The first week of February is observed as Eating Disorders Awareness Week in Canada.

This is a time to raise awareness and check in on those who may be struggling with an eating disorder. But what is an eating disorder? According to the National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC), eating disorders are a form of complex mental illness which physically materializes into a person’s life affecting their physical health. These can be caused by biological, psychological and social or cultural factors. For example, a situation where a person develops Bulimia due to pressures to eat or look a certain way would be a sociocultural influence leading to a form of eating disorder.

Often those who are affected by the illness go to great lengths to hide it, and due to stigma, many don’t reach out for help. Some might even consider disordered eating to be normal.

Unhealthy cultural trends have always existed in society, especially for women, one of the oldest examples that comes to mind is the Victorian Era (1837 to 1901), which could also be called “the cult of frailty”. The beauty standards during this time idealized frail and sickly appearances, a look known as consumptive chic, often associated with tuberculosis. Women wore corsets to make their waists extremely small, which frequently led to fainting, organ displacement and difficulty eating.

A more recent example would be the Ozempic craze where many celebrities are using a popular diabetes drug to get skinnier, making access limited for those who truly need the medication. Being healthy requires balance and nutrition, focusing on the basic needs and nourishment of the human body. According to NEDIC, if the way you eat food or think about food keeps you from being able to enjoy your life, you may be experiencing disordered eating.

Eating disorders don’t always mean starvation, disorder eating can also be eating too much.

According to research conducted by Prairie Mountain Health, one-third of Canadians report behaviours consistent with eating disorders. Younger adults carry the highest risk of developing a disorder. A survey conducted in Ontario and BC, on Grade 7 to 12 students, showed that more than half of the students were preoccupied with thoughts about their weight. The pandemic also made matters worse, where hospitals witnessed a significant increase in the number of hospitalizations due to eating disorders, 66 per cent increase in females and 47 per cent in males.

In Camrose, there are several resources available for those who may be struggling with their relationship with food. The Eating Disorder Support Network of Alberta (EDSNA) has a helpline dedicated for emergencies: 877-303-2642 or Alberta Health Services 877-303-2642. Both of these helplines can be contacted any time, day or night. For emergencies always call 911.

For more information about eating disorders, visit edsna.ca.

This week it’s important to remember that the relationship with food should be a relationship of nourishment so you can continue living a happy and healthy life.

The Jeanne and Peter Lougheed Performing Arts Centre has a great lineup still to come this season. The Lougheed Centre is celebrating its 10th anniversary. That means some of the hottest acts over the past 10 years will be returning to help celebrate the Lougheed Centre milestone.

Grease is the word! The Camrose Churchmice Players will be presenting the musical from February 6 to 16. Both matinees and evening performances will be available throughout the 10 shows.

Ticket to Hollywood will supply music from the movies under the Edmonton Pops Orchestra on Friday, February 21, at 7:30 p.m. This show will not only have world famous musicians, but also vocalists singing iconic songs.

“This is a 10-piece orchestra with four vocalists that will be featuring Hollywood songs from the last 20 years,” said Nick Beach, LPAC manager.

“The response last time they were here was super positive (Ticket to Broadway) and we are happy to have them back,” added sponsorship coordinator Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye.

A lot of people have been waiting for this show. The national Dance Company of Ireland presents Rhythm of the Dance on Wednesday, February 26, at 7:30 p.m.

Join the finest dancers and traditional musicians in this two-hour exhilarating performance.

“This is like River Dance, Lord of the Dance and now we have Rhythm of the Dance, they are shows that have really taken off like wildfire. We have one of these giant shows coming and we pulled a Hail Mary and we were lucky to get this show,” said Nick.

The Edmonton Community Presentation will be offering the classic tale of Rapunzel on Sunday, March 2, at 2 p.m. in the family series. The girl with long hair  has been imprisoned. Will her hair or sweet music set her free?

