New Year – New Town – New Rec Coordinator for Elk Point

Hi! I’m Caitlyn Bush and I’m so excited to be newly part of your community as the Recreation Coordinator for the Town of Elk Point! I have lived in the Lakeland area for almost 15 years and I’ve always considered Elk Point as one of the Lakeland’s Hidden Gems! Well, upon coming here I was determined to prove myself right! But in such a small town with so much hidden potential, where’s a gal to start?!

So I started by heading to the FCSS Building (Family & Community Support Services) and collecting my “Welcome Package” as a new community member. The folks at FCSS were way too easy to talk to so I quickly felt well on my way! My very first weekend in Elk Point I was sure to block the entire weekend off as my agenda quickly filled up with all of the recreational activities I had intentions of experiencing. When a person thinks of Elk Point, 2 main things seem to come to mind: The Iron Horse Trail with the daunting and near impossible task of trekking across 300 Km of trail, and the Golden Loaf Bakery! Fuel was the very first thing I needed to get my weekend started! No, not fuel for my car, fuel for my body! The first must-do was to hit the Bakery for a Cinnamon Bun to prep my body for the trails! People always told me about how amazing the Golden Loaf is, but they also told me you have to experience it to know how amazing it truly is. Upon my very first bite of the ooey-gooey, glazy, cinnamony roll, I was unsure of how I should feel. I didn’t know if I should feel blessed for FINALLY experiencing this bakery or disappointed in myself that in the 20 years, they’ve been in business, I’ve only now walked through the doors and tasted the best cinnamon bun I’ve ever had in my 34 years of life. 

(Side Note: How do you think I should be feeling about it: Blessed by the bakery, or disappointed in myself? )

Now that the best 3 minutes of my life at the bakery is over, it’s time to hit the trails! Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, I don’t think I’ll be able to complete all 300 Km’s anytime soon, I figured I would start with 10 k and call it a day! But along the way I got instantly distracted by an Interpretive Centre I stumbled across called the Fort George- Buckingham House. The things to learn about Alberta’s Fur Trade from the knowledgeable staff there are astonishing! Back on the trails and after what felt like 300 km, but was maybe a generous 3k, and a realization that maybe I need to exercise more, I decided it was time to go home and plan my next day!

Being new to the Elk Point community, I knew I needed to join a rec group or committee, but who knew there were TOO MANY options to choose from? From the Car Club, 4H Club, AG Society to local Hockey Clubs! Did I just say hockey clubs?! That sounds like the perfect option for me as I always have steam to burn off! A quick registration to join the Knotty Girls Hockey team of Elk Point and I’m hitting the ice just like that! The welcoming nature of the girls and the friends I have made in such a short time in joining this group (and for them not judging my poor ice skills) is really reassuring in my decision to experience this community. 

Wow, what a fantastic weekend that was all in our little bustling town. I’m not sure what the next 52 weekends hold for me, but I will go to bed soundly tonight knowing that I chose The Right Place To Be—Right here in Elk Point, AB.