Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account Tuesday started out as any other regular day for Bryce and Sheilah Schutte smashing the glass front and damaging up to $100,000 worth of property and goods Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentThe couple say they are now in talks with insurance to cover the costs of setting up shop “It’s basically a drive-through now,” Bryce said Your weekday lunchtime roundup of curated links By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc The next issue of Noon News Roundup will soon be in your inbox Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Footage from the shop’s security cameras shows Bryce sitting at his desk at the back of the shop, while Sheilah and an employee sat at desks closer to the glass storefront. The car, a small Ford SUV, is seen driving right outside the store, as Sheilah chats to a customer about to leave. Moments after the customer leaves, the car swerves and drives into the store, shattering the glass front, eliciting a scream from Sheilah as she and the employee ran to the back of the store. “The wall fell in and actually hit (Sheilah) on the head and arm,” Bryce said. “But it was more a graze and so it hit her but didn’t hurt her.” Had Sheilah been just a foot over, she might have been underneath the pile of rubble, he added. “Luck, dumb luck, angels, I’ll take it all at this point,” he said. Bryce said he was pushed into the wall by all the desks shoved forward by the impact of the car, but said he was otherwise unharmed. The driver was an older woman who, at the time of the accident, had a medical condition, he said. She had attempted to reverse back out of the store, “despite all the debris at the top of her vehicle,” Bryce said, before the couple stopped her and let her know everyone was okay. “She said she was sorry and something about a health condition. She said she didn’t remember most of it,” he added. Minutes later, police, firemen and emergency medical personnel arrived on scene, with firefighters pulling the car out of the storefront. It all seemed to happen in a matter of seconds, Bryce said. “Just a blink of an eye and everything changes.” Community, customers and neighbours have reached out almost immediately, he said, with many asking if they needed help with anything. “Many have joked that my wife should buy a lottery ticket,” he said with a chuckle. But for now, the couple is still considering next steps. “We’ll look at relocating temporarily,” he said. “We also started the business in our basement, so maybe that’s where we’ll end up for the next couple of months.” transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy You can manage saved articles in your account CalgaryNews‘It was unbelievable’: Car crashes into Okotoks business leaving major mess, no injuriesBy Stephanie ThomasPublished: May 01, 2025 at 3:42PM EDT Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved \n Captured on camera: Vehicle crashes through Alta business\n No one was hurt when a driver crashed through a cellphone repair business in Okotoks (Credit: Bryce and Sheila Schutte)\n Foothills Philharmonic Vocal Jazz is a little group who has a lot of fun We are one of the several choirs that the Foothills Philharmonic Society has consisted of over the last 10 years We have performed concerts with the society's Chorus one of our dreams came true when we had the privilege of singing with FPS's Orchestra and Big Band!Our great love is singing at senior care homes - it is a true joy to have residents singing along with us whenever we're performing one of their favourite songs Our repertoire ranges from sassy jazz numbers such as Chicago's All That Jazz; an array of classic songs by the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and war songs sung in the Andrews Sisters style We also love to tackle jazz arrangements of classic pop and Pentatonix arrangements of Christmas songs and Beatles’ songs We'll jazz anything up if we're given the opportunity!Heather Haaland is our wonderful and talented director/accompanist/arranger Bring a picnic lunch and a blanket and join us for a free family-friendly concert at the Olde Town Plaza!*In the event of poor weather the event will move inside the art gallery Please note the following Town of Okotoks facility closures for Easter Weekend Municipal Centre and Operations Centre Closed April 18 & 21 RCMP/Municipal EnforcementClosed April 18 & 21 Okotoks Eco CentreClosed April 18 & 21 Okotoks Recreation Centre and Natural High Friday, April 18: Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. See activeokotoks.ca for drop-in times. Natural High: Closed Sunday, April 20: Normal Hours. Natural High: Closed Monday, April 21: Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. See activeokotoks.ca for drop-in times Viking Rentals Centre (Arenas)Friday, April 18: Walking track open 1 to 6 p.m.Sunday, April 20: Normal Hours.Monday, April 21: 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. See activeokotoks.ca for drop-in times.  