Talk of the Town: Wooly pigs in Wheatland County
The Calgary Eyeopener is sharing stories from smaller communities every Friday
CBC Calgary's morning radio program, the Calgary Eyeopener,has a weekly series called Talk of the Town.
It looks at the stories of southern Alberta, outside of Calgary,offeringa dedicated focus onwhat's happening in smaller communities.
And wewant to hear your ideas, too.
You can email the Calgary Eyeopener team at eyeopener@cbc.ca to let them know what's percolating in your city, town, village or hamlet. Orjust let us know what you think of what you've heard so far.
Listen to the segment liveevery Friday between 6:35 and 6:45 a.m. on 99.1 FM with hosts Loren McGinnis and Angela Knight.
Or, if you miss an interview, you can find it below.
Wheatland County: Red Mangalitsa pigs
EH Farms in Wheatland Countyspecializes in an uncommon breed of pig, known as the red Mangalitsa.
Christina Stender, a farmer and the owner of thefirst-generation family farm, says her property is currently home to 94 red Mangalitsa pigs, with the largest male weighing about 800 pounds (363 kg).
"They're wooly, they're red, they're large, they're fatand they're veryyummy," Stendertoldthe Calgary Eyeopener, adding that she raises the pigs for more than two years before harvesting.
Pincher Creek: History of firefighting
A piece of firefighting historyis now inPincher Creek, Alta., as a1967 Dodge Fargo fire truck that was in service inthe areain the late 1960s will beon display at theKootenai Brown Pioneer Village, a community museum.
Gord Tolton is the education co-ordinator for the local museum. Hetellsthe Calgary Eyeopeneraboutthe people working to showcase the town'sfirefightingmemorabilia and artifacts, plus the fundraising concert being held this weekend (Aug. 10-11).
Wayne:23rd annual disc golf tournament
Friday marked the first day of the23rd annual Lost Egg Disc Golf Tournament in Wayne, Alta.
Jordan Alway is the disc golf tournament director, and hetold the Calgary Eyeopener that more than a hundred disc golfers will be playing in the badlands of Alberta.
Standard: Historic cattle brands displayed
A score of historic cattle brands are on displayeast of Strathmore, Alta., in the Village of Standard.
They're beingshown offin a part of Standard known as Memory Lane Park. The brands are individually carved into the wood that surrounds a sculpture featuring historic imagesof the village.
Cliff Larsen is thedirector of the Memory Lane Park board, and he's also the manin charge of the brands.
"They were a way to identify different people's cattle, because, of course, cattle don't always stay where they're put," Larsen told the Calgary Eyeopener.
Elnora: Saskatoon berry celebration
DNA Gardens, an orchard in the Village of Elnora, Alta., is holding its annual Saskatoon Days celebration this weekend (July 20-21) in honour of the Saskatoon berry.
Arden Delidais, owner of DNA Gardens, told the Calgary Eyeopener that the berry farm has19 varieties of Saskatoon berries, and visitors can tour the orchard to taste and learn about the fruit.
Delidais says celebrating the Saskatoon berry isn't just about pie, either. DNA Gardens is also a multi-faceted winery and distillery, offering Saskatoon berry spirits, wine, gelato, barbecue sauce and more.
Stephansson House:Cookies and a history lesson
This week, the Calgary Eyeopener ischecking in on anoven in Red Deer County,wherea batch of Icelandic cookies are bakingto celebrate thelegacy of a poet who travelled from Iceland to Alberta in the late 1880s.
Kieran McLean is a historical interpreter at Stephansson House,a provincial historicsite nearMarkerville, Alta.Staff are inviting folks to visit on the July 13-14 weekend to learn about the history ofStephan G. Stephansson, a manknown as "the poet of the Rocky Mountains."
McLean saysvisitors to the historic housecan learn from costumed interpreterswho bring the story of Stephansson, his poetry and the time period to life.
Coaldale: 51st-annual Southern Alberta Summer Games
The Town of Coaldale, Alta., is hosting this year's Southern Alberta Summer Games, and it marks 51 years of thetradition.Thegames are back for the first time since 2019 after being on hiatus because of the pandemic.
