Dames on the RangeWho are those Dames on the Range?
Dames on the Range is an alliance of rural business women along the Eastern Slopes of the Alberta Rockies and was formed to provide vacation, learning and relaxation opportunities for visitors from urban centres. We have established this group to cross-promote and support our economic community through Tourism - Accommodations, Activities; Agriculture - Range/Riparian Assessments, Livestock and Wildlife; Environment - Watersheds/Headwaters, Range/Riparian Impacts; Health and Well-Being - Relaxation, Personal Development, Meditation, Message Therapy, Exercise; Education - Awareness of the issues affecting our livelihood and lifestyle. All important aspects of the agricultural lifestyle – real life in the country!
Historically, it has been the women of the day that have driven change . . . challenging the usual to become the special . . . testing new boundaries and nurturing growth . . . embracing our emotions and adding a measure of passion to our dedicated tasks . . . encouraging and inspiring others to reach their potential. Our goal is to share our vision, maintaining a traditional lifestyle for sustainability of this landscape.
Our mission is to share the culture and heritage of the western lifestyle by inviting guests to learn about the basics and foundation of a sustainable ranch operation, participate in the activities on the ranch wherever possible and provide opportunities to develop a better sense-of-self surrounded by encouragement and confidence.
What’s happening this year?May 28, 29 and 30 - Women’s Weekend in the Country
There are many ways to exercise delight, embrace enchantment and tempt adventure.
Come for a day or stay for the weekend!
- SoulPower (Look In!)
Day sampler packages – Heart ‘n Sole. Each day offers a mix of these activities - Hike, wagon-ride, native flower gardening workshop, learn about edible/medicinal plants, relax with a massage. Starting $110/person
Weekend from $650/person all-inclusive
- HorsePower (Look Out!)
Day sampler packages – Giddy?Yup! Join us either day for an interpretive range ride, wagon ride, a chance to enhance your riding skills or attend a silversmith demonstration. Starting at $199/person
Weekend from $755/person all-inclusive
June 5 - Range Beach Party - Interpretive creek walks in conjunction with Alberta Water Quality Awareness Day (www.awqa.com) to learn more about the headwaters of Alberta's Rocky Mountains. Representatives from ‘Cows and Fish’ will be our interpreters for this day. $85/person
June 6 - Edible Plant Day - Traditional uses for our local native plants. $89/person
June 13 - Herbal Tea Day - Learn more about the native herbs while hiking through the region with workshop to make your own personal blend of herbal tea. $119/person
June 13 - Gardening with Native Wildflowers - Get to know Alberta’s wildflowers and learn how you can incorporate them into your landscape. From $139/person
July 18 - Wildflowers of the Whaleback - Partake in the splendor of our native wildflowers during their peek bloom period. This hiking workshop will focus on finding and identifying as many native Alberta wildflowers as possible. Enjoy the wagon ride back out of the hills to experience a more traditional mode of transportation! $179/person
August 14, 15, 16 and 17- Partnership Enrichment Tour to coincide with the Perseids Meteor Shower. Outdoor activities to connect people, sky and land. Best seat in the west!
August 21 - Serious Seed Collection & Edible, Medical Plant Workshop - Join us for a unique day of native plant exploration. Learn about the history and uses of our native plants and how you can incorporate them into your life and landscape. From $139/person
September 18 - The Fall Landscape - Enjoy the autumn landscape and learn about the fall features of our native wildflowers, trees and shrubs, focus on fall foliage color, berries and interesting seed heads with discussion on incorporating native plants into your garden to enhance your fall landscape. From $125/person
Additional details and updated events may be viewed by visiting our website: www.damesontherange.ca
Meet the Dames! We are proud to introduce our Dames on the Range partners – offering things to do; opportunities to learn something different; help you to relax and meditate; show you how to discover new strengths!
Alberta Parks (Dame Heidi 403-627-1152 or www.albertaparks.ca) SW Alberta
- Heritage Appreciation specialist attuned to the landscape and shares this knowledge professionally with enthusiasm and confidence;
- Interpretive 1/2 or 1 day hikes and walks
Bar U Ranche National Historic Site (Dame Deb 403-395-3044 or www.pc.gc.ca/baru) near Longview
- History comes alive at the Bar U . . . Walk or ride a horse drawn wagon down to the ranch headquarters and tour our historic building while learning about the role the Bar U played in shaping the Canadian West.
Brown Creek Ranch Vacations (contact Dame Shaunere 403-625-4032, Shaunere@telusplanet.net or www.browncreekranchvacations.com) Porcupine Hills
- Accommodation in self-contained cabin
- Ranch Tour – nationally and provincially recognized for their Stewardship efforts
- Stewardship walk
Chimney Rock Bed and Breakfast (contact “Ma” Dame Debbie Webster 403-646-0151, chimneyrockbandb@telus.net) near Chain Lakes
- Accommodation – B&B or tepee
- Ranch Tour – 2005 Farm Family Award recipients
- Interpretive Creek walk or Range Roaming
Classic Rodeo (Dame Audi 403-646-2222 or www.classicrodeodrive.com or classicrodeo@gmail.com) Nanton
- Retail store offers ladies fashion, western wear, giftware, home décor, jewelry.