Okotoks Art Gallery and Okotoks Museum & ArchivesClosed April 18 & 19 Okotoks Family Resource CentreClosed April 18 Big Rock Trail between Westland Road and Westland Street is expected to be closed from May 3 to 30 to complete deep utility connections road widening and pathway installation on the south side of the road The pathway on the north side of Big Rock Trail will also be closed during this time This work is being carried out on behalf of Tristar Communities the developer of the Tillotson subdivision Please watch for road and pathway closure signage crews and equipment and use caution in the area Thank you for your patience and cooperation The Town of Okotoks is committed to water sustainability and living within our means We all have a shared responsibility to conserve water and we are proud to be one of the lowest per-capita consumers of water in the country!  Even numbered homes can water on Tuesday and Friday Odd numbered homes can water on Monday and Thursday trees and shrubs with a container or hose with a manual trigger nozzle The Town of Okotoks is a recognized leader in sustainable water management. We've had a watering schedule in place since 2008 - when our population was just over 17,000. The watering schedule was made into a Water Bylaw to manage supply and demand and promote responsible sharing of a limited resource.  The latest version of our watering schedule was approved by Council on March 25 2024 to further increase water conservation efforts as we face the likelihood of an upcoming drought The main changes include watering on weekdays only and reduced daily watering time by one hour These changes help to reduce peak demand (on weekends) on our water system while still providing enough watering hours to keep your lawn healthy.  The watering schedule aligns with our five Water Conservation Stages outlined in the Water Bylaw becoming increasingly cautious in order to sustain water availability for our community’s essential use (e.g No new exemptions will be granted in Water Conservation Stages 4 or 5.  Applications are available May 1 to October 31 when the outdoor watering schedule is in effect Permits are processed within 1 business day at no charge.  Please apply for the permit before installing seed or sod: Click the button below to learn more about the project:Foothills Okotoks Regional Water Project *For the latest drought conditions from the Alberta Government, visit alberta.ca/drought-current-conditions Visit the Government of Alberta's website to learn more about the drought situation in our province The Town of Okotoks has systems and processes in place to effectively manage the water supply for our community’s essential use and to support current development. Our Water Allocation Policy manages quantity (licensing) All three of these have to work together to meet the needs of Okotokians.  Our Water Allocation Policy ensures that sufficient water license capacity is available before approving land use for new development The amount of water in the Sheep River is regulated by licenses issued by the Province of Alberta The Water Allocation Policy works to prevent us from exceeding the licensing capacity of the Sheep River the Town has purchased water licenses to facilitate growth increasing our overall water license portfolio by 45% from 2.8 million cubic meters to over 4 million cubic meters Learn more about our Water Allocation System & Policy Stage 3: Outdoor Watering Limited to 1 Day per Week Water Bylaw Fees, Rates and Charges Bylaw FinesMunicipal Enforcement enforces the Water Bylaw to ensure residents and businesses/institutions are in compliance The fines for not following the watering schedule range from $100—$2,500 Report Outdoor Watering ConcernsHave you noticed residents or businesses watering outside of their schedule Please fill out this form to notify the Town and we'll send over Conservation Educators to visit the resident or business and have a friendly chat about the watering schedule and its importance to our community Below are some resources to help reduce your water consumption and save you money Did you know that the Town does not actively monitor your individual daily water consumption but the new water meter portal allows you to do this yourself in real-time The new water portal also allows you to set up high water consumption alerts which will help you catch an undetected leak before your bill could potentially get very high.  Your new meter and transmitter uses radio frequency (RF) and innovative technology for more accurate billing reflecting real-time water consumption and providing more insight into your consumption habits The new modernized water infrastructure provides water customers with enhanced water conservation and leak detection information The Water Conservation Rebate program rewards residents for practicing responsible water use such as xeriscaping their yard; planting drought tolerant trees; using rain barrels and rainwater collection systems and more! Rebates for the 2024 program are offered from March 1 to December 15 All approved rebate items purchased from January 1 2024 onward that fall under the program requirements are eligible Find out which items qualify! Estimate your water bill using the Utility Bill Calculator This calculator will help keep track of your outdoor water consumption and the direct impact it may have on your next utility bill Since utility fees are directly linked to usage this is a great tool to help you save money We love this You Tube video from the City of Saskatoon that showcases when and how much to water lawns and how to know when your lawn needs watering Information on the use of sprinklers