Celtic Echoes will perform Saturday, June 1 at 7 p.m. at the Empress Theatre in Fort Macleod.

MACLEOD GAZETTE CONTRIBUTOR – VICKI ARNDT
High energy, top notch music and world-class dancers will transport the Empress Theatre audience to the emerald isles of Ireland next month.
Celtic Echoes based in Calgary is back on the Empress stage in Fort Macleod for a performance on Saturday, June 1, 2013 at 7 p.m.
Celtic Echoes made their first toe tapping, highly energetic and exciting appearance on the Empress stage in 2011.
Joelle Sheppard, artistic director and creator of the show, graduated with a Master of Arts in Irish dance performance from the University of Limerick in Ireland, and competed in both teams and solos in the North American Championships and the World Championships of Irish dancing.
Sheppard brings Celtic Echoes back to Fort Macleod in 2013 with new cast members, fresh music, and new dance numbers featuring impressive world-class Irish dancers Kelly Thomas, Lily Yearwood, Ali Hampshire, Brianna Ryan, Kate Jacobson, Kaitlyn Kolodychuck, Robyn Haywood and Joelle Sheppard.
“We have re-vamped and updated dance numbers that we performed in the show previously and we have added four brand new dance numbers we will be unveiling on this year’s tour,” Sheppard said. “The audience will also hear three-part and four-part harmonies sung this year.”
“The dancers have three new costumes and with exciting new props the show feels even more captivating than before.
The audience can expect to be wowed by the debut of fresh new tunes and wickedly fast fiddling by Scott Duncan of Barrage.
With the addition of guitarist Seán Sabraw to this year’s cast brings a new voice, fuller harmonies and original songs to this year’s tour.
Keri Lynn Zwicker (on harp) will be singing her newest songs with her captivating Irish sound, and Nathan Patrick McCavana will get hearts racing with his quick bodhrán drumming and haunting vocals.
Irish dancing splashed onto the world scene in 1994 after a seven minute world-wide debut of “Riverdance” was seen on Eurovision.
Since then, the number of Irish step dancers in North America has grown to outnumber the dancers in Ireland itself.
Irish dance continues to evolve and today’s form has changed from the traditional form that focused on poise, grace and musicality to a focus on speed and complexity of steps and footwork.

Harvey Bourassa

A Fort Macleod resident is one of 89 individuals and organizations nominated for the Minister’s Seniors Service Awards in Alberta.
Harvey Bourassa, 83, who was Fort Macleod’s Citizen of the Year in 2011, was nominated for the work he does on behalf of seniors and the community.
“These annual awards celebrate the dedication and commitment of Albertans who volunteer their time and energy in support of seniors,” Health Minister Fred Horne said. “Their efforts have a great impact on our communities and our province — and they make a difference in the lives of seniors.”
Nominees are evaluated based on:

• Their impact on seniors and the community.
• The need for the service they provide.
• The measure of diversity, quality, and originality in their service.

Bourassa was nominated for his role as the lead organizer of fund-raisers on behalf of Holy Cross Church and other organizations.
Bourassa for the past five years has brought Canadian fiddle champion Scott Woods to Fort Macleod.
Money raised from the show has been used to buy 120 chairs for Holy Cross Hall, put a new roof on the church manse, put mesh wire on the church’s stained glass windows, replaced the door on the hall kitchen and put in new lights and fans.
Bourassa has also directed proceeds to help put new doors on the Catholic church at Cardston.
The money raised this year will top off funding needed to paint Holy Cross Hall, and will also go to the Fort Macleod Handibus Society.
Bourassa’s nomination also noted that he is treasurer of the Fort Macleod Welcome Mat seniors’ centre.
Bourassa is a life member of the Fort Macleod Curling Club and the Southern Alberta Curling Association. He also chaired the Livestock Curling Association of Canada and until 2011 was drawmaster at the local club.
Bourassa is active in his church, chairing the Holy Cross Parish Council and serving as treasurer of the Knights of Columbus.
Bourassa belongs to the Elks Club, Fort Macleod Golf Club and was a long-time 4-H leader and judge.
“All of the nominees are to be congratulated on their contributions,” added George VanderBurg, associate minister of seniors. “These individuals and organizations provide valuable services which support our seniors and help improve their quality of life.”
Award recipients will be honoured at a special celebration on June 5, during Seniors’ Week.

