News for Toronto and the surrounding area
LATEST ARTICLES FROM THE PINCHER CREEK ECHO
The Canyon Church Camp (CCC) has announced a “Build a Bunk” gift giving campaign for the holiday season. The CCC has secured funding for many aspects of its rebuild following the devastation of the Kenow wildfire in 2017, the group says it needs support to complete its camper cabins and make the Waterton camp “a […]
2024-12-12 17:00
Pincher Creek groups receive grants from Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta
Pincher Creek organizations are among the recipients of grant funding announced Monday by the Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta. Following its fall call for applications, the foundation said Monday it’s providing 30 projects and initiatives with grants totalling $374,140. The Pincher Creek Community Centre Hall Society is getting $4,500 for new toilets and […]
2024-12-08 17:00
Pincher Creek organizations are among the recipients of grant funding announced Monday by the Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta. Following its fall call for applications, the foundation said Monday it’s providing 30 projects and initiatives with grants totalling $374,140. The Pincher Creek Community Centre Hall Society is getting $4,500 for new toilets and […]
2024-12-08 17:00
In celebration of the grand opening of PEAKS Collegiate Campus, a partnership between Livingstone Range School Division and Lethbridge Polytechnic, nearly 400 high school students explored the Mobile Field Study Lab as it toured southwestern Alberta on Sept. 23. The lab provides students with a clear pathway into post-secondary education and careers in Environmental Science, […]
2024-09-30 05:10
In 1926, Henry John Ellwood was a telephone linesman in Pincher Creek. My grandfather was born in Comberton, a small rural village in South Cambridgeshire, England. The winter of 1898 was harsh, and his aunt struggled to reach Cambridge and register his birth. When she went to register his birth, she got the date wrong; […]
2024-09-27 09:54
The Chief Mountain port of entry closes for the season on Monday at 6 p.m. Mountain Standard Time. It will reopen next spring. Due to its high elevation and harsh winters, Chief Mountain only operates from May to September. Travellers can use the Carway port of entry, Del Bonita port of entry or Coutts port of entry as an alternative […]
2024-09-27 06:45
Canyon Church Camp has announced a benefit concert to help fund the rebuilding of its camp facility in Waterton Lakes National Park. Canyon Church Camp lost over half its buildings in the 2017 Kenow Wildfire, and construction started last month to replace them. Country musician George Canyon is performing a solo acoustic concert for the fundraiser, […]
2024-09-23 08:58
A group of Lundbreck residents say they have been frustrated in their attempt to have the Municipal District of Pincher Creek apply on their behalf for a sign asking truckers to avoid using engine retarder brakes when driving down a hill at the entrance to the hamlet. Larry Whan, representing 25 people, says he has […]
2024-07-18 10:20
Standing on the ridgetop overlooking my family’s Burke Creek Ranch, I feel the weight of history beneath my feet. This land, with its fescue grass and windswept limber pines, has been in my family for four generations. My great-grandfather came west after the railway was completed, seeking opportunity. With little ranching experience, he saw year-round […]
2024-07-15 06:36
Registered midwives were welcomed with enthusiasm as they arrived with their clients to assist with the first midwife-attended delivery at Pincher Creek Health Centre. On June 7, baby girl Chloe Ray was born to third-time parents Shae-Lynn Wolosuk and Jesse Wocknitz, with the support of registered midwives Terri Demers and Eve Verdon, and licensed practical […]
2024-07-08 06:35
On June 20, the Piikani Child and Family Services (CFS) staff completed a 117-kilometre international border cross relay to Chief Mountain Relay. The run started at the Piikani CFS office on Piikani Nation and ended at Blackfeet Junction, Montana. Staff also left offerings and prayers on the way for Piikani children, youth, and families dealing with grief, losses and illnesses. The relay was completed in eight hours and 36 minutes.
2024-06-27 05:35
A prominent Pincher Creek family, along with physicians from a local clinic, have established a pair of University of Lethbridge awards that invest in the next generation of students and the health and well-being of their community. Drs. Beverly (BSc ’03) and Tracy Burton (BSc ’03), both physicians practising in Pincher Creek, together with their […]
2024-04-26 08:09
As a result of the biggest changes to happen in Alberta high-school football in 25 years, the Willow Creek Cobras of Claresholm are looking to expand the reach of the team by inviting eligible high-school students from schools in the region to play football at Willow Creek Composite High School in 2024. Students from Pincher […]
2024-04-22 10:45
2024-04-08 05:57
2024-03-28 04:19
The Waterton Biosphere Reserve Association’s Day on the Creek program, which offers a unique outdoor learning experience for hundreds of students from the Pincher Creek area, has been nominated for an award that recognizes environmental excellence. The Alberta Emerald Foundation announced Friday the nominees for the 33rd annual Emerald Awards, and the Waterton Biosphere Reserve Association’s […]
2024-03-25 06:26
2024-03-04 17:00
2024-02-01 17:00
In this week’s Living History column, we reflect back on a couple of pioneer families connected with the agricultural and railway industries from southwestern Alberta. William Jacob and Minnie (Faulk) Bressner Coming to Canada and the Cowley area in the early 1900s, the Bressners took up a homestead in the Porcupine Hills. Their land was […]
2024-02-01 17:00
Sgt. Vince Bacon, the newly appointed detachment commander of Piikani Nation RCMP, and his team are committed to improving relationships between the Piikani First Nations community and the police officers serving them. “Our history has left generational scars on the lives of many. I know that we are just at the beginning of a long […]
2024-01-11 17:00
Livingstone Range School Division’s board continues to explore the option of a four-day school week.
