First responders from across Alberta will take to the ice later this month for a weekend of hockey and fundraising right here in Camrose.

The First Responders Ice Hockey Tournament runs March 27 to 29. The charity event brings together correctional officers, firefighters, police officers, emergency medical services workers, sheriffs, as well as bylaw and border services officers.

This year the tournament will raise funds for the Zebra Child and Youth Advocacy Centre, which supports children and youth who have experienced abuse. The centre provides crisis response, advocacy and support for families while helping children navigate investigations, court proceedings and the healing process.

“The purpose of the tournament is an opportunity for first responders of all types from throughout Alberta to have a weekend to unwind, play some hockey, meet lots of other amazing people and get away from our very challenging jobs to enjoy some drinks. The tournament also collaborates with different charities each year and gives a portion of the registration fees and silent auction to the chosen charity each year,” said Johnny Grant, correctional peace officer at the Edmonton Remand Centre and an organizer of this year’s tournament.

Each team will play three to five games depending on their division. The event also includes a women’s division that continues to grow each year. “Anyone and everyone is welcome to come out and watch, there are players that are completely new to the sport up to very high level ex-pro players,” said Grant.

Games begin Friday at 9 a.m., with the final scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. An awards ceremony will take place March 28 at 12:30 p.m. in the Encana Arena.

Boots on the Ground, Legacy Place and the Veterans Association Food Bank will also be on site with information tables.

A silent auction and 50/50 draw will also be set up and each team will contribute one or two items for the prize table, which will run from Friday until Saturday at 6 p.m. There is no cost for attending the event, but community members can show their support by donating food to Veterans Association Food Bank or through the silent auction.

In the spirit of Easter time, the City of Camrose is once again hosting their Easter Hopping Through the Parks hunt. The event runs from March 23 until April 19, giving young Camrosians plenty of time to go egg hunting.

The organizers have hidden eight, easy-to-spot Easter eggs around Mirror Lake, Jubilee Park and Stoney Creek. Upon finding an egg, participants have to try the spring action pose displayed on the sign and take a photo with the egg. The photo then needs to uploaded to Camrose Photo Contest for a chance to win a gift card to a local business.

A winner of the egg hunt will be randomly drawn from all submissions and contacted by email. To find more information on how to participate, or find clues on where the eggs may be hidden visit: www.ourcamrose.ca/easterparkhop.

Take a step back into the Regency era with Camrose Art Society’s Back to Bridgerton event. On April 11, the Camrose Arts Society is inviting the community to enjoy an evening inspired by the popular TV show Bridgerton, which is known for its elaborate, artistic themes influenced by the early 19th century England’s high society.

With formal balls, social gatherings and the distinctive outfits, the Arts Society is turning the event into an interactive experience.

“The Bridgerton theme not only captures the essence of spring’s ‘budding out’ but also symbolizes a fresh direction for the Arts Society. This new path allows the Society to flourish and grow, reaching out in all directions and encouraging participation from various sectors of the arts scene,” said Terry Morely, president of the Camrose Arts Society.

Guests are encouraged to dress in Bridgerton inspired attire, though costumes are not required. But for those who choose to dress up for the event, a costume contest will be taking place as part of the many exciting festivities.

The evening will feature live performances, readings, silent and live auctions and the many talented local artists of Camrose, showcasing their works. Food and beverages will be available, including a cash bar.

“Lady Whistledown will provide narration for the entirety of the program. Approximately 15 to 20 visual artists are expected to exhibit their work, accompanied by live readings from both poets and novelists. Theatre professionals will be attired in period-appropriate costumes, and a special appearance by Queen Charlotte has been arranged. Attendees will have the opportunity to have a photo taken with the Queen herself. A short scene from the show will also be performed. Cast members, dressed as their characters, will mingle with guests and engage in conversation. Guests can enjoy an English high tea, plus there will be a cash bar and a 50-50 raffle,” said Morely.

The event takes place at the historic Bailey Theatre from 7 to 10 p.m. Admission is free with donations accepted in support of ongoing arts programming in Camrose.

Camrose has a vibrant arts and entertainment scene with many great opportunities that people will travel to our community to enjoy. You won’t find many theatres quite like the Bailey Theatre, known as one of the best live performance venues in Western Canada. Its historic charm and cozy atmosphere often brings performers back time and again.

There is still time to purchase tickets for these upcoming shows. Kayla Williams and the Yacht Daddies will be at the Bailey March 28 at 8 p.m. They will be reimagining ’70s and ’80s disco-funk fusing heartfelt soul with modern edge. This will be a high energy show featuring songs from their Popstalgia EP album.

