By Amy & Erica Trenson
From July 9 to 17 the East Ponoka Beef, Central Ponoka Beef and Rimbey 4-H Clubs hosted 15 4-H members and two adult chaperones from Lanark County, Ontario.
To welcome our Ontario counterparts we had a barbecue lunch and social at Gartners’. While the delegates were in Alberta we showed them around West Edmonton Mall, Drumheller, and spent a full day at Calgary Stampede and grandstand show.
We then went camping to the David Thompson Resort and toured around Banff observing the breathtaking scenery at Peyto Lake, hiking at Lake Louise, riding the gondola and soaking in the hot springs. The week went very fast and before we knew it we were having our send-off breakfast and saying our “Can’t wait to see you in August” goodbyes.
Alberta delegates flew to Ontario from Aug. 18 to 26 and while in Lanark County delegates witnessed a Plowing Club achievement day, which was very different from our Alberta projects.
The group travelled by bus to Montreal viewing the Olympic Tower, Biodome, Insectarium and a remarkable boat bus tour, as well as taking in the streets of Old Montreal. We took a train tour of Upper Canada Village, and visited Fulton’s Pancake House to see how maple sap is transformed into maple products and of course tasted the maple syrup on pancakes, where Ontario 4-H members also showed their counterparts how to square dance.
While a trip was planned to tour the Parliament Buildings it was cancelled due to Opposition leader Jack Layton’s death, so instead members got to pay their respects to Mr. Layton by laying flowers and viewing his casket. After the paying respects at Parliament Hill they toured the Ottawa Market and honed their co-operation and team building skills while dragon boating.
With the hot weather, a swimming and pizza farewell party was in order before the Alberta delegates departed.
While the week went so fast many memories and friendships will last for a lifetime.