2023-12-20 17:00
For many readers with an interest in our local history or for those who know our changeable winter weather, the thought of the traditional use of snowshoes during the holiday season is not one which readily comes to mind. Yet there has been a pioneer use, particularly during the annual festivities, for these means of […]
2023-12-20 17:00
Now that December has arrived and most of us are preparing for Christmas, it would be interesting to reflect back on some of those pioneer Christmas celebrations from the early days from the Pincher Creek District. This week, we look back at those pioneer Christmas celebrations from 1908 and 1909. New Year’s Day dinner a […]
2023-12-14 17:00
2023-11-23 17:00
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2023-11-15 17:00
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2023-11-06 17:00
2023-11-02 11:27
2023-10-31 06:11
2023-10-27 04:30
The Econo Lodge Inn and Suites in Pincher Creek has won a national award from Choice Hotels Canada. Choice Hotels Canada has announced its annual Awards for Property Excellence, and the local hotel has been named Best New Entry: Economy. “This exciting hotel has achieved high levels of guest satisfaction since coming online,” said Brian […]
2023-10-25 11:25
2023-10-24 15:07
Partners Evolve Power (Evolve) and TransAlta Corporation (TransAlta) hosted a site tour at their Tent Mountain Pumped Hydro Energy Storage Project (TM-PHES) in the Crowsnest Pass on Oct. 17. Evolve and TransAlta jointly own the TM-PHES in a 50-50 partnership. In attendance for the tour were Alberta Affordability and Utilities minister Nathan Neudorf, Indigenous Relations […]
2023-10-24 09:50
2023-10-19 10:00
2023-10-18 10:40
2023-10-13 06:44
This week’s Living History article highlights new historical research on some of the early pioneers from the Olin Creek District adjacent to the Porcupine Hills. Earlier versions of these stories appeared in our local history book for the Pincher Creek area, Prairie Grass to Mountain Pass, but these new versions capture this new knowledge. Happy […]
2023-10-13 06:31
2023-10-06 08:23
Recent historical research has unearthed additional chronicles from a couple of the early pioneer families who settled in the Olin Creek District within the southwestern reaches of the Porcupine Hills. Research sources include Find A Grave, the homestead records held by the Provincial Archives of Alberta as accessed via ancestry.com and the old time recollections […]
2023-10-06 05:01
One of the arrests occurred in the village of Champion, Alta. last Sunday while a shelter-in-place advisory was in effect
2023-09-29 09:52
The Chief Mountain port of entry is closing for the season on Sept. 30, at 6 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (MST). It will reopen in the spring of 2024. Due to the harsh winters and its high elevation, Chief Mountain only operates from May to September. Travellers can use either the Carway port of entry or the Coutts […]
2023-09-29 09:06
2023-09-25 04:18
A much forgotten figure from the early pages of local history has been that of Dr. George Malcolmson, who made significant contributions to medical practices in both Pincher Creek and up in the Crowsnest Pass. Let’s have a look at that frontier medical history. Established practice in Old Galt Hospital in Lethbridge Little is known […]
2023-09-21 13:19
When hundreds of public health and safety officials gather in Edmonton this week for the Safety in Our Cities conference, they will discuss what role legal pressure can play in changing addicted people’s behaviour. As the conferees will learn, the international evidence is clear: compassionate intervention can work. An excellent example comes from U.S. states […]
2023-09-18 06:09
One of the distinguished heritage buildings housed at the Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village is that of the Kootenai Outpost of the North West Mounted Police (NWMP). Constructed and utilized to assist in law enforcement functions in one of the remote rural areas so common across the Canadian Prairies prior to the First World War, this […]
2023-09-14 05:08
Crowsnest Pass RCMP were dispatched Wednesday morning, at roughly 5:15 a.m., to a complaint of a break-and-enter in progress at a Lundbreck business. During the Sept. 13 break and enter, the owner attended the business, and an altercation took place in which a suspect brandished a weapon. The owner received minor injuries as a result […]
2023-09-13 08:42
Chronicled here are three pioneer families with early Pincher Creek business connections. Recent research has unearthed some of their histories. Bookkeeper with the Hudson’s Bay Company Frederick J. Dupuy was a bookkeeper with the local Hudson’s Bay Company store here in Pincher Creek when it was located on the south side of Main Street, on […]
2023-09-08 06:10
This week, we look back at the life and times of pioneer businessman Charles William Hart. He was related to I. L. (Ben) Montgomery, who homesteaded south of Pincher Creek and later operated the first Ford dealership here in town. Business opportunities Hart was born in the American state of Indiana, and was raised in […]
2023-09-01 07:57
The Harambee Grandmas invite you to their sixth annual fabric and yarn sale on Friday, Oct. 20 and Saturday, Oct. 21. The fabric and yarn sale takes place in Lethbridge, at McKillop United Church, 2329 15th Ave. S, from 4-7 p.m. on Oct. 20 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Oct. 21. Cash, debit, and credit […]
2023-08-31 05:03
The Chipman Creek School District Number 864, situated just east of the ranching settlement of Pincher Creek, had a pioneer history that bespeaks of the western Canadian frontier. That history tells of the local struggles to educate the district’s students. School establishment and early ratepayers The school district was established in June 1903. The school […]
2023-08-23 06:39
Although coal mining brought economic good times to the settlement of Beaver Mines nestled in the foothills to the west, the local industry was not without its tragedies and loss of life. This week’s Living History article takes a look back at some of those unfortunate events of more than a century ago. Two mining […]
2023-07-13 10:32
Local history buffs will recall the article where we had a look at a few of those lesser known Pincher Creek pioneers residing in this western frontier settlement back in 1891. That was the first year in which our community was listed separately in the Dominion Census, a great source of historical information on those […]
