Okotoks Recreation Opportunities

Some time back, we said we would begin to publish information about our town...
Okotoks - A Little Bit About The Town
Over the weeks and months ahead, we will begin to fulfill that promise and today, we start with some information about some of the recreational opportunities open to residents of the town

Natural Beauty: The Big Rock Story
On the road out of Okotoks towards Black Diamond is the Okotoks Erratic, one of the worlds lagest erratics, known as the Big Rock The erratic is situated in a field and it is a beautiful spot for a stroll, especially in Summer.
Sporting Facilities
Hockey: Hockey: Okotoks Oilers
If you are a Facebook user, you may want to join the Okotoks Oilers Facebook group...
Okotoks Oilers Fans on Facebook

The Oilers play at the impressive 1,500 seat Okotoks Centennial Arena, which also has a two-lane walking/running track for year 'round exercise opportunities.
Okotoks Centennial Arena

Baseball: The Dawgs
Regular readers of our blog will know how much we enjoy going to the Dawgs. We're looking forward to the season starting up again… A Night Out At The Dawgs Baseball

Football : The Falcons
Foothills Centennial Centre
This multi-cultural complex is made up of a seniors' centre, youth space, meeting rooms, covered outdoor patio, commercial kitchen, and a 10,000-square-foot hall that can be divided into four smaller halls.
Okotoks Recreation Centre
This was renovated and expanded to provide more opportunities for residents of Okotoks to stay active year round, as well as to meet the growing needs of organized sports groups. The original facility includes two ice rinks, the Curling Club and swimming pool. The expansion added a 25-metre, multi-lane swimming pool, a new gymnasium, a fitness centre, an aerobics area, a child care centre and new/upgraded dressing rooms for the pool area and arena. Renovations included upgrades to include a solar panel system providing renewable, non-polluting energy, very much in keeping with the green oriented attitude of the town council and the locals.

Golf
Crystal Ridge Golf Course: Crystal Ridge Golf Course
The 9 hole, 3125-yard, par 35 course features water and rockwork on every hole, with lots of mature trees, berms, sand traps and large undulating greens. It also offers a clubhouse with two restaurants.
D'Arcy Ranch Golf Club: D'Arcy Ranch Golf Course This is considered by some to be the among the most unique courses in Western Canada. The terrain has been left in the most natural state possible, providing both novices and experts alike with an exciting and challenging game. It offers fabulous mountain views.

River's Edge Golf Club: River's Edge Golf Course
Formerly a 9 hole course, it is now a full 18 hole facility, with grass tee driving range, Pro Shop carrying all brand name merchandise, a licensed clubhouse and a restaurant.

A lot of information on schools and leisure activities can be found at the Okotoks Website: Okotoks Town Website

There is an excellent town public library: Okotoks Public Library

Around the town can also be found an outdoor ice rink, 21 parks and playgrounds, seven ball diamonds, 12 Soccer fields, tennis courts, outdoor track and field amenities, campgrounds and hiking trails and some 40 km of interconnected hiking and biking trails... Okotoks Walking Paths

The Station Cultural Centre...(renamed the Okotoks Art Galllery (OAG) - At The Station - in February 2009) is hosted in the town's former railway station. It hosts art exhibitions, programs and live theatre. The OAG is also the home of the Okotoks' Visitor's Information Centre and Interpretive Display. The OAG and the nearby Heritage House museum (see Okotoks Heritage House Museum ) are "must sees" in Okotoks.

Bird Watching
While at the Okotoks Air Ranch, you can visit the Bird Sanctuary, where geese, ducks and other waterfowl make their home. The Okotoks Fish and Game Association has created a haven for these birds in a sanctuary located just off the road that leads into the Air Ranch. An elevated observation deck allows visitors to easily study the birds as they wade about the waters or set up nests along the shoreline.

Fishing
Via the Sheep River (which runs out of the mountains only 100 km west of Okotoks). It offers opportunities for fly fishing. There's Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, and Rocky Mountain Whitefish all waiting to take the fly and battle with the rod holder.

River Tubing
Further fun in the water is had in July and August where you will often see 100 or more tubers floating down the river. It's a half day adventure, drop off at the Big Rock 7 km west of Town and float to Town (3 hours)!

There are a myriad of classes and groups on offer throughout the town, around the year and many of these are summarised in the town community guide which is re-issued periodically.
Okotoks Community Guide

All in all, it's a place where there is always something to do.

J&E.

Helicopter Ride Above Okotoks

Our good friends, Ian and Debbie Ross and their daughter Ella, were patient enough to stand in line for a couple of hours this weekend just gone, to get a chance to take a helicopter ride over Okotoks. From these pictures they have been kind enough to share with us, it seems it was well worth the wait. As ever, you can click on these shots to make them bigger.

In this shot, the helicopter is in the North East of the town, right above the Air Ranch community. The helicopter is facing south-west, giving a view right down over the town. Towards the top of the picture, snaking its way from left to right, you can see the tree lined Sheep River valley that divides the north and the south of the town. As previous blog items have noted, this is a fabulous spot for walks along the river and in summer, you will often see children and adults alike, resting and playing both in the river and on its banks.

A number of Eamonn's real estate clients will recognise their beautiful homes in this shot!This next one is a terrific shot that will help those new to or thinking about moving to Okotoks, get a feel for the Crystal Shores area that is so popular. Apart from being able to see our BBQ on our deck at the back of our house (you never know who is watching you do you! :-) ), you can see the Crystal Shores lake and its beach and beach house. You can see all the walking paths and green spaces that are designed into the community and on the left of the shot, you can clearly make out the part green roof and large grassed and banked (makes for great sledging in winter) grounds of Dr Morris Gibson Elementary School, which is such a draw for people moving to the area with younger children. The bright blue roofed building is the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Building and just beyond that and left is the excellent Okotoks Recreation Centre.This final shot shows something that we really love about Okotoks...the fact that it is surrounded by wide open space.Great shots Ian and Debbie...thank you for letting us blog them.
J&E.