Harley Brown, Gordon MacIvor and Lucy Bedingfield-Wehrfritz with some of the art work donated to decorate a new RCMP training centre residence named for Fort Macleod.

Lucy Bedingfield-Wehrfritz, Mayor Shawn Patience and Gordon MacIvor look at art destined for the new RCMP training centre residence named for Fort Macleod.

RCMP recruits training in Regina will have a daily reminder of Fort Macleod’s ties to the Mounted Police.
A Fort Macleod delegation will leave this week for the RCMP training centre to decorate a new residence with local art.
“We have 73 pieces of art work with the majority being framed pictures from the old days when Fort Macleod was the headquarters of the North West Mounted Police through the 1880s and 1890s, on up to the present modern world,” said Gordon MacIvor, who has spearheaded the project.
The RCMP is building four new residences to be named after forts, including Fort Macleod.
The building consists of seven 32-person dorms, three classrooms, two syndicate rooms and an open area.
When MacIvor learned that one of the new residences being built for RCMP cadets would be named for Fort Macleod, he set about acquiring local pieces to decorate the building.
The strong response from the community means the residence named for Fort Macleod — an original North West Mounted Police fort established in 1874 — will be a showcase of history.
“We have photographed them all and are in the process of finishing a catalogue for distribution,” MacIvor said Saturday. “A huge thank you goes to Lucy Bedingfield-Wehrfritz for all her time and effort in managing our project.”
The donated pieces were turned in to the Fort Macleod Arts Building for collection.
MacIvor also praised the support of Harley Brown of PhotoPlus — The Source for framing the photographs.
The Fort Macleod delegation includes Coun. Donna Houston representing the Town of Fort Macleod; Dawn Lauder, executive director of the Fort Macleod Historical Association; Sgt. Brent Hawker, non-commissioned officer in charge of the Fort Macleod detachment; Cpl. Kevin McKenna and Const. Rosalyn de Bruin, RCMP members who were born and raised in Fort Macleod; Southern Alberta RCMP Veterans Association president Lynn Spring; and MacIvor.
“We look forward in eager anticipation to see the brand new cadet residence,” MacIvor said.
The new residence will officially be opened Thursday, May 23, followed by a regimental dinner that evening at RCMP Depot.
The Regimental Dinner will commemorate the 140th anniversary of the legislation establishing the North West Mounted Police.

Pirates Sevens Tournament champion F.P. Walshe Flyers. Back row, from left: coach Andrew Walmsley, Ruby Kinsella, Jane O’Connor, Sarah Gregory, Kaitlin Quinlan and Chelsey Joel. Front row: Eden Hoff, Bella Gunderson, Ashley Gunderson, Shannon Chisholm and Bailey Perry. Photo by Robin Chisholm.