2023-07-06 10:10
Fort Macleod Kids First Family Centre wants to change how it uses its building to meet new requirements for funding. Kids First wants to take over the space now used by Fort Macleod Preschool to provide a safe, uninterrupted place to work with families and parents. Preschool would move into the larger play area for […]
2023-07-05 12:47
Those who have an interest in the history of the Lundbreck area will recall its many ranching and coal mining origins. These two industries have made major contributions to the community’s economic survival over the decades. Local conditions promoted early trade Lundbreck’s business chronicles have many stories to tell. The settlement’s role as a depot […]
2023-06-28 11:39
Eligible Alberta drivers aged 18 and over will now automatically exit from the Graduated Driver Licence (GDL) program. GDL drivers who have completed their 24-month driving period and have no suspensions or demerits within their last 12 months of probation, including zero tolerance for any alcohol and/or drug consumption, will receive a letter informing them […]
2023-06-27 10:28
Matt Devine will be cycling through Pincher Creek on Thursday, June 29 as part of his journey across the country to raise funds for You Can Ride 2 (YCR2). “Matt Devine’s story is a testament to the power of resilience, humility, and a willingness to grow,” reads an email sent to the Echo. “Despite facing […]
2023-06-22 09:48
Pincher Creek’s early history abounds with half-forgotten chronicles of many of its ranchers. Although numerous ones are well remembered, others with still equally intriguing tales from this corner of the western Canadian frontier have been largely lost from the pages of the local past. One such example was that of “Barney” Bolster, who was well […]
2023-06-21 05:55
This Father’s Day, Pincher Creek resident Alexa Levair will not only be celebrating her dad, KC Stone, but also the major influence he has had on her career. Stone worked for the City of Lethbridge Water Treatment Plant for 41 years and retired in 2022. Levair grew up learning about water treatment and municipal government […]
2023-06-16 10:14
Poking into our community’s frontier past can reveal many a historical tale worth telling. Some of these frontier tales highlight the floods of June 1908. These flashbacks indicate the severity of that flood more than a full 115 years ago. Dangers faced by businesses and homes That flood caused extensive damage throughout the settlement of […]
2023-06-15 10:05
Four bikes were stolen June 8 from the Kids with Cancer Society bike trailer while it was at the Heritage Inn in Pincher Creek. The theft occurred in the early morning hours of June 8, says the society. The annual Tour of Hope cycling fundraising event supports children with cancer and their families. The stolen […]
2023-06-14 11:48
The Alberta RCMP are excited to announce our voluntary surveillance camera registry program, called CAPTURE (Community Assisted Policing Through the Use of Recorded Evidence) is now provincewide. Residents and businesses who have video surveillance, and are willing to share video camera footage when requested, can sign up. This initiative won’t replace officers from knocking on doors, […]
2023-06-13 04:53
Waterton Lakes National Park and Glacier National Park announced Wednesday, June 7 that pedestrian and watercraft cross-border travel between the parks will reopen for the 2023 season. The Goat Haunt area of Glacier National Park will open for the season on June 24. Goat Haunt is a remote area on the southern end of Upper Waterton Lake. The area is […]
2023-06-08 09:53
During the First World War period, the ranching settlement of Pincher Creek was known for its well-established, thriving business district. For nearly 40 years these local places of commerce had catered to the area’s ranching and farming industries as well as to the ever-increasing residential population within the settlement itself. Indeed, by the Dominion of […]
2023-06-07 13:17
Albertans looking for ways to identify and manage stress are invited to participate in a free online workshop facilitated by Alberta Health Services (AHS). Workshops for managing stress in challenging times comes in two parts, both led by AHS professionals. Please note: Workshops are not recorded. Part 1 of the interactive workshop includes a basic discussion […]
2023-06-01 11:20
One of the more successful yet nearly forgotten Pincher Creek businessmen from our pioneer eras was that of Richard Harris. He had a long time connection with the old Arlington Hotel situated on the north side of Main Street, first as its manager and subsequently as its owner. His work with the public and sociable […]
2023-05-31 11:02
Chelsae Petrovic has won the Livingstone-Macleod riding for the United Conservative Party. Unofficially, Petrovic has received 16,477 votes to New Democratic Party candidate Kevin Van Tighem’s 6,488 votes. Alberta Party candidate Kevin Todd has received 977 votes, The Independence Party of Alberta candidate Corrie Toone 352 votes, Liberal Party candidate Dylin Hauser 194 votes and […]
2023-05-30 11:11
Undeterred by his vote tally in the last provincial election, Dylin Hauser says he’s going to keep on speaking about the issues during the 2023 campaign. The Alberta Liberal Party candidate received 258 votes, one per cent of the vote, when he ran for the party in Livingstone-Macleod in 2019. “That doesn’t deter me,” he said about […]
2023-05-26 08:51
Livingstone-Macleod voters have consistently voted in a conservative as their MLA, but the United Conservative Party candidate in the local riding says she and her campaign team are taking nothing for granted leading up to the May 29 provincial election. “I don’t look at Livingstone-Macleod as an easy riding,” said Chelsae Petrovic. “I look at Livingstone-Macleod as […]
2023-05-26 08:44
Kevin Van Tighem says he just couldn’t stay on the sidelines for this provincial election. Van Tighem, a former superintendent of Banff National Park, said the importance of this election prompted him to become the NDP’s candidate in the Livingstone-Range riding. “I saw so many irresponsible decisions by Danielle Smith and by the UCP, and where they […]
2023-05-26 08:37
Kevin Todd, a Nanton town councillor, is running for the Alberta Party in Livingstone-Macleod in the May 29 provincial election. Todd had originally planned to run for the United Conservative Party nomination but he said he instead found his values and beliefs aligned with those of the Alberta Party. “It was pretty obvious that the other party […]
