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Oyen
Phot
o C
our
t
esy C
anadian B
Ken Gousseau The people of Oyen have generously
Medicine Hat News
adlands Initia
opened their homes to the pipeline workers,
Wilson says, with some residents providing
Oyen’s economic prospects appeared rather
accommodations for up to six employees at
grim in the early 20th century after the
a time.
Bow Island
tiv
e
Palliser Report concluded the area was
Although Oyen has a strong oil and gas
unsuitable for growing grain.
service sector, agriculture is still the town’s
Ken Gousseau “A new person is only a stranger until you
Medicine Hat News talk to them, then they become a friend,”
Settlers still flocked to the area now known
main economic base, with 650 farm families
says Mayor Alan Hyland. “I think Bow
as Oyen shortly after the railway arrived
on 1.8 million acres producing a variety
in the fall of 1912 and since then the town
of grains, including wheat, barley, rye, in
The larger-than-life statue of Pinto Macbean,
Island has a bright future and a lot of that is
has prospered from a robust energy sector
addition to raising beef cattle and hogs.
the googly-eyed legume who waves to
due to the attitude of the people there.”
passersby in Bow Island encapsulates two Bow Island residents enjoy a vibrant cultural
that has fueled employment and economic
The town continues to grow, with an
fundamental facets of life in the small scene that includes the widely popular Blues
activity in the community.
estimated $11-million expansion to
southeastern Alberta community. at the Bow concert series featuring national
As many as 600 workers come to Oyen
the Oyen Seniors Lodge scheduled for
Firstly, Bow Island is a bean town. The
and international artists.
to work on multimillion-dollar pipeline
completion in June 2009. The expansion
community’s dry edible bean industry alone Another popular event is the annual Bow
projects in the area, which provides a major
will add two storeys to the building with a
contributes as much as $10 million per year Island Children’s Festival, held every
boost to businesses in the town of slightly
total of 42 rooms.
to the southeastern Alberta economy. Father’s Day. The free festival attracts about
over 1,000 residents.
“It’s coming along really well,” Wilson says. Nevertheless, the 110,000 acres of highly
1,500 visitors each year and features a
“We’ve never had a traffic jam in Oyen,
“The seniors are quite excited about it.” developed, irrigated land surrounding the
variety of performers and activities such as
craft making.
but we do now in the morning. You can’t
Deputy mayor Doug Lehman and councillors
community, combined with the longest
get out on the highway,” says Mayor Wayne
growing season in the province, provide Seven councillors sit alongside Hyland on
Darrow Tye, Manfred Schroeder, Tom Van
Wilson.
the perfect conditions for a wide variety of Bow Island Town Council – Dennis Knapik,
Otterloo, Lois Bedwell, Vicki Christianson
other crops that fuel the town's burgeoning Dale Meier, Vern Beck, John Brocklesby,
“The restaurants are busy. It’s a pretty big
sit on Oyen’s town council.
agri-processing sector. Gordon Reynolds, Nan MacLean and town
impact.”
Another integral aspect of Bow Island,
manager Anna-Marie Bridge.
captured in Pinto Macbean’s friendly Bow Island’s business sector has been
demeanor, is the community spirit that growing over the years, Hyland says, and
courses throughout the town, and the has felt few negative impacts as a result of
welcoming nature of the town’s 2,000 the current global economic crisis.
residents.
Several projects were underway in Bow
2009 Events For The Town of Oyen
Island last year, including an 18-lot
June - September - Farmer’s Markets (Every Friday)
portion of a subdivision in the town’s
west end that was completed in late
June 2009 •4 man Scramble Golf Tournament ....... 15
November. A $5.3-million expansion
•Ladies Open Golf Tournament ............ 6 •U Night the Nite Bed Race................... 27
of the Bow Island Health Centre is also
•Empress Artisans Open House .......... 6-7 September 2009 scheduled for completion in May 2009.
•Bindloss Family Sports Day ................ 6 •3 Lady scramble golf tournament ........ 3
The expansion will add nearly 6,000
•Studio 9-41 Art show .......................... 7 •3 Man scramble golf tournament ......... 12
square feet of ambulance, outpatient
•Citizen of the Year Banquet ................. 13 •Ducks unlimited banquet...................... 26
and emergency services space to the
•Buffalo Rodeo ..................................... 20 October 2009
facility.
Photo Courtesy Canadian Badlands Initiative
•Hogan-Pratt Memorial •Ironperson 27 hole golf tournament..... 4
Golf Tournament ................................... 20 •Acadia Valley sausage fry.................... 10
•Acadia Valley annual turkey shoot ....... 11
July 2009
DARYL ESAU
•Oyen Canada Day Celebrations ......... 1 November 2009
•Show and Shine car show .................. 18 •Buffalo Fall Turkey Supper ................... 3
Phone: (403)545-6550
•Oyen Professional Bull a rama ........... 22 •Legion Mini fair .................................... 20
Cell: (403)952-4949
•Mens Open Golf Tournament .............. 26 •Buffalo Wild Game Supper ................. 21
Fax: (403)545-6540
email:
daryl@jadehomes.ca
August 2009 December 2009
Hwy #3, Box 629
•Cereal Bull a rama ............................... 5 •New Brigden New Years Surf & Turf ... 31
Bow Island, AB
•Oilmens Golf Tournament .................... 8 •Acadia Valley New Years Bash............. 31
T0K 0G0
•Open All Class Horse Show ............... 8
Town of Oyen
Custom Built
403-664-3511
Ready-To-Move Homes
40267629•03/24/09 40267660•03/24/09
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