A group of small town girls made their mark Saturday in the big city.
F.P. Walshe Flyers went undefeated to win the Pirates high school girls’ sevens rugby tournament at Edmonton.
Senior varsity players Bella Gunderson, Jane O’Connor, Eden Hoff, Bailey Perry, Shannon Chisholm, Ashley Gunderson, Ruby Kinsella, Kaitlin Quinlan, Sarah Gregory and Chelsey Joel made the trip to the provincial capital.
The Flyers served notice early they were a force to be reckoned with, going undefeated in their pool.
“We improved greatly every game as the tourney went on,” Flyers coach Andrew Walmsley said. “Sevens requires a different mentality than 15s and it took the girls a game or two to get used to using the whole field and to using the amount of space available in the sevens game.”
The Flyers beat Matthew Halton Hawks from Pincher Creek 22-0 in their first game.
Ruby Kinsella scored two tries and kicked a convert to lead F.P. Walshe with 12 points. Single tries were scored by Bella Gunderson and Eden Hoff.
The Flyers lined up against Bellerose Composite from St. Albert for their second game, winning 32-0.
“Both teams were 1-0 coming into the game so we knew this game would decide who won our pool and made it into the semifinals,” Walmsley said.
Ruby Kinsella and Kaitlin Quinlan each scored two tries. Eden Hoff scored a try and added a convert. Jane O’Connor scored a try.
The Flyers final game in their pool was against J. Percy Page school from Edmonton.
The Edmonton team hadn’t won a game and the Flyers cruised to an easy 39-0 win.
Sarah Gregory scored three tries and Eden Hoff and Kaitlin Quinlan each had two tries and one convert.
Winning their pool put the Flyers into the semifinals against Matthew Halton, who had come through the back door.
“By now our girls had found their stride and we left no doubt as we ran to a convincing 46-0 victory,” Walmsley said.
Ruby Kinsella led all scorers with three tries and two converts for 19 points.
Jane O’Connor scored one try and added a convert and Chelsey Joel, Shannon Chisholm, Eden Hoff and Kaitlin Quinlan each had a try.
That win advanced the flyers to the final against Bev Facey school from Sherwood Park.
Bev Facey is a provincial power in rugby and had cruised through their pool games.
“It was a repeat of the final game last year, which we won, so we knew Facey would be out for revenge,” Walmsley said.
Bev Facey scored the first try early in the game, but the Flyers took the ensuing kickoff and after some beautiful teamwork Shannon Chisholm scored.
Walmsley said the Flyers took control of the game on the ensuing kickoff when they devastated the Bev Facey team with three crushing tackles from Ruby Kinsella, Jane O’Connor and Eden Hoff, which led to a turnover on which the Flyers capitalized.
The Flyers relied on tenacious defence, hard tackling and great passing to win 27-10.
In addition to Shannon Chisholm’s try the Flyers got two tries from Kaitlin Quinlan, a try and a convert from Ruby Kinsella and a single try by Eden Hoff.

Tru Hardware Fort Macleod is preparing to open in the former Bargain Shop location on Main Street. The MPC is discussing signage and colours.

Fort Macleod Municipal Planning Commission tabled a decision May 6 on a development application for signage for a new Fort Macleod business.
The MPC wanted some more information about a sign that does not adhere to the standards of the provincially-designated historic district.
Tru Hardware, which is to open at 254 Col Macleod Blvd., applied to erect a sign on the front of the building consisting of three-dimensional lettering with lights and a backlighted sign box.
The colours will be chosen from Benjamin Moore’s historic colour palette.
The window and store front trim is Danville Tan, the front and back doors will be painted Garrison Red and the awning will be Kendall Charcoal.
The proposal had support from at least one Main Street business.
“Kudos to the owners,” Bernadette McNab of McNab Realty wrote in a letter to the MPC. “The proposed upgrade looks fantastic.”
Fraser Shaw, a heritage conservation advisor with the historic resources management branch of Alberta Culture, had some concerns with the application.
“It’s great to see a new business locating into the historic area,” Shaw wrote.
Shaw asked Town of Fort Macleod development officer Rhonda Day to confirm how the sign will be anchored to the building.
Shaw pointed out the proposed gooseneck lighting predates the building.
“The sign panel proportions are a bit square for the sign area,” Shaw noted.
Shaw pointed out that it is not a permanent sign and can be changed
The building does not have historical designation but it is in Fort Macleod’s provincially designated historic area.
“As far as I’m concerned there is a balance that needs to be struck,” MPC chairman James Coast said.
Coast said that balance is between using modern materials and 100 per cent historically accurate materials.
MPC member Scott Norlin pointed out signage on the refurbished ATB Financial building and the signage on the ATCO Gas building are not historically accurate.
Day said there is concern about the colour and material of the awning and the sign box.
“The whole historic colour pallette is so hard to follow,” Day said, noting companies change it with regularity.
Day asked the MPC to table the application for further discussion with the company about changing the look of the sign.
“I wish that I had a little bit more time to review this,” Day said.
Norlin said the building owner should have more control over what material is used and the look of the development.
“I agree with you but that’s not what the rules say,” MPC member Gord Wolstenholme said. “Are we just going to ignore the rules?”
Coast pointed out the Town of Fort Macleod ignored the rules when Main street was refurbished.
The bump-outs on Main Street are not historically accurate, Coast noted as an example.
Day said she would like to spend more time with Fraser Shaw finding out the history of the building and looking into the colours Tru Hardware is proposing to use.
Anyone interested in commenting on the application must submit written comments by 12 noon May 16 in council chambers in the Town Office.
The MPC will discuss the application at its next meeting Tuesday, May 21 at 12:15 p.m. in council chambers in the Town Office.