1.
Westwood rises
When town council approved the relocation of the municipality's waste transfer site last spring to a site next to the Westwood Court Mobile Home Park they never expected consequences of widespread public anger.
The 230 residents in the trailer park, many of them on fixed incomes, rose in force with passion, declaring, “We do not want a dump in our backyard.”
Their protest ignited the fury of countless citizens in the community, both inside and outside the mobile home park. “When you talk to people a dump is a dump and we really don't want this, not when there are other alternatives,” said Corcoran.
And council finally did listen. An alternative site was finally chosen. It was a full retreat by council. Westwood residents had won. Their strength and determination inspired the community.
2.
Kerry Towle's shocking defection
It was a shot that shocked Alberta's political landscape, from the Rockies to the Badlands and across the Prairies.
Kerry Towle, the Opposition Wildrose party's second most powerful and respected MLA – after Leader Danielle Smith, crossed the legislature floor with party colleague Ian Donovan on Nov. 24 to join the governing Tories. It was a heartbreaking decision for the Innisfail MLA, whose move ended the close relationship she had with Smith.
But four weeks later Smith, along with eight other party MLAs, bolted from the battered Wildrose party to the Tories, a move that shocked the Innisfail MLA. Towle said she had no idea Smith, who publicly blasted her for her move, was contemplating the same. Today the heartbreak is gone. There are no more tears. Towle said Smith is only a colleague and acquaintance.
3.
Penhold's fire response heroes
Shortly before 6 p.m. on April 10, residents at Penhold's Wild Rose Manor were frantically ordered to leave their homes.
Within an hour a spectacular and devastating fire consumed the 18-suite, 40-year-old building. It may have been the worst disaster in Penhold's history but all citizens inside the building were saved, thanks to the quick response by local emergency response heroes – notably fire Chief Jim Pendergast and Victor Tam, local community peace officer and firefighter, who was first on the scene.
“There were a lot of people involved in this to ensure everyone's safety,” said Tam, whose community rallied to comfort, feed and shelter the building's homeless.
But out of the ashes, Wild Rose Manor will rise again. A new apartment building is being built on the site this spring.
4.
Innisfailians shine for the world
On the face of it, Innisfail hardly seems like a place for world-class cyclers.
But on Sept. 4 the town hosted Stage 2 of the Tour of Alberta, an event that attracted world attention. Innisfailians came out in the hundreds to experience the event, which only lasted in town for about five minutes before cyclists headed north to complete the stage.
The town and its staff had prepared for months, and in the end organizers had nothing but accolades for their efforts.
“I think Innisfail did great. I would give them a 10 out of 10,” said Dave Towle, race announcer from Boulder, Colo. “It's the little things like having the kids up on the stage doing their dance routines to start the day.”
Innisfail had proudly stood tall on the world map.
5.
Innisfail sports teams golden
Four Innisfail teams in four different sports were the best of the best in 2014 among their Albertan and national counterparts.
The Indians won the Tier 2 provincial baseball championship on Aug. 3 beating the Barrhead Orioles 9-2 after winning the Peewee A title in 2013. In lacrosse, the Phantoms beat the Vermilion Roar 7-6 for the title following a 2013 finals loss to earn a silver medal.
For the first time in their history, the Innisfail Cyclones of the Mountain View 9 Man Football League took home the provincial title against the Sundre Bison by a score of 64-27.
Meanwhile in the water, the Cottonwood Kayak Club Youth Team won provincials, nationals and the Alberta Summer Games with team members selected as part of Team Canada and Team Alberta.
6.
Daines family legacy continues
The Daines family has been part of Innisfail for more than a century.
Since 1960, Jack Daines has been behind the Daines Family Rodeo. With his “retirement”, the nearly 80-year-old trail boss has handed the reins to the younger generation who will keep the tradition alive.
First-year Red Deer College education student Sydney Daines juggles a pursuit of Canadian Finals Rodeo barrel racing purses, Red Deer College soccer and basketball.
“Sydney is an amazing athlete,” said mother Cheryl of her daughter who was named Innisfail High School's 2014 Female Athlete of the Year.
Three generations of Daineses stood tall as the town's 2014 winners of the Business Contribution Award earlier this fall in recognition of their contributions to Innisfail and area through the Innisfail Auction Market, the annual music Pick-nic and other Daines-hosted fundraisers.
7.
RCMP's busy and tragic year
The spring of 2014 was one of tragedy for Mounties. On June 4, Justin Bourque, 24, killed three Mounties and wounded two others during a shooting spree in Moncton, N.B.
And it was also a hectic time for local Mounties.
On May 15 RCMP were called out to a field east of town to investigate the murder of 27-year-old Oleg Alex Cusnir, whose body was found in a burnt-out Ford F-350. The case remains unsolved.
A month later, local Mounties pursued 20-year-old Dillon Bristow, wanted in connection to a campground robbery. With the recent New Brunswick murders in their minds, dozens of Mounties nabbed the fugitive in Bowden.
“I can't believe how busy it has been. Our resources have been stretched to the limit, absolutely to the limit,” said local RCMP Cpl. Jeff Hildebrandt.
8.
Legion steps up for hero
When the Innisfail Royal Canadian Legion heard that forgotten local First World War hero Lance-Cpl. Edgar Medley would finally be commemorated for his ultimate sacrifice, members immediately seized the day.
With Medley's grandson Robert Marriott flying in from Vancouver, the legion came to the late soldier's private burial site on Oct. 16 at the Don and Wendy Chalack family farm, 23 kilometres southeast of town, and staged a heartfelt service worthy of the hero, who died unrecognized 96 years earlier.
It was the legion's mission of honour for Medley, the community and all of Canada in the year that marked the 100th anniversary of the start of the Great War.
“I cannot believe how much effort everybody has gone to for him to be honoured in this way,” said Medley's granddaughter Karole Sutherland.
9.
Long boarder's death inspires change
The death of Penhold long boarder Trystan Sorensen on May 20 still haunts and motivates his mother Amy.
“Trystan may be dead and can't fight for himself any longer but I am fighting on his behalf,” said Amy, who brings a shrine to his memory at every court appearance of his alleged killer, Jessica Masyk.
The 18-year-old Trystan was killed by a hit-and-run motorist while long boarding west of Penhold on Highway 592. Masyk later turned herself in to police and had been charged in connection to the tragedy, and has subsequently been arrested and charged with various offences since then.
Meanwhile, Trystan's brother Harry Midgely has begun a change.org petition directed to federal Justice Minister Peter Gordon MacKay asking for mandatory penalties for all hit-and-run incidents.
10.
Brian Sutter a Hall of Famer
Innisfail Eagles coach Brian Sutter joined elite company with his induction into the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame alongside Glenn Hall, Bernie Federko, Brett Hull and Scotty Bowman.
“I'm humbled to be part of the Hall with all of the sports greats already inducted,” said Sutter. “To be there along with the men I looked up to is a great honour. I was only as good as those I had around me, and I had good teammates, and my wife has supported me all these years.”
On Sept. 24, Sutter was inducted into the Hall of Fame recognizing his 16 years with the St. Louis Blues of which 12 were as a player, nine as captain and four as coach.
Sutter is in his second year as coach of the Innisfail Eagles.
