MEC Knuckle Basher Ice Climbing Festival

By Liam Perrott, Mountain Equipment Co-op

Hello outdoor clubs, ski clubs, and hiking clubs!

I am writing today to present to you an exciting opportunity for your club members. The annual MEC Knuckle Basher ice climbing festival is happening on Saturday February 11 and Sunday February 12, 2012 – just a couple weeks away! – in Canmore, Alberta. Some events happen right in Canmore, while others meet there and then head off to nearby areas in the Bow Valley, an area known world-wide for excellent ice climbing. This is the ideal opportunity for your members to experience what ice climbing is all about!

MEC Knuckle Basher is an ice climbing festival for people of all abilities. At the festival you will find…

• For experienced climbers there is an advanced ice climbing clinic with Yamnuska Mountain Adventures (Sunday all day).
• For beginners, there are introductory clinics (Saturday and Sunday mornings).
• For those whose interests lie more with watching climbers than actually climbing, there is an ice climbing photography clinic on offer (Sunday afternoon).
• And, for those who aren’t sure about ice climbing but want to learn more about the sport, there are informative clinics and a demo area in downtown Canmore all weekend, taking place in concurrence with the Canmore Winter Carnival.
• For everyone (18+), there is an evening of presentations, food, drink, and a silent auction taking place on Saturday night, hosted by the Climber’s Access Society of Alberta and featuring Jen Olson, a top finisher at the recent ice climbing world cup in Switzerland. For only $10 you can not only get a ticket to this show, but also included is a drink and snacks all evening!

For more information, along with details about signing up for clinics or getting tickets to the evening show, check out our web page at www.knucklebasher.blogspot.com or email event organizer Liam Perrott at lperrott@mec.ca.

Alberta Wilderness Association

Fish Creek Provincial Park

ALBERTA PARKS AND PROTECTED AREAS
A Five Part Presentation Series

Take an armchair tour to some of Alberta’s most spectacular, unique and interesting special places.  Stunning visual images and intriguing stories from presenters with strong ties to these areas will provide you a glimpse of what makes them worthy of protection.  From the well known to the not so well known, Alberta contains some of the most beautiful parks and protected areas in the world.  You’ll leave ready to pack up and explore them yourself!

When: October 12th, November 9th, January 11th, February 8th and March 14th

Time: 7:00pm

Where: Fish Creek Environmental Learning Centre, 13931 Woodpath Rd. S.W.
Shannon Terrace Area, West end of Fish Creek Provincial Park (Access via 37St. S.W. at 130th Avenue S.W.)

Admission: $6 per person payable at the door (cash or cheque only)

Registration: Phone 297-7927 or email roland.kirzinger@gov.ab.ca

Fourth Presentation: Wednesday February 8th, 2012
The David Thompson Corridor – Secrets Revealed

The David Thompson Corridor is a spectacular network of Provincial Parks connected along Highway 11 from Red Deer to the Rocky Mountains. It contains some of Alberta’s best kept secrets of untamed scenery, wildlife, and wild adventure. From carnivorous plants, to a mountain desert, to the oldest living things in the province, the David Thompson Corridor hides many secrets. Join us as we uncover some of the mystery hidden along this often unheralded mountain corridor.

Presenter:   Graham Thursfield is the Visitor Services Supervisor for the David Thompson Corridor with Alberta Parks.  Based out of Rocky Mountain House he lives, works and plays in the wilderness of the Central Rockies

For more information, please check our website at www.fish-creek.org or contact:

Roland Kirzinger
Environmental Education Coordinator
Fish Creek Environmental Learning Centre
(403) 297-7927 or toll-free 310-0000, then (403) 297-7927

Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society

The Friends of Fish Creek presents A Taste of Spring !

Treat Your Special Valentine to a Taste of Spring !

This Valentine’s Day, give someone special A Taste of Spring! Tickets are now on sale for The Friends of Fish Creek’s “A Taste of Spring - Annual Wine and Beer Tasting & Silent Auction.” Savor a variety of beer, fine wines and delicious appetizers and bid on fabulous silent auction packages, including luxury goods and services. As a fundraiser, this event will help the Friends preserve the ecological integrity of Fish Creek Provincial Park - a natural retreat that means so much to so many.

When:  Friday, March 16, 2012 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm

Where:   Willow Park Wines & Spirits (10801 Bonaventure Dr. SE)
Cost: Tickets are only $40.00, including GST. 