Mark McIntosh is the event'scoordinator forCoaldale, and he says it has drawn 1,700 competitorsto the town. He tells the Calgary Eyeopener all about the history of the event.
Fort MacLeod: Community celebrates 150 years
Founded in 1874, Fort MacLeod celebrates its 150th anniversary this year.
"It's quite a big milestone for our town," saidMackenzie Hengerer, a town councillor and the chair of the150th Celebration Committee Council.
Hengerertold the Calgary Eyeopenerthe anniversary celebrations have been in the works for some time, and it's been a source of great excitement for the community.
Magrath: Classic car show rolls through town
This year marks five years of the Classic Car Show and Shineand its subsequent paradehappening in the town of Magrath, Alta.
Geoff Minors, the event's organizer, says they usually see about 50 to 70 cars but he aspires to get to 100 one day and some folks have travelled in from as far away as Edmonton.
Minorstold CBC radio host Loren McGinnisthe event typically brings a wide variety of classic cars to town, with some of the oldest dating all the way back to the 1920s.
Crowsnest Pass: Brand new mountain bike trail
A new multi-use trail opened on the Pass Powderkeg Ski Area, which is a resort in Blairmore, Alta. It's called "Highway Tree," and it's part of a growing network of mountain bikingtrails in the area which has become a popular destination for mountain bikers from across Alberta.
The trail was built by the United Riders of Crowsnest, and Amanda Goodhue is the group's trail manager. Goodhue tells the Calgary Eyeopener about how the trail is designed to be efficient for on-foot and bike travel.
Vulcan: Over 3 decadesof Spock Days
Lynn Surman is the chair of theSpock Days committee in Vulcan, Alta. It's a Star Trek-themedtradition that's been happening in the town for over three decades.
The festival-like event kicks off with fireworks, and itfeatures family-friendly activities like a parade, a pancake breakfast, a petting zoo, live DJ sets and a slo-pitch tournament.
Surman tellsthe Calgary Eyeopenerthat Spock Days ispart of the town's identity, and towncouncillors can even be seen dressed up as characters from the famous sci-fi series.
Linden: Revving up for the 3rd-annual lawn mower races
Residents of Linden, Alta., are revving up forthe town's Sports Day by revamping used lawn mowers.
By modifying themto make the lawn mowersspeedier, folks can participate in the third-annual edition of the Linden Lawn Mower Races.
"We take a lawn mower that goes normally three to four kilometres an hour, and, last year, we had our peace officers out with a radar gun and some of those mowers were going 41 kilometres an hour," race marshal Shaine Isaac toldthe Calgary Eyeopener.
Isaac said last year drew over 100 people to cheer on the lawn mowerracers.
And for those who prefer something a little slower, the event also hasrelay races with push mowers.
Olds: Two 4-H clubs joinforces tolaunch new beef show
This weekend marks an important milestone in central Alberta.
Two local beef clubs in Oldsthe Crossfield Madden 4-H Beef Club and Balzac Beef 4-H Club have teamed up to launch a new event:the Clover Community Classic.
The beef show and sale will take place at the Olds Regional Exhibition Grounds on Saturday.
Penny Havens, a member of the organizing committee, shared more details on the Calgary Eyeopener.
Markerville: Historic Creamery Museum opens for the season
Its a big weekend in the hamlet about a half-hour drive southwest of Red Deer. Built in 1902, the Historic Markerville Creamery Museumopens for the season on Saturday, andDonna Nelson knows all about it.
Nelson lives in Markerville and is a former member of the local heritage committee. Shesays the historic museum showcases a rich history of the township and its people.
Rowley: Las Vegas-themed mystery dinner theatre
The Village of Rowleyhas invited a Calgary-based theatre company to put on a Vegas-themed murder-mystery dinner eventthis week to raise money for alocal project.