- Reiki and Massage services in-store
Connections (Dame Terri 403-931-3201 or www.equine-connections.com) Millarville
- Equine assisted coaching for personal and professional development;
- Equine experiential learning facilitator and Chakra workshops
Cowboy Country Clothing (Dame Shawna 403-646-3133 or www.cowboystuf.com) Nanton
- Western wear, tack and giftware
Full Circle Adventures (Dame Julie 403-933-4432 or www.full-circle-adventures.com) Turner Valley
- Encourages deeper connections to the landscape with greater personal awareness through educational nature experiences and workshops;
- Outdoor cultural heritage hiking adventures
Herbal Healing Inc (Dame Elizabeth and Dame Jo-Anne 403-646-2930 or www.herbalhealinginc.com)
- Herbal teas, Therapeutic salves and oils, natural face creams and body lotions
- Herbal Tea and Healing Salve workshop facilitators
Janet Sippola, Western Art (Dame Janet 403-646-2151 or www.janetsippola.com)
- Original Western Art (oil on canvas), Greeting Cards, Limited Edition Prints, Western and Rural-themed sketches, Cowboy Poetry
Joyce Pallister, “Laugh Lines” (Grande Dame Joyce 403-652-5643 or joyce.pallister@gmail.com or www.smokefromthebrandingfire.ca ) High River
- Cowboy Poetry and Christian Comedian - "Minnie Pearl" Impersonator as entertainment at family and community events.
- Author/Editor of "Smoke from the Branding Fire/ Hank Pallister's Tales" – book about early ranching history and “Lines and Lingos” featuring the poem, Dames on the Range!
Lucasia Ranch Vacations (Dame Judy 403-625-2295 or 1-877-477-2624 or www.lucasiaranch.com) Porcupine Hills near Claresholm
- Accommodation in self-contained cabin
- Horseback riding through the Porcupine Hills including some cattle work
- Ranch stewardship tour “Sharing our Western Heritage”
Oxley Ranche Tours (Dame Jennifer 403-549-2457 or jenwhi@telus.net or theoxley@telus.net or www.oxleyranchtours.com) Stavely
- Guided wagon or horseback ride on the historic Oxley Ranch
- Ranch tour with an environmental focus – explore wildlife habitat
Serious Backcountry (Dame Pam 403-932-6396 or Sunwired@gmail.com or www.pamasheton.ca and a blog http://www.seriousbackcountry.blogspot.com/) Cochrane
- Backcountry interpretative riding. Solutions for grassroots, youth and competitive riders on horse-think and psychology for brilliantly effective partnerships. One-day workshops and progressive clinics
- Award winning author with the RMB published “Alberta Backcountry Equestrian One-Day Trail Guide”
- Motivational educational speaking engagements for youth (currently on a series for the Alberta Equestrian Federation)
- Motivational speaking for corporate and related on sports psychology, and horse/land connections with direct impact on company communication skills
Sierra West Cabins and Ranch Vacations (Dame Ginny 403-628-2431, info@sierrawestcabins.com or www.sierrawestcabins.com) North of Lundbreck
- Accommodation; Self-contained cabins
- Ride the range; enhance equine skills
- Visit Cowtown, a one street frontier town featuring Longhorn Saloon, Cantina and 3 bunkhouses. Perfect for events, family functions, corporate or other get-togethers.
Taste of Country Cookhouse (Dame Praba 403-646-3048 or thvlyfrm@telusplanet.net) Chain Lakes Provincial Park just off the Cowboy Trail
- Cookhouse concession offers home-cooked meals
- Thursday night Rancher’s Suppers during summer months
Wild About Flowers (Dame Arden 403-933-3903 or www.wildaboutflowers.com) Turner Valley
- Native seed mixes available for Prairie, Moist and Dry woodland, Dry/Rocky landscapes
Wow and Then (Dame Pam 403-558-0029 or 403-922-6888 (cell) or info@wowandthen.ca or blog at www.wowandthen.blogspot.com) in the village of Longview, Alberta on The Cowboy Trail.
- Eclectic country shop! Browse our collection: vintage treasures, artisan works, home decor, nostalgic gifts. Open weekends.
Our mission is to invite visitors to join us in the country: immerse them in the culture of this special place; promote the preservation of our values; honour our heritage and share our unique perspective of these features:
- Landscape Awareness: Ranch stewardship; regional eco-systems; effects of riparian and watershed environmental impacts. “Sustainable range provides nutritious forage for livestock and wildlife, has aesthetically pleasing scenery and is environmentally sound; all healthy by-products of responsible stewardship.”
- Western Lifestyle: Identify plants, flowers, birds and wildlife; enhance your horsemanship skills; learn from the local ranch-hands about “chores” and the significance of their seasonal routines; how traditional cattle outfits are updating their operations by merging science with practical methods.
- Rural Appreciation: Learn what makes country-living unique; about the challenges and issues of a modern cowboy. Become acquainted with the time-honoured foundations and origins of a small community. Experience how we work and play, how to relax and what we do for stress relief . . . country-style!
- Western Lifestyle: Identify plants, flowers, birds and wildlife; enhance your horsemanship skills; learn from the local ranch-hands about “chores” and the significance of their seasonal routines; how traditional cattle outfits are updating their operations by merging science with practical methods.
Definition of a Dame: 1) the title of a woman awarded any of various orders of chivalry or merit by a sovereign or government or 2) the woman in charge of a household.
“Not your Momma’s Social Club” You are invited to join up and receive notification of program updates and preferential invitations to activities hosted by the Dames on the Range. An E-newsletter will be issued to share this information, introduce new members and learn about the new programs/packages available. Ask us about the Dames on the Range businesses that offer discounts to NYMSC members. To join, contact us at jointheclub@damesontherange.ca
More information about the Dames on the Range at www.damesontherange.ca
