As many families reminisce about warmer days, one Camrose family continues to enjoy a wonderful winter tradition – building and sleeping in an igloo. Julie and Gary Smith, along with their three daughters, hand-build the icy shelter right in their backyard. The tradition began 15 years ago, when Gary’s brother Wayne brought home an IceBox, which is a tool that makes building igloos easier by working as a mold for the fluffy snow.

“When our girls were young, Gary and Wayne started a tradition of building an igloo on Family Day weekend and then we would pick one night to sleep in it. Once our girls got older, they took over being Gary’s building assistants. They get excited when there is a good dump of snow and we wait for a good weekend to build and camp out. This year, they did the majority of the building and Gary was the supervisor,” shared Julie.

Once the 12-foot wide igloo is built, the family then camps out overnight in it.

“We have slept in the igloo since our youngest Shelby was two years old! We have camped out in as cold as -35°C at night. One year, it was a blue moon, which seemed extra magical. This year was nice, the weekend Avery was home from university – it was only -6°C at night. Gary has taught us that a lot of ‘cold’ comes from the ground, so he puts a canvas paint drop cloth on the ground and then it is important to use foam camping mats, not air mattresses. We all use sleeping bags and although many people would guess that we sleep in snowsuits, you really just need warm pajamas, socks and maybe a toque. We cover the door with a piece of wood and that is all that is needed,” added Julie.

In the 15 years of their igloo tradition, the family has never had to go indoors because it was “too cold.” The fluffy snow creates a layer of insulation and the mat added on top of the ground protects from the cold.

Julie and Gary feel delighted that their children continue to enjoy this activity.

“Avery is 20 years old and is  currently in University. Paige is in grade 12 and Shelby is in grade 10. Gary has always been a very fun dad who plans adventures for us and our girls are good sports who come along for anything. We’re thrilled that even though our girls are older, they still look forward to sleeping in the igloo,” she shared.

Smith’s neighbours also like to join in on the fun by cheering them on from their decks as they build and collect snow in their yard. According to their daughters, their favourite part in building the igloo is cutting out the door. The building process takes approximately eight to 10 hours, but the family makes a day out of it and play their favourite tunes as they continue to enjoy this VERY COOL family activity, year after year.

The Camrose branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) and Camrose and District Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) Older Adult Services are partnering to bring a new program for residents who are 55 plus. Through the program, the seniors will learn how to establish healthy boundaries in their own lives.

“We thought this would be a great partnership specifically for 55 plus because what we are seeing is that many grandparents and great grandparents are babysitting grandchildren, because they don’t know how to say no. They are giving family farms to their children without having any respectful boundaries in place. They are doing things simply because they don’t know how to say no even when it comes at the cost of their own priorities,” said Kari Cameron, director of Older Adult Services at FCSS.

“CMHA Recovery College has a program called Building Better Boundaries and so we thought we can adapt that for a 55 plus demographic,” said Kristy McKay, Recovery College program coordinator at CMHA. Through this collaboration the organizations are hoping to teach older adults how to bring up these conversations with their families and friends.

“I think boundaries, in general, for any population are very important for mental well-being, because boundaries are really how we can respect ourselves and others at the same time,” she added.

“There is still a lot of stigma around mental health; seniors can be in a vulnerable situation with that. Younger generations might have grown ups talking about this, but seniors may not have had this more structured conversation around it. So the hope with this is to get them to talk about it and kind of bring them to their own knowing. Often people know what they need to do, but sometimes they just need that validation that, yeah, other people are also on the same page and we can talk about it,” explained Kristy.

The six-week course begins February 4, and will take place from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Mirror Lake Centre.

“They will learn the language, tools and the confidence that they need. Boundaries can be very difficult, because it’s not easy to have the hard conversations, but we set the boundaries for relationships that matter to us the most,” commented Kari.

Much of the course will focus on learning how to open communication, and enforce boundaries without ruining any personal relationships. Many seniors, as they adjust to changes in life such as becoming a grandparent or moving into a senior home, are navigating new relationship dynamics. The course will be designed to help seniors find confidence and build relationships that are mutually beneficial and healthy over all.