MiraGallaway, director of the board at the Rowley Community Hall,told theCalgary Eyeopenerthat proceedsfromthe show will go towardrestoringthree of the town's historical grain elevators
High River: TheHitchinPost is now open
A popular drive-in eatery that has been serving the local community for 50 years has opened for the season, firing up its grill to serve delicious burgers and shakes to locals and visitors.
The owner of the HitchinPost Drive-In,Carmen Lamoureux,gives the full lowdown on theCalgary Eyeopener.
Three Hills: Building new homes
The town of Three Hills is set to welcome a batch of new homes after the town made the decision to cut prices on residential lots.
Three Hills is also working on an incentive program for houses that will be reviewed by the town council on Monday. The town's mayor, Ray Wildeman, breaks it all down on theCalgary Eyeopener.
Milo: Creating a community cookbook from scratch
Locals in the village of Milo have worked hard to bring a community cookbook to life. Recipes from scores of homes in the village have been compiled into a cookbook by the Milo Library.
This is the cookbook's secondvolume.Celia Lahd, who is the library manager, offers more details on the Calgary Eyeopener.
Crossfield: Competing with root vegetables
The town of Crossfield is gearing up for an annual event called the February Food Fest. Now in its fourth year, the festival is bringing back one of its most unusual traditions bowling with rutabagas.
The game made its way to the festival during the pandemic. The organizer of the Rutabaga Bowl, Cheryl Shea, shares more details on the Calgary Eyeopener.
Olds: Museum turns 50, celebrateswith the 1950s
This is a big year for a local museum in central Alberta.It's celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Chantal Marchildonis the manager and curator of theMountain View Museum and Archivesin Olds. Every year, themuseum's theme changes to reflect a different part of the town's history.
Marchildonsays theyjust reopened for the 2024 season, and this year,the exhibits are focused on Olds in the1950s to mark the occasion.
Penhold: Honouringlocal world record holder
The town of Penhold is home to a GuinnessWorld Record holder, JosephineMichaluk,who has madethe most blood donations by a woman.
Penhold has now launched a special blood drive to mark her achievement.Michalukshared more details on the Calgary Eyeopener.
Brooks: Bandits changing leagues
The Brooks Bandits havenow officially left the Alberta Junior Hockey League. The team will finish out the season as a member of the British Columbia Hockey League instead.
The Bandits are one of five Alberta teams making the move. The news comes after more than a week of cancelled games and uncertainty.Sandra Stanway, a reporter with the Brooks Bulletin, breaks it all down.
Arrowwood: Documenting the community's history
The Arrowwood Restoration Society is updating the community's history book. The previous one was published in 1982and now community members are catching up on what's happened over the pastfourdecades.
The group recently received a$10,000grantto cover publishing costs. Linda Gooch is the head of the committee that's putting thebook together.
Drumheller: Easing ahousing crunch
As municipalities big and small across Alberta are dealing with a tight housing market, Drumheller has come up with a way to ease things a bit.
It's a new home-sharing program aimed at helping seasonal workers find a place to stay. Alison Roppel,the executive director of Community Futures Big Country, explains.
Diamond Valley: One year in a new municipality
It's been one year since Black Diamond and Turner Valley officially tied the knot, creating a new municipality known as Diamond Valley.
Mayor Barry Crane gives an update.
Etzikom: Roof repair at a windmill museum
Windy conditions are more than welcome in Etzikom. The hamlet southeast of Calgary is home to a windmillmuseum.
And that's where a costly roof renovation is in the works. Skyler Stromsmoe, a volunteer atEtzikom Museum, explains.
East Coulee: Hanging lights at historic site
We headed upto East Coulee in the Drumheller Valleyto celebrate Christmasin a coal mine.More than 40,000 lights have been strung for Christmas in the Coulee atthe old Atlas Coal Mine.
Sarah Newstead,the executive director of the historic site, is our guide.
Beiseker: All out for Christmas
Folksin Beisekerwent all out for their annualChristmas in the villageevent.
Cathryn Hagel with the Village of Beisekerexplains.
Nanton:Lights the Way
Each year,Nantonhosts a Christmas lights contest called Lights the Way.
Steve Rookewas the 2022 champion in the residential category. And this year he's trying to top it.
