Happy Canada Day

The 152nd Canada Day (formerly Dominion Day) was a blast. The Chronicle family was on the road of the Royal Line down to the Village of Rosemary for the annual festivities. This year saw the fun of the bubble people on water, pickle ball, air brush tattoos, food trucks, the 30th Rosemary School Reunion, Gem MB Youth fundraising, bungee seat, Beach Volley Ball Tournament, Mobile Escape Room (sorry need to catch our breath)…. oh and it kicked off with a pancake breakfast, a Parade (10 a.m.)-where you will note first responders from Patricia, Duchess and Rosemary— with many vintage and fancy cars in the Show & Shine along main street that followed, oh and a pop-up market of vendors.

Whew! Poppa and Grandma met us from Countess for a picnic in the midst of the fun. This evening there will be fireworks at dusk if you are in the area!

As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words…so I leave you with a photo montage of a great day!

Canada Day

A week away from what once was known as “Dominion Day”. It was the celebration of the creation of the Dominion of Canada, by The British North America Act, July 1, 1867. In 1879 the day became and official holiday. On Oct. 27, 1982 it was renamed to the now familiar Canada Day.

This Canada Day, come down the Royal Line and celebrate with the neighbours in Rosemary:

Parade is 10 a.m. not 10:30 a.m.

Soul Ripples: Celebrate 80 Years of Countess Bible School

The purpose of a prairie Bible School was to equip preachers, lay leaders and teachers to disciple the church members. That is to undertake the journey to Understand the old, old stories and what it means for today’s life.

To celebrate 80th anniversary of the Countess Bible School, a special memoir is being published as a pastor seeks to understand his own and his family’s journey in things spiritual and mental health:

coverSoul Ripples 

Written by Tyler Ragan, Psy. D 

Bookstand Publishing, 2019 

There were simple values passed down through the generations of the Ragan family. Basically, it was being neighbourly, whether it came from a religious or non-religious point of view. Throughout the generations’ decisions were made whether to suppress the bad, deal with it, or embrace love and the good. It was the stories shared, some hidden, and when unburied brought healing. 

It was in this life that the formal Christian Formation of Ty Ragan happened at his godparents’ church, Centennial Presbyterian, through their Vacation Bible School. These summers accentuated the already ingrained formation of loving your neighbour as yourself.  

Ty, spent a lifetime attempting to answer the question, as many formed in social gospel framework, “Who is my neighbour?” through journalism, teaching, church ministry, addictions work, outreaching to those being trafficked sexually, rough campers, those in homeless shelters, dementia wards, youth correction centres, affordable housing and everything in between. It was answering the question of who the neighbour is, and how to love them that drove his life’s vocation. 

Until May 2014 innocuous hand tremor led him to a doctor who told him to drink more water. By 2016 mysterious micro-strokes and seizures would occur. On his 39th birthday in 2017 a reign of mental destruction of high double-digit mystery seizures, failing memory, tremoring body and mystery vomiting would take him out of his vocation in October 2017, as he would simply weep “I can’t”. 

The journey would lead him to centre on a new question, the first part of the second love command, love yourself or more directly: 

Where does the helper go when they need help? 

Soul Ripples is his family’s story of laughter, love, tears, pain, loss, addiction, mental health, violence, community, friends, grieving and the steps towards healing. Learn a new way of experiencing life. That’s right, the faithful servant discovering what it means to experience life with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and the living into the Wilderness to find healing. It is a story for not only individuals but churches that shows we are not alone, we are not independent, we are truly an interdependent people. Created by the Holy on the 6th day poetically, called blessed and Very Good. Discover the Soul Ripples. 

Order here.

Another round of are you smarter than a grade schooler?

It is the unending challenge, and great family fun. Take a look at the pictures of some of the artifacts on-site.

  1. Can you guess what they are?
  2. Share the process you took to come to that conclusion.
  3. Share with your family, kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews and great grandkids…what do they see?

It’s not only fun, it’s a time to be with family, and discover how to constructively use the scientific method (seen in Alberta schools thanks to Countess, Alberta).