2023-05-26 08:27
Corrie Toone has added his name to the list of candidates for the Livingstone-Macleod riding, representing The Independence Party of Alberta in the May 29 provincial election. Toone, from Claresholm, is the owner and operator of Fine Toone Customs and Paintless Dent Removal, and has been married to wife Amanda for the past 10 years. They have […]
2023-05-26 08:11
Nanton resident Erik Abildgaard is running as an independent candidate in the Livingstone-Macleod riding. Abildgaard ran to become Nanton’s mayor in 2021, finishing second with 138 votes to Jennifer Handley’s 651 votes. “That’s kind of why I’m running — to talk to people,” he said. Abildgaard said the Alberta government “interfered with business — they […]
2023-05-26 08:06
Intriguing chronicles encapsulating the pioneer stories of the Crook School District Number 520 have been recorded in “Unfolding The Pages” and elsewhere, thanks to the efforts of the Crook and Schoening families. Yet recently received old documents from these two families, now preserved in the archives of the Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village, tell new tales […]
2023-05-24 10:39
The Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta recently awarded grants to local organizations. The Pincher Creek and District Historical Society was awarded a $15,000 grant to expand the existing outdoor mainstage at the Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village, and the Municipal District of Pincher Creek was awarded $5,000 to install an off-grid solar system at […]
2023-05-23 11:01
If you’ve ever wondered why songbirds are seemingly much busier in the early morning hours, a new paper out of the University of Lethbridge explains the birds aren’t just singing their hearts out to welcome you to the day — rather, they’re warming their voices up for their important morning performance. PhD student Juleyska Vazquez […]
2023-05-19 06:17
Pincher Creek RCMP said Wednesday that Lethbridge resident Kyle Rains was not involved in the alleged theft of power tools on May 10. RCMP said the man initially arrested “unlawfully used” the name of Kyle Rains, 39. Lethbridge resident Carter Rains, 31, has since been charged with obstruction of a police officer, identity fraud, possession […]
2023-05-17 11:20
This is part two of the history of the pioneer era of Burmis. Part one can be found here. Early farmers and ranchers Further agricultural endeavours were pursued by Joseph Peters and his wife the former Lillie Ofmer. The couple homesteaded on the northwest quarter of Section 6 Township 7 Range 2 West of the […]
2023-05-17 10:49
A Livingstone-Macleod election forum takes place Wednesday in Pincher Creek. The forum starts at 7 p.m. at the Heritage Inn Hotel and Convention Centre, 919 Waterton Ave. A Livingstone-Macleod provincial candidate forum was held Monday, May 15 at the Claresholm Community Centre, and another takes place in High River on Tuesday, May 16, starting at […]
2023-05-16 12:31
Brocket man faces charges following incident at Pincher Creek Walmart A Brocket man faces charges after Pincher Creek RCMP received a call May 9 of a disturbance at the Walmart in Pincher Creek. RCMP officers attended and located a man who had multiple outstanding warrants. The man was arrested and a search incidental to arrest lead […]
2023-05-12 06:41
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is re‑opening the Chief Mountain port of entry on May 15 for the season. After suspending the service for the last three seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the port opens from May 15 to Sept. 30, 2023. Chief Mountain is located along Highway 6 on the boundary of […]
2023-05-11 07:57
During the years immediately preceding the outbreak of the First World War, Burmis was a booming settlement that catered to both the coal mining and agricultural industries. The Davenport Coal Company was the major mining employer in the area, and numerous ranches and farms surrounded Burmis. The settlement also featured a Canadian Pacific Railway siding […]
2023-05-10 11:48
All five candidates have been invited to forums within the Livingstone-Macleod riding. The Livingstone-Macleod Provincial Candidate Forum takes place on Monday, May 15 at the Claresholm Community Centre, 690 59th Ave. W. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the forum starts at 7 p.m. The forum is being hosted by the Claresholm, Nanton and Fort […]
2023-05-09 10:42
One of the oldest rural districts within Pincher Creek’s trading area has been Fishburn, that homesteading and ranching locale situated some 30 kilometres southeast of town. With pioneers coming early into the area, a thriving agricultural community that included a few businesses and a school district was active by the mid 1890s. One of Fishburn’s […]
2023-05-04 10:53
Crowsnest Pass residents have a passion for place-based learning. Livingstone Range School Board had a presentation last week on the Crowsnest Pass learning ecosystem. “We are thrilled to be able to share this presentation with you,” Isabelle Sellon school principal Marnie Davidson said. “There’s a passion in Crowsnest Pass and we just wanted to share […]
2023-05-03 11:52
The 31st Alberta general election will be held on May 29. “We are excited to welcome Albertans back to the polls this month,” said Glen Resler, Alberta’s chief electoral officer. “Returning officers have been appointed, and we are in the process of recruiting and training nearly 20,000 election officers to conduct voting in the 87 […]
2023-05-02 12:32
Avalanche Canada, in partnership with Parks Canada, Kananaskis Country, and the province of British Columbia, is issuing a Special Public Avalanche Warning (SPAW) for recreational backcountry users across the mountainous regions of western Canada. A dramatic increase in temperatures is expected to destabilize the snowpack, resulting in dangerous, destructive avalanches. This special warning is in […]
2023-04-28 05:43
The Livingstone Range School Division announced Thursday that Alberta Education has granted collegiate school status to PEAKS Campus, for specialized programming in environmental science. The status approval comes with a grant of $5.77 million. “PEAKS Collegiate Campus is set to become a world-class education destination for high school students preparing for careers in environmental science,” […]
2023-04-27 12:19