For more information and to register for the program, contact 780-673-1388 or kari@camrosefcss.ca

At the January 5 regular council meeting, Mayor PJ Stasko proclaimed January 26 as Kawasaki Disease Awareness Day.

Kawasaki disease is a rare but serious illness that affects young children, most often those under the age of five. It causes inflammation in the blood vessels throughout the body and, if not treated early, can lead to complications involving the heart, including damage to the coronary arteries. The disease is the leading cause of heart conditions in children in North America. The cause of the disease is still unknown but research shows that genetic factors and immune system triggers play a role.

Symptoms often begin with a high fever lasting several days and may include a rash, red eyes, swollen hands and feet, cracked lips, a “strawberry” tongue, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck. Because the symptoms can resemble other childhood illnesses, early recognition and treatment are critical. When treated early the patients can fully recover with no symptoms within weeks or months.

The proclamation aims to raise awareness among parents and caregivers, encouraging them to seek medical attention if symptoms appear and to help support research and families affected by the disease.

In the last few years, housing insecurity has become a prominent issue in Camrose and area. Many community members have been struggling to find suitable housing and resources, but providing support isn’t simple – each case is different and has its own layers. In the past year, several encampments have been discovered and reported to the City Police and, although several agencies in Camrose have been working to provide support for years, a different approach was needed. This is why the Camrose and District Housing and Homelessness Task Force was established in July 2024.

The Task Force unites various stakeholders, including the City of Camrose, Camrose County, FCSS, first responders, housing providers, health services, educational partners, and many other individuals who are dedicated to reducing housing insecurity in the area.

“The Bethany Group, is part of the housing management body for Camrose and area, so that is one of the reasons why Shannon and I, as employees of Bethany became part of the Housing and Homelessness Task Force. It is important that the local housing management body be involved,” said Carla Beck, CEO of The Bethany Group, the organization that serves as the chair for the task force.

“We were all seeing, as agencies, that more individuals are encountering housing insecurity or real challenges finding suitable housing in the area. That is related to all kinds of different factors. None of us really had the role to be able to fully help them with all of their needs, because these are very complex needs for some clients. So it seemed like a better idea for us all to sit down together, try working through those issues together and support one another and really be able to use our resources as efficiently as possible,” explained Beck.

After a year and half of assessment and planning, the Task Force decided to hire a housing and community navigator, an individual who people can go, to find the services they require as well as guidance. Leslie Lindballe has officially been hired for the position and is excited to begin her work.
“It has been interesting coming into a role that is new; there has been lots of excitement in the community. Camrose has such a sense of community and care,” said Lindballe.

She shared how, in smaller communities like Camrose, it is easy to notice when community members are unhoused, compared to the larger cities where a person could go about their life never noticing the members experiencing homelessness.

“A part of what I do in this role is to keep a foot in that door, to keep that hope that there is a possibility for change,” she shared.

“The main goal with this role is to bring coordinated access moving forward. Camrose has a really robust human services network, but there are ways in which that web does not knit together as well as it could,” said Lindballe, emphasizing that much of her role will revolve around ensuring that services available to the clients in the community are streamlined, which will ultimately reduce duplicity and confusion for the clients as well as the service providers.

“Coordinated access isn’t actually one person or one service agency, it’s really defined as a community-wide system and that’s where those that are precariously housed or those that are already homeless can access and prioritize connecting with the proper service agency so that redundancy doesn’t happen,” said Shannon Holtz, senior director of housing at The Bethany Group. Coordinated access makes the process of finding the support less overwhelming and provides clear direction.

“I am very fortunate I have had a lot of experience working in the community. I have worked with Augustana doing community service learning, I worked with the Camrose Women’s Shelter for many years, I referred clients to many services, so if something comes up that is not in my wheelhouse, chances are I probably know who can help,” said Lindballe, sharing how her relationships in the community have set her up for success in the new role.

For more information, contact leslie@camrosefcss.ca or 780-673-1227.

You’ve purchased tickets to the latest show or event. You’ve possibly even bought a new outfit for the occasion. You excitedly walk into the venue and present your tickets only to be declined at the door as you realize you’ve been scammed.

Alternately, you are excited to hear your favourite entertainer or show is coming to town and go online to purchase tickets only to find out they are outrageously priced, but you want to see this show so badly, you buy them anyway.