Short Term Accommodation in Okotoks & Calgary

Please note that the following are not vacation oriented accommodations. These are properties that the owners have kindly made available to Eamonn's current or potential future real estate clients.

If you are coming to Calgary or Okotoks on a research trip or are relocating here from elsewhere, you might be interested in some of the short term accommodation options we have access to. We do not own any of these properties and we do not accept any referral fees for directing people to them. We have met all of the property owners and seen, or in some cases, stayed in the accommodations ourselves.

Most of these options put you within the heart of a community, rather than in expensive hotels which are often in the middle of business parks, commercial areas or downtown. Experiencing life in a community can really help you to feel like you belong and can help enormously with either your research or the settling process.

You can see some of the current options (occasionally we have access to other options not shown) on Eamonn's website at www.MoveWithMe.ca.

J&E

Moving to or new to Okotoks?

If you are new to, about to move to or are toying with the idea of moving to Okotoks, Alberta, you may like to join this new Facebook group that has just been set up as a self help portal. The idea is to get help and an instant social support network from those already here and when you make your way here, to contribute links and other advice to help others thinking of moving to the town.

You need a Facebook profile to join but if you have one and are logged in, then this link should take you to the group and you can click on teh "Request to Join" button.

Moving to or new to Okotoks Facebook Group

J&E

Top Realtor for February 2009

Eamonn had some great news the other day. Thanks to his clients, he was rated February's top Realtor in the RE/MAX Southern Realty brokerage where he works. This was based on the value of the real estate transactions that he led to conclusion during the month. It was an especially proud moment as Eamonn works in one of the most experienced brokerages around. The 18 Realtors in the office have well in excess of 100 years experience in the business between them and among their number are a former President of the Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB). The same chap is also a former CREB Realtor of the Year. Others in the brokerage include one of the most successful land and acreage Realtors in the business, so to come out top for one month against this sort of quality of person is a very proud moment. The fact that his Realtor colleagues have been so supportive since he joined the brokerage and so quick to congratulate him on his success was something that Eamonn was really chuffed about. The picture is an extract from the advertisment that will be in this weeks local papers.One of Eamonn's clients (a family who have come here as the husband is joining the Calgary Police Service in April) also wrote up their experience of working with Eamonn on their house purchase in February. They published their thoughts on the British Expats forum that Eamonn does so much of his work on in helping people to settle here. Here's what they said. Again, it's something that Eamonn is really very proud of and grateful for as it shows that his efforts to offer a truly bespoke, integrity led service, are paying off.
Recommendation for Eamonn

Similarly, another soon to be Calgary Police Service family has also written some really kind words about the level of service that Eamonn provided over a period of several months, before and after their arrival here in Okotoks.
Emigrating to Canada and buying a house in Okotoks

If you're thinking of moving to Canada or are in the process of doing so, you may want to take a look at our past post, here...
Are You Moving To Canada
...before taking a look at Eamonn's Real Estate and Relocation website which can be found at www.MoveWithMe.ca

J

Sam & Andrew's

We recently went to visit our good friends up in Edgemont in NW Calgary. They have the most amazing mountain views from their home, but until this day we had never managed to see them. We have always laughed over the fact that every time we visit them, their supposedly great mountain views are always shrouded in cloud and we didn't really believe they were there!

They have now produced proof that they exist, so we thought we would share some of the fabulous views they get from their deck. Hidden again by fog!A beautiful sunset...
A Chinook arch at night...Snowflakes at night...J&E

Some of the Wildlife in Okotoks

While doing our weekend chores, we decided to take a little detour down some of the back roads around Okotoks. We were very well rewarded today with a sighting of a Coyote (something we have seen many times, but never managed to capture)... ...two very proud stags keeping a watchful eye from their vantange point......and a Jack Rabbit just outside our house!J&E

How the Skating Lane is Prepared

While having our breakfast last Saturday morning, we watched the tractor prepare the skating lane on the lake. He started by shovelling the snow with the big brush/shovel on the front. ...and then followed up with what looked like a layer of water. Now we know how it gets so smooth and shiny.Fascinating!
J&E

A Day On the Lake

Monday 16th February was Family Day, which meant a public holiday here in Canada. Despite being around -10, we were blessed with lovely sunshine and we thought it was a perfect opportunity to take a stroll around the still frozen lake behind our home.This is the path we took which is carefully marked out by a tractor. The path was so smooth and shiny that it took us by surprise. We knew it had been marked out for skating, but we didn't expect it to be done so well.There were peple making holes in the lake using an auger, which made us a little uneasy! Hopefully it was just enough to squeeze a fish through.Others were playing Ice HockeyAnd some kind soul had built a lovely warm fire, which was perfect to sit by and get warm, before heading home for some Hot Chocolate.It was one of those "feel good" days when you just wanted to be outside.
J&E

Cougar Spotted in De Winton

According to local news reports, a large cougar kept residents in the De Winton area close to home over this past weekend. The cougar was spotted on Saturday at an acreage just off 32nd Street. The advice given was to keep children and pets in the house. The RCMP, along with Fish and Wildlife Officers, searched for the cat over the weekend but as far as we know, they haven't managed to locate it!

The DJ on the local radio station said, "well we do live in the foothills of the rocky mountains"!

We can't decide whether it's really cool or really scary!! We think we'll go with cool!

J&E.