David Hancock and Karen Bills of Hancock Wildlife Foundation View Eagles

And while you’re visiting the area, check out the scenery aboard a riverboat tour with Fraser River Safari.  For schedules and tour details visit www.fraserriversafari.com.

Sandpiper Golf Resort's Owner, Betty Anne Faulkner and eagle,Sonsie share a wink

The Greater Vancouver Zoo is working with the team at Xa:ytem Interpretive Centre  during the festival as well.  Drop by to see the live exhibit of the Great Horned Owl, Barn Owl and maybe, if you’re lucky, Meredith the Bald Eagle may be visiting.  Xa:ytem features local native art and gifts in their First Nations gift gallery too.  There are great gift ideas for Christmas.  For directions and hours of operation visit www.xaytem.ca.

Extend your eagle viewing adventure with an overnight stay at Sandpiper Golf Resort and Rowena’s Inn.  This exquisite heritage Manor is the former summer home of the Pretty Family. Filled with favourite family antiques and heirlooms, including a photo wall revealing the faces of the family behind the home, the ambiance is cultured and luxurious.  Enjoy a lavish hot and cold breakfast in the solarium located off the main dining lounge, or stay in one of the four west coast chic cabins – each complete with king-sized bed, soaker jacuzzi tub and river rock fireplace – a perfect retreat to relax with a glass of wine while admiring the view out over the river.  Whether you choose to stay at the Inn or in a cabin, the eagles will soar past gracing you with their majesty.  Visit www.sandpiperresort.ca for package details.

The Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society – OWL – is a dynamic organization comprised of people who care deeply about the safety of birds of prey.  The web site offers information on educational programs and special events, as well as contact information should you site a bird in need.  Please visit www.owlcanada.ca.

All Photos Courtesy of R. Bond, CtoC Productions

Interior cabin at Sandpiper Golf Resort and Rowena's Inn

By KURT LANGMANN Aldergrove Star

The familiar fairground smells of cotton candy, pop and hot dogs will mingle with that of Cornish pasties, spotted dick and grog this summer at the Aldergrove Fair Days.

And, alongside the tractor pull competitions there will be armoured men mounted atop valiant steeds, running into each other with pointed sticks in an event called ?jousting.?

That?s because this July the annual festival here will combine forces with a medieval re-enactment society to present B.C.?s first Renaissance Festival.

Under the banner of ?Medieval Madness,? the two organizations are collaborating on making this a country fair with a difference.

The Society of Tilt and Lance Cavalry, based in Calgary, will be providing the jousting tournament entertainment inside a recreated medieval village called Steller?s Grove, that will be set up alongside the Aldergrove Days fairgrounds at South Aldergrove Park.

?RenFest? society members will be in full costume, set circa the 16th century, and acting out their roles. The village fool, wenches, monks and nuns, pub master, squires, a lord and lady, smiths, and the like will wander the property during the day. You can talk to them and take pictures with them. These folks have welcomed you into their village for the day and expect you to be merry.

Vendors also get into the atmosphere by dressing up. After all, they are merchants of the village and seek payment in the coin of the realm ? meaning no credit cards, please.

Musicians and jugglers will perform in the style of the time and guests are invited to join the daily ?pub sings.?

The story-line for the weekend of July 27-29 is posted on the society?s website, http://www.bcrenfest.ca and guests are invited to dress up and choose a supporting role if they desire. The year is 1509, Henry VIII has succeeded his father as the King of England, and has ordered a census to be taken, but the connivings of townspeople and the invading pirates of the Jade Dragon play havoc with the royal pomp and circumstance.

It will run from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day of the fair, and admission is $10 adult or $7 for child or senior.

This year a country fair with a real difference

The Aldergrove Agricultural Association, the Aldergrove Festival Days Society and the B.C. Rennaissance Festival are working together to bring Medieval Madness to the 2007 Aldergrove Fair Days.? The spectacular event begins Friday, July 27, and continues July 28 and 29 at South Aldergrove Park and Kinsmen Community Centre in Aldergrove.?

Events will be spread over the South Aldergrove Park fields with the Renaissance Festival Jousting and Tractor Pull events, the Agricultural Association?s Fair in the Aldergrove?Community Secondary area, a midway, entertainment, chili cook-off,?vendors, Kids Zone?and displays over the Kinsmen Centre and fields area.

The 95th annual Aldergrove Agricultural Association?s Fair will provide crafts, exhibits, petting zoo, 4-H demonstrations, educational displays, silent auction, canning and baking and more. ?The Fair?s Antique Tractor Pull will provide demonstrations ? agritourism at its finest.?

The Aldergrove Festival Days Society Parade takes place downtown on the Saturday morning, with a 10 a.m. start. You can enter your community group or business in the parade by checking the website.???

There will be a spectacular fireworks display set to music on the Saturday at 10 p.m., a midway and rides provided by West Coast Amusements, Kidszone, a Talent Contest, the annual Chili Cookoff sponsored by Curves, Bike Decorating, five Entertainment Stages and plenty of food vendors and displays.?? The live entertainment starts Friday night and runs all day Saturday and Sunday with the likes of?The Higgins, Aimee Pettersen, Mike Battie Children?s Stage Show, Gabby?s Dance Team, Smith and Jones, Aldergrove Fair Days Talent Contest, Roswell Band, Sweet Max, 32nd Avenue Band, and more.