To purchase tickets, please visit www.friendsoffishcreek.org, call 403-238-3841, email chris@friendsoffishcreek.org, or come down to the Cookhouse at the Bow Valley Ranch, Fish Creek Provincial Park (south end of Bow Bottom Tr.)

The Friends of Fish Creek February Speaker Series presentation

The Ecology of Urban Coyotes 
Presented by Alessandro Massolo MSc PhD, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary

When: Thursday, February 23, 2012 – 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Where: Fish Creek Environmental Learning Centre, 13931 Woodpath Rd. SW, Shannon Terrace Area, Fish Creek Provincial Park (Access via 37 St. SW at 130 Ave. SW)

Cost: Free for Friends Members and only $5.00 for non-members

Registration Required. To register call 403-238-3841 or email chris@friendsoffishcreek.org. 

For more info, please visit www.friendsoffishcreek.org

Help Support Fish Creek Provincial Park !
Become a Member of the Friends of Fish Creek

 Our mission is to Protect, Preserve, and Enhance the Diverse Natural and Human Heritage Found in Fish Creek Provincial Park. 

Membership offers you:

• Discounts on Friends’ courses.
• The latest information about the Park and the Friends.
• Admission to Speaker Series presentations, with guest speakers on topics like the environment, local flora and fauna, cultural history, archaeology, and conservation issues.
• Subscription to the Friends’ newsletter.
• Opportunity to network with like-minded people and organizations.

Annual Membership (Oct. 1 – Sep. 30)
Individual: $30.00
Family: $40.00
Senior (+60): $20.00
Senior Family: $25.00

How to sign up:
 In Person: at the Cookhouse at the Bow Valley Ranch, Fish Creek Provincial Park
(South end of Bow Bottom Trail SE)
On Line: www.friendsoffishcreek.org
Email: chris@friendsoffishcreek.org
Via mail: Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park, PO BOX 2780, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2M7

Ghost Watershed Alliance Society

Parks Canada, Lake Louise

Parks Canada Hot Springs

Dare to wear a heritage swim suit and come celebrate the year of the dragon at the 2012 Annual Heritage Swim Event!

Banff Upper Hot Springs
Sunday, January 29th from 10:00 am to 11:30 am.

Celebrity judges and prizes are part of the fun. Dog paddle relay races and fashion competition events are FREE for teams of four - heritage swim suits included. Join in on the fun! Assemble your own team of four together and scheme up some ideas for accessorizing your 1920 style heritage swim suits. Friends and fans can cheer on the paddlers of all ages and skill levels on the deck above the pool.  

Please register by January 27th - space is limited. Registration forms are available for download below, which you can e-mail to paige.thomas@pc.gc.ca or fax to 403-760-1326; or you can pick up an entry form and return it to the Upper Hot Springs.

*Please note: The pool will be closed to the public during this event and will reopen at 11:30 am, after the event has concluded.

Hudson's team

Hoola Queens

Waterton National Park

Come and enjoy four days of winter fun in the magic surroundings of Waterton Lakes National Park.

The Waterton Winterfest, with snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, horse-drawn carriage rides and other activities, takes place on Family Day weekend in February.

Join us at the Little Prairie picnic shelter on the Akamina Parkway for a hot drink before warming your soul on the ski and snowshoe trails. Bring your own gear or rent skis and snowshoes from the Waterton Lakes Lodge or Waterton Glacier Suites. Guided trips will also be available.

Tour the village on a horse-drawn carriage ride. Chill out and warm up indoors with family activities, crafts and board games or maybe enjoy a splash around in the pool.

Take in a special performance by one of Parks Canada’s Mountain W.I.T. actors. All ages will enjoy the songs, stories and sketches about the nature and culture of Canada’s mountain national Parks.

This event is organised by Parks Canada and the Waterton Chamber of Commerce, including Waterton Lakes Inns and Resorts, Waterton Glacier Suites, and Waterton Outdoor Adventures.

For more information, contact:
Shelly Mercer
Promotion & Non-personal Media Officer
Waterton Lakes National Park
Parks Canada
shelly.mercer@pc.gc.ca
Telephone 403-859-5166
Facsimile 403-859-5161

parkscanada.gc.ca/waterton
@WatertonLakesNP on Twitter
facebook.com/WatertonLakesNP
youtube.com/ParksCanadaAgency