Rosedale: Repairing a pedestrian bridge
Work has now begun to repair the old Star Mine Suspension Bridge in Rosedale, a community roughly150 kilometres northeast of Calgary. The pedestrian bridge over the Red Deer River has been closed since 2020 due to structural concerns.
Don Johnston is the owner of Wild West Badlands Tours. He's been running tours that visit the bridge for 15 years.
Cardston: Remembrance Day
Saturday, Nov. 11, is Remembrance Day in Canada. Ceremonies are scheduled in communities throughout southern Alberta, including in the town of Cardston.
Cammi Bevans is the facilitator of that ceremony. She explained it on the Calgary Eyeopener.
Coleman: Working to build a new skate park
We're grabbing our boards and shredding down to the Crowsnest Pass.Efforts are underway to build a new skate park in the community of Coleman.
Ian Gauthier is with the Southwest Alberta Skateboard Society, which is behind the effort.
Fort Macleod: A special anniversary
This week we're hurrying hard in Fort Macleod.The local curling club is celebrating 125 years of rocks and rings.
Sherri Zoeteman, the club president,explains the club's history.
Taber: Town's largest hunting festival
The Taber Pheasant Festival begins on Saturday. The week long event is billed as the largest hunting festival in the country.
It's put on by the Alberta Conservation Association.
Todd Zimmerling president and CEO, explained how it works.
Penhold: Fundraising for the fire department
Members of Penhold's volunteer fire department have teamed up with a restaurant in Red Deer for a fundraiser.
All October,if you buy the special burger at Cilantro and Chive, $2 from each purchase goes to the Penhold Volunteer Fire Association.
The special is called the Firehouse Burgerand Dwayne Marsden helped come up with the recipe. He spoke to theCalgary Eyeopener about the burger.
Delburne: A big day for card sharks
The fall cribbage tournament is underway in Delburne.
Dozens of players are registered to count some fifteen-twos and try not to get skunked too bad. Linda Attfield is the president of the Delburne and District Drop-In Centre she explains the event.
Bow Island: A new festival
Weheadeddown to Bow Island the town recently launcheda new harvest festival.
To talk about it is Christina Unruh,Bow Island's tourism coordinator.
Coleman:New plans for an old school
Work has just begun to fix up a former school in Coleman, Alta.
The plan is to turn the old classrooms into bedrooms.
Greg Bueckert owns the property, and he shared the story with the Calgary Eyeopener.
Didsbury: A parade of scarecrows
Didsbury is home to the annual Scarecrows on Parade event. It's a contest where families, businesses, and local municipal governments create their own scarecrow, hoping for a chance to receive a people's choice award in their category.
Listen to more from Dawn Stewart, manager of the Didsbury Museum, which played host to the scarecrows.
Sundre: 105 years of the local fair
The annual school and community fair has been happening in Sundre, about 110 kilometres northwest of Calgary, for more than a century.
Kidsget the day off of school for the special event.
Fair committee member Karen Tubb dived into its history.
Champion: Ricky the rock snake
A colourfulsnake has been slithering through the village of Champion, about 140 kilometres southeast of Calgary.
However, this is no ordinary reptile he's made of rocks.
Kathy Perley, executive director of family and community support services for the village, shared the story of Ricky.
Cardston: Temple's 100-year anniversary
Cardston is celebrating 100 years since the original dedication of itsfamous TheChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple.
Diana Mackenzie explains why the anniversary is so significant to the town located 230 kilometres south of Calgary.
Stettler:The Amazing Race
A popular reality show hasinspired an annual summer event at thelibrary in Stettler, about 220 kilometres northeast of Calgary.
Jaden Norman, a summer student at the Stettler Public Library, shared what to expect at this year's Amazing Race challenge.
Irricana:Celebrating 100 Years of John Deere Tractor
Pioneer Acres near the town of Irricana, about 65 kilometres northeast of Calgary, is holding its annual show celebrating the agricultural history of the prairies.
This year's theme is "The Year of the Deere." The museum is marking 100 years of the John Deere Model D tractor.
