Several of High River's writers and storytellers gathered at a local business on Saturday (Aug. 17) to hear the results of an essay writing contest.
The "High River - Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow" essay contest was organized by Bishop's Crossing Pharmacy & Travel Clinic, and called for High Riverites to submit essays on what they love about their town, how they came to be there, and how they want to see it develop.
Owner of Bishop's Crossing Pharmacy, Alaba Ojapinwa, explains where the idea for the contest came from.
"At the pharmacy, every day we listen to stories. There's a story behind every prescription, we connect with those stories. Since we've been here, we've been here for about four years, we've wanted to hear all those stories. Individual stories, the stories of the town. We thought of an efficient way to do that, and we threw out an essay writing competition."
The contest was announced in late June, and while entries trickled in at first, by the time the July deadline arrived, around 30 essays had been submitted.
A panel of three judges (John Barlow, Bill Holmes Sr., and Judy McMillian-Evans) deliberated and awarded first, second, and third place honours, with five honourable mentions.
The winners received cash prizes of $1,000, $500, and $250 respectively, with five others receiving consolation prizes.
Many of the writers who submitted essays to the contest gathered for the announcement and prize presentation on the weekend, which also included a barbecue, games, and a visit from the High River Fire Department.
The first, second, and third honours were given to Lee Say Lor, Dominique Murphy, and Shelly Vold, respectively.
Vold explains the inspiration behind her essay, which came from her move to High River five years ago after about 40 years in Okotoks.
"What I found was a community so full of diverse and welcoming people and the opportunity to celebrate many different communities, many different opportunities, and many different lifestyles, and I really enjoy it."
Murphy, a teacher at Notre Dame Collegiate, first came to High River for what was supposed to be an early and brief step in her career.
"I thought 'If I can just get out there and teach for a year, I'll move back to Saskatchewan and that's where I'' live with my family forever,' and I didn't want to leave after a year. There was no reason for me to leave. This town is incredible, it's beautiful. The people are so amazing and they support each other. I just fell in love with the town. Here I am 22 years later and I don't want to be anywhere else," says Murphy.
Say Lor's essay recalls her move to High River from Ontario's Niagara region two years ago. She describes her initial resistance to her husband's decision to move to Alberta and her despair at having to leave behind the vast greenery, the view of the Falls, and the rainbows that were always visible in their spray.
It wasn't until a few months after their move out west, writes Say Lor, that her love of High River and Alberta started to bloom. She recalls an evening in September when she watched a rainbow slowly form on the horizon, followed by another right next to the first.
The double rainbow occurrence gave way to Say Lor finding beauty in Alberta's expansive plains, diverse wildlife, and the unobstructed view of the night sky. She also found joy in local traditions like the balloon festival and summer rodeos, and comfort in the fact that the nature she so adored in Ontario is only ever a short drive away.
"In High River, I discovered wildflowers - little plants I never take notice of in Niagara Falls. Of the many things I have learned here, what the wildflowers have taught me are the most precious. They have taught me to look closely and that by looking closely, we see and we learn. We see beauty - that it need not be conspicuous and showy; beauty can be quiet, unassuming and diminutive. We learn about resilience, and the ability to grow under difficult conditions; to rise up despite being trampled on. When you get down close to look at wildflowers, they speak to you. This is what they tell me - you do not need much to thrive. Indeed I truly believe that and thrive I shall in this small town, estimated population 14,780 (plus 2), that I now call home," her essay partially reads.
To Ojapinwa, everyone who submitted an essay is a winner for taking it upon themselves to participate in this kind of initiative and sharing a part of themselves.
"By listening to one another's stories, that's where we learn, we get inspired, we reflect on things, we improve, and we move forward, hopefully in a positive direction."