The history of the Prairies is filled with tales of the importance of the old rural post offices. These institutions were community centres that allowed isolated localities of a century ago to keep in touch with the outside world. Such was the case with the post office at Fishburn which had a rural history of […]
2023-04-26 11:25
The Alberta NDP is promising to bring in permanent protections of the Eastern Slopes from coal mining, if elected. Calgary-Mountain View MLA Kathleen Ganley made the announcement alongside Banff-Kananaskis NDP candidate Sarah Elmeligi and Livingstone-Macleod NDP candidate Kevin Van Tighem. Ganley said a government led by Rachel Notley would bring in the Eastern Slopes Protection […]
2023-04-25 09:50
Agriculture for Life (Ag for Life) is announcing the return of its Farm Babies photo contest for another year. A special contest designed to celebrate new beginnings, honour life and shine a spotlight on farmers and farm families who spend countless hours caring for their new arrivals. After a great response in previous years, Ag for […]
2023-04-20 10:31
I have long had an empirical turn of mind and therefore firmly believe in evidence-based analysis. It is a fool’s game to plunge in without having first tested the proverbial waters. Likewise it is futile to claim knowledge without some basis of tested fact. You may have heard, for instance, that it hurts to hit […]
2023-04-20 10:20
Recent historical research on the Pincher Creek Echo has discovered new chronicles on the Derrett and Edwards families connected with their pioneer newspaper. (Read part 1 here.) Pioneer woman journalist Anna Derrett/Edwards With her husband Howard’s unfortunate demise in January 1920, the widowed Anna Derrett and her young family were forced to rely upon their […]
2023-04-19 11:23
The Livingstone Range School Division is providing its 2023 high school graduates with free lifetime access to an online personal finance education program. The school division announced April 18 that all 2023 high school graduates will receive a personal licence for Enriched Academy with lifetime access to the program. Enriched Academy is fully funded by […]
2023-04-18 11:44
Every day, Dr. Salimah Dhanji can count on two or three calls to her office about dental coverage for those without private insurance. Since the federal government launched the Canada Dental Care Plan (CDCP) a year ago, 250,000 kids from across the country under the age of 12 have gained access to dental care. Dhanji, […]
2023-04-14 07:36
An online survey in February delivered by Leger and sponsored by the University of Lethbridge’s Prentice Institute for Global Population and Economy and the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) shows a distinct lack of support for the creation of a provincial police force among rural Albertans. The survey gauged the public perception of policing and […]
2023-04-13 09:33
Pioneer chronicles of early journalism with the Pincher Creek Echo, political leadership with the Town of Pincher Creek and local commercial/cultural endeavours are recounted in the connected genealogies of Howard E. Derrett, Anna Derrett/Edwards and Frank Thomas Edwards. For over 30 years, these three individuals held pivotal positions within the community, an era that spanned […]
2023-04-12 09:01
Parents, guardians and caregivers who have concerns about their child’s development and wellbeing can now receive free advice and guidance through a new phone service launched recently by Alberta Health Services (AHS). By calling Health Link at 811, Albertans with concerns about their child’s development — including speech, movement and hearing — can be redirected to […]
2023-04-11 04:52
Improving Alberta’s health-care system and addressing cost-of-living issues are far and away the top priorities for voters in next month’s provincial election, a new poll says. But the Leger poll also suggests significant disparities between topics of focus for planned UCP and NDP voters, differences that have already been reflected in each party’s campaign. Respondents […]
2023-04-10 04:02
The Chief Mountain Border Crossing near Waterton Lakes National Park is reopening for the first time since it was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Chief Mountain Border Crossing reopens May 15. Hours are 9 a.m.to 6 p.m. from May 15 to May 31, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. June 1 to Sept. 4 […]
2023-04-06 06:34
As spring arrives, it brings warm weather, clearer roads, and a reminder from the Alberta RCMP about the dangers of speeding. Even though it is a dangerous driving behaviour, speeding is unfortunately still very common across Alberta, with over 55,000 speeding tickets issued in 2022 by the RCMP. The posted speed limit indicates the maximum […]
2023-04-06 06:12
Laura Stocker is hard at work ensuring the safety of students and staff in the Livingstone Range School Division. Stocker is marking her fourth year as health and safety coordinator for both Livingstone Range and Westwind school divisions. In September, Stocker took over management of custodians for Livingstone Range from the maintenance department. Stocker made […]
2023-04-05 11:47
In this week’s Living History article, we take a look back at a couple of the homesteading families from the Olin Creek District tucked away within the southeastern reaches of the Porcupine Hills. The location was considered remote and the terrain rough during the frontier era of more than a century ago. Earlier versions of […]
2023-04-04 07:45
John Barlow, Member of Parliament for Foothills, released the following statement in reaction to Budget 2023: “After eight years of incompetence, Canadians have lost trust in this Liberal government to put the public’s needs above their own. Budget 2023 is yet another example of the devastating impact the Prime Minister’s out-of-control spending has on Canadian […]
2023-03-31 11:05
The John and Adelaide Lane family were early farmers in the Heath Creek district along the western slopes of the Porcupine Hills. Agricultural efforts The Lane family was of English ancestry and originated in Grimsby, Ont., before coming west circa 1900. They settled towards the north end of Township 9, Range One, West of the […]
2023-03-29 06:16
The stars of the Chinook Basketball League were on display Wednesday, March 22 at F.P. Walshe school in Fort Macleod. The league held its annual high school girls’ all-star game, with the white team beating the dark team 77-53. The white team was made up of Sloane Grier, Tess Provost and Lalaine Mendoza of F.P. […]
2023-03-24 07:23