There are a lot of ticket “resellers” out there, you know – the guy standing outside the venue with “extra” tickets, the guy we used to call a scalper who may or may not actually get you into the show. Now they have moved online.

Nansee Hughes, marketing and sponsorship coordinator at the Lougheed Performing Arts Centre (LPAC) said, “We’ve had a couple of people recently fall victim to these. Unfortunately, it is not illegal in Alberta for resellers to do this and they aren’t even IN Alberta, which is the saddest part – they’re in the States mostly and trick people with ‘great’ prices …until they get to the check out and the price comes out in USD.”

This is an issue, not only for the LPAC, but for all venues that host events and concerts. Many people get scammed and there’s nothing venues can do about it except to educate the public.

Unfortunately, because ticket reselling is not illegal in Alberta, the best and safest way to purchase tickets, regardless if it’s a hockey game, concert, or show of any type, is to purchase your tickets directly from the venue itself.

When you purchase through the venue, you are getting the best value as well as securing guaranteed seats to the venue.

Purchasing through a third-party site, and trying to get a refund for some unforeseen reason, you are often told that it is against their policy to offer that service. This could potentially mean you’ve lost that money.

Reseller sites are incredibly sophisticated. They pay to be placed at the top of search engine placements, disguising their sites to look authentic. These sites can mimic legitimate branding sites so closely that the most savvy patrons can be misled, especially during busy holiday seasons.

Nansee says, “If it’s not coming from our website, you’re being scammed – you can’t purchase tickets for our shows anywhere but our website.”

Here are some tips if you suspect you’ve been scammed by a ticket reselling site.

Contact your bank immediately. Since the company has refused a refund, it is strongly recommended to call your credit card company or bank to request a charge back/reversal.

Explain that the site used deceptive practices (hiding USD currency and inflating prices). Many banks are familiar with these “ticket mill” sites and may be able to help you recover your funds.
Ticket Validity: While these sites are “legal” resellers, they are often selling tickets they don’t actually own yet (speculative ticketing), or they are charging you five times the price for a seat the venue still has available.

Official Site: For any future visits, please ensure the website is the actual venue site. They are the only official source for tickets and they will always sell in Canadian dollars at the best possible price.

Be encouraged that Camrose venues are reliable and safe places to purchase tickets for their programming. They are passionate about what they do and truly value the patrons who walk through the doors of their venues.

Let’s continue to support local, strengthen our community’s economy, create local jobs and create a resilient and vibrant place to live.

By Moonlight: The Music of Taylor Swift is coming to Camrose. This will be a distinctive encounter for the audience, merging pop royalty with the grace of classical music.

Swifties know that the icon is one of the most successful artists of all time and this concert is a special commemoration of her music. Swift’s music has been reimagined by professional music arrangers and performed by the Valkyrie Quartet, one of Edmonton’s most sought out quartets.
Place yourself in the visceral emotion of pop hits, refined and elevated by the soothing tones of violins, violas and cellos. Now visualize being in a room being flooded by the light of a 20-foot moon’s delicate glimmer.

This heavenly centre-piece will be the focal point in the two performances at the Lougheed Performing Arts Centre (LPAC) on January 31 at 3:00 and 7:30 p.m.

By Moonlight delivers engaging visuals highlighting Taylor Swift’s hits in a way that will take your breath away by the elegant reinterpretations of her music. The show will display stunning arrangements that elevate Swift’s soothing sounds into masterpieces revealing unique dimensions.

You will be transported by the familiar melodies to a place of visual splendour and classical elegance.
Leanne Maitland, viola player for the quartet, said, “We get requests to play Taylor Swift’s music quite often and it’s music we really enjoy playing.”

She continued, “She’s such a great songwriter and her music translates to a string quartet really well.”
Each Valkyrie Quartet member has elite classical training. They have mastered that training to create a show that transforms pop anthems into graceful, sweeping performances with projected visuals on the moon.

This extraordinary evening will offer audiences a unique experience that stimulates the senses for fans of live music and Swifties alike.

This show is special as it’s been designed in such a way that it is sure to delight everyone in attendance. The Valkyrie Quartet will bring a level of artistry and professionalism that you are sure to notice.

