Getting close now, folks! It’s not too late to plan to join us on a road trip to Metis Crossing, the first major cultural interpretive center in Alberta. It’s located in Smoky Lake, about 4 ½ hours northeast of Calgary.

We’ll carpool from St. Thomas, leaving at about 8:30 am on Friday September 22. Paul Bercier from the congregation has suggested we stop for lunch in Fort Saskatchewan (3 hours away). Once we arrive at Metis Crossing and get settled, a guided experience is planned for 3 pm, called “Meet the Metis” (about 1 hour long). Dinner (bison stew, bannock, 2 salads & a dessert) will be served at 6 pm, and a fire pit will be available for us at 8 pm.

Saturday will begin with a hot breakfast at 8 am. Our second guided experience is a “Wildlife & Solar Field Tour” at 10 am (1 ½ hours long). Lunch (soup, salad, & sandwich) is available at noon. You’re welcome to either head for home at this point or perhaps explore the area a little more: the Victoria Settlement Provincial Historic Site is just a few minutes (10 km) away.

Here’s an idea of the costs (thanks to Paul who negotiated a 20% discount for our group!)  Breakfast & lunch are about $20 each, dinner is $28; a service charge of 18% applies to food & beverages. The firepit is $24 shared between all of us. Lodge rooms (2 twin beds) are $180 shared between 2 people. (RV sites are also available). Experiences are $24 and $48.80 respectively per person. The lodge will bill me for the total rather than charging individual participants; please reimburse me by either cheque or e-transfer.

Visiting Metis Crossing is an opportunity to be outside and it’s located beside the North Saskatchewan River. Please consider bringing with you: good footwear that may get wet, sunscreen, bug spray, a water bottle, a hat, and sunglasses. Dress in layers and dress for the weather. Questions? Please contact Elaine Gray, email sarahegray@telus.net; 403-286-6687.

Metis Crossing website is metiscrossing.com.