There might have been a few people doing a double-take at the Vermilion Legion Saturday night. Peter Phillips brought his Tim McGraw tribute to Vermilion on Sept. 12, playing to a packed house and quickly proving this wasn’t going to be the kind of concert where the performer stayed put on stage. Phillips worked the room throughout the evening, interacting with the crowd, joking with those in attendance and getting right into the middle of things. At one point, even the floor

More than 40 local clubs and organizations came together at the Vermilion Regional Centre on Thursday, Sept. 10, for Fall Information Night, giving residents a chance to see just how much Vermilion and the surrounding area have to offer. The community came out in great numbers throughout the evening, stopping by tables, asking questions and learning about the many activities, programs, clubs and opportunities available for both youth and adults. There was plenty of visiting a

It may have been lawnmowers on the track, but there certainly wasn’t much lawn mowing happening Saturday evening as the Vermilion River Lawnmower Racing September Showdown took over the Vermilion Ag Grounds on September 12. After a cooler and much windier start to the day, Mother Nature seemed to cooperate just in time for the races. The wind settled down, the temperature became much more comfortable and the sun even managed to find its way out from behind the clouds, making

In a display of community spirit and environmental stewardship, TD Canada Trust once again brought TD Tree Days to Vermilion on September 12, with volunteers gathering at Lakeland College to help enhance the community’s green spaces. The planting took place directly behind the Dairy Barn at Lakeland College, where volunteers came together beginning at 9 a.m. to plan t 121 trees. Approximately 30 volunteers had signed up ahead of the event, with additional 20 or so volunteers

Under partly sunny skies and rain showers until it cleared, the Good Life Institute once again brought creativity, community spirit and an important message about men’s health together during its annual Art in the Park event on Saturday, September 12 at the Vermilion Agricultural Grounds. The event drew hundreds of Vermilion and area residents throughout the day, with approximately 20 vendors, hands-on classes, family activities, a Show and Shine, lawn mower races and the Man

Vermilion’s first Hometown Celebration proved to be a hit Thursday night, with more than 700 people coming through the gates for an evening of live music, food and community. Featuring Canadian country artist Nate Haller, the inaugural event brought a large crowd together and offered Vermilion something a little different as summer began to wind down. Throughout the evening, people gathered around the grounds, stopping for something to eat, spending time in the beer gardens a

There is one sure sign that summer is winding down in Vermilion and surrounding communities, and it has nothing to do with the leaves beginning to change colour or the temperature dropping overnight. The school buses are back on the road. On Wednesday, Sept. 2, students across Buffalo Trail Public Schools returned to the classroom for the beginning of another school year, bringing with them backpacks, lunch kits, new school supplies and, depending on the student, varying degr

Alberta agricultural producers affected by excessive moisture this growing season will have additional time to enrol in AgriStability following changes announced by the Alberta and federal governments. In response to wet conditions affecting producers after the original April 30 enrolment deadline, late participation has been opened for the 2026 AgriStability program year. Alberta producers now have until Oct. 1 to sign up for the program. The interim payment rate for 2026 ha

Stacks of expired solar panels in Brooks. photo credit Sunset Renewable Asset Management Inc Alberta will ban solar panels from being disposed of in landfills beginning Oct. 1 as the province launches what it says will be North America’s first solar panel recycling program. The program is intended to ensure solar panels are directed toward reuse and recycling once they reach the end of their useful lives, recovering materials that would otherwise be sent to landfills. Alberta

Alberta farmers will soon have more flexibility when it comes to managing temporary and seasonal water on their own cropland. Beginning this fall, the provincial government plans to remove Water Act approval requirements for routine agricultural work involving temporary wetlands and areas that only hold water for a short time. The changes will allow farmers to cultivate, seed, spray, ditch, drain or infill affected areas without first going through a lengthy approval process.

