Proudly Serving Vermilion And Area Since 2004

Here we are at the end of the year, the changing of the numbers AD, nearing the end of page 12 of the 2025 calendar. At first, I was so glad to think that this year was ending because it held a very sad loss in my family, but with only a few days left in the year I realized, I would have missed so much wishing the year away. In the rush to close out what is difficult, it’s easy to overlook the experiences that positively color the year. We were moved with unexpected kindness

December 1913 was a good month for Annie McLay. It was in that month that she won a big prize thanks to her hard work. For two months previous, the Edmonton Bulletin had been running a contest to see who among their employees could get the most subscribers signing up for the newspaper. McLay, who was from Vermilion, won thanks to her immense drive to win. She spent six weeks traveling through the northern part of the province as far as she could go, and then down to southern

I’ve always been interested in how people met. I have heard the most incredible stories. My grandparents met in New York. My grandmother’s well-to-do family would not have approved of my grandfather’s station in life, but you can’t stop love! In the bustling heart of New York City in 1912, where horse-drawn wagons rattled over cobblestone streets and the energy of commerce filled the air, Grandfather arrived from his homestead in Saskatchewan and took a job. Why he picked New

The remaining of my garden tomatoes are ripening, a lot all at the same time. Late fall, we picked all of our garden tomatoes, before the frost, many of them green, and spread them out in cardboard boxes in our garage, which is mildly heated. Without a heated garage, they need to be spread out on a low cardboard box, to allow them to ripen. This recipe is a keeper, which creates a salsa with that classic salsa taste. Salsa– Canned – makes 5 pints 8 cups of tomatoes, peeled a

Back in 1910, Vermilion dealt with something rather unusual for the time of year. A November tornado. In those days, they called such weather events cyclones, and it was something that scared quite a few people in the community. It was on Nov. 1, 1910, when what was described as a terrific windstorm swept through the community. At the height of the storm, it was said you could barely see a block away because of the dust and debris. The storm led to a small fire in town and wh

As winter began in November 1911, the residents of Vermilion were doing their best to stay warm. For the first two weeks of the month, the temperature was below -20 degrees Celsius. To make things worse, all that cold water was leaving coal in very short supply. So many people were buying up coal that the reserves were nearly empty and residents were looking for other ways to heat their homes. That was good news for some businesses in Vermilion. The Hayward Lumber Company, on

My Dad talked very little about World War 2. From the few stories my Dad told, and knowing him for 50 years and from the details we know of World War 2 (Dad’s paybook, Wikipedia, google), I pieced together his story. It was 1942, and Ray had made the decision to travel from his family farm near Kitscoty, Alberta to the closest recruitment office and enlist in the army. He had read in the newspaper and heard all the chatter in town about how the enemy forces were advancing in

I remember my dad, who was born in 1935 tell me that growing up as a kid, he ate his morning oatmeal with molasses, not necessarily by choice, but that was the sweetener that was available to him in those days. It wouldn’t be my sweetener of choice, until I learned that is has so many amazing health benefits. I love molasses in gingerbread, ginger cookies, and baked beans but recent research will be elevating it far beyond the characteristic flavor found in fall and Christmas

A new month means we are traveling back to time to see what was going on in the community exactly 100 years ago. These events may seem like they are not of major historical significance, but they helped form the community as it is today. Many residents of Vermilion were angry on Nov. 1 when they woke up to what had happened on Halloween in the community. Several people had property smashed in their yards. Various signs were ripped down around the community and a rear door at

While The Great Depression was one of the most difficult times for Canadians in the 20th century, especially in the Prairies, there were still things to celebrate. On Nov. 2, 1937, the people of Vermilion were celebrating the news that progress was being made on the new Masonic Temple in the community. On that day, the cornerstone was laid down on the building. For the previous 21 years, the Masons had used a building in the Standard Block of Vermilion. This new temple was to