“Their artistic director is brilliant. He writes full brand new musicals for every tour and the music has always been so well written and the adaptation of the story is so good. They are Albertans and I’m really proud of their work,” said Nick.

This is a free community event, but you must have a ticket to get in.

The band Scenic Route to Alaska is made up of Edmonton friends Trevor Mann, Shea Connor and Murray Wood. They have played at the Bailey Theatre before, that is why they are excited to return to the historic gem in downtown Camrose on February 8 at 8 p.m. in the Rose City Roots Music Society series.

“Honestly, the Bailey is such a beautiful place and great stage. We have been there twice before and both times it has been incredible atmosphere and the people are genuinely appreciative of the music,” shared Trevor. 

“Our bassist is now a dad, so that changes how we approach things. We have been together since 2011 and we now have seven albums,” said Trevor. “Our last album entitled Last Forever has a matured, yet light-hearted sound. We have turned into weekend warriors promoting the album since last spring. We try to be home during the week so Murray can be with his newborn.”

The band has evolved as musicians and has become more refined in their craft.

“We still want the organic youthful vibe that we created, but we recorded the songs in a little more professional way with the last album,” he laughed.
“We have had a lot of good producers in the past, but instead of getting producers to create a new album, we thought that we have matured enough to do it ourselves. We wanted to avoid outside pressure, which allows us to go back to our old style of just jamming in the basement until we came up with a good song,” revealed Trevor.

He took the reins, recording all the vocals in the comfort of Murray’s basement, jokingly referred to as the Jazz Café. The name pays homage to an old neon sign that emits the only glow in the vocal booth. In this cozy and familiar space, where the band typically spends most of their time jamming, writing and hanging out. Scenic Route to Alaska added the finishing touches and the result is an exciting and authentic album that you’ll play on repeat.

“It has been beautiful to watch our career grow and see which songs resonate with people. We will play our songs from the new album, but we will add some old favourites as well. We will be playing two sets, so there will be plenty of other songs mixed in,” shared Trevor.

“The most loved song from our fans is ‘Love Keeps’, which is a song we put out in 2016. It just seems to resonate with people. It is one of my favourites too, because the reception is so great. The (favourite) songs change for me on a seasonal basis. Currently, I like some of the more heart-felt sentimental songs from the new album. Right now, ‘Call it a Consequence’ is one I love to play,” explained Trevor.

“I am midway through writing a ton of new songs. I’m not sure if, I may introduce one to the Camrose fans, but I will definitely play some deeper cuts from the new album. We have some songs the Camrose audience hasn’t hear before,” said Trevor.

“Our song on the new album called ‘Northern Lights’ is a classic love song that we will play just before Valentine’s Day in Camrose. That’s a slow dance, so hopefully we get some people up dancing for that one. All three of us are super excited to be back at the Bailey Theatre.”

Walkable Camrose is a local organization with a mission to make Camrose a safe place to walk.

“Walkable Camrose is a committee of local agencies and citizens striving to make our city a safer, easier and more fun place to walk. Since 2012, we have worked to promote safe, healthy, and inclusive built environments for all citizens and develop a culture of walking. We organize a local event each year to take part in SHAPE Alberta’s Winter Walk Day and join thousands of Albertans getting outside and active in colder weather,” shared Emily Sangster, chair of committee.

Staying active socially and physically plays an important role in the over all well-being of a person and winter often poses a risk of isolation, with the cold, snowy weather. Walking is not only good for physical health but it can also do wonders for emotional and mental health.

“We will meet outside the Chuck MacLean Arts Centre at noon on Wednesday, February 5 for a lunchtime stroll along the Mirror Lake trails. Wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather–we’ll have an I Spy game and some good conversation to share,” commented Emily, inviting residents to join the activity. This event is the perfect opportunity to break out of routine and do something fun.

The Battle River Quilters’ Guild will be holding another quilt show at the Chuck MacLean Arts Centre on June 21 and 22.