The Bailey Buckaroos are back on March 29 at 2 p.m. This very popular group will take the stage to play the classic country music their audiences have come to love and expect from them. The band features local musicians serving up a family friendly show, a tradition that the community has embraced.

On April 5, Reveen hits the Bailey stage at 7 p.m. Tyrone Reveen, learned at the feet of the master, his father Peter Reveen. The “new” Reveen show has become one of the top earning shows of its kind performing in front of sold out audiences across Canada. The Reveen show is a vivid manifestation and vibrant display of the power of the mind that will have the audience rolling in the aisles laughing. Don’t be left out and take time to witness Reveen at work.

Tickets are available at www.baileytheatre.com

Camrose & District Family and Community Support Services (CDFCSS) has several programs and events coming up in the weeks ahead.

 
Community Volunteer Income Tax Program is back and provides free help with simple tax returns beginning March 17, at the Duggan Wellness Centre, west entrance. The clinic runs Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. until April 30. For more information visit: camrosefcss.ca/services
 
A program for boys aged eight to 12 and their parents focuses on confidence, emotional awareness and healthy team culture. Includes on-ice mentoring with Tim Green Hockey Development and off-ice sessions for boys and parents. The event takes place on March 31 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Border Paving Arena. For more information or to register contact at nick@changing-ways.ca
 
The Camrose and Area Men’s Shed meets Thursdays from noon to 2 p.m. at the Camrose and District Centennial Museum Old Timer’s Hut, 4522-53 Street. Coffee and snacks provided. Participation is casual and open to men aged 18 and older.
 
Solid Ground is a peer support group for men aged 18 and older. Meetings are held the first and third Wednesdays of each month from 7 to 8 p.m. at the FCSS office, 4821-51 Street, or online via Zoom. For information, contact nick@changing-ways.ca or 780-672-2833.

For more information on all programming and services available through CDFCSS visit www.camrosefcss.ca

Ballet Jörgen was founded in 1987 by Bengt Jörgen and Susan Bodie. It has become a prominent Canadian touring company that has committed to the evolution of dance championing new choreographic voices while making ballet accessible to all.

Their motto is “dance for all” and delivers inclusive, grassroots touring performance opportunities to underserved communities. Bengt Jörgen’s vision was to support and develop Canadian choreography and disperse it across the country.

At their stop in Camrose in February, local dancers had the opportunity to participate in a masterclass and repertoire with Ballet Jörgen. Local dance studios are contacted about the availability for local dancers from ages eight to seventeen to participate in the program. In our community, there were eight dancers from Ballet Camrose, one dancer from Dance FX in Wetaskiwin and 13 dancers from Camrose Academy of Dance that seized the moment and fully embraced the chance to learn from a professional dance company.

Often, several dancers are invited to participate in Ballet Jörgen’s performance the next day. During their performance at the Lougheed Performing Arts Centre (LPAC), there were dancers from Ballet Camrose and Camrose Academy of Dance (CAD) that received that invitation to dance on stage with the tour group.

Kailah Jones Rissling does social media and publicity for CAD and her daughter was one of several local dancers invited to participate in the live performance in front of the Camrose audience. Kailah said, “She loved it, it was the most amazing experience. It makes her eager to do another performance.”

The girls all put in a lot of hours and hard work in a short amount of time to prepare for the ballet, but it was well worth the time for such an amazing opportunity. It is experiences like this that create dreams and serve as a reminder that hard work does pay off.

Camrose City Council is working on a new plan aimed at strengthening relationships with other levels of government. City administration presented a draft Intergovernmental Relations Plan to support council’s strategic goal of fostering collaborative relationships. The plan outlines how the City intends to build stronger connections with federal, provincial and municipal partners while advocating for local priorities.

“It’s intended to be a relationship first model. It attempts to establish a coordinated approach to building those relationships with the federal, provincial and municipal partners,” said Malcolm Boyd, City manager.

Its goal is to help the City access funding opportunities, influence policy discussions and strengthen regional collaboration. In the proposed plan administration noted the intergovernmental landscape for municipalities has changed in recent years. Requirements such as intermunicipal collaborative frameworks and joint use planning agreements, rising infrastructure costs and shifting responsibilities from senior levels of government have increased the need for stronger partnerships.

