Join Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine specialist Dr. Jared McClollum as he delivers a series of free informative discussions on alternative healing options.

No cost. To register, call the library at 403-938-2220.

Women's health with Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine

Learn how Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine treat conditions like PMS, weight management, menopause, depression, and other women's health concerns.

Date: Monday, March 8

Time: 7:15 – 8:30 PM

Diet Therapy and whole foods

Learn how to improve your digestion and how by using whole foods and oriental diet therapy you can treat many of your health conditions.

Date: Thursday, April 15

Time: 7:15 – 8:30 PM

Treating your child with Chinese Medicine

Did you know that almost 80% of childhood illnesses can be treated by just changing your child's diet? Learn how Chinese Medicine can make a difference in your child's health.

Date: Thursday, June 3

Time: 7:15 – 8:30 PM

Meditation Series - Condensed Version

Over the course of 2 classes, participants will learn the benefits of relaxation and meditation; explore the five elements of health both physically and emotionally. Limited space.

Registration: Monday, April 12, 2010 starting at 10 AM

Dates: Tuesdays

April 20 & 27

Time: 7:00 – 8:30 PM

Book Clubs

Pages Book Club is looking for new members. The group meets here at the library the second Monday of each month at 1:00 p.m.

Contact Nora at 403-995-1587 for more information.

Okotoks Evening Readers

This evening book club always welcomes new members. The group meets here at the library the first Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m.

Contact Kristine at 403-995-4333 for more information.

Definitely Not Plato Book Club

Via videoconference come join in the Letbridge Public Library’s monthly adult fiction book club. No cost.

Blood Brothers by Michael Weisskopf

Date: Wednesday, March 24

Time: 7:00 – 8:00 PM

The Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

Date: Wednesday, April 28

Time: 7:00 – 8:00 PM

The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill

Date: Wednesday, May 26

Time: 7:00 – 8:00 PM

Mr. Pip by Lloyd Jones

Date: Wednesday, June 23

Time: 7:00 – 8:00 PM

Bandits of Back Pain

No cost. Call the library at 4 03-938-2220 to register.

Discover the fundamental muscles that wreak havoc on your back, neck, hips and knees. In this light-hearted seminar massage therapist, Jason Barlow, will enlighten the audience as to the powers of exercise, nutrition and massage in discovering the root cause(s) of back pain and how to kick start your healing program.

Date: Wednesday, March 3

Time: 7:15 – 8:15 PM

NFB Film Club

The Okotoks Library and the National Film Board of Canada have combined forces to bring you the NFB Film Club. With free monthly screenings, the NFB Film Club is your connection to the best in Canadian documentary. Films have been purchased through a generous donation by Okotoks Family & Community Support Services. Held the 4th Monday of each month, beginning at 7:00 pm.

Cure for Love (2008, 59 min)

There's a bride, a groom and the usual happy crowd of well-wishers. But this is no ordinary wedding. Ana and Brian are ex-gays - adherents to a controversial evangelical movement that purports to convert gay people into heterosexuals. Cure for Love goes inside the unusual Christian subculture and follows the lives of several young people whose homosexuality is at odds with their religious beliefs to fashion a nuanced critique of 21st century fundamentalism through their moving testimony.

Question & answer session with writer and co-director Christina Willings to follow.

Date: Monday, March 1

Time: 7:00 – 8:30 PM

Dinner & a Double Feature

We will be serving pizza and pop during this event. There is no cost to attend but pre-registration is required at 403-938-2220.

Finding Farley (1 hr, 5 min)

An invitation from Farley Mowat begins Leanne Allison and Karsten Heuer's journey overland from Calgary to Cape Breton retracing the iconic writer's literary footsteps from Owls in the Family to People of the Deer.

This Land (1 hr, 29 min)

In March 2007, 7 Canadian and Inuit rangers and 1 documentary filmmaker set out to cover more than 2000 km of the harshest terrain on the planet. They confront blizzards, labyrinths of crushed sea ice and near-impassable glaciers, with temperatures hovering around -50°C, to raise a flag on the northernmost tip of Canadian soil. With a mesmerizing soundtrack by Nunavut-born singer and narrator Tanya Tagaq and spectacular footage of the Arctic landscape, Dianne Whelan's documentary captures the epic adventure with raw immediacy.

Date: Tuesday, March 2

Time: 6:00 – 9:00 PM

Not Just a Bad Day: Living with Bipolar Disorder (2007, 49 min)

To the outsider, Mike, Erin, Mary-Jane and Martha appear to have little in common, but they are all living under the shadow of one of the most commonly misunderstood and misdiagnosed mental illnesses—bipolar disorder. This documentary details the personal struggles as they each cope with emotional highs and lows.