This is the third installment of the frontier history of The Pincher Creek Echo. The first installment can be found here, and the second installment can be found here. MODERN OFFICES BUILT BY THE ROULEAUS Early in 1952 the Rouleau Family acquired The Echo, and the paper remained in family hands for an astounding 37 […]
2023-03-22 09:45
Foothills MP John Barlow congratulated Wednesday, March 22 the 11 Foothills organizations granted funding under the New Horizons for Seniors Program. The Pincher Creek Foundation receives $25,000 to allow seniors to engage in yoga, meditation, art, music therapy and mental health appointments. The Pincher Creek Legion receives $23,759 for handicap bathroom and lighting upgrades. Adaptable […]
2023-03-22 09:11
The average value of Canadian farmland increased by 12.8 per cent in 2022, amid strong farm income, elevated input prices and rising interest rates. The demand for farmland remained robust and the supply of farmland available for sale continues to be limited, according to the latest Farm Credit Canada Farmland Values Report. Farmland values saw the highest […]
2023-03-21 11:36
Southern Alberta RCMP are warning the public of groups who are travelling throughout southern Alberta conducting gold jewelry and electronic scams.Suspects have approached people in parking lots, gas stations or other public locations. The suspects typically offer fake gold jewelry for sale, as gifts, or offer to trade for gas. The jewelry is not genuine […]
2023-03-16 09:48
After three years of pandemic the Alberta Chambers of Commerce is ready to celebrate. They’re celebrating almost a full year without health orders, a recovery that is well under way, but most importantly they ready to salute businesses across the province with the 2023 Alberta Business Awards of Distinction on June 15. They are now […]
2023-03-16 05:49
This is the second installment on the frontier history of our Pincher Creek Echo. (The first installment can be read here.) LOCAL ADVERTISING Throughout much of its history, advertising within The Echo read like a “Whose Who” from the commercial, agricultural, legal, educational, and government sectors from Pincher Creek and the surrounding rural communities. Often […]
2023-03-14 08:11
In less than a month, members of Parliament will take more money out of your wallet and stuff more into their own. On April 1, the federal government is increasing carbon and alcohol taxes while MPs take their fourth pay raise since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s pay raise will range from […]
2023-03-09 17:00
The St. Michael’s senior varsity boys’ team opened the 1A South Zone Championships in Lethbridge with a win Wednesday. The Dragons defeated Picture Butte 74-64 at Lethbridge College and play Taber Christian on Friday, starting at 5 p.m., in the semifinals. The St. Michael’s senior varsity girls played their first game of the South Zone […]
2023-03-08 17:00
The St. Michael’s senior varsity boys’ team opened the 1A South Zone Championships in Lethbridge with a win Wednesday. The Dragons defeated Picture Butte 74-64 at Lethbridge College and play Taber Christian on Friday in the semifinals. The St. Michael’s senior varsity girls play their first game of the South Zone Championships on Thursday evening, […]
2023-03-08 17:00
The Matthew Halton High School senior varsity girls’ basketball team competed Monday at the 2A South Zone Championships in Lethbridge. The Hawks lost 49-28 to Claresholm’s Willow Creek at Lethbridge College, eliminating Matthew Halton from the tournament. Presley LeJan and Madeline Schoening both scored 10 points for the Hawks, and Sophi Bailer and Natalie Smyth […]
2023-03-08 17:00
With the recent changes of The Pincher Creek Echo to an exclusive online publication, it is very appropriate to reflect on the nearly a century and a quarter of the weekly newspaper’s frontier history. Those chronicles are being offered in three installments. The community of Pincher Creek and its surrounding districts has a history closely […]
2023-03-07 17:00
Enrolment is projected to rise across the Livingstone Range School Division. An increase of 66 full-time equivalent students is projected for the 2023-’24 term. Associate superintendent of business services Jeff Perry told trustees recently that enrollment is expected to reach 3,649.15 full-time equivalent students. “It’s good news,” Perry said. “Again, it’s an early estimate so […]
2023-03-06 17:00
Light therapy lamps are now available to borrow at 26 of Chinook Arch’s member libraries, including the Pincher Creek Municipal Library. Light therapy is an effective treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and other conditions. It is exposure to light that is brighter than indoor light but not as bright as direct sunlight and is […]
2023-03-02 17:00
Albertans are now able to search and view public health inspection reports for public pools at ahs.ca/inspections, and will soon be able to do the same for personal services and childcare facilities. Albertans have had access to food facility inspection reports online since 2008. While pool, personal service and childcare facilities have always been inspected and […]
2023-03-01 17:00
The Government of Canada is providing funding for three tourism-related initiatives in the region. The federal government announced Monday that it is investing $17.8 million in 50 projects to grow Alberta’s tourism economy and attract more visitors to the province. Funding includes the following: $99,999 for Glamping Resorts to establish new glamping dome accommodations in […]
2023-02-28 17:00
New York City was not the only thriving centre to sport a Waldorf Hotel. Our own Pincher Creek hosted the namesake of this fine establishment for close to a full generation in the early 1900s. Pincher Creek’s Waldorf Hotel was located on the north side of town, the only business of this nature to be […]
2023-02-28 17:00
The Alberta RCMP are providing tips and resources this month in support of the Alberta Community Crime Prevention Association’s (ACCPA) Fraud Prevention Month campaign. The campaign seeks to educate Albertans on the many ways that fraudulent activity negatively affects their communities. To better protect yourself from online scams and fraud, consider the following: use strong […]
2023-02-28 17:00
The Canyon School grade one class have made a fun art project called “Meet My Snow People.” The students made up names for their character and imagined what they do as well as where they would take them in the summer.
