This season, expect a new flavour on the docket at MacKay’s Ice Cream — the ice-cream artists have unveiled two new creations in support of the Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park.
Beginning today (May 1), ice cream fans will have the opportunity to sample two park-specific flavours — strawberry rhubarb pie and butter tart — and vote for their favourite.
“We wanted to come up with flavours that bring us back to the roots of ranching,” said Meghan Tayfel, who owns and operates the homemade ice cream business with her husband Mark. “We didn’t want to go too crazy with the artificial flavours, instead we wanted to create something that the homesteaders would have made.”
The winner of the contest will be decided by public votes. Taste testers can vote in the MacKay’s store or online at grpf.ca.
“This contest is just another way that Cochrane businesses have adopted our park,” said Tara McFadden, community engagement coordinator for the Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation (GRPF). “Our aim is to engage the people of Cochrane and area — let them know that this is their park too.”
MacKay’s Ice Cream is just one of about 20 Cochrane businesses the foundation calls a Perks Partner. As a partner, the businesses offer discounts and perks to foundation members. At MacKay’s members get a $1 discount when they buy one litre of ice cream.
Aside from deals at participating local businesses, the park organization’s membership program — which costs $35 for an individual or $50 for a family — supports the park’s natural resources and contributes towards program and infrastructure development.
And who wouldn’t want to claim the park as their own. Staring out the window of the Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation’s boardroom, located on site at the provincial park, an eagle soars over acres of rolling hills and groomed trails. A group of hikers gesture towards the window, waving as they head out for a walk.
“There’s so much going on here at the park,” said McFadden. “It’s really hard to believe that (the park) is still a bit of a secret.”
Established in 2011 and featuring more than 1300 acres of foothills parkland, Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park stretches from Calgary’s not-yet-developed Haskayne Park to Cochrane.
With high season lingering just days away, the foundation is kicking into high gear, readying the park for a summer full of activities. With a schedule that includes bird watching, environmental and conservation programs, and kids camps — McFadden said she’s set to blow last year’s park attendance of 65,000 visits out of the water.
This year, she said she is hoping to reach 100,000.
Recently the park recruited a new four-legged patrol member to help oversee the park and the thousands of visitors. The five-year-old dark bay gelding joined the team about a month ago and was named on May 1 through another community-based contest.
As of April 30, 18 voters had chosen the name Scout for the young horse. The second place moniker, Trooper, has five votes.
“Right now, Scout’s leading the race by 13 horse lengths,” said McFadden with a laugh.
To learn more about the foundation’s initiatives and contests, visit grpf.ca or check out the Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation on Facebook.
For more information on the Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park, visit albertaparks.ca/glenbow-ranch.aspx.