and timed irrigation systems our community has followed an outdoor watering schedule to manage supply and demand and promote responsible sharing of a limited resource It's part of our DNA to conserve water and the watering schedule will not go away - even when the Supplemental Water Solution (pipeline project) is complete Try using a watering timer that connects to your garden hose. You can even get a rebate! Learn more at okotoks.ca/water-rebate Potable Water: Water that is suitable for human consumption (i.e water that can be used for drinking or cooking) Non Potable Water: Water that is not treated to drinking water standards and is not meant for human consumption You can apply for a Water Exemption Permit which allows for additional watering days to promote root growth establishment of new turf. The Water Exemption Permit will only be issued when the Town is in Water Conservation Stages 1-3 of the Water Bylaw the Town waters sports fields 3-4 times per week depending on field bookings turf conditions (assessed weekly) and weather conditions The irrigation systems are broken down into zones that run for 15 to 20 minutes per zone all non-priority sports fields irrigated with potable water will be shut down Watering of priority sports fields will be reduced by 50% (focusing on maintaining safety) Priority fields are defined as any field that is booked several times a week and requires an increased amount of water to combat high traffic (soil compaction) and protect players' safety all sports fields that are irrigated with potable water will be shut down Sports fields that are irrigated with non potable water will remain open Sports fields that are irrigated with non potable water include: These types of activities are permitted while we are in Water Conservation Stages 1 - 3 they would not be permitted as these stages signify an escalation in water conservation measures and will will require the community's support to refrain from all non-essential outdoor water activities Moving to Stages 4 & 5 means that the situation is severe and a water shortage is imminent unless conservation measures are implemented Diamond Valley passed a Water Use and Conservation Bylaw in 2023.  D'Arcy and Crystal Ridge golf courses operate independently from the municipal water system each with its own water sources and licenses discussions are underway between the Town and the golf courses to explore various water conservation strategies.  These water trucks are using non-potable (untreated) water for dust control purposes CalgaryNewsLight Up Okotoks wins national event awardBy Michael FranklinPublished: May 01, 2025 at 8:59AM EDT Edmonton’s premier brass party band, The Brasstactics deliver only the tightest jams they guarantee you'll dance and sing along Throw your worries away and get down to The Brasstactics "Thursday Nights at the Plaza" is a family-friendly musical event series from 7 to 9 pm featuring a diverse lineup of performers and entertainers! This event is open to all ages it offers a unique mix of genres in the Olde Towne Plaza it's the perfect way to enjoy music with your family and friends in the heart of our community.  The Town's Transportation Master Plan identified 338 Avenue between Northridge Drive and Highway 2 will eventually require widening to four lanes This project will prepare the functional study of 338 Avenue from Northridge Drive to Highway 2 (see image below) It will further develop into a detailed concept design for 338 Avenue from Northridge Drive to 32 Street to support land development between Northridge Drive and 32 Street currently in process Developing these concept designs will provide critical information to the adjacent land developers for their design process Understanding the long-term vision for 338 Avenue will also ensure that interim designs minimize throwaway costs and that new infrastructure is installed in appropriate locations The purpose of this study is to develop and deliver a functional plan for an upgraded roadway corridor along 338 Avenue in the Town of Okotoks between Highway 2 and Northridge Drive (Highway 2A) that balances the emerging and future roles of this road within the 2025 - 2045 timeframe.  The functional plan is required to refine the ultimate road cross-section of 338 Avenue including the intersecting roads as well as considering the active transportation and emerging mobility trends a potential transition in the ultimate road cross-section from west to east to align with the changes in adjacent land development from residential to commercial industrial was reviewed in further detail and confirmed as part of the study See what we learned during the community engagement for this project by reviewing the the What We Heard Report by clicking the button below What We Heard Report To review the concept designs and more information that was shared at the open house in late 2023, please click the buttons below.Open House Boards 338 Avenue Landscape Concept   The Viking Rentals Centre (Events Hall) is a multi-purpose event venue that has meeting rooms and a 10,000 square-foot hall that can be divided into four smaller halls. The facility is a perfect venue to hold weddings a celebration of life, and various other functions The centre is also connected to the Arenas a leisure ice surface and three additional multi-purpose spaces that can be used for meetings corporate team-building professionals and photographers to meet your catering decoration and supply needs and who can help you create the experience you want for your guests.  