2023-02-26 17:00
The Alberta and Saskatchewan governments are urging the federal Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) to reconsider its decision on a crucial insecticide for farmers. The PMRA recently changed approved uses for lambda-cyhalothrin, an effective pesticide that many farmers rely on to control grasshoppers and flea beetles. Among other changes, the pesticide can no longer be […]
2023-02-26 17:00
The United Conservative Party (UCP) has set March 9-11 as the dates for party members to elect a candidate in the Livingstone-Macleod riding. On Thursday, March 9, there will be polling stations at the Coleman Seniors Drop-in Centre, 7801 18 Ave., from 4-6 p.m., and the Pincher Creek Lions Den, 664 Main St., from 7-9 […]
2023-02-23 17:00
The Highway 3 Twinning Development Association was pleased Jan. 23 to finally share with the community a long anticipated electronic version of the full PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP “Economic Impact Analysis” on twinning the remaining sections of Highway 3. The Highway 3 Twinning Development Association is a community and industry led initiative in southern Alberta that has […]
2023-02-23 17:00
One pioneer agricultural family from the Pincher Creek area only partially remembered from the pages of our local history is that of the Fugina family. Their farm house just north of the creek was a landmark for several generations. The family patriarch, Francis Joseph Fugina, was born in Independence, Wisconsin, on April 22, 1880. His […]
2023-02-22 17:00
The Pincher Creek Chamber of Commerce held its first ever “Business Chat and Cheers” at Boston Pizza on Thursday, Feb. 16. Their goal was to create a fun, casual event where all business owners from Pincher Creek and District were invited to visit with their fellow business associates. The chamber also wanted to take time […]
2023-02-21 17:00
The idea for a family fun dance was started by two sisters who are mothers of Canyon School students. Ashyla Smith and Kinzee Sabey have children going to the school and they wanted to do something fun for them and their classmates. Smith has a son, Lane, in grade three and a daughter, Ellie, in […]
2023-02-20 17:00
In our continuing series on the history of local pioneer women from the Pincher Creek District, one of the earliest to arrive on the scene was that of Sarah Morden. She is best remembered for her agricultural and community endeavours, ones that won her a great deal of local acclaim. Born Sarah Mulholland in 1848 […]
2023-02-15 17:00
For Chelsae Petrovic, communication between the MLA and Livingstone-Macleod constituents is the No. 1 issue that the riding’s new MLA will need to address. Petrovic is one of a handful of candidates vying to become the United Conservative Party’s candidate in the local riding of Livingstone-Macleod, which spans from High River to Waterton National Park. “I […]
2023-02-14 17:00
Pincher Creek’s Old Timer Hockey Club recently hosted the 42nd annual Old Timers Hockey Tournament at the Memorial Community Centre Arena. “This was the first time back since the COVID pandemic and everybody was glad to be back. It was a good tournament. Fun was had by all,” said Roland Milligan, one of the event […]
2023-02-13 17:00
This week we would like to take a look back at the historical contributions of some of the pioneer women from the Pincher Creek district. Mrs. Agnes A. Langin who lived from 1893 to 1942 is featured in this article. IRISH FAMILY BACKGROUND Born Agnes A. Henderson in Belfast, Ireland, during the last decade of […]
2023-02-07 17:00
The Pincher Creek Municipal Library celebrated Family Literacy Day by inviting families to come in and play games, do crafts and find a book to enjoy. Family Literacy Day is a national awareness initiative that takes place every Jan. 27 to raise awareness about the importance of reading and engaging in other literacy-related activities as […]
2023-02-06 17:00
One of the pioneer ranchers of the Pincher Creek, Fort Macleod, Porcupine Hills and Fort Macleod districts was that of George Winder. Although he passed away at an early age in late December of 1914, he and his family left a significant legacy here in terms of that ranching and North West Mounted Police heritage. […]
2023-02-02 17:00
The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) announced Jan. 31 a new conservation site outside Waterton Lakes National Park that it says will benefit the area’s wildlife, including at-risk species. This 255-hectare project is located about 10 kilometres south of Twin Butte, in the Municipal District of Pincher Creek and Cardston County. It builds on over […]
2023-02-01 17:00