Key partners identified in the plan include the Government of Canada, the Province of Alberta, Camrose County and other regional municipalities. The city also expects to work closely with regional school divisions, Alberta Municipalities, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the Alberta Mid-sized City Mayors’ Caucus, the University of Alberta and St. Mary’s Hospital.

The plan focuses on four main areas:
 
The City intends to develop a policy framework that supports working relationships, clear communication and regular engagement with government officials. Administration also plans to strengthen ties with Camrose County and nearby municipalities through both formal and informal engagement.
 
The City intends to concentrate its advocacy on issues considered priorities for the community. These include water security initiatives, social services such as housing, transportation and health and education services. The City plans to use established relationships with government partners to keep them informed on local issues.
The City plans to track updates from provincial and federal governments and look for opportunities to engage early in policy discussions. This approach could help Camrose secure grants, contribute to policy development and respond quickly to funding programs.
 
The City plans to establish internal processes to support intergovernmental work, ensuring communication and coordination is strong within the administration and council.

This process includes issue tracking, briefing preparation and ensuring consistent messaging across departments.

If implemented, the City expects the plan will help secure resources that support community priorities and increase Camrose’s influence in regional and provincial decision making.

More information on the plan is available in the agenda, which can be found on the City of Camrose website at www.camrose.ca

Back in November of 2024, a small group of blues fans and musicians in Camrose raised the question of what an all-Canadian blues festival would look like at the historical Bailey Theatre. With an intimate vibe that also features state of the art sound and lighting, the atmosphere this venue has can’t be beat.

Before long this group of dedicated Bailey supporters became a nine member committee holding its first meeting in January of 2025. As a committee, they decided that proceeds from the Camrose Blues Festival, both monetary and promotional, will be reinvested into the Bailey Theatre Society.

The first festival in August 2025 ended up being very successful with the help from many dedicated volunteers and was generously supported by the community, local businesses and the City of Camrose. The committee’s mission in addition to supporting the Bailey is to promote, support and celebrate blues music and musicians, all while striving to keep the blues alive.

With the return of warmer weather on the way, it’s not too early to start thinking about summer activities and festivals. The Camrose Blues Festival returns for a second year, July 17 to 19, with another amazing, award winning line-up featuring the likes of Donald Ray Johnson and Samantha King.

The community has spoken and the committee has listened. This year ticket sales include assigned seating. Festival goers will feel comfortable knowing they’ll be sitting in the same seat for all performances. A new feature to this year will be the addition of VIP packages that include seats at a table near the stage.  VIP packages can be purchased as a single seat or the entire table of four.

Also new this year is a kick-off party on July 16, featuring local bands Rose City Rollers and Godfrey Blaque in a pay what you feel show. This is a separate show, not included in ticket packages or individual day passes. With limited seating available, it is strongly encouraged to register early at the Bailey box office or through the Bailey’s website for the kick-off party.

The Blues Brunch was popular last year and will be returning to the 2026 festival. This year’s performer will be the Graham Guest Trio. This Edmonton-based blues act led by acclaimed Graham Guest, is known for his work in the roots and blues scene.

Tickets are available now for the second annual Camrose Blues Festival. With last year’s event almost selling out, check out the options early to secure a spot. For more information or to purchase tickets, go to www.bailey theatre.com or www. camrosebluesfestival.ca

To have five minor hockey teams from a single community qualify for provincials the same season is virtually unheard of for large communities like Edmonton, Red Deer or Calgary. It is a staggering accomplishment for a community the size of Camrose.

The five Camrose teams heading to provincials for their respective levels are the U15AA Boys who hosted provincials in Camrose March 19 to 22, U18AA Boys, U18A Girls, U13 Girls and the U13A Boys.

An achievement like this is rare at best. Eldon Banack, president of Camrose Minor Hockey said, “For Camrose Minor Hockey we feel fortunate that so many teams have had such successful years. It’s a testament to the commitment of players, coaches and parents for teams to come together and have this type of success on the ice after a long season.”

One of the five teams going to provincials are the Camrose U18 Wildcats. They are a hard-working and coachable team. They met each game with a great mix of skill and determination that included a team-first attitude.

Nicole commented, “Over the season, they showed significant growth not only in their performance but also in their leadership and support for one another. They represented their team and community with pride, effort, and strong sportsmanship.”

The U18A Girls’ team had a great season with the Wildcats that drew the team closer together, especially during high-pressure games. Throughout the season, they faced moments of adversity while staying composed. They supported each other competing as a complete unit.