Men attending Art in the Park in Vermilion this September will once again have an opportunity to take a few minutes out of their day to check on their health when the MAN VAN® returns to the community. The mobile men’s health clinic will be set up at the Vermilion Ag Grounds, 5510 College Drive, on Saturday, September 12 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The clinic will offer free PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) blood tests to men between the ages of 40 and 70. No appointment or identif

Anyone heading down Highway 16 between Lloydminster and Kitscoty this summer may have noticed there is something a little different growing in one of the fields. Dolly Parton, complete with her guitar, books and butterflies, has taken over the Maizex Corn Maze for 2026. The eight-acre maze, located on the Headon family farm near Kitscoty, is celebrating Parton this year while also raising money for something that was very close to her heart; Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

Vermilion Kuk Sool Won students had a rare opportunity this past weekend as Chong Jae Nim Alex Suh, son of Kuk Sool Won founder Grandmaster In Hyuk Suh and CEO of the World Kuk Sool Association, made his first visit to the Vermilion school. Suh was joined by Sa Bum Nim Hong, a fourth-degree black belt from Korea, with the visiting instructors spending Friday and Saturday and part of Sunday in Vermilion. The weekend marked the school’s first Kuk Sool Won seminar and the first

Young rodeo competitors were back in the saddle in Vermilion last week as the Little Cowpokes Junior Rodeo Association brought two days of competition to the Lakeland College Equine Centre. The rodeo was held August 20 and 21, giving young cowboys and cowgirls another opportunity to put their skills to the test while spending time with friends and families who share their love of rodeo. Little Cowpokes has long been about more than winning a buckle. The junior rodeo associati

Vermilion Town Council dealt with a full agenda during its regular meeting on Aug. 18, with discussions ranging from the Town’s financial position and cemetery fees to property tax penalties and the future of the Vermilion CN Station. One of the larger financial items before council came through the Town’s 2026 Second Quarter Financial Report. Council received the report for information but did not approve a proposal to distribute a negative balance of $2,953,893.06 in the Su

Vermilion and area youth had the opportunity to discover a different side of 4-H this week as the 4-H Alberta Intro Club Summer Sampler brought four afternoons of hands-on activities, creativity and learning to the community from August 17 to 20. Designed for youth ages nine to 15, Intro Clubs give participants an opportunity to experience 4-H without committing to a traditional year-long club. Following the 4-H motto, “Learn to Do By Doing,” the program allows youth to try n

Donations from our amazing communities continue to pour into the Vermilion Community Closet, giving the Community Closet the opportunity to give back. During the month of April donations were made to: ● VES Hot Lunch Program - $2000 ● Dewberry Early Childhood Parents Society - $1000 ● Assisted Living Alberta, Homecare - $1102.50 ● Vermilion Vipers Swim Club - $1000 The month of June saw the Closet give donations to: ● Vermilion Elks for renovation project - $1000 ● Focus DSS

Alberta Open Farm Days returned Aug. 15 and 16, opening the gates to farms and food-producing businesses across the province. The annual event gave visitors a chance to meet producers, walk through working farms and learn more about where their food came from. Locally, visitors experienced two very different sides of food production at Kross Farm near Mannville and during a cheesery tour in Vermilion. Kross Farm welcomed guests into its regenerative, no-till market garden, wh

This young girl was very happy to be the first one in her group to sit in the pilot seat with Pilot and Instructor Erwin Warkentin.. Photo Lorna Hamilton The skies may have remained calm on August 13, but excitement was soaring as the Vermilion River Flying Club welcomed children from Brighter Beginnings programs for an educational and interactive visit to the Vermilion Airport. The field trip was designed with the young visitors in mind, giving children between the ages of f

Kane McKnight from Lloydminster took the Bareback Buckle. Photo CHSR. The future of Canadian rodeo is looking pretty bright; judging by this year’s Canadian Junior High Rodeo Champions, there is plenty more talent coming up through the ranks. Young rodeo athletes from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, British Columbia and communities across the country came together for the 2026 Canadian Finals, where they put their skills, determination and plenty of hard work to the test. Wh