Talk of Our Town

VIRTUAL EDITION Welcome to the 10th High River Community Wellness Challenge.  In light of Covid-19 but we have adjusted the information/sessions and connections online to continue with this annual event in our community. Our Committee is made up of a group of passionate people who care about health and wellness in High River.  This challenge is fun, […]

Karen Dees has been an active community High Riverite since 2004.  When she’s not chasing around her three boys, or at work,  she is volunteering.  You may recognize her as she may have recently been knocking at her door as she worked on the Town of High River’s Census or helping you out at a […]

Craig Carswell is a born and raised High Riverite.  He works at Agriterra and runs his own recording studio in town called RedBlack Recording.  He keeps even busier these days since he and his wife have welcomed a son into their family…just 4 months ago. You’ve probably seen or heard him playing tunes in our community […]

It’s a pretty cool story of overcoming and working together. Amara and her horse Allie (also known as Dragon) have had a challenging rodeo season together this year.  Back in June (which is typically the start of rodeo season) Allie (Dragon) had to vet out and take some time off….she didn’t rodeo for over 6 […]

She’s a new mom (5 months now) and a realtor with Century 21…High River, meet Tricia Rakos.  She moved into our community in 1989.  She’s a highly involved volunteer.  She sits on a Town of High River Board and Committee (You may have seen her in their recent recruitment campaign) and she’s been very involved […]

High River, meet Jim Graham.  He’s been in our community for over 40 years.  He served as a School Teacher, Principal and School Division District Supervisor before retiring.  Now, he keeps busy as a grandpa to three kiddos and as a volunteer!  (#funfact he’s been on a Town of High River Board/Committee for over 25 […]

Let us introduce you to High River’s Country Music sweetheart Lyndsay Butler.  She grew up in our community, and currently lives in Foothills County – more directly Gladys Ridge.  She is a Canadian country music recording artist and songwriter who has recently been accepted into an artist development contest with Alberta Music called Project Wild.  […]

We kick off the month of June with Steve Hanulik.  Originally from the Yukon, this husband and father of two has lived in High River for the past 14 years.  He is an underwater enthusiast, an amateur historian, a filmmaker – documentarian and mechanic. (He’s a man of many talents – the list could go […]

Meet Karon Argue, a local illustrator and artist.  She has lived in High River for the past 18 years with her husband Darren and three children.  She is a former business owner (Gecko Graphics) and published author/illustrator. That list alone makes Karon a pretty amazing member of our community.  However she’s got a pretty cool […]

She hails from Chihuahua Mexico but has called High River home, with her family, for the past ten years.  Let us introduce to you Laura Suarez.  She works with the FCIS (Foothills Community Immigrant Services) Team in High River helping new Canadian families get situated and learn about the community. What is your favorite thing […]

Another 2019 Community Summit Actionator from our summit is Michael Koehler.  He shared with the community his idea to vision to in-progress for The Venue and the creation of the High River Performing Arts Society. Michael and his family (wife Lori and daughters Anna and Grace) have lived in High River for 13 years.  He spends […]

Let us introduce to you another one of our 2019 Summit Actionators – Alaine Kowal. She moved to High River with her family in 2006 from Boston.  Not surprising this mover/shaker in our community has a few things on the go.  Outside of her busy family life she works at the Foothills Fetal Alcohol Society, […]

Meet Wade Nelson, a Rancher in the County of Foothills…Father, Husband, Volunteer, Actionator!  You may or may not recognize the Nelson name…as his Great-Grandfather moved into our area before the war…so they’ve been ranching here for almost 100 years. (Talk about deep roots…) When we called Wade to find out a little more about what […]

Our next eight ‘Humans of High River” were the 2019 ‘Actionators’ at the Community Summit.  Chosen to speak to share because they are people who say yes, people who volunteer, people who take action in our town. Meet Amanda Pawlitzki.   She is a Health Coach and Barre Instructor who moved to High River when she […]

You’ve probably seen this new power-couple of High River on the news in the past few weeks.  Their love story went a little viral after the release of their 2018 Christmas card and announcement of engagement.  Alyssa Briggs and Steve McMasters were featured on Global News, The Daily Hive, B-93, Kool FM, Battlefords Now, Lethbridge […]