Nicole Suchy, Wildcats’ manager said, “Watching them apply what they had worked on all season and trust one another in those key moments was incredibly rewarding.” Qualifying for provincials began with building a strong team culture from the start of the season. They understood the clear expectations around respect, effort and accountability.

Nicole added, “We encouraged players to communicate openly, celebrate each other’s successes, and pick each other up during tough moments.” This happened both on and off the ice with a conscious effort on making sure every player felt valued on the team.

The team also had a strong sense of community around them with the support of coaches and parents alike. This support system was part of the team’s success, maintaining a positive environment throughout the season. The team seems to have what it takes to go deep in the tournament.

Local artist Steve Mitts is preparing to share his latest collection of work that has been shaped by more than three decades of reflection, experimentation and a return to what first drew him to paint.

Steve’s solo exhibition, Held in Balance, will be shown at the Red Deer Museum and Art Gallery from May 2 to July 28, followed by a second showing at the Red Brick Common Art Gallery in Stony Plain from August 6 to October 27.

“The whole concept started about 32 years ago when I graduated with a BFA from the University of Calgary. I had my first exhibition in 1994 in a small gallery in Canmore,” he shared.

That exhibition, titled Ubiquitous Misfortunes, examined the idea that originality in art was fading as artists were pushed to create what sells rather than what feels authentic.

For the next couple of decades, Steve focused on painting what he felt drawn to create. In 1997, he was commissioned to produce a large solo exhibition at the Hotel MacDonald. The show was initially scheduled to run for six months, but remained in place for six years, bringing widespread attention to his work and leading to numerous commissions.

With the growing demand came pressure to produce quickly and recreate earlier pieces that had already sold.

“When you are asked to paint fast and recreate the pieces that had sold prior because that is what they were after, it made it so the pieces were painted quickly and it didn’t necessarily have what the original pieces possessed,” he said. It was something Steve never wanted or really felt comfortable with.

Many of those rushed paintings were eventually rolled up and placed into storage.

“There comes a point where every artist has to reevaluate, possibly question it or make some adjustments. It is part of that creative process,” explained Steve, sharing how he stepped away from painting for a time and turned his attention to woodworking and building furniture.

During that period, his family played an unexpected role in shaping the next stage of his work. While he was collecting scraps of century old wood for furniture projects, his oldest daughter, Raelene, suggested he keep the extra pieces for possible new projects rather than burn them.

Months later, his second daughter, Katie, offered another idea when she saw the unsold canvases he had laid out in his home for the first time.

“She said, ‘Dad, your paintings have always been paintings within paintings, use them in other pieces’, so that is when I started to think about joining my love for woodworking and painting as one,” he explained.

Steve began incorporating the century old wood into new works, using the material to make up the contents as well as the frame for these repurposed and revised pieces.

“When I designed this series, I wanted to balance the two different concepts. My subject matter has always been quiet, tranquil and introspective and then I am joining these elements that are hard, rigid and raw. I am taking those two completely distinct concepts to create one finished piece.”

Combining Steve’s continued focus on Renaissance art with this new presentation, the structure itself becomes an important part of the experience. The complexity of the wooden framework required moments of rest for the viewer, allowing the eye to pause as it moves through the work. The negative spaces between the wooden elements provide this visual breathing room, guiding the viewer as they explore the layered imagery.

The exhibition takes its name from the way those contrasting elements come together.

“The show is called Held in Balance because of those two concepts that are so different but are supportive of one another,” he said.

Throughout the process, feedback from his wife, Cheryl, has become an important part of shaping each piece.

“Every painting that I have done in this series has had her take and critical eye on it and every time she makes it better,” he said. “These paintings are extremely cerebral. You can get lost in them and having another set of eyes on them is truly important.”

The project at the Red Deer Museum and Art Gallery has been in development with the museum curators for the past two years. Steve was also the recipient of the Mayor’s Arts Award in 2024, and has displayed his work throughout Camrose at many events, including a permanent display at the Marrow restaurant.

Steve said the support of his family has helped shape his journey as an artist and looks forward to sharing his art with a wider audience. As he gets ready for his upcoming exhibits a third location is already being discussed.

You can find more of Steve’s work at stevemitts.com

There’s nothing like a good tribute show to bring back nostalgia of a time gone by, especially for an artist or band that is no longer touring.

Perfecting the look, mannerisms, and sound is all part of a good tribute performance that leads to an authentic concert experience for the audience. The best shows craft an immersive, tangible atmosphere that takes a step back in time, remaining true to the original artists.