Check out the Okotoks Business Directory for local businesses that meet your event planning needs.  Okotoks Business Directory  If you are hosting an event at The Viking Rentals Centre (Events Hall) with food and/or alcohol please visit the following websites to ensure all required permits you require are in place.  Plan an Event | Alberta Health Services  Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) Our kitchen is used by many groups for all kinds of food preparation Enjoy the comfort of working in a commercial kitchen with room and equipment to cater an event or prep food for up to 1,000 people: Our flexible space is designed to be flexible for a variety of configurations and needs we can customize the size and room layout to meet your unique needs.  Note: the senior's area is run independently by the Okotoks & District Seniors Club and is not bookable. To learn more about the Seniors Centre visit their website at okotoksseniors.ca Visit the Town Rates and Fees Bylaw to find out exactly what each room configuration costs Facility rental rates can be found on page 27 Price tags in larger centres can be a barrier to hosting events you can execute your event in a lovely setting parking shortages or multiple locations – we have it all at The Viking Rentals Centre (Events Hall) You don’t need to elope or head to the courthouse to get married within your budget We have hosted numerous weddings and our facility can be transformed into a chic cocktail party Our commercial kitchen is a chef’s dream come true or easily used for a staging area for cuisine brought in from an outside source At The Viking Rentals Centre (Events Space) we will work with you and within your budget to create a magical start to your life together We understand celebrating a life can be a difficult time – our staff have plenty of experience working alongside funeral homes and with families to ensure the honouring of loved ones goes smoothly. Our space can be used for advanced memorial planning or for those families who don’t have a plan but are in need of a service We can help connect you with the right services to take the stress out of planning so you can focus on celebrating your loved one the luncheons or a dinner and a dance – whatever the festivity The Viking Rentals Centre (Events Space) is a perfect venue to host your exceptional event without breaking the bank on the venue celebrating corporate achievements and gathering offsite for strategy and planning sessions are critical components of success for any organization Don’t hunker down in the same conference room and expect different results Our flexible space can be transformed into a banquet hall an amazing tradeshow space and inspirational think space or even a prison cell that must be escaped Need more space or looking for a venue that can facilitate your sports needs as well The The Viking Rentals Centre (Events Space) is connected to the Arenas which is a year- round multi-use facility that plays host to a variety of competitive and recreational hockey, figure skating a leisure ice surface and 3 additional meeting rooms the Arenas can provide additional capacity and amenities in a convenient location - right next door We strive to provide a first class event facility in comfort and functionality for all your event needs.  The 2022-2025 Town of Okotoks Strategic Plan was approved by Council on September 26 2022 and provides Council’s strategic priorities for Okotoks over the next four years This plan was developed in consultation with residents and reflects Council's commitment to deliver services that are in the best interest of Okotoks' citizens today and citizens of tomorrow Administration uses this information to plan and prioritize initiatives in the Corporate Business Plan and to inform the proposed budget 2022-2025 Town of Okotoks Strategic Plan The Corporate Business Plan bridges the high-level results outlined in Council’s Strategic Plan the Municipal Development Plan and the organization’s master plans and frameworks with the short- to medium-term strategic and improvement initiatives of the organization While the long-range and strategic plans establish priorities for the Town the Corporate Business Plan provides clarity and further detail on the project work taking place that addresses priorities it can impact within the timeline and resources available to the organization 2025-2028 Corporate Business Plan 2024-2027 Corporate Business Plan2023-2026 Corporate Business Plan Twice a year the Corporate Progress Report reports on the progress on the Corporate Business Plan.  