“I move that council provide a Category D Local Event Sponsorship of $200, to the Battle River Quilters’ Guild 2025 Quilt Show, with funding to come from Grants to Organizations,” moved councillor Tina Sroka.

A letter was sent to the Reeve Cindy Trautman about the show.

The Battle River Quilters’ Guild will be presenting Stitches in Time quilt show with work exhibited from 50 plus members.

“We are keen to promote the art and craft of quilting and share the story of the good work that flows from our passion. For many years, the Guild has made it a priority to make comfort quilts to several organizations in and around the Camrose County, including the Camrose Women’s Shelter, Bethany Care Group and St. Mary’s Hospital Chemo Unit,” said Carole-May Coty of the Battle River Quilters’ Guild Show committee.

“These quilts are greatly appreciated and well used by the recipients. In order to continue using our talents to their maximum benefit, we need to purchase quilt batting, fabric, labels, and other basic supplies which are costly.”

The motion was passed to support the Quilters’ Guild.

This year, Nordlys Film & Arts Festival has an amazing lineup of movies and documentaries. One such documentary being showcased on the evening of February 15 is Magic Hours. This Alberta-made documentary takes the viewers on a journey through the province’s independent cinemas and the people responsible for keeping them alive in our society. Directed by the talented filmmaker Levi Holwell.

“I never intended to go into documentary film making. Before Magic Hours, my focus was purely on narrative films, and I didn’t really see myself doing doc work. But when the opportunity to make this documentary came up, I didn’t hesitate to jump in, even though I had no idea what the experience would be like. Looking back, I’m so grateful I took that chance because the entire process was incredibly rewarding. It really opened my eyes to a new creative process for me and was a way to connect with people and explore real, lived experiences. In many ways, it completely shifted how I think about the kind of work I want to create moving forward, and I’m excited to continue exploring this medium in the future,” shared Holwell.

Holwell worked with a small team to film Magic Hours.

“It was just me and our cinematographer Jaimie Stewart on set. We had to be flexible, work around the schedules of the people we were filming, and keep things low-impact so we weren’t disrupting their daily operations. Aside from logistics, another challenge was capturing the emotional essence of these communities and theatres, striking a balance between highlighting their difficulties and celebrating their resilience. Overcoming that required building trust with the people involved and making sure they felt heard and respected throughout the process,” said Holwell.

“The response has really humbled me. Many people from small towns have felt a deep personal connection to the film, and it’s been moving to hear how it’s made them reflect on their own local theatres or community gathering spaces. It’s also sparked some important conversations about the role of cinema in our lives and what happens when these spaces are lost. I didn’t expect it to resonate so strongly with people who may not have direct ties to the issue–it’s proven to me that there’s something universal about the themes of preservation and the changing landscape of culture. That’s been one of the most rewarding aspects of the film’s reception,” shared Holwell.

With the rise in streaming services and big chains of theatres all over Canada, many independent cinemas have had to shut down, affecting the lives of many business owners and their families.

“I have a soft spot and love for independent movie theatres and found myself always thinking about their uncertain future with how much movie-going has changed over the years.

“Anytime I was working on a project that took me through smaller communities across Alberta, the quaint cinema on the street corner sort of grabbed me and lingered in my mind as a potential backdrop for a future project. Magic Hours became a way to capture and honour the people and places working hard to keep these cinemas alive in a world that increasingly favours the corporate and digital. It felt urgent to me to document this moment as more and more of these spaces disappear,” he explained, expanding on why he chose to make a documentary about the struggling independent cinemas.

“Indie theatres, particularly single-screen venues in smaller communities, have been hit hard by these shifts. A recent poll of theatre owners showed that a large majority of indie cinemas in Canada are in a state of crisis and may close down soon if things don’t change. Sadly, I think we’ll see more of these historic cinemas across the country shut their doors. The audience simply isn’t going to the theatre like it used to, and that’s a tough reality. However, I do think that a not-for-profit model, with the town or a local board running the cinema, could be one of the best ways to help these spaces survive and keep the lights on. It’s a tough road, but I hope more attention is brought to this issue and that people step up to support these places however they can. The loss of these cinemas would be a loss for the entire community.”