Date: Monday, March 22

Time: 7:00 – 8:30 PM

Time Bombs (2008, 47 min)

At the height of the Cold War, 40 young Canadian soldiers were sent to Nevada on a top secret mission, to serve as guinea pigs for the military in a nuclear test field. In the years that followed, several soldiers fell victim to radiation and children were born with birth defects. Today the few soldiers who survived are fighting for justice. And the Canadian Government is trying to bury the affair.

Date: Monday, April 26

Time: 7:00 – 8:30 PM

Drawing from Life (2009, 66 min)

Drawing from Life follows a group therapy workshop for people who have attempted suicide more than once. This candid portrayal of twelve people who together, for 20 weeks, take on their fears, their behaviours and their ghosts to move towards life and away from suicide. It’s a surprisingly uplifting and universal story about what it means to be alive.

Date: Monday, May 31

Time: 7:00 – 8:30 PM

Community Mental Health Workshops

Alberta Health Services Rural South Community Mental Health will be delivering free workshops at the Okotoks Public Library this winter & spring.

To register for any of these workshops, please call 403-933-3800.

Relaxation, Focus and Stress Reduction

Learn how to relax and bring your focus into the present moment. In this workshop you will be guided through techniques that will help you cope with day to day stress and build your resilience.

Presenter: Pat Kennedy-Groulx RN,Mental Health Therapist

Date: Wednesday, March 10

Time: 2:00 – 3:30 PM

Healthy Aging

Healthy aging isn’t looking 20 when you’re 65. Healthy aging is simply enjoying good health and the maximum quality of life at any given age. Successful aging has many facets; come and find out what some of them are. Presenter: Pat Kennedy-Groulx RN, Mental Health Therapist

Date: Wednesday, April 14

Time: 2:00 – 3:30 PM

Senior-Friendly Computer Service

Computer Assistance: One-On-One Help

Call the library at 403-938-2220 to book a one hour session for some personal computer help with one of our library clerks. We can help you to create an email account, learn how to surf the web, and use basic Microsoft Word. This service requires that you have a library membership and some basic computer skills.

The Okotoks Public Library endeavours to provide a calm, comfortable surrounding for all community residents to enjoy.

Career & Employment Workshops

Workshops facilitated by McBride Career Group Inc.

To register for any of these workshops, please call 403-995-4377.

Career Planning

Topics include: Understanding the Career Planning process, assessing your abilities, interests and work values, complete a Career Interest Survey to gain appropriate career information for further exploration.

Date: Tuesday, May 18

Time: 6:00 – 9:00 PM

Resume Writing

Topics include: Purpose of a resume, resume components, types of resumes, creating high impact resumes, skills and referencing.

Date: Wednesday, April 14

Time: 6:00 – 9:00 PM

Date: Wednesday, June 16

Time: 6:00 – 9:00 PM

Internet Connectivity

Topics include: Learn to navigate through the internet, conduct occupational research, visit relevant career development sites and find work search and career planning information.

Date: Wednesday, March 24

Time: 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Date: Thursday, April 22

Time: 10:00 AM– 12:00 PM

Financial Know-How

Workshops facilitated by Brandon Mohr, Financial Advisor, Edward Jones.

No cost. Call the library at 403-938-2220 to register.

Making Sense of Retirement

For many, retirement is a confusing and frustrating proposition. This workshop will allow you to develop a practical step-by-step plan to help ease this tension. The focus will be on pre-retirement choices and planning, to help participants envision and maximize their own retirement.

Date: Tuesday, March 16

Time: 7:00 – 8:00 PM

Protecting the Foundation of Financial Security

There are four things that can stop your paycheque: job loss; retirement; disability or illness; and death. Learn how to protect your family from the financial losses associated with the latter two. We will examine specific case studies to help you evaluate your current situation.

Date: Saturday, April 17

Time: 1:00 – 2:00 PM

NEW!! Okotoks Writers Group

Writers of Okotoks and area unite!! Join the newly formed Okotoks Writers Group.

Open to all writers, both published or aspiring to share, critique and encourage all types of writing.

For further information, please call Virginia B at 403-982-7923, Mike H at 403-938-6000, Mike F at 403-999-8148, or Shira W at 403-939-1134.

Health Awareness Series

No cost. Call the library at 403-938-2220 to register.

