Oyen Briefs – February 21, 2024

By Diana Walker

ATCO executed a planned power outage on February 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Because many Main Street businesses chose to close their doors during that time, I decided to work from home instead of going into The Oyen Echo office in the Schindel Agencies building. I encourage readers to reach me at 403-664-6600 or oyenecho@telus.net with tidbits for Oyen Briefs, submit an article or suggest a story idea.

While having lunch one Monday with my Border Quilting friends Betty Walker and Vicki Smale, I learned of the death of former Oyenite Ross Arthur Varney. Ross died in a Winnipeg, Manitoba hospital on January 4, 2024, at the age of 70 years.

Ross was born May 2, 1953, the first child of Ed and Myrtle Varney of Oyen. After completing his schooling in Oyen at South Central High, his love of trucking led him down roads through every province and state in North America. 

In a phone call to his mother Myrtle and sister Janice in Medicine Hat this week, I learned he drove rigs as big as 88 wheelers! Some loads were so big it could take them three months to go from Corpus Christi, TX to southern California.

Ross returned to Oyen and worked with Paul Christianson from 2008 to 2014 before moving to the Lethbridge area, where he trucked near Coutts.

In 2023, he and his partner Pearl Peters moved to Morden, Manitoba.

We extend sympathies to Ross’s partner Pearl, her two children and their families, mother Myrtle, sisters Janice and Lorna (Mike McCallum of Camrose) and their families.

About 30 people attended the Oyen 1 Solar Project Open House at the Legion on February 14. They could ask questions, view maps and discuss the proposed project with other attendees. Universal Kraft is developing the 400-megawatt project that includes about 1,400 acres of land located about 13.2km northwest of Oyen. Their handout states, ‘Local employment: the project will create up to 150 jobs directly, and about 100 full-time jobs indirectly during construction, creating opportunities for local individuals and businesses. During operations, the Project will provide five permanent full-time jobs. Property Taxes: will be paid annually to the county, resulting in financial benefits to the community. Clean Energy Generation: will generate emissions-free electricity for about 300,000 homes.’

Big Country Agricultural Society volunteers will deliver Meals on Wheels from March 1 to 15.

The Top 7 Over 70 program recognizes individuals who live in Medicine Hat or its surrounding communities of Redcliff, Cypress County, County of Forty Mile, County of Newell or Special Areas 2, 3, 4 or M.D of Acadia who have started a new adventure or reprised an existing one after the age of 70. All these individuals will have accomplished a milestone or vision that inspires Albertans of all ages and demonstrates that age does not preclude developing new passions.

We are looking for individuals who will help us spread the word about the event and nominate worthy candidates. We know many in our communities fit the bill, but Albertans tend to be humble! If you are interested in joining our group of nominators, please contact Frances Barnes at 7Over70@cfsea.ca We'd love to have you join our team!

Awards will honour individuals 70 and over who have achieved excellence, inspired creativity, shaped innovation, and/or organized outstanding collaboration in one or more of the following areas: agriculture, business, science, arts, health and recreation, volunteerism, environment, overcoming adversity, and making a difference.

For more information, go to the website: https://cfsea.ca/top-7-70/ 

I have been searching my Oyen Echo digital files from 2009 to 2020 for Remembrance Day features, Oyen Centennial parade photos of the Legion entry, WW1 photos – whatever I can find to download on a thumb drive. Keith MacLean has an extensive digital archive of Legion photos he is willing to share. Dave McKinstry is scanning photos and stories from Legion scrapbooks. After we have gathered these files, Dave plans to create a slide show for the Royal Canadian Legion Acadia Branch #208 65th Anniversary to be held at the Legion on April 6. If you have photos or stories you would like to share, contact Dave at super@netago.ca or call 403-664-0220. Watch The Echo for further details.

On behalf of the Oyen & District Chamber of Commerce, Betty Walker is phoning area business to update the Chamber's Community Telephone Directory. If you are a new business or do not receive a call, contact Betty at 403-664-3819.

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