I was recently invited by the Town of Strathmore to come out and experience all the town has to offer. Despite having lived in Calgary for more than 25 years, I had never been to Strathmore before. I knew nothing about it, which actually was perfect for going into this experience. No previous experience, meant no pre-conceived notions and no expectations.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that Strathmore is an amazing community that has done a great job updating their town to make it attractive for families. It’s now several days later and I’m still thinking about how great it is; it truly has everything a family could want.
So whether you’re looking for something to do on the weekend or you’re looking to relocate your family to a smaller community, here’s your guide to everything to do in Strathmore.
Sweethsmith Candy Co.
The first stop on our tour was Sweethsmith Candy co. We had hyped this trip pretty big for Clara, but we didn’t know what we would actually be doing, so when our first stop was an honest-to-goodness candy factory, her little mind was blown.
Sweetsmith Candy Co. was founded by Dannah Davies in the summer of 2012. With money saved for school, that she earned from paper routes, and jobs growing up, she began cooking her candy at home and selling at a local farmer’s market once a week.
Since then her business has boomed and now includes sales across North America and Europe.
All of their products are created on 100% gluten-free, egg-free, seed-free, and tree nut-free equipment. Additionally, they sell a number of peanut-free items. When peanut-free candy is made, no peanut ingredient is open or in close proximity to these candies. Any equipment that has touched peanuts is thoroughly cleaned and sanitized before they begin making the peanut-free options.
The fact that Strathmore has an amazing candy factory, subtly tucked into its industrial area is enough reason to go to Strathmore on its own.
Strathmore Rec Centre
The next stop on our tour was the Strathmore Motor Products Sports Centre.
This. Place. Is. HUGE.
I was blown away at how big it is. Clara just wanted to run around the whole area, and I don’t blame her. Home to 4 basketball courts, a soccer field and multi-use area that can be used for everything from floor hockey, to baseball, to roller derby. The lower level has everything you could ever need. And did I mention how big it is??
The upper level has a running track, that is kept open in the winter to offer families a place to go for a walk without having to freeze outside.
They offer a ton of classes and are now open again after having to close because of COVID-19.
Strathmore Pool
Unlike some small towns in Alberta, Strathmore has an AMAZING pool facility. Situated right next to the arena and just down the street from the high school, the Strathmore Aquatic Centre features a 6-lane, 25-meter swimming pool with a diving board and a climbing wall. The facility also includes a leisure pool for children, a hot tub, a waterslide and a multi-purpose room. Clara was super impressed by the climbing wall in the water and said we have to go back to try the “very scary slide!”
Origin Malting & Brewing
No travel guide is complete without a food and beverage section and Strathmore has two of the best in one location. Origin Malting & Brewing is a family-friendly taproom. Dubbed Alberta’s Farm to Table beer, Origin Malting & Brewing uses barley grown on their local family farm to offer a truly sustainable grain to glass experience. The huge taproom and patio has lots of space to social distance and still enjoy a beverage.
Hunger Paynes
Perfectly located off the Origin Malting & Brewing patio is Hunger Paynes Cookshack and Concession. Open year-round, this family-run business offers amazing food to satisfy big hungers. When we checked it out, Jane had the Wildfire burger and it came out nearly the size of her head. I had the grilled cheese and Clara and Ryker enjoyed some chicken nuggets. It was all amazing.
Downtown Strathmore
We wrapped up our tour with full bellies, in downtown Strathmore. It’s in downtown where you notice perhaps the most changes occuring. The downtown sidewalks have been widened and include benches and rows of flowers to create an incredibly welcoming environment for pedestrians. The pond is situated next to the new Town Hall building being constructed and the whole area is easily walkable to do all your shopping. There’s a playground and waterpark as well, and it’s easy to see how you could spend an entire afternoon downtown.
Strathmore Golf Club
Strathmore Golf Club was established 99 years ago, making this course one of the oldest in Alberta. While this wasn’t on our tour, we did take a drive by and the established beauty is easy to see with the full grown trees, and carefully maintained turf. Weekend rates are only $60 or if you’re so inclined you can get a full membership for only $3,500.
More Fun Things To Do With Your Kids
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