I recently took part in a (Re)Connection Challenge from Dr. Jody Carrington via social media and it inspired me to create something similar for our community for 2019.  It will be fun! Print off this calendar, save it to your phone or email ourhighriver@gmail.com if you want one emailed to you. Track your progress on […]

She’s known as the one of the most decorated Mortgage Brokers in Canada. Our Yousra Jomha was just awarded the honour of being named a ‘Woman of Influence in 2018’ in all of Canada in her industry to add to that list of accolades. She is proud of all these accomplishments, but when you sit […]

Meet 12-year-old Carter Wilson of High River. This born & raised kid of our community is on cloud nine these days.  In December he’s headed to Las Vegas!  Not your usual child destination, but when you’re a rodeo kid there’s no place you’d rather be than Vegas during Wrangler National Finals Rodeo time! A year […]

Meet Lee-Anne Murakami – if you haven’t already! Lee-Anne has been a High Riverite for 35 years and has been an ACTIVE community member.  She’s worked at two business’s that don’t even exist anymore – a Bulk Food store and the Bowling Alley and at just about every Social Profit in town. A member of […]

Meet Jaden Holle of High River.  A dynamic, out-going and community enthusiastic citizen.  She was born & raised in High River and graduated from Notre Dame Collegiate.  Holle is the Chad Besplug Invitational Rodeo Queen (Claresholm) and is competing in the Miss Rodeo Canada contest.  She is headed to Red Deer this week (Oct. 29-Nov. […]

One of many things we do through Our High River is ‘highlighting.’   Our newest campaign to highlight our citizens is called Humans of High River.  We will be showcasing the faces in our community each week.   The idea comes from a couple of places…our desire to share stories of our awesome people and the ‘Humans […]

The ‘Our High River Wisenheimers’ will be defending their championship title this Saturday at the Grate Groan Up Spelling Bee. The trophy has spent the last year in our office and Fawna wanted to make sure that she knows she’s well-loved.  The bond between Fawna and Trophy was deeper than we first thought. Upon further […]

Here’s a chance to shine the light on our fourth “God-Mother.”  We lovingly came up with this nickname for the four executive directors of the social profit agencies celebrating 20 years in our community.  These four women have really been pioneers in paving the way to help citizens and families in High River and surrounding […]

Over the last few weeks we have been highlighting the 4 social profit agencies and their Executive Directors who have been servicing our community for the past 20 years. This week we introduce you to Marianne Dickson with Wild Rose Community Connections. Don’t forget coming up on Saturday August 25th – there is a BIG […]

Like we chatted with you last week, 2018 is the year 4 of our social profit agencies celebrate 20 years of service in our community.  There is a big party celebration coming up on Saturday August 25th in George Lane Park. At the helm of the Literacy for Life Foundation (one of the four agencies) […]

2018 marks the 20th Anniversary of four social-profit agencies in High River (and surrounding communities). August 25th is a big celebration in George Lane Park! On Talk of Our Town this week we salute Foothills SNAPS Executive Director Orvella Small!

Have you had a chance to read the new postive news source in High River? We are so excited for Alaine Kowal’s great idea!! Check out The Optimistic Citizen – TOC June 2018 Do you have an idea you want to share?  Book a coffee date with us and let’s chat!  Email: ourhighriver@gmail.com

In this section of our website we want to share stories of amazing community builders.  And this is ANYONE.  It doesn’t matter the size of the impact.  It’s just about those who are creating it. Our team watched this Ted X video this week and we just had to share. WE (all of us in […]

Submitted by Alaine Kowal – The Optimistic Citizen Volume 1, Issue 1   Chances are good you have seen at least one of these young ladies volunteering in and around the town of High River.  If you have been living in the town longer than six months, most likely, you have seen both of them […]

In this “Talk of Our Town” section we are highlighting the many faces of High River.  We want to meet those behind-the-scenes doing amazing things in our community.  Do you have an exceptional neighbour?  Who do you see making High River even better?  Submit ideas to us! Shoot a video with that person!  Tell us […]