Alkalinity / Acidity and Health

How does your body’s pH relate to disease? Weight loss? Weight gain? Join Independent Wellness Consultant Eraine Wegiel and learn improved pH = improved wellbeing.

Date: Thursday, March 4

Time: 7:00 – 8:30 PM

Cleaning Without Chemicals

Studies demonstrate air in the average home is more contaminated than the air outside. Join Independent Wellness Consultant Eraine Wegiel and learn easy, effective, chemical free cleaning methods.

Date: Wednesday, March 31

Time: 7:00 – 8:30 PM

Drinking Water

Bottled? Filtered? Mineral? Tap? Confused? Join Independent Wellness Consultant Eraine Wegiel and learn how different water affects both personal and environmental wellbeing.

Date: Wednesday, April 28

Time: 7:00 – 8:30 PM

Legal Talk: Video Conference Sessions

This video conference is presented by Lethbridge College’s Public Legal Education Program. The program helps educate the public about law and the legal system by providing general education and information. (The program does not provide legal advice). The program is funded by a grant from the Alberta Law Foundation. Lethbridge College is a member of PLENA, the Public Legal Education Network of Alberta. The Okotoks Public Library is a local co-sponsor of this video conference.

Pre-registration and payment is required in person at the library.

Law and Living Together

What are the legal rights and responsibilities of unmarried people living together as spouses and how do they differ from those of married people? What is a cohabitation agreement and how important is it for people in such relationships to have one? What is an adult interdependent partner and what is the significance of becoming one? This presentation provides an opportunity to look at questions like these. The topics for discussion include care and support of children, inheritance, and property.

Date: Wednesday, March 10

Time: 6:30 – 8:30 PM

Cost: $2

Real Life... in Print...

Imagine taking your digital photos into real life. I can show you how to take your images, combined with flexible and intuitive software, beautiful, versatile digital artwork, and make unforgettable keepsake albums to share with loved ones.

No cost. Call the library at 403-938-2220 to register.

Overwhelmed by your boxes, and bags, and envelopes of older photos (from the days before digital)?

I will show you how to tidy up those files, folders, envelopes and shoeboxes in just hours....not days or months. Then I'll show you easy and fast ways to showcase your life and your stories in the way that suits your time and financial budgets with great options that will suit your needs.

Date: Tuesday, March 9

Time: 7:00 – 8:30 PM

Feeding Your Baby

No cost. Call the library at 403-938-2220 to register.

Do you have questions about feeding your growing baby? Confused about pureed, mashed, chunky and diced? Then this 2 hour class is for you. A registered dietitian will answer your questions about infant feeding – including how and when to start solids, introducing textures, and other topics related to feeding your baby in the first 12 months.

Date: Monday, March 15

Time: 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM

"Finally Parents Are Talking..."

No cost. Call the library at 403-938-2220 to register.

Calgary Communities Against Sexual Abuse believes children have the right to be educated about abuse. At this workshop parents will learn how to: create an understanding of the importance of talking to children about child sexual abuse; develop increased knowledge and awareness of the realities of child sexual abuse; and learn strategies to effectively communicate with young children about child sexual abuse.

Date: Monday, March 22

Time: 7:00 – 8:30 PM

The Top 5 Reasons for Renovation Horror Stories

No cost. Call the library at 403-938-2220 to register.

We’ve all heard them, but don’t let them keep you from having the home of your dreams. Come and learn from a local architectural technologist that specializes in renovations - what to do - and what not to! - when you want renovate or add on to your home.

Date: Thursday, March 11

Time: 7:00 – 8:30 PM

Author Talks

No cost. Call the library at 403-938-2220 to register.

You may be related to a “Foreign Protestant"

Barbara E. Meredith, Forgotten Settlers, Nova Scotia’s Foreign Protestants

They were called the Foreign Protestants, and they began to arrive in 1750, ship by ship across the Atlantic; the British Government having signed them up to farm in Nova Scotia. "Forgotten Settlers" is a historical non-fiction narrative of every-day life in early Canada. The author descends from many of these early settlers.

Date: Thursday, May 6

Time: 1:30 – 2:30 PM

Foothills Humane Society Lecture Series

No cost. Call the library at 403-938-2220 to register.

