the Boom Bus Western Canada Tour. Presented by Boom Street Media. » events

Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village

Ryan Steblyk — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 18:07:51 +0000

Located 25 minutes east of Edmonton on Highway 16, the Ukrainian Village is a giant outdoor museum depicting the lives of Ukrainian settlers from the years 1899 to 1930. Interpreters play the roles of early settlers using accents, dressing in period clothing and studying the family histories to bring a very unique, realistic feeling to the experience. The buildings are brought in from surrounding communities and a reclamation team is constantly researching historical facts and carefully bringing the buildings and artifacts to their original state.

I actually volunteered for several years at the Village when I was younger and will never forget the appreciation I gained for how settlers once lived. No power, no phones, feeding the chickens, 6 siblings per bed… things we would never consider today. Imagine a family or 4 or 5 living in a tiny shed sized home called a ‘burdei‘. These straw and mud huts usually served as a temporary home until a more robust log home could be built but it still would have been an incredible hardship that early pioneers faced to start their new lives in Canada.

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On August 8th The Ukrainian Village celebrates its annual Ukrainian Day. The 3,200 in attendance enjoyed Ukrainian music, dance and of course delicious food.

Town of Lamont turns 100!

Ryan Steblyk — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:25:12 +0000

Lamont usually doesn’t really pop up on anyone’s radar. Almost an hour out of the nearest major city (Edmonton), a population of only about 1,700, and nary a stop light or Tim Horton’s for miles; but this little town as some great things to offer. LIKE ME! That’s right Lamont is the hometown of your very own Capitan. This past weekend I had the chance to participate in the Centennial parade. As I slowly drove down the jam-packed streets I had a chance to realize just what a unique town Lamont is. 100 years of bountiful agriculture, Ukrainian cooking, friendly neighbors and “City Living, Country Style”.

The Centennial weekend was also celebrated with a talent show, fireworks display, and of course, demolition derby (with Lamont’s first ever combine derby! YEHAW)

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Lamont ‘s other claim to fame is as the “Gateway to Elk Island National Park”. Only 5 minutes from town you can enjoy roaming bison, a beautiful 9 hole golf course (www.elkislandgolf.com), natural beauty, and peaceful canoeing. I’ll have more on Elk Island coming soon.

Calgary Stampede! Canada’s largest annual event.

Ryan Steblyk — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 23:17:48 +0000

Cumulative attendance for 2010: 1,145,394!

Formally, the Calgary Stampede is a “celebration of western values and heritage and boasts the richest outdoor rodeo in the world, thrilling chuck wagon races, a spectacular theatrical presentation known as the Evening Grandstand Show and world-class agricultural attractions and competitions.”

What most people know Stampede for is 10 days of cowboy hats, belt buckles, huge lineups, and partying. The weather didn’t quite cooperate the entire time but vibe was great, the events were entertaining and Calgary was beautiful as usual.

Read on for more about the Stampede, the city of Calgary, and a few pictures.

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A little more about “Cow-town”

Calgary is Canada’s third most densely populated city, and the largest in Alberta. Headquarter to many of Alberta’s oil field related companies, it’s easy to see Calgary’s skyline change from year to year.

Calgary's downtown skyline. Towered over by The Bow - estimated completion 2011

The Bow is a 158,000-square-metre (1.7 million sq ft) office building currently under construction for the headquarters of EnCana Corporation. The skyscraper will be built in downtown Calgary, Alberta. The building will be the tallest office tower in Canada outside of Toronto, a title currently held by the Suncor Energy Centre’s West tower, also in Calgary. The Bow is also considered the start of redevelopment in Downtown East Village.

Oh! One more fun fact…

The Caesar Cocktail was created by Calgary bartender Walter Chell at the Owl’s Nest Bar in the Calgary Inn in in 1969, when he added “clam nectar” (whatever that is) to a Bloody Mary (vodka and tomato juice). In its original form, it contained tomato juice and mashed clams; Clamato had only just been released (with the assistance of Chell) by the Mott’s company that very year, and was not yet widely known or available.

The 100th year anniversary of the Stampede is 2012. See ya’ll there!