Holwell advises aspiring filmmakers: “Start by being truly curious about the world around you and listening to people’s stories. It’s easy to get caught up in the technical aspects of film making, but at the heart of a good documentary is a genuine connection to the subject matter. Be patient with the process and flexible with your vision. The story might change as you’re filming, and that’s okay–it’s part of the journey.”

Experiencing Magic Hours at Nordlys this year allows everyone to immerse themselves in the challenges faced by the industry, all from the comfort of Alberta’s oldest theatre.

Camrose County needs more answers before looking into an upgrade at the Pelican Point boat launch.

At a regular meeting of council on January 28, administrator Teresa Gratrix talked about an Alberta Transportation Agreement.

“I move that council direct administration to follow up with the terms of the proposed Memorandum of Understanding with Alberta Transportation related to the repairs to the Pelican Point boat launch and further that administration investigate the potential costs of the repairs required with a report brought back to a future council meeting,” said councillor Tina Sroka.

“Since fall 2023, Camrose County council has been advocating for the provincial government to repair the boat launch. The low water levels at Buffalo Lake have contributed to the usability of the boat launch. The concrete aprons have shifted over time and there is a hole at the end of the boat launch. This hole may possibly extend under the concrete aprons at the end of the launch as well,” reported administrator Teresa Gratrix.

“Individuals using the launch contacted Camrose County, distressed at the issues they were facing. There was some concern that individuals would not be able to remove their boats from the lake. There are a number of boat launches on Buffalo Lake, however, most were closed due to the low water levels and Pelican Point is the only provincial boat launch on Buffalo Lake in the past,” she added.

By Adan Shaikh
 

Battle River Research Group (BRRG) is hosting an Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) workshop at the Daysland Community Hall on February 12 at 10 a.m. During this workshop, farmers will have the opportunity to learn from an EFP technician about self-assessment tools that help identify environmental considerations on their farms.

“The technicians will guide participants through the EFP application process. By the end of the program, farmers will have a list of recommended adjustments to improve their operations. The EFP is free and serves as a valuable tool for planning changes over time as resources allow. Additionally, having a completed EFP certificate is a prerequisite for many grants and funding opportunities available to producers,” said Kabir Makan, Extension Coordinator at BRRG.

Makan advises attendees to create an EFP account at www.albertaefp.com before the workshop and to bring a laptop or tablet to facilitate working on their EFP. Lunch will be provided. By offering free resources and support, BRRG is helping farmers in Camrose and nearby counties take proactive steps toward environmental sustainability.

For more information, visit www.battleriverresearch.com.

Camrose County will be sharing a film called Before the Plate, while sampling products grown within the County at the Bailey Theatre on February 11 beginning at 5:30 p.m.

This movie was made back in 2018 and was to be shown, but was postponned due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Now it is back on the table. After the film, a panel of distinguished guests will share and respond to themes from the film and how they are present in the local community. Guests will be invited to ask questions of the panel.

As part of this event, the Camrose Art Society has put together Art To Table, an art show exhibiting artists’ interpretation of food and sustainability in the local community. Guests are invited to check out Art to Table in the Spotlight Bistro prior the main event. This event is free to attend, but does require registration in advance.

Among the pressures facing our agricultural producers is the increased scrutiny on how food is produced and how farmers and ranchers grow that food. Misconceptions and just plain wrong information about our food supply seems to get the headlines these days overshadowing common sense and fact.

“We wanted a different method of supporting our County producers. One of the things the County tries to do is to communicate information to our producers. We do this in a variety of ways. We see the fact that we need to communicate with the general public, with the consumers who buy the products from the producers within the County. Internet is a wonderful thing to provide information, but at the same time it provides an opportunity to spread misinformation,” explained former Camrose County reeve Don Gregorwich (current Reeve Cindy Trautman also supports the event).

