Family Day 2025: Time for family, friendship and fun!

February may be the coldest or second coldest month in Alberta ~ it competes for that record with January ~ but that’s no excuse to stay at home, just waiting for the shorter days and colder weather to disappear. Family Day is on Monday, February 17, and in a community that knows how to have […]

A new year that builds even stronger communities

“In 2025, can we commit to resolutions that improve our well-being and also cultivate stronger, healthier communities?” This year might be a bumpy time for those of us in Slave Lake and really right across Alberta and Canada. There are no signs that the high cost of living is going down. The threat of tariffs […]

What’s going on in the Slave Lake area this holiday season

(The Christmas Market above is at the Lakeview Sports Center in Wabasca.) Whatever our faith and beliefs, this time of year inspires us to celebrate all the good in the world and treat each other with kindness and respect as many of us enjoy the company of family and friends. And in the Slave Lake […]

Remembrance Day: A time to reflect on the invaluable contribution of our military

On November 11, we observe a moment of silence to recognize the sacrifice of those soldiers who died fighting to protect the values and freedoms we all enjoy in Canada. For the Vanderwell family, and for many families who have over the years escaped unrest and warfare in their home countries, Remembrance Day has always […]

Halloween is almost here. Let’s remember to be safe!

Many fun, spooky activities planned in the Slave Lake area! On Halloween, drivers always need to be extra vigilant watching for little ghosts and goblins on the streets who may be distracted looking for their next sugar rush. And all of us who have children should think about making costumes visible in the dark and […]

Truth and Reconciliation – September 30

In Canada, September 30 marks the national and provincial day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day. On this day, Canadians wear orange to recognize the ongoing intergenerational effects of residential schools and to acknowledge that “Every Child Matters”. At Vanderwell, we hope Truth and Reconciliation is a day when we all reflect on […]

National Forest Week – September 22 to 28, 2024

Time to celebrate our forests! For most people who live outside of Alberta, it may come as a surprise that more than 60% of our province is covered by forests. Besides the trees along the Rocky Mountains, vast areas of forests cover the west and northern parts of the province. September 22 to 28 is […]

What’s in store as fall approaches

August can be an odd month. While the warm summer temperatures are still here, change is just around the corner – the days are getting noticeably shorter, and some children are going back to school in the next week. At Vanderwell, we’ve recently completed a highly successful two-week maintenance shutdown, and in our summer reforestation […]

Simple reminders to make this summer a safe summer

Summer in the Slave Lake area is special. There’s lots to explore and outdoor fun waiting for everyone, regardless of age and ability. Along with all those fun outdoor activities comes the responsibility to be safe and watch out for each other. As we’ve discussed in previous website posts, safety is a big deal at […]

Time to celebrate summer!

While summer hasn’t officially arrived yet, in the Slave Lake area we have one big reason to start celebrating early — the wildfire danger has been LOW to MODERATE. For most of us in Alberta, the normal to well-above-normal precipitation levels in May came at the perfect time. The highest wildfire risk in our province […]