The blistery weather that blew in on Friday, Jan. 27 didn’t keep Zena, a Heeler-Husky cross, and two senior Westies, Malory, 16 years old and her son, Oliver, 13 years old, from going to the Pincher Creek Dog Park, adjacent to Juan Teran Regional Park, 6330 Range Road 30-1. Shirley Bateman, Zena’s owner, said her […]
2023-01-31 17:00
Rae Wynder took her grandchildren, five-year-old Arrow, right, and six-year-old Brock Olsen, for a fun swim on Friday afternoon. The Pincher Creek Swimming Pool opened on Monday, Jan. 23 after regular maintenance was completed. The swimming pool offers Aquafit on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8- 9 a.m. and Mondays and Wednesdays from 3-4 p.m. […]
2023-01-30 17:00
Tickets for the 54th annual Alberta Elks Foundation raffle are now on sale at the Ranchland Mall. “Most mornings throughout the week, you can find a Pincher Creek Elk member selling tickets in the mall next to the Co-op grocery store,” said Dale Ferguson, a member of the Pincher Creek Elks for the past three […]
2023-01-25 17:00
The arrival and subsequent use of the Canadian Pacific Railway in the Pincher Creek area brought with it a wide array of hardy pioneers who helped to build up this part of the Canadian frontier. Many of the tales of their early exploits have been lost to the pages of time but in some instances, […]
2023-01-25 17:00
The Piikani Nation newly elected chief, Troy “Bossman” Knowlton, and council were officially sworn in during a ceremony on Jan. 17 in Brocket. Before the official ceremony, Knowlton walked along the aisles and through the secondary high school gymnasium, shaking hands and hugging friends and neighbours individually, and thanking everyone in attendance for their support. […]
2023-01-24 17:00
The Pincher Creek Health Centre has welcomed its first baby of the new year. Everleigh Rose Whitfield made her appearance a week early, on Sunday, Jan. 15, and weighed six pounds six ounces. Her parents, Sariah and Weston Whitfield, are small business owners in Pincher Creek and have three other daughters, aged 7, 5 and […]
2023-01-23 17:00
For some, new year’s resolutions include a healthier diet and increased activity. For a group of Pincher Creek and area seniors, it includes trips to the curling rink to play the sport of sturling on Tuesdays and Thursdays. “We have increased our membership and we are attracting more people to join and participate in sturling […]
2023-01-18 17:00
Stretching beyond the reaches of our own Oldman River watershed, the Porcupine Hills traverse along the western reaches of the Canadian Prairies to Mosquito Creek in the north. Forming a distinctive open landscape, the terrain has for a century and a quarter served as prime ranching country. This week, we look at how some of […]
2023-01-17 17:00
For Pincher Creek Mayor Don Anderberg, 2022 was a “pretty interesting and difficult year in a lot of respects.” “When we were under COVID restrictions, we made decisions with the best information we could get but we had to make those decisions. Coming out of COVID, it’s my feeling that it’s harder because during COVID, […]
2023-01-16 17:00
The Pincher Creek Echo is continuing its evolution with a move to digital only, effective the week of Feb. 27. After this week there we be only six more print editions as we move with our readers into the digital future of news. In the coming weeks, we look forward to sharing an innovative new […]
2023-01-16 17:00
A Lundbreck man faces multiple charges after Crowsnest Pass RCMP say they caught him trying to take fuel from the Pass Powderkeg ski hill. Crowsnest Pass RCMP received a call for a suspicious vehicle Jan. 3 at Pass Powderkeg. Staff at the ski hill recognized the vehicle from past incidents where fuel was stolen, said […]
2023-01-11 17:00
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WEATHER
TODAY
Currently:
0.1
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0
Low:
-5
Hazy
Sunrise: 8:49 am Sunset: 4:17 pm
MONDAY
Partly Cloudy
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1
Low:
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TUESDAY
Mostly Cloudy
High:
2
Low:
-2
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ST ALBERT, EDMONTON, ALBERTA, LEDUC, SHERWOOD PARK, AIR QUALITY, WETASKIWIN, BEAUMONT, FORT MCMURRAY, WHITECOURT, DEVON, AIRDRIE, FORT SASKATCHEWAN, COCHRANE, HIGH RIVER, NANTON, SPRUCE GROVE, STONY PLAIN, MAYERTHORPE, PEACE RIVER, VULCAN, PINCHER CREEK, HANNA, FAIRVIEW, COLD LAKE, PEACE COUNTRY, GRANDE PRAIRIE, VERMILLION, DRAYTON VALLEY, CANADA, YEG,
ST ALBERT, EDMONTON, ALBERTA, LEDUC, SHERWOOD PARK, AIR QUALITY, WETASKIWIN, BEAUMONT, FORT MCMURRAY, WHITECOURT, DEVON, AIRDRIE, FORT SASKATCHEWAN, COCHRANE, HIGH RIVER, NANTON, SPRUCE GROVE, STONY PLAIN, MAYERTHORPE, PEACE RIVER, VULCAN, PINCHER CREEK, HANNA, FAIRVIEW, COLD LAKE, PEACE COUNTRY, GRANDE PRAIRIE, VERMILLION, DRAYTON VALLEY, CANADA, YEG,