“Our group feels that two of the ways we can support producers is to show that this misinformation is: number one incorrect and number two that it does affect our local communities,” added Don. “This documentary explains how the food goes from farm to plate.”

The issue of food misconceptions was raised at an agricultural communications committee meeting late last October (2017)with the group (composed of representatives from County Ag. Societies, CRE, horticultural society, County councillors) agreeing that our producers need to be given support in the face of this increased scrutiny. A sub committee (Ag Intell) was created with the instructions to develop a plan to build trust in agriculture by increasing public awareness about agricultural practices and connecting consumers with producers, thereby establishing positive, informed relationships.

“It is important to remember that our agriculture is both locally based and nationally based. This is an opportunity to speak with local producers and that has been one of our goals, to encourage consumers to purchase local products, but at the same time get the understanding across that agriculture in our community is not only local, but nationally and internationally. That is very important.”

Producer panel members will represent beef, grain, poultry, vegetable and dairy production. “As former chairman of Ag Intell, I believe this is a good start in publicly supporting our producers and that the evening gives you an opportunity to hear consumer concerns and react positively to issues affecting all of us in Camrose County,” said Don Gregorwich, at the time.

This is a farm to plate story and conversation. “Whether you are a consumer who buys food from your local grocery store, farmers markets, or market gardens, a food producer, a vegetarian or vegan–food brings everyone to the table. We are inviting everyone to join us for conversations about our food,” shared Don.

The agriculture industry forms the backbone of the Canadian economy providing nearly everything we eat, use or wear. As generations have passed fewer and fewer people have a direct connection to agriculture. It is crucial consumers continue to understand the significance agriculture plays in our everyday lives. Equally critical is that the agriculture industry better understand consumers.

“The evening is intended to be relaxed, but informative. We encourage interaction between consumers and our producers. We hope to see some Augustana students, who will be our future leaders and consumers,” said Don. 

The Bailey Theatre has a great lineup of shows planned for this season.

Donizette Conventions and Inconveniences of the Stage will be at the Bailey on February 9 at 2 p.m.

This is a two-act opera that shines an exaggerated spotlight on the behind-the-scenes working of a theatre and the rehearsal process, showing what can go wrong when the egos of the performers get in the way of putting on a good show.

The Moulettes play the Bailey on February 13 at 8 p.m. Moulettes offer something entirely unique and musically kaleidoscopic with cello, viola, violin, percussion, synthesizers and five part harmony vocals in playfully eclectic symbiosis.

Enjoy another year of the Nordlys Film and Arts Festival from February 14 to 16. This is a great way to spend the Family Day long weekend.

Another Bailey Film Series invites us to watch Wild Mountain Thyme on February 19 at 7 p.m. A pair of star-crossed lovers in Ireland get caught up in their family’s land dispute.

The Speakeasy is a fundraiser for the theatre on February 22 at 7 p.m. Travel back to the roaring 1920s as they transform the venue into a hidden gem of jazz, excitement and allure.

Bailey Buckaroos return with a variety of country music on February 23 starting at 2 p.m.

Elvis tribute artist Cody Ray Slaughter will be sharing his version of the Elvis hits at the Bailey on February 27, starting at 7 p.m.

The annual Snowed In Comedy Tour is back for another year on February 28 at 7:30 p.m.

Just for Laughs winner Dan Quinn is joined by the Great Canadian Laugh Off winner, Paul Myrehaug, formerly of Camrose and six time Canadian Comedian of the Year nominee, Pete Zedlacher. New will be Erica Sigurdson with over 70 appearances on the Debaters, will be joining them.

The Rose City Roots Society presents Steve Hillon March 8 at 8 p.m. The guitarist, singer, drummer, harmonica player, songwriter and accomplished producer brings 27 years worth of experience to the Bailey stage.