You will find St. John’s Anglican Church 70 kms northwest of Edmonton in the town of Onoway. Arriving in town stop by the church, at 4809 - 50 Street, and take a selfie out front before checking out some favourite attractions recommended by local community members.
Situated on Hwy 43 (Alaska Hwy), and connected to Hwy 633, Hwy 33 and Hwy 37, Onoway calls itself the "hub of the highways." It is a popular spot for services and shopping, surrounded by lakes and recreational opportunities. Annually, Onoway hosts a Heritage Days event in June with a parade, street vendors and carnival rides for the kids; a community Threshing Bee using antique tractors and heavy horses in September; and a Community Carol Sing in December.
You can travel east along Hwy 37 to Matchaway Lake, or Devil’s Lake as it is known locally, with many underground springs. Also, close by is Sandy Beach Lake with a public park for swimming, a boat ramp and a picnic area. The western entrance to Alexander First Nation land is also at Sandy Beach Lake.
To the west and south of Onoway is Lac Ste Anne and the village of Alberta Beach with beach access for people, boats, ski-dos and ice fishing huts. Alberta Beach hosts a "Polynesian Days" festival on the August long weekend and "SnoMo Days" on Family Day weekend in February. Continue south on the lakeshore road to the Oblates of St. Mary Mission Parish (of the Catholic archdiocese), home of the Lac Ste Anne Pilgrimage. Every July for 10 days upwards of 30,000 people from around the world pilgrimage to Lac Ste Anne. Further along the road is the hamlet of Darwell, located at the narrows between Lac Ste Anne and Lake Isle and home of the Darwell Summer Fair in August.
Summer villages extend north of Onoway along Hwy 43 to the northern tip of Lac Ste Anne and Glenevis, located at the eastern entrance to the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation. At the Glenevis turnoff follow the sign for George Pegg Botanic Gardens to visit Alberta’s first historic garden with original rustic buildings of the c1914 farm where special events are held throughout the summer.
Returning south on Hwy 43 just past the Gunn Esso turnoff is McCullough Centre, formerly called Gunn Centre. The clergy of our diocese regularly minister to people in this addictions rehabilitation centre founded in the 1940s. Turning east at the Hwy 33 junction leads to the community of Rich Valley. Here there are many farms and more summer villages along the shores of Lake Nakamun and Lac la Nonne. The hamlet of Rich Valley holds community dinners and dances throughout the year and an Agricultural Fair each August. The community arena features an upgraded ice rink as Rich Valley was a finalist in Kraft Hockeyville 2019.
**Please Note: When visiting Onoway, please adhere to the guidelines mandated in Alberta. Stay 6ft apart. Wear a mask. Stay home if you are sick.
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