The Lougheed Performing Arts Centre (LPAC) will be the venue of two upcoming tribute performances to take audiences on a journey to rediscover The Everly Brothers and Fleetwood Mac.

Walk Right Back: The Everly Brothers Story brings its smash hit show to Camrose on April 6 at 7 p.m. Paquette Entertainment brings this stunning production that tells the story of one of the ultimate musical duos in history, documenting their legacy.

The show brings back to life the brothers’ rise to fame from humble beginnings to life on the international stage. It documents their decade long feud to their reunion and features songs like “Bye Bye Love” and “All I Have To Do Is Dream” in a unique concert style musical.

The Everly Brothers had a sound that influenced groups like The Beatles and Simon and Garfunkel, their talent was unrivaled.

Trevor Payne, producer of That’ll Be The Day said, “The Everly Brothers were an original and unique act that had a sound like nothing else. Their harmonies were so tight that every group wanted to emulate them. Before that there was a singer, a band, and backing vocals. The Everly’s entwined all of them and created ‘the harmony group.’”

This ground-breaking show uniquely presents the legendary sound and turbulent journey of the duo. Walk Right Back should be on everyone’s must-attend list.

Rumours: The Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Tribute Show hits the stage on May 28 at 7:30 p.m. recreating the raw energy and charm, bringing the iconic band’s heyday years from 1975-79.

It was at their regular performances at the Roxy Theatre that they got their first taste of success before moving to the Sunset Strip in L.A. to casinos and theatres before travelling across the U.S.
Rumours has painstakingly crafted a flawlessly executed show, perfecting every element of their performance.

Every detail has been considered from the era-appropriate equipment and costumes to the mannerisms of each performer, this show will take you back to a time when live music was a raw and unfiltered sensory experience.

A reminder that the ’70s was an era of authentic artistry before the manufactured and polished performances of today.

This show is another one of those performances that should be experienced live and in person. For more information or to purchase tickets, go to www.camroselive.ca

Earlier this month, Chris Parfett and Christa Jones participated in the Alberta Cornhole League of Canada (ACL) Alberta open tournament at the Edmonton Convention Centre with both competing well over the event. Chris came in fourth in the men’s singles in Tier 2 while Christa finished first in the women’s singles in Tier 3.

By the luck of the draw, they were selected in the Saturday night blind draw doubles where they finished in first place in Tier 3 out of 14 teams at the ACL open. Both have been playing cornhole for just under a year and this was the first ACL event for each of them. They first got into cornhole when some friends of theirs invited them to attend the Silver Creek Classic in New Norway.

They had just returned from a trip and weren’t able to attend, but the invitation made Christa curious, so she went online to search cornhole in Alberta and all the leagues in the area popped up.

They decided to check out a league in Lacombe and they both fell in love with the social aspect and camaraderie of the sport. Christa said, “The sport is relatively easy to pick up. The club provides the bags and boards, so you don’t have to have equipment and you learn as you go.”

One aspect of the game they enjoy is that everyone is so friendly and happy to teach you how to throw a flatter bag or how to throw a little farther, trick roll, etc.

There is definitely a lot of skill and strategy that goes into the game. From various types of tosses, to where you aim to land your bag, to deciding if you’re going to throw the bag on the fast side or slow side, depending on circumstances like whether or not you want to roll a bag.

Christa added, “The great thing about the cornhole league is that you don’t have to commit to every week and you’re not necessarily committing to a team. You can play as a single player and drop in when it works for you.”

Another nice thing about cornhole leagues is that you can play in any league around Alberta without being a member of that specific location. It is a very flexible sport with different leagues running on different nights of the week allowing you to attend when it works best for one’s schedule. You can be as competitive as you want to be. There are people that enjoy coming out for some activity or to socialize and meet new people while others want to be more competitive.

Christa and Chris have had so much fun travelling to other leagues around the province before starting the Crusaders Cornhole league here in Camrose back in January.

She added, “We’re doing really well, getting anywhere from 24 to 32 people a night. Some come from Edmonton and Lacombe. We’re seeing a slow burn of growth. Someone will invite a friend, then that person invites another friend.”

She’s grateful to see the word is getting out there as cornhole is a great way to stay active while meeting new people.

Currently, the Crusaders Cornhole is having a promotion for a discounted price when someone brings a guest that has never played in Camrose before  and has no Scoreholio player rating. The Crusaders meet on Wednesday evenings at Mirror Lake Centre at 6:30 p.m.

For more information you can find them on Facebook or email them at crusaderscornhole@gmail.com