🌄 The Foothills Scoop

👋 Hello, Neighbours!

If you woke up Wednesday to a wall of white outside your window and let out a noise somewhere between a laugh and a sob — same. Environment Canada came through with up to 15 cm of fresh spring snow for the Foothills, RCMP urged everyone to stay off the roads, and somewhere out there a Bird e-scooter was probably buried under a drift. The good news? That was then, this is now: we're looking at 8°C by Saturday and an absolutely gorgeous 20°C by Monday. Alberta giveth, Alberta taketh away, Alberta giveth back again — usually within 72 hours.

The even better news: this week's lineup is genuinely exceptional. We have a Juno-nominated duo — Over the Moon — taking the Old Church Theatre stage on Friday. We have a full run of 9 to 5 the Musical at the Highwood Centre in High River. We have live music nearly every night at Tribal Connection Market. And on top of all that, there's a whack of local news worth knowing about — from a big construction closure coming to downtown Okotoks, to a High River pool delay, to a brand-new neighbourhood breaking ground. Read on.

✨ In Today's Edition:

If you've never heard the harmonies of Over the Moon, this Friday night at the Old Church Theatre is your moment. Suzanne Levesque and Craig Bignell are a Canadian Juno-nominated roots and western swing duo — and they happen to live right here in the foothills of Alberta's Rocky Mountains. Married multi-instrumentalists who met, fell in love, and discovered their voices blend so perfectly that audiences sometimes tear up mid-song — this is not a show you'll forget.

Their music roams from 1940s western swing and Appalachian old-time fiddle tunes to cowboy blues, all woven through with the unmistakable rhythm of life lived close to the land. This is the Canadian West in song form — dirt-rugged, wide-open beautiful, and deeply human.

But sorry folks …

Brace yourself for big hair, power suits, and pure office rebellion — the Windmill Theatre Players are bringing 9 to 5 the Musical to the Highwood Centre in High River, and it's going to be a blast. Based on the beloved 1980 film starring Dolly Parton, Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda, this fan-favourite musical is loaded with iconic music, powerhouse performances, massive dance numbers and enough heart and humour to fill the whole Highwood Centre twice over.

Opening night is Friday, April 17 at 7:30 PM, with additional performances Saturday April 18 (7:30 PM) and Sunday April 19 (2:00 PM matinee). Tickets are on sale now — visit windmilltheatreplayers.com/tickets or call Layne at 403-603-8708. Highwood Centre is located at 128 5th Ave, High River.

🗓️ Friday, April 17

🗓️ Saturday, April 18

🗓️ Sunday, April 19

🗓️ Tuesday, April 21

🗓️ Thursday, April 23

🏗️ North Railway Street closing for paving — heads up, downtown Okotoks Starting this Sunday (April 20), a section of North Railway Street will be closed for paving from Fisher Gate to 1103 North Railway Street. The closure is expected to run through June 5 — yes, nearly seven weeks. This is the final chapter of the Regional Water Project construction that's been disrupting that stretch of road, and the Town has acknowledged it's been a bumpy ride (literally). Detours will be in place via Fisher Gate to Fisher Street, and businesses will remain accessible throughout. Worth knowing before you head downtown.

🏊 High River pool opening pushed to September If you've been counting down the days until the new-and-improved Aquatics Centre at the Bob Snodgrass Recreation Complex reopens — you'll need to keep counting. High River council approved a $2.6 million budget increase for the expansion at its March 23 meeting, and the Town has confirmed the reopening is now targeted for September, aligned with fall programming. Unforeseen site conditions contributed to both the delay and the cost increase. The silver lining: the expanded facility is going to be worth the wait, with a new waterslide, expanded sauna, whirlpool, and 22 private inclusive change stalls.

🏘️ New Westmount housing development breaks ground A groundbreaking ceremony was held April 13 for the new Westmount development in Okotoks — a mixed-housing project from Slokker Homes that will bring 74 townhomes and 102 apartment units to the community, offering both rental and for-sale options. Mayor Tanya Thorn was on hand for the occasion.

🗺️ Thunder Stone Junction plan approved Okotoks Town Council has approved the Thunder Stone Junction Neighbourhood Area Structure Plan — a framework to guide development of roughly 470 acres of employment land on the north end of town near Highway 2. It's a long-term planning decision that will shape how that part of Okotoks grows over the coming decades.

🗳️ Electoral boundary update The Electoral Boundaries Commission's final report proposes renaming and reconfiguring the Foothills-area provincial ridings. For most readers, the key outcome: a new district called Okotoks-Diamond Valley would succeed the current Highwood electoral division, keeping Okotoks connected to its Foothills neighbours rather than being lumped into a Calgary-area riding. Mayor Thorn expressed relief at the outcome. A minority report from two commissioners favoured a reconfigured "Highwood" district that would preserve the Okotoks-High River connection. The final decision rests with the Legislature.

☀️ Weather Snapshot — Foothills, April 17–23

After Wednesday's snowstorm (up to 15 cm — in April), the week does a full 180. Friday sits around 3°C with clearing skies, Saturday reaches 8°C, Sunday jumps to 15°C, and by Monday we're touching 20°C. Classic Alberta spring in action. Pack layers for Thursday and Friday evening events; by the weekend you can leave the parka at home.

💬 What Locals Are Talking About

👉 That's your week, neighbours — a Broadway-style musical in High River, a Juno-nominated duo at the Old Church Theatre, live music nearly every night, and a spring that finally remembered what it's supposed to feel like (after one last tantrum, anyway).

If you have an event, business opening, or community news you'd like to see in the Scoop, reply to this email at [email protected] — we read everything.

See you out there! 🌄

— The Foothills Scoop Team