Bob Anderson, president of Pioneer Acres, shared the details.
Diamond Valley: Ian Tyson Memorial Music Festival
Diamond Valley is hosting its first annual Ian Tyson Music Festival.
The community, about 65 kilometres southwest of Calgary, wants to honour the work of the late cowboy singer-songwriter.
Murray Rodgers, president of the Diamond Valley Chamber of Commerce, explained why.
Claresholm: A grueling gravel bike race
For the third time, the town of Claresholm, about 130 kilometres south of Calgary,is hosting a gravel bike race called The Range.
More than 300 riders will take onthe 124-kilometre challenge.
Creator and organizer Garth Stottsshared what riders are in for.
Longview: Little New York Daze
The annual Little New York Daze festival is back in Longview, about 50 kilometres south of Calgary.
It's a two-day festival, with a parade that hasn't waltzed through town in four years.
Sean McCarthy, president of the Little New York Daze Association, spoke to the Calgary Eyeopenerabout what to expect and how the festival got its name.
Hanna: Hosting all-star football
The 25th annual CanAm Bowlis coming to Hanna, located northeast of Calgary.
It's the first time the game has been held in the province.
The best six-man high school football players from Alberta and Saskatchewan make up Team Canada. They'reup against an all-star team from the Unites States.
Team Canada's offensive co-ordinator,Darryl Dickson, set the stage.
Athabasca: Flooding before a festival
Flooding along the Athabasca River caused last minute issues ahead of a big festival in thenorthern Alberta town.
However, that's not stopping the Magnificent River Rats Festival from happening in Athabasca.
Fred Minville,the vice-president of the festival, explained what they're up against.
Champion: Discovering an old mural
An old mural was discovered on the side of a building on the main drag in the town of Champion,130 kilometres southeast of Calgary.
And no one in the community can remember it.
RacilleEllis, 91, was born and raised in the area. She shared what she knows about the building.
Langdon: New life in the heart of town
Langdon, located just east of Calgary, is one of the fastest-growing communities in Alberta. This week, the town of roughly 6,000 celebrated the opening of a new park in the heart of town.
The amenity features a community garden, fire pits, a playground,a skate park, a library, basketball hoopsand even pickleballcourts.
Chrissy Craig, executive director of the Langdon Community Association, spoke to the Calgary Eyeopener about the ribbon-cutting ceremony, which happened amid this week's tornado warnings.
Lethbridge and Coaldale: Beef club marks 100 years
The Lethbridge Coaldale 4-H Beef Club marked a major milestone recently. The group celebrated its 100-year anniversary.
Club leader Rebecca Tokariuk shared the impact the club has had over the years.
Strathmore: Mural unveiling
There's a fresh new splash of colour in the town of Strathmore,east of Calgary.A new mural has been unveiled downtown.
It was created in part by participantsin the Prospect Human Services Skills for Success program, which helps unemployed or underemployed people in the area gain skills through art.
Team lead Shantelle Vermeylenexplained how the mural was created.
Castor: Renovating the town's last grain elevator
Thelast remaining grain elevator in the town of Castor, about 140 kilometres east of Red Deer, hasbeen undergoing renovations. It's also being repainted in its original colours from the early 1900s.
John Wright, secretary of the Castor andDistrict Museum Society, shares the history of the structure and why it's important to the community.
High River: Little Britches Parade and Rodeo
The annualLittle Britches Parade and Rodeo kicks off in High River, about 50 kilometres south of Calgary.
Parade chair Hank Leeferink explains what's happening over the weekend and how this special event got started in 1959.
Mossleigh: Train rides to revisit history
There's no time like the present to revisit Alberta's railwaypast.
Passenger train rides are back at Aspen Crossing, near the hamlet of Mossleigh, about 90 kilometres southeast of Calgary.
Roma Howlett, the train lead at Aspen Crossing, shares some of the history that passengers will learn and the adventures they'll experience along the ride including a mock robbery.