They’ve all played with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Early Music Alberta and the Chamber Orchestra of Edmonton in a variety of performances over the years, and that is how they all met.

Leanne added, “We’re all freelance musicians performing in Edmonton for over a decade. So when we started this group of just the four of us, it was fun.”

Leanne commented on how they clicked musically as well as personally, stating that it’s really special. That chemistry they have as friends and musicians comes across in their performances.

Leanne said, “We think that Swifties are some of the best crowds. We tell the audience it’s okay to clap and cheer and they always give great energy which helps us play better, too.”

Whether you’re a Swiftie or just enjoy a live music performance, you won’t want to miss out on this show. For tickets or more information, go to camroselive.ca

The Norwegian documentary Folktales will be playing this year at the Nordlys Arts and Film Festival on February 13. The film follows three teenagers during their year at a remote, arctic folk high school in Norway.

During their time at the school, the teens learn survival skills, how to dog sled and self-reliance. It follows their journey capturing their real life coming-of-age story that audiences will find heartwarming as they take an intimate look as these three students discover their purpose.

Throughout the documentary, the teens all grow in unexpected directions leaning on their loyal pack of dogs as they are guided by patient teachers. They learn about their own potential while developing a deep love of the land, animals and people around them.

Ingrid Urberg is a professor of Scandinavian Studies at the Augustana Campus who has studied in Norway. She will be giving a short introduction to the film as she has some familiarity with the folk high schools and their history.

She said, “It’s a Scandinavian concept that started in the 19th century, and experiential learning is generally a focus of the programs. Most of the students are between 18 and 24 years old.”

Norwegian Folk High Schools are unique one year, non-exam based boarding schools that offer students a year of personal growth, practical skills, cultural immersion and social experiences.

The focus is more on personal development than the pressure of exams and grades. The concept of this type of learning came from a man named N.F.S. Grundtvig who was a pastor, poet, educator and philosopher. He wanted to get away from elitism and make education more accessible to the masses, crossing all social and economic standing.
During their time in Folk High Schools, students live, eat and socialize together in a community living setting which fosters strong interpersonal bonds. There are about 80 of these Folk High Schools around the country, with many more around Scandinavian countries.

These schools specialize in a variety of areas ranging from music, sports, outdoor pursuits or general culture.

Ingrid added, “It’s very egalitarian and that’s a huge part of living together in a community where you learn to function together. It’s about democracy and negotiating things.”

The Folktales documentary is being praised for its breathtaking cinematography of the Arctic and its deep relationship to Norse mythology. Critics call it revitalizing, magical and incredibly, displays the splendour of nature. For tickets to Nordlys Arts and Film Festival, go to www.baileytheatre.com

The Battle River Community Foundation (BRCF) awarded a $9,600 grant to Centra Cam Vocational Training Association. According to Tracy Culbert, executive director, “This generous donation from the BRCF in support of mental health training initiatives will empower our team to build their recognition and intervention skills and foster the creation of safer more inclusive environments within both our programs and our community. We are grateful for the Foundation’s continued investment in our mission, and we look forward to sharing the positive changes this grant will support.”

This training comes at a critical time for Centra Cam. In 2024, Centra Cam received its Complex Needs Designation, in addition to its regular accreditation credentials. Those requiring complex care may have behavioural or mental health needs, or a combination thereof. By receiving the Complex Needs Designation, Centra Cam will be better able to welcome and support these individuals.

Centra Cam’s grant will go specifically towards helping to ensure staff are in the best position to provide support to those with complex needs. The goal is to build the skills and confidence of staff by offering advanced mental health training tailored to the specific requirements of new clients. This training will strengthen awareness, and foster a safe, open and non-judgmental space for everyone involved.

Centra Cam was incorporated in 1979 to assist Camrose and area citizens with developmental disabilities to achieve their full potential by providing opportunities for independence. The organization utilizes its Community Access and Employment programs to accomplish this goal. Core elements include activities that promote personal development, prevent social isolation, encourage community involvement, and facilitate volunteering.  Individuals can reach their career goals through comprehensive job search, job coaching and job retention support services.

The grant for Centra Cam Vocational Training Association is provided by the Gordon French Fund and the BRCF Community Fund.