Pain Recognition in Your Pet

Pain in companion animals can be very challenging to recognize in some individual pets. This seminar will help you identify pain and teach you how to observe your pet better in order to understand your pet's way of communication. This seminar will be held by Andrea Radke (Registered Veterinary Technician, special interest in Anesthesia/Analgesia)

Date: Saturday, March 20

Time: 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Safe Traveling and Hiking with Your Pet
Does your pet love the outdoors as much as you do? This seminar will help you make hiking and traveling a safe and joyful adventure for you and your companion. Seminar will be held by Andrea Radke (Registered Veterinary Technician, special interest in Anesthesia/Analgesia)

Date: Saturday, April 17

Time: 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

NFB Film Club

Dinner & A Double Feature

We will be serving pizza and pop during this event. There is no cost to attend byt pre-registration is required at 403-938-2220.

Finding Farley (1 hr, 5 min)

This Land (1 hr, 29 min)

Date: Tuesday, March 2

Time: 6:00 – 9:00 PM

Strategies for Respectful Discipline

Session held here at the library. Register by visiting www.fcrc.sacyhn.ca. If you are having email difficulties, please email ces@sacyhn.ca.

Date: Monday, April 26

Time: 10:30 – 12:00 PM

Wildlife Videoconference Sessions

No cost. Call the library at 403-938-2220 to register.

Living with Wildlife and Karelian Bear Dogs

A community bear-smart and cougar awareness presentation. The Sheep River Valley and surrounding rural area provide important habitat for wildlife. Join Fish and Wildlife Officer Rob DiPalo and his Karelian Bear Dog Atlas for an evening of learning about coexisting with cougars and bears to reduce problem encounters.

Date: Thursday, March 18

Time: 7:00 – 8:00 PM

The Value of Watchable Wildlife: Grizzly Bear Viewing in British Columbia – Videoconference session

Join Cypress Hill’s Visitor Services Coordinator Peter Swain, a former bear viewing guide whose Master of Science degree examined the role wildlife tourism can play in preserving natural spaces. Using blue-listed grizzly bears as an example, we’ll see spectacular footage and understand how well-run enterprises can benefit species-at-risk by being successful.

Date: Thursday, March 23

Time: 7:00 – 8:00 PM

Preying for Survival: The Ferruginous Hawk

Alberta’s largest hawk, which feeds entirely on rodents, has faced a disastrous 40% reduction in recent years. Learn about these birds of prey, known for their incredible speed, razor sharp talons and flesh-piercing beaks, impact of their extinction, and what is being done for their survival. Instructor Brandy Downey.

Date: Tuesday, April 20

Time: 7:00 – 8:00 PM

Helping Alberta’s Native Bull Trout: Return of the River Wolf

Learn firsthand about one biologist’s scientific journey to discover how to increase Alberta’s native Bull Trout populations in Lower Kananaskis Lakes and the Sheep River. This is not your typical biologist talk! Entertaining and fascinating facts will guarantee your armchair naturalist’s seat at the library is worth reserving! Sustainable Resources Development – Fisheries Biologist – Jim Stelfox

Date: Tuesday, May 4

Time: 7:00 - 8:00 PM

All Eyes on the Iris: Western Blue Flag Iris – Videoconference session

The only native Iris to Alberta! A rare plant population found in Police Outpost Provincial Park, one of the most threatened grassland/parkland ecosystems on the Canadian Plains. Learn more about the ecological requirements, conservation activities and monitoring that is helping to preserve this rare species. This session is presented by Alberta Tourism, Parks & Recreation.

Date: Tuesday, April 18

Time: 7:00 – 8:00 PM

The "Water Wolf": Lake Newell's Predator Pike – Videoconference session

Ever heard of the "Water Wolf"? A popular sport angling fish, the Pike is a streamlined predator with the ability to stalk prey effortlessly. Find out what makes this fish a top predator, learn about its habitat and fascinating fish facts. Cam Wallman, a biologist with Sustainable Resource Development - Fisheries, will also share with you what can be done to help keep this fish in our future.

Date: Tuesday, May 25

Time: 7:00 – 8:00 PM

Armchair Tourist

No cost. Call the library at 403-938-2220 to register.

A Healing Journey to Viet Nam

Join me, Susan Raby-Dunne, as I travel through Viet Nam on a transformative healing journey with eight Viet Nam veterans. From Nov. 4 – 22, 2009, my 16 year old son and I traveled with Dr. Ed Tick and the organization, Soldier’s Heart (www.soldiersheart.net) taking eight veterans back to their former AOs, (areas of operation) in Viet Nam. To return to the land of their nightmares was a daunting prospect for the vets after their war experience, but their fears about the country and its people at least, were soon put to rest. Join me as I tell the stories of these brave men, the beautiful, open-hearted Vietnamese people and also the charity works we did along the way. The presentation will be followed by a discussion.