The B.C. Rennaissance Festival is thrilled to be hosting the first-ever Rennaissance Festival in British Columbia here in Aldergrove.? There will be a Medieval Town set up,?a Medieval Tavern, a Labyrinth Maze and plenty of vendors, entertainment and concessions for your pleasure. A wonderful story line for fairgoers to follow, set in the year 1509, is available on their website.

Also?their jousters are coming for the first-ever public joust in British Columbia. The Society of Tilt and Lance Cavalry are coming from Calgary, and this is full contact insanity. Opponents don 100 pounds of stainless steel armour, grab a hardwood lance and gallop toward each other on horseback. Ouch! That?s definitely got to hurt.

Aldergrove is gearing up for these events with the Business Dress Up contest and organizers invite all local businesses to enter this year with a Medieval Madness theme. Dress-up for the theme includes wenches, ladies? medieval or renaissance gowns, nobles, pirates and even Hobbits.? Men can try their faces as nobles, knights or fencers.

The Fair will also be presenting the Hilda Reddick Memorial Community Service Award and Youth Award.

Organizers invite everyone to come out and enjoy the Fair.? The Fair is offering something new this year, a weekend pass rate, a discounted Friday night rate, student and senior discounts, and for children 12 and under admission is free.??

The BC RenFest area admission is $10 daily, with discounts for students and seniors.? A unique and spectacular weekend of entertainment.

Look over the website and links for registrations for events, and links to B.C. Renaissance?and events:?www.aldergrovefairdays.com.? For volunteer information call Mike 604-351-1175, Karen 604-418-9507.;

Nestled inside a large rural, agricultural area of east Langley and west Abbotsford, it’s the “city-meets-country” ambience that makes for such a wide and growing range of activities for residents and visitors.

The new South Aldergrove Park sports complex has already attracted thousands of competitors to soccer and baseball games and tournaments. All have sung praises for its design, with eight ball fields and full amenities, including a modern field house and night lighting. This augments a network of community sports fields that also include rugby and football, as well as Aldergrove Community Arena (call 604-856-1517) for ice sports.

There are also the Kinsmen Community Centre (up to 200 people, call 604-856-2899) and Langley Banquet Centre (up to 700 people, call 604-856-9005) for special events and Aldergrove Secondary’s gyms for basketball and volleyball, used by both school and private clubs (call 604-856-2521).

There are also a number of exceptional passive parks to walk and play in, including the large Ponder Park owned by the Scouts/Guides, and regional district parks such as Aldergrove Lake and Glen Valley.

Horse riders find much to enjoy in Aldergrove, as there are a number of stables and facilities available, including the Thunderbird Show Park complex in North Otter. For equestrian information call the Horse Council B.C. in Aldergrove: 604-856-4304.

Another popular outdoor activity is meandering through Greater Vancouver Zoo, with 600 varieties of animals exhibited in natural surroundings. For information call 604-856-6825 or see website www.gvzoo.com.

Enjoy a step back in time at the all-new Twilight Drive-in movie theatre, the only one remaining in the region. For listings information call 604-856-5063 see their website http://members.shaw.ca/twilightdrivein/.

History buffs will enjoy the Aldergrove Telephone Museum and Community Archives at Kinsmen Heritage Park, 3190 – 271 St.; call 604-857-0555 for information.

Two long-standing societies, Aldergrove Festival Days and Agricultural Association, have combined forces this year to present Aldergrove Fair Days from July 28 to 30. There will be a Grand Parade downtown, the 94th annual Agricultural Fair, Tractor Pull, Pet Parade, Chili Cook-off, Main-stage Entertainment, Bike Decorating, Midway and Rides and much more. They also bring the annual Santa Claus Parade every Christmas. For information see the website www.aldergrovefairdays.com or call 604-671-8948 or 604-856-2749.

Other special events include the Bradner Flower Show every April, Bradner May Day festivities on the May long weekend, and Mount Lehman Country Fair in September.

There is a superb selection of venues for dining and nightlife, to suit all tastes. Milsean offers teas, sweets and light meals in the renovated former Aldergrove Fire Hall (604-856-5810). Del Pollo has a tapas-style menu and live entertainment weekend nights (604-857-0556). Char’s Bar & Grill has fine European dining prepared by top chefs (604-607-1242). Fox & Hounds neighbourhood pub has great pub food (604-856-8111). Mustang’s Bar & Grill has a large menu range and also opens up its country-rock cabaret at night (604-856-9004). There is a wide array of ethnic eateries too, offering Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai and Indian foods. The newest addition is the West Abbotsford Station House Bar & Grill steakhouse (604-857-0128).

In addition to the downtown commercial area, there are four major malls: Otter Co-op, Aldergrove Centre, Countryside, and Aldergrove Village shopping centres. Quality lodgings include Country Best Western (604-856-9880)and Super 8 Motel – Langley (1-877-690-7666).;