton

A letter will be sent to Alberta Transportation highlighting concerns about the Pine Ridge turnout along Highway 6, north of Waterton Lakes National Park. Council will request additional signage to prohibit overnight parking, and more frequent garbage collection to address ongoing litter issues.

Heritage Acres road and access project supported

Public works will support Heritage Acres with an approach for a new access road and expanded parking. Municipal fees will be waived. The project will improve visitor flow for events like the Annual Show in July, and support equipment loading and demonstrations.

Tax rate bylaw approved

Council gave all three readings to Bylaw 1371-26, establishing the MD’s 2026 tax rates and confirming revenue needed for operations and planned projects. The bylaw authorizes about $14.66 million to be raised through municipal taxation, based on a total assessment of just over $2.01 billion.

The 2026 budget includes $3.45 million in non-tax revenue, $14.47 million in operating expenses and $4.58 million in capital spending, along with debt repayment and reserve transfers to balance funding requirements.

Residential and farmland properties make up about $989 million of the assessment base, while non-residential properties account for just over $1.02 billion.

Including requisitions for education and other bodies, the total property tax levy amounts to nearly $18.94 million.

The bylaw also maintains a minimum municipal tax of $25 per parcel.

Library agreement updated

Council authorized the reeve and chief administrative officer to sign a revised joint intermunicipal library agreement, and approved corresponding updates to the library board bylaw.

The revisions follow recent provincial changes allowing more than three municipalities to participate in a joint library agreement. While practical expansion options remain limited, the update provides a framework should additional municipalities become eligible to join.

Compensation for additional meetings

Council approved remuneration for councillors attending two recent meetings that fell outside regular duties: an April 7 meeting with Environment and Protected Areas Minister Grant Hunter and an April 13 meeting with the RCMP southern Alberta district officer, attended by Reeve Lemire and Coun. Jim Welsch.

Fees and charges policy updated

Council approved amendments to its fees and charges policy, reflecting updated rates across several municipal services.

Changes include increased fees for approaches, pipeline crossings, seismic approvals, and rig move inspections, as well as updated rates for grader work and development-related permits.

New deputy director appointed for regional emergency management

Council appointed Michelle Stuart as deputy regional director of emergency management, following a recommendation from the regional emergency advisory committee.

Stuart brings more than two decades of experience in emergency services, including roles in firefighting, paramedicine, industrial response and safety co-ordination. Her appointment fills a pending vacancy and supports continued regional collaboration in emergency preparedness and response.

Councillor to attend Boundary Creek open house

Coun. Tony Bruder would be attending the Boundary Creek Landowners Association open house on May 2. The event focused on environmentally significant areas and ecological connectivity, offering residents and stakeholders an opportunity to learn about evolving land-use planning approaches in Alberta.

Community Funding, Emergency Management, Environmental Planning, Highway 6, Infrastructure, Land-Use Planning, Municipal Bylaw, Municipal Tax, public hearing