Date: Thursday, March 25

Time: 7:00 – 8:30 PM

Investment Fraud: How to Protect Your Retirement - videoconference

No cost. Call the library at 403-938-2220 to register.

You’ve worked hard for your retirement money so make sure you’re protecting your nest egg from fraud artists. In this presentation, you’ll learn some tips on how to recognize and respond to common tactics that investment fraud scammers use to separate you from your money. Presented by Lorinda Brinton, Senior Advisor for Investor Education with the Alberta Securities Commission.

Date: Tuesday, March 23

Time: 12:00 – 12:50 PM

Branches Program

ROWAN-logo

Education and awareness about the cycle of abuse, as well as the effects that abuse has upon families, are essential to our work at Rowan House Emergency Shelter. The Branches Program is a series of free, educational presentations that address family violence, dating violence/healthy relationships, bullying and information about Rowan House and the services and programs we offer.

No cost. Call the library at 403-938-2220 to register.

Teen Dating Violence/Healthy Relationships

This presentation is for teens, parents and caregivers alike. This presentation includes information on: Definition of dating violence including physical, sexual, emotional and verbal; Signs of an unhealthy relationship; Warning signs that someone you are dating could become violent; Cycle of violence; What to do if you are in a violent relationship; Creating a safety plan; How to help a friend who is in a violent relationship; What can friends and parents look for; Definition of a healthy relationship; Why healthy relationships are important; and Resources.

Date: Thursday, March 25

Time: 6:30 – 8:00 PM

Family Violence

This presentation is for community members as well as professionals that would like some more knowledge about family violence. This presentation includes information on: Definition of family violence including physical, sexual, emotional, verbal and financial; Warning signs that you or someone you know is in a violent relationship; Who is a victim of family violence; Why it is difficult for victims of family violence to leave the relationship; What to do if you are in a violent relationship; The most dangerous time for the victim in a violent relationship; How to help someone in a violent relationship; Profile of an abuser; Power and Control wheel; The Cycle of Violence; Rural family violence: what are the differences; Leaving a violent relationship; Statistics of family violence in Alberta and Canada; and Resources.

Date: Thursday, April 29

Time: 6:30 – 8:00 PM

Children Exposed to Family Violence

This presentation is for community members as well as professionals. This presentation includes: Definition of what children exposed to family violence includes; Impact on children emotionally, socially and physically (general); Abusive partner using children as a control tactic; Impact at different ages:infants/toddlers, preschoolers, school aged, and adolescents; Coping techniques of children exposed to family violence; Classroom specific problems with children exposed to family violence; Statistics of children exposed; Supporting a child that discloses family violence in the home; Keeping children safe; How children who grow up in abusive homes become healthy adults; and Resources.

Date: Thursday, May 20

Time: 6:30 – 8:00 PM

Real Time Book Club for Seniors

Come take part in our Real Time Book Club for Seniors, where a volunteer will read enticing chapters from a book each week followed by lively conversation and discussion. Refreshments will be enjoyed afterward. This session we will be reading I am Hutterite by Mary-Ann Kirkby.

Date: Thursdays

April 15, 22, 29, May 6, 13, 20, 27,

June 3, 10 & 17

Time: 1:00 – 2:30 PM

10 Things Every Back Pain Sufferer Should Know About Stress Relief

No cost. Call the library at 403-938-2220 to register.

Stress bombards the body and mind in many forms. In this enlightening seminar local massage therapist, Jason Barlow, will share his secrets of how simple changes to your lifestyle can significantly help relieve your stress and ultimately your back pain.

Date: Wednesday, April 7

Time: 7:15 – 8:15 PM

Massage 101 for Moms

No cost. Call the library at 403-938-2220 to register.

My wife and I had 4 boys in 4 years. You may want to re-read that sentence! As a massage therapist, and as a father and husband, I wish to share my insights both personally and professionally as to the vast benefits of massage for moms (and dads of course!) and how simple easy-to-do exercises and self-treatment can help overcome the stresses of being a parent.

Date: Wednesday, May 5

Time: 7:15 – 8:15 PM

Massage 101 for Seniors

No cost. Call the library at 403-938-2220 to register.

Local massage therapist, Jason Barlow, will guide his audience through a journey of the vast benefits of regular massage therapy as part of a holistic health program for the senior population. Remedial exercises and stretches will also be taught to help rejuvenate your body and mind.

Date: Wednesday, June 9

Time: 7:15 – 8:15 PM