HINTON

Christmas Craft Drop-In

The Guild is inviting everyone to come  join them to celebrate the holiday season, make crafts, and enjoy some seasonal music. Bring goodies to share. Admission is free with the donation of a non-perishable food item for the Hinton Food Bank. The drop-in runs on Friday, Dec. 2 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at The Guild, 821 Switzer Dr.

Pet photos with Santa

The Hinton and District SPCA invites pet owners to bring their furry friends for photos with Santa at the Parks West Mall on Saturday, Dec. 3 from noon to 4 p.m. Pets can be brought through the mall’s main entrance. Volunteers will escort pets and their owners to and from Santa. There is a fee for the photos, with all proceeds going to the SPCA.

BRIDGES Christmas dinner

The annual Christmas dinner for BRIDGES clients and supporters takes place on Tuesday, Dec. 13 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the BRIDGES storefront in the mall, next to Rexall Drugs. Please RSVP one week prior to the dinner. Contact Judith Staples at 780-865-4464 for more information.

VALEMOUNT

Make your own Christmas decorations

The Valemount Learning Centre is offering a course for the holidays. Learn how to make Christmas decorations to display indoors or outside. Supplies, including lights, are included. Participants are just asked to bring an old basket, which they can take home at the end of the class looking like a professionally made Christmas decoration. There is a fee for the course, which begins at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3. Call 250-566-4601 or email frontdesk@valemountlearningcentre.org for more information.

Free basic computer help

One-on-one help with computers is available for adults at the Valemount Public Library on Wednesdays from 4 to 5 p.m. and on Fridays from 10 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 2 p.m. Sign up in advance at the library.

Doc Walker

The “hardest working country band in Canada” is set to hit Valemount on Dec. 14, but if you haven’t got your tickets already you’re likely out of luck. The show is sold out.

Late Night Shopping

Valemount’s “Late Night Shopping Extravaganza” is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 9. The event is sponsored by the Valemount and Area Chamber of Commerce with various local businesses participating. For more information call Maurice at 250-566-9869.

McBRIDE

Festival of Lights

The McBride and District Chamber of Commerce will host the Festival of Lights and Late Night Shopping event on Dec. 2, kicking off at 6 p.m. with the Santa Claus Parade.

All participants are welcome in the parade, they are just asked to be at the starting point at Robson Centre before 6 p.m. Call 250-569-3366 to let Santa know you’re coming and enjoy some free hot chocolate from the Elks.

Snowmobile season

Plenty of snow and cold weather is making for a great start to the season. Sledding enthusiasts are reminded to check avalanche conditions regularly at www.avalanche.ca.

Avalanche beacons and safety gear are also highly recommended. These devices are available for rent or sale at local sled shops.

For trail condition updates please call the Robson Valley Visitor Centre toll free at: 1-866-569-3366 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Sledders are also reminded that when they come to B.C. this year, to bring paperwork that shows ownership of their sleds. Police are cracking down on snowmobile thieves and proof of ownership will save a hassle.

Doc Walker

Doc Walker will hit McBride on Tuesday, Dec. 13, one day before the band’s show in Valemount.

Doors open at the Roundhouse Theatre at 7 p.m. and there may still be a few tickets available for this performance, but they are reportedly going fast.

The Roundhouse Theatre Society is a non-profit group whose mission is to provide communities in the Robson Valley with a wide variety of musical and theatrical entertainment.

The theatre is located at 1300 Second Ave., in the high school.

DUNSTER

Play group for young kids

The Dunster Parent-Run Play Group is holding an organizational meeting on Monday, Dec. 5 at 2:30 p.m. at the Dunster School.

So far the agenda includes: a Success-by-Six funding application, a parent volunteer schedule, structuring of the sessions, buying equipment and supplies and setting a start date.

Organizers are inviting parents from Tete Jaune to McBride who have children under the age of five, are interested in gathering with other parents and children.

For more information call Nancy Taylor at 250-968-4358 or Carol Ann Romanow at 250-968-4457. 

Family Dances cancelled

The usual Dunster Family Dance on the first Saturday of each month will be cancelled in December and January.

The dances will resume on their regular schedule the first Saturday in February, 2012. 

In the meantime, dancers are more than welcome to attend the weekly dance instruction evenings at the McBride Elks Hall offered by the Roth family of McBride. These classes will run for four weeks before Christmas and possibly for four weeks after Christmas, if there is enough interest. The classes started on Thursday, Nov. 24 and are set to run every Thursday until Dec. 15.

There is no charge for these lessons and they run from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. each night. Everyone is welcome to attend and learn some fun dances.