The Domes of Lamont County

I’m not a regular church-goer, but I do appreciate ecclesiastical architecture. And there is a lot to appreciate on the Lamont County Church Tour.

Lamont County’s 47 churches add up to more churches per capita than anywhere else in North America. Denominations include Russo-Greek Orthodox, Lutheran, Moravian, Ukrainian Catholic, Ukrainian Orthodox, United, and Roman Catholic.

On the first weekend in June, many of the churches open their doors to allow the public a glimpse of the artistry within. From the architecture to the ornately-decorated interiors, there is much to admire.

The Ukrainian churches with their onion-shaped domes and elaborate interiors are my favourites. The walls and domes are often painted with icons and other religious decorations and a church’s intricate iconostasis is a work of art in itself. If you’ve never seen an iconostasis, you won’t believe the craftsmanship (see photos at the end of the post). Some churches have beautiful stained glass windows and enormous chandeliers that are unexpected elements in a country church. Many of the Ukrainian churches have bell towers separate from their church building. If you ask, you might be able to ring the church bells.

Volunteers are happy to tell you stories about their congregations, their churches and the symbolism and rituals of their religions.

Download a map of the participating churches and a brochure describing all the churches in Lamont County and hit the road on June 5 and 6 to explore the domes of Lamont County.

More photos of Lamont County churches can be found in the sidebar on the right side of the page.

Take Off to Cold Lake for Maple Flag

If you’ve ever imagined yourself as a fighter pilot, you have to go to Cold Lake during Maple Flag.

Maple Flag is an air combat exercise held annually at 4 Wing Cold Lake Canadian Air Force Base. Air forces from around the world converge at the base to participate in simulated air combat training, reconnaissance and air support operations.

Although Maple Flag is a military exercise, for one day the public is given access to get an up close look at some of the fighter jets and transport planes and talk to the pilots, mechanics and support personnel.

My friends and I walked through the cavernous interiors of Hercules transport planes from New Zealand and France and marveled at the complexity of the cockpit controls.

We stood beside a 1000 pound bomb as an armament specialist explained the difference between smart and dumb bombs and I got to see AMRAAM and Sidewinder missiles that I’ve previously only heard about in movies or on the news.

By far the coolest part of the day was sitting in the cockpit of a Royal Netherlands Air Force fighter jet. I’ve never seen so many buttons and switches in such a tiny space. It’s also a very tight squeeze getting in and out.

If you’re interested in planes or just want to do something out of the ordinary, take advantage of the opportunity to get up close to military aircraft you wouldn’t normally be able to get anywhere near.

Off to the Races: Horse Racing in Edmonton

What can you expect when you attend an afternoon of thoroughbred racing at Northlands Park? A little bit of excitement and a lot of atmosphere.

The Races
An afternoon of racing at Northlands Park usually consists of 10 races. You can watch the races from the outdoor grandstand, indoor seating or down by the rails at track level. “Down by the rail you can really appreciate the power and speed of the horses,” says my friend Terry, who enjoys attending the races at Northlands. “You can feel the vibration of the hooves pounding as the horses go past and it adds to the excitement.”

Betting
Betting on the races is an integral part of the action. For people serious about betting, racing forms give background on each horse such as performance record and jockey. Tip sheets prepared by professional handicappers are also available and list their top picks. Alberta’s racing website provides tips on types of bets and how to handicap (pick your horse).

Off Track Action
In between races there’s a lot going on. Spectators can visit the paddock to scope out the horses for the next race, get something to eat from the many restaurants, or watch races broadcast from other racing venues.

Atmosphere
Terry and his wife Megan love the atmosphere. “On a nice day there’s nothing like sitting in the stands, having a beer and hotdog, and enjoying a little excitement,” says Terry.

Whether you like the action or the atmosphere, I bet you’ll have fun checking out the horse races at Edmonton’s Northlands Park.

This weekend was the start of the thoroughbred racing season at Northlands Park in Edmonton. The Rocky Mountain Turf Club in Lethbridge, Evergreen Park in Grand Prairie and Alberta Downs in Lacombe also host thoroughbred events.

Mix it Up in Calgary's Inglewood Shopping District

Just like fusion cuisine pairs ingredients from distinct cultures to create new dishes, Calgary’s Inglewood neighborhood blends very different restaurants, shops and art galleries into an experience with a unique flavour.

In Inglewood, trendy clothing and furniture stores like Adorn Accessory Boutique and Circa mix with Crown Army Surplus and Olivier’s Candies. Restaurants like the Inglewood Drive In and the Harley Diner are at home beside upscale dining establishments like Capo and Rouge.

Even the stores themselves blend functions. DaDe is part art gallery and part furniture store. Jacqueline Suzanne’s Bistro and Antiquities and Serendipity Café and Home Decor bill themselves as dining/decor combos where you can have a bite to eat and scope out house wares to buy.

Located just south of the Calgary Zoo and mere minutes east of downtown, Inglewood also has bookstores, music venues and tattoo parlours among many other businesses.

So next time you want to mix it up, head to Inglewood.

My Inglewood Top Picks
Savour Fine Foods and Kitchenware
Arts on Atlantic Art Gallery
Choklat
Junktiques

Oil City Derby Girls Rock...and Roll

Chicks wearing fishnet stockings, roller skates and elbow pads can mean only one thing… roller derby.

Edmonton’s Oil City Derby Girls deliver mix-em-up action with bad-ass attitude. From the minute you hear the pounding music as you walk through the front door you know you’re in for a raucous good time. And when you see the skaters bumping and grinding their way around the track, you can’t help but get drawn in to the action.

Even if you don’t fully understand roller derby rules you’ll still have a good time watching the teams battle it out. And you have to like a sport where competitors are required to show off their “don’t mess with me attitude” through names like Dizz Aster, Bamm Bamm, and Lethal Lyn Jection.

The following video was taken from the “suicide seating” section of the venue. Enjoy!

Upcoming Oil City Derby Girls home games are June 12, August 14, September 18, October 16, and November 20.

Other Alberta teams that belong to the Canadian Women’s Flat Track Roller Derby Association:

• Edmonton's E-Ville Roller Derby
• Calgary Roller Derby Association
• Red Deer Belladonnas
• Medicine Hat's Gas City Rollers
• Wetaskiwin Rez City Rollerz are just getting established.