This cookie is a twist on my standard peanut butter cookie recipe. Interestingly, peanut butter has many health benefits. It is a very good source of antioxidants. The mono-saturated fat in peanut butter includes oleic acid, the kind found in olive oil, that has been found to be Mediterranean diet heart healthy . Peanuts are also a source of resveratrol. Resveratrol is the beneficial substance found in red wine. In the nurses’ health study, which involved 86,000 women

As performers in “Touch of Grace,” a Southern Gospel Trio, we love researching and sharing the stories behind the songs we sing. One song that has touched countless lives is “Angels Among Us,” a moving message that has become a staple in the Southern Gospel repertoire. The story behind its creation is as inspiring as the message it shares. Becky Hobbs, a Nashville singer-songwriter, is the creative force behind “Angels Among Us.” Her journey to writing this song is rooted in

Back in October 1951, the Vermilion area was getting ready for a major vaccination job. It wasn’t for polio, that was still a couple years away. Instead, it was about vaccinating cattle. This massive vaccination program was believed to be the largest ever attempted in Canada by a municipality. Initiated by the Municipal District of Vermilion River, it all began on Oct. 4, 1951 under the guidance of Dr. A.R. Anderson and Dr. F. Creech from Lloydminster. The vaccination was for

Breakfast cookies are easy to make, and perfect for busy days on the go, or to pack for lunches. They are filled with healthy ingredients, plus they are gluten and dairy free. Almost every ingredient is filled with health benefits. There is fiber from several different sources. These cookies are a good way to use up an over ripe banana. The banana is a good source of important minerals like magnesium and potassium. Cinnamon helps balance blood sugar, and support healthy insul

When I was a little kid, Halloween was more than just a night of costumes and candy. It was a cherished tradition that brought our rural community together. A few times we went to a party, but mostly our celebration involved piling into the family car and driving from one neighbour’s farm to the next. We started in the late afternoon because each doorstep we stopped at transformed into a stage! The neighbours took great joy in asking us kids to sing or recite before handing o

Nellie McClung was one of the most important individuals in Alberta’s history. Not only was she instrumental in Manitoba becoming the first province to allow women to vote in provincial elections, but she did the same in Alberta soon after in 1916. Later in life, she was one of The Famous Five who brought forward the Persons Case in 1927 that led to women being deemed persons qualified to sit in the Canadian Senate. Her legacy has been tarnished somewhat with her support of e

Do you remember the Greyhound Bus? Did you ever ride the Greyhound Bus? After a trip to Southern Alberta recently and seeing many huge buses on the highways, I was reminded of several of the trips I took as a Greyhound Bus rider. It all started when I was 14. My Dad drove me to the Islay corner on highway 16, bought me a ticket at Bills Service Station there and sent me on the Greyhound Bus to my aunt’s farm near Maidstone, Saskatchewan. If you ever travelled on the bus, you

When I was in 4-H in the 1960’s one of my speeches was about the Pony Express. When I studied for my speech and first learned about the daring riders of the Pony Express, I fancied myself possessing the spirit and calibre needed to join their ranks even though there were no female riders. The image of a lone rider galloping across the wild prairies, braving storms, wildlife, and attack, has always held a certain fascination for me. I’m sure it wasn’t as glamorous or as romant

Back when Vermilion was first founded, one of the early tasks of residents was to build a church that people could worship in. It was in September 1905 when a letter reached Archdeacon Lloyd in Lloydminster, for whom the community is named, asking if a church could be opened in the new village of Vermilion. The person who sent the letter was Robert Pilkie. A reply came on Oct. 15, 1905, giving permission to create this church. A week later, Archdeacon Lloyd came to the commun

Coconut cream pie is a favourite that is really easy to make from scratch. When making a Coconut Cream pie, you can use a variety of pie crusts, graham wafer, coconut or pastry. When you make your own filling and pie crust you are eliminating all the chemicals found in the boxed coconut pudding mix and all the unhealthy fats found in commercial pie crusts. If you are using a premade, frozen pastry pie crust, be sure to look for the ones that are made with lard, instead of veg