Strathmore: Over the Hill Gang
A group in Strathmore is callingthemselves the Over the Hill Gang, and they cruise around the community on mobility scooters!
Allan McKinnon is one of the founders. He described how the gang came to be, and why they banded together.
Stettler: Restoring an old locomotive
People in Stettler, about 80 kilometres east of Red Deer, are working to get a locomotive chugging again.
The 6060 locomotive was a gift to the people of Alberta to mark the 75th anniversary of the province.
The Rocky Mountain Rail Society owns the train. Brian Henderson, the group's treasurer, shared a bit about the train's history.
Rosebud: Celebrating 50 years of the arts
Over the years, the hamletof Rosebud about 100 kilometres northeast of Calgary has become synonymous with live theatre.
This year, it's marking 50 years since it all began, when a small arts summer camp took form in the community.
Morris Ertman, the Rosebud Theatre's artistic director, described how they plan to celebrate.
Crossfield: Do Good in Your Hood
Typically, you want to avoid getting ticketed by a police officer, but not in the town of Crossfield, about 50 kilometres north of Calgary.
Local kids are trying toget ticketed for performing good deeds. It's part of a program called, "Do Good in Your Hood."
Nicole Vandenberghe runs it. She explained how the program works.
Hanna: Restoring the town roundhouse
Residents of Hannaare trying to keep the town's railroad heritage alive by fixing up a historic roundhouse.
Sandra Beaudoinis the president and founder of theHanna Roundhouse Society, which is fixing up the building.
She described the structure, its current condition and residents' hopes for its future.
Trochu: Small town wantsmore people to move there
You've likely heard of the Alberta is Calling campaign, which encourages people from across the country to move to the province. But did you know Trochu is calling, too?
The town is trying to grow the community of about 1,000peoplenortheast of Calgary.
Jamie Collins,executive assistant with the Town of Trochu,explained why.
Sundre: The push for a pump and cycle track in town
The Sundre Bike nSki Club wants to build a pump and cycle track in the town.
The club, formed in 2015, is made up of a group of residents who promote the enjoyment of outdoor physical activities.
Club member Josh Rozenhart explained the group's latest idea.
Nanton:Popular Nanton antique shop closes its doors
Nanton is known as a destination for antique hunters.
But one of the town's most popular shops,Sentimental Journey Antiques,has closed.
Becky Scott is the president of the Nanton and District Chamber of Commerce. She explained what the closure means for the town.
Strathmore: Raising funds for the local food bank
Members of the Strathmore Fire Department challenged their community for a good cause.
They wanted to see who couldraise more donations for the Wheatland County Food Bank over a two-week period, between Feb. 27 and March 10.
Chief David Sturgeon with the Strathmore Fire Department explained the goal of the campaign.
Pincher Creek: The end of a local paper
Twelve community newspapers in Albertaendedtheir print editionson Feb. 27.The Postmedia-owned outlets arenow publishing their stories only online.
One of those papers is the Pincher Creek Echo, which has been published weekly since 1900.
Farley Wuth is the curator of the Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village in Pincher Creekand has thumbed through countless editions of the paper. He explained a bit about its history.
Coleman: Bringing new life to an old theatre
Efforts are underway to transform an old theatre in Coleman, in the Crowsnest Pass, into an arts destination for the area.
Howard Vandenhoef is with the Crowsnest CandoSociety, which owns the Roxy Theatreand is behind the push to restore it.
He described the theatre's history and his vision for its future.
Drumheller: Flood mitigation project requiressome to leave homes
A massive flood mitigation project is going on inDrumheller, and soon, it's heading into a new phase.
A public information session was held Feb. 9 togive folks a sense of what's coming.
Darryl Drohomerski is the chief administrative officer with the Town of Drumheller. He explained why the mitigation work is necessary.
Torrington: Beloved museum in need of repairs
The hamlet of Torrington, in central Alberta, is known for itsWorld Famous Gopher Hole Museum.
But the site has seen better days. The two buildings housing the dozens of displays of taxidermy gophers are in need of significant repairs.
Museum director Laural Kurtatold us what's needed to get the museum back to its former glory.