The dynamic nature of the valley’s landscape was on full display last week as a major slide near Nacmine caught the attention of readers.

    Long time resident Fred Orosz noticed the slide on the south side of Highway 575 on the way to Nacmine, just beyond the Commander Mine site. A large portion of the hill had separated and slid. He brought it to the attention of The Mail.
    He also pointed out the slide to David Eberth, research scientist in sedimentary geology and palaeoecology research at the Royal Tyrrell Museum. Eberth tells The Mail these appear to be becoming more numerous recently.
    “This is a pattern we have seen that has become more wide spread as we have seen overall more moisture over the last few years. That is what is to be expected. That is what this landscape does,” he said.
    As part of his profession, he finds himself keeping an eye on different sites where slides appear to be happening. One of interest is near the Morrin Bridge, where it has actually covered the road on a couple occasions. Another, he and other researchers are keeping an eye on, is near a road close to the Little Church.
    “We’ve had so much moisture last year and the year before in the spring, it just makes this stuff move,” he said.
    He adds that recent warm weather contributes to slides. “When you are getting freezing and thawing, it is the perfect combination to create these glide plains in the shallow subsurface, so you are getting these slumps everywhere,” he said.  
    There is potential for these kinds of slumps, especially near property, that could be of concern.
    “This is a ongoing problem and a real headache for the highways people, and I have nothing but respect for their efforts to deal with it,” he said.
    For researchers, this may give the opportunity to expose items of interest.
    “That has always been the gateway for us. The flood mitigation money the province made available to a variety of institutions, including ours, we were able to find a variety of new specimens the last couple years,” he said.

    This year the Hand Hills Lake Stampede is celebrating its 100th year, and memories of its unique and exciting history are on the top of minds of many who have taken in the up-close and personal rodeo.
    For Larry Rosin, one of theses unique memories is of elephants, and now he has photo proof.
    “I can remember them, but a lot of people didn’t,” he tells The Mail.
    He explains the committee has been working on a picture book to commemorate the rodeo, and as they researched, he talked about the elephants, but with no photo and not many others to corroborate, this one footnote in the Hand Hills history seemed destined to disappear.
    He recalls vividly the elephant display that came with the Gayland Shows Midway.
    Gayland Shows, according to the website Amusements of Western Canada, was one of the earlier shows out of Western Canada, traced back as far as 1939.  On its route were small town fairs and rodeos, throughout the prairie provinces and B.C.
    Over the years it had a varied lineup including a wildlife menagerie, the monkey motordrome and dog and pony shows, to name a few.
    Rosin, now 69, remembers the elephants when he was 11 or 12 years old.
    “They had a show in a big tent, with other animals,” he recalls. “Ian Morrison from Delia and a friend of his, they were 12 or 14. They were paid to pump water and take it to the elephants. They got paid 50 cents that day.”
    He said the show would then move on to Hanna.
    “I had been telling people for a couple years, but they would say ‘no way,’” he chuckles.
    Marilyn Vredegoor recalls Rosin talking about the elephants, but not many others had the same recollections.
    "I remember that Larry did say ‘I remember the elephants’ and everyone kind of laughed at him,” she said. “Then I talked to Julie (Lenfesty) and she said she remembered something about it. Two weeks ago, she found the picture.”
    While there might not be any elephants at this year’s event, it is shaping up to be a memorable show. As for Rosin, he is vindicated to learn his childhood memory has been confirmed.
    “I am glad they have a picture.”
    This year's Stampede will be held June 3, 4, 5, 2016.