 

Celebrating 80 years

Today is the first Sunday of Lent. A time of journeying in the wilderness, diving deeper to discover who you truly are in community. In Countess, AB we have always had a strong sense of community, helping out our neighbour, and learning as we go.

This October 2019 to March 2020 will mark the 80th Anniversary of the Countess Bible School. Bible School’s were designed to equip church members, itinerant pastors/teachers/preachers on their faith and spiritual development. It is unique that such a thing existed, and we intend to honour this idea with a 21st Century upgrade.

Soul Ripples

Is the journey inward of discovery on the way to healing. It is a story that spans generations of a family in exploring how mental health, and personal choices to heal have shaped each generation. It is about how one experiences the world, in that experience learns to understand that which we call soul. It is not a journey of being understood for the writer, rather, it is a journey to understand himself and his family and what it all means. It is a winding road through Canada, Alberta, involves Super Heroes, the CIA, outreach, church ministry, and answering the question, who is my neighbour? And how do I love them, as I love myself. Can I love myself.

More to come on release date, for this special learning opportunity of memoir for all those seeking to understand, and perhaps, love themselves just a little bit better and more.

Spring Ahead Before Bed

Image result for daylight savings timeYup, the great wish did not happen, the ridiculousness of time change twice a year did not evaporate as the Government promised. We are still trapped in the weird cycle. Many myths circulate as to why this exists. In World War II England was on a double daily light savings time in a placebo attempt to pacify citizens during the Blitzkrieg. In Canada we use ideas around light for bringing crops in (yet one prairie province, Saskatchewan does not move time. Hmmm…).

So why?

The first recorded instance of time change in from Port Arthur, Ontario in 1908. Many others would catch on before the end of World War I in 1918. By the 1960’s those that participated in Canada would try to synchronize the change with other province and the United States of America. It became more fully formalized with Alberta moving to the exact timing the USA uses in 2006.

It is proven that the changing time does play havoc on the human system, yet we still participate in March and November moving our clocks. Does it truly give more daylight later in the day? Or make the mornings darker? Does it help with the Agriculture sector? In the towns and cities shouldn’t we just get street lights that work properly?

It is up to you where you fall on the debate, keep or boot (let us know in the comments). For the church goers as we spring ahead at 2 a.m. Sunday, a bit of Sunday funnies for you:

Image may contain: 1 person, text

Have your own Hamlet Home!

CP Rail had pre-fabricated ready to build homes for those who settled the royal line. Our little blue house tells the tale on the longevity of these builds. But it is not the only way you can be a part of community history and creation!

We welcome you to Hamlet Homes 2.0 thanks to Cabin Sales eh! At Countess, Alberta you can purchase your own log cabin kit starting from $10,500.

KONICA MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERA
KONICA MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERA
KONICA MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERA
KONICA MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERA

C’mon down and wander around taking a look at our Hamlet Homes 2.0 that are already stacked (and ready for a retail opportunity).

What’s that? You want to continue the authentic look once your cabin is stacked, or just have a kitchen throwback to a time of great music? We got you covered on that too:

If you are interested contact:

Wayne or Sherry

403-701-0775

countesstory@yahoo.ca

Hamlet Homes

Anyone curious in the history of retail in Canada knows about the Roebuck Sears Catalogues, and that yes, there was a time when you could even order a whole house through them (some assembly required). The kit would arrive with everything you needed to assemble and be able to habitat within. One has to wonder if CP Rail copied, or if Sears learned from them in this instance.

As we have discussed in previous articles the settling of the Royal Line being driven by the railway. Not only driven, but many towns and hamlets named after investors and dignitaries associated with CP Rail. CP Rail would work with the government for immigration for needed workers and settlers (from Wales, Russian Mennonites, Mormons, etc.), but to be able to build hamlets, farm and live…well one needed houses.

original cpr house plans
Original CPR House Plans

A CP Rail house still stands in Countess, it has undergone some renovations and tweaking over the decades from the original floor plan.

Take a look at the slideshow at the end of the article for how history has been re-imagined for living today.

 

 

 

 

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