It provides the opportunity for Council to review progress on priorities and service level performance for the municipality where applicable Corporate Progress Report - July-Dec 2024 Corporate Progress Report - June 2024 Corporate Progress Report - December 2023 Corporate Progress Report - June 2023 Corporate Progress Report - December 2022 Corporate Progress Report - September 2022 The following diagram shows how various plans including the Strategic Plan and the Corporate Business Plan Each strategic plan determines the strategic direction for Okotoks for a 4-year Council term Town Administration monitors progress towards meeting the strategic goals and provides regular progress reports to Council throughout the year transparency and understanding of both the strategic goals Council and Administration’s regular review allows us to evaluate how we are performing towards our strategic goals and to make adjustments as necessary to realign for success The Town of Okotoks Strategic Plan (2018-2021) establishes the Corporation’s strategic direction for the four-year elected term of Town Council It describes the areas on which Council will focus and provides specific directions to Administration on what is important to Council for the continuous improvement of our community This Plan sets out the Corporation’s key result areas and initiatives The Strategic Plan directs the priority activities and services of the Corporation and guides our community towards a promising future as a great place to live and work The Town of Okotoks has operated under the direction of Council approved strategic business plans for the past 15 years.  The plans are based on Council’s priorities and reflect input from residents and businesses through community surveys public feedback during the election process and other public participation activities With the Town of Okotoks 2018-2021 Strategic Plan coming to a close this presents us with the opportunity to look back at what has been accomplished what we are working on and what has been put on hold to focus the organization with ongoing change and new opportunities since the plan was first implemented To reflect opportunities and needs of the community Council reviewed and reprioritized the plan yearly When Council reviewed priorities in early 2020 they added Affordable Housing and the Art and Learning Campus initiatives to the strategic plan Since the final 2018-2021 Strategic Plan was approved by Council in May 2018 there have been many initiatives completed The following pages sorted by each Strategic Area provides some of the key accomplishments achieved through the plan Read the Report The final progress report was released in August 2021 Read the Report Read the Report We are excited to host the third annual Indigenous Artisan Market “Iitohpoom’op,” (Blackfoot word for store) the market will include more than 65 Indigenous First Nation and Métis artists and creators from across the country selling their unique crafts and art All sale proceeds go directly to the Indigenous artists and creators  The Indigenous Artisan Market & Tipi Camp are part of the Town’s commitment to advancing Truth and Reconciliation and create opportunity to celebrate Indigenous culture identity and art – just in time for National Indigenous People's History Month which runs throughout June. The Market and Tipi Camp are open to the public to attend and food will be available for purchase onsite Find the full schedule of events at the link below.  Schedule of Events  We will be commemorating National Indigenous Peoples History Month with our 3rd annual all-Indigenous Artisan Market “Iitohpoom’op" (store) We are currently seeking Indigenous vendors to take part in the market The market will take place inside the Okotoks Recreation Centre (ORC - 99 Okotoks Drive) in the Curling Rink non-refundable charge to participate as a vendor and payment is due upon registration to secure your booth.  AB: The Town of Okotoks is proud to once again be recognized for excellence in financial reporting receiving the Canadian Award for Financial Reporting (CAnFR) from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of the United States and Canada for its 2023 Annual Report This marks the fifth year in a row that the Town of Okotoks has earned the award which reflects the Town’s ongoing commitment to high standards in financial reporting and public accountability. The CAnFR Program encourages Canadian municipalities to publish high-quality financial reports and provides professional recognition and guidance to those involved in preparing them Earning this award is considered a significant accomplishment for any government organization and its management team municipalities must go beyond the basic requirements of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) as set by the Public Sector Accounting Board of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants.  The 2024 Annual Report will also be prepared in alignment with GFOA standards and will incorporate feedback received from previous submissions It will also be submitted for consideration for another Canadian Award for Financial Reporting later this year.  "The Annual Report is one of the key ways the Town educates the community about our financial operations We are proud to provide financial reporting that not only meets This commitment to transparency and accountability reflects our dedication to strong local governance." – Ralph Ettenauer “The Annual Report is one of the most important ways we communicate transparently with our community about the Town’s strategic priorities we refine the report to reflect evolving expectations from both Council and residents Receiving national recognition for our 2023 Annual Report reinforces our ongoing commitment to strong local governance and clear Photo of CAnFR award and recipients (L to R: Councillor Ken Heemeryck Councillor Oliver Hallmark; Mayor Tanya Thorn