🌄 Foothills Scoop

👋 Hey neighbours!

This weekend starts icy and snowy, then swings into a milder (almost springy) Sunday — perfect timing for holiday concerts, markets, wagon rides, and a couple of great “get out of the house” community events. If you’re planning to catch the Holiday Train, shop youth-made art, or grab a seat for live music, this is your game plan for the Foothills.

✨ In Today’s Edition:
🏛️ Okotoks takes on two big provincial issues
🚂 Holiday Train + holiday concerts light up Saturday
🎉 Comedy, live music, markets & community happenings all weekend

🛣️ Okotoks pushes back on proposed Hwy. 2 speed increase
Okotoks Town Council approved sending both an individual letter and a joint letter with Foothills County opposing a proposed speed limit increase on Highway 2 south of Calgary — unless safety upgrades happen first. The Town’s message is essentially: if speeds go up, the infrastructure needs to match. It’s one of those “regional commuting corridor” decisions that impacts local drivers every day, especially around peak traffic and winter conditions.

🗳️ Okotoks weighs in on Alberta’s proposed provincial boundary changes
Council has directed administration to submit feedback to the Alberta Electoral Boundaries Commission on proposed boundary changes. The Town says it’s aligning with a regionally developed recommendation created with Foothills County and Diamond Valley, pointing to shared services and community connections across the Foothills. If adopted, boundary changes can affect who represents the area and how communities are grouped moving forward.

🚂 A feel-good Saturday: the CPKC Holiday Train rolls into Okotoks
The Holiday Train stop is one of those classic Foothills moments — lights, music, and a big community push for local food bank support. The Town is encouraging attendees to bring a monetary donation or heart-healthy food donation, with proceeds supporting local needs. If you’ve got kids (or big kids) who love trains, this is an easy “core memory” outing.

🎉 Ten Years of Giving: 100 Women Who Care Foothills Celebrates a Milestone
100 Women Who Care Foothills is marking its 10th anniversary this January with a special in-person and virtual celebration in Okotoks. Over the past decade, the volunteer-run giving circle has quietly made a big impact — distributing more than $305,000 to 29 local charities through a simple, powerful model of collective generosity. The evening will reflect on those stories of impact, hear from past recipients, and continue the tradition by voting on the next charity to receive quarterly funding. It’s a reminder of just how much good can happen when neighbours come together with purpose.

• 🏔️ Nature Fridays: Mountains — Fri, Dec 12, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Okotoks Environmental Education Centre
Hands-on learning and activities themed around mountains (and a great indoor plan if the snow kicks up).

• 🎶 Foothills Philharmonic: “Northern Lights and Sounds of Joy” — Fri, Dec 12, 7:30 p.m., Okotoks Alliance Church
A festive Chorus & Orchestra concert with holiday-season favourites; kids 12 and under are free.

• 😂 The Loonie Bin (Amateur Comedy Night) — Fri, Dec 12, 7–10 p.m., Hub Town Brewing (Okotoks)
A no-cover comedy night where your “bucket of laughs” helps pick the winner — come early if you want good seats.

• 🎭 Christmas in the Barn — Fri, Dec 12, 6:30 p.m., The Monroe Barn (High River)
A holiday show in a cozy venue, partnering in support of Inclusion Foothills.

• 🥃🎶 Live Music in the Speakeasy: Jay and Sean — Fri, Dec 12, 6–9 p.m., Eau Claire Distillery (Diamond Valley/Turner Valley)
Settle in for a live set in the Speakeasy — an easy “date night” option close to home.

• 🚂 CPKC Holiday Train in Okotoks — Sat, Dec 13, 12–12:55 p.m., 23 Riverside Dr (Okotoks)
Show up early, bundle up, and consider bringing a donation in support of the food bank, featuring a live performance by the Barenaked Ladies.

• 🎄 Longview “Last Chance” Christmas Market — Sat, Dec 13, 10 a.m.–3 p.m., Longview Village Community Hall
Wrap up your holiday shopping with local vendors, a silent auction, and classic small-town cheer — plus hot pies and homemade lunch by the Seniors Club for a true community feel.

• 🎨 Christmas Youth Art Market — Sat, Dec 13, 12–3:30 p.m., 58 Elizabeth St (Okotoks)
Shop holiday gifts made by youth artists (ages 8–18) and meet the makers.

• 🎶 Hub Town Live Music: Earl Morgan Band — Sat, Dec 13, (time listed on event page), Hub Town Brewing (Okotoks)
Live music night in the taproom — a reliable Saturday plan with friends.

• 🎶 Foothills Philharmonic: “Northern Lights and Sounds of Joy” (Matinée) — Sat, Dec 13, 3 p.m., Okotoks Alliance Church
Same show, earlier time — perfect if you’d rather be home before the deep freeze returns at night.

• 🐾 Fur-Ever Homes Holiday Event — Sat, Dec 13, 11 a.m.–3 p.m., High River Toyota
A donation drive supporting rescue animals — bring food, treats, toys, or blankets to help.

• 🎭 “A Modern Christmas Carol” (OHS Drama Dept) — Sat, Dec 13, 7 p.m., Ebenezer High (Diamond Valley area)
Local student theatre with tickets at the door.

• 🎠 Hometown Holidays Wagon Rides — Sun, Dec 14 (and Dec 21), Downtown Okotoks (booking required)
A festive way to do downtown with the family — check the current booking details before you go.

• 🧊 Community Skating — Sun, Dec 14, 8 a.m.–10 p.m., Priddis Community Association (Outdoor Rink schedule)
If you’re up for fresh air and a classic winter activity, Priddis has ice time listed right through the weekend.

Friday looks brutally cold with intermittent snow and flurries (5–10 cm possible), then Saturday moderates, and Sunday warms up significantly. If you’re doing outdoor plans (Holiday Train, wagon rides), Saturday midday is the sweet spot — just dress like it’s still January.

• Holiday Train hype is everywhere — the Town and local leaders are actively sharing reminders and encouraging donations, so expect a strong turnout in Okotoks.

• Local politics chatter is bubbling up online — Okotoks boundary discussions and other provincial issues are showing up in local feeds and forums this week.

👉 Have an event poster or a “please include this” tip for next week? Send it my way early — the sooner it lands, the easier it is to verify and feature. And if you found this useful, forward it to a neighbour who’s always asking “what’s going on this weekend?”