Do Something Newell

“Do Something Newell” they said, so I did.

Earlier this year, I travelled to the Brooks Region for a work project. In addition to consulting with local employers and businesses, I got to have a little bit of a working holiday and this also allowed me to chat with locals and get a better sense of the flavour of the Region.

 

Attractions

I found a River in the Sky. The Brooks Aqueduct is a National and Provincial Historic Site. The Brooks Aqueduct was built by CP Rail between 1912 and 1914 as part of an irrigation system to provide water to the arid farmlands of southeastern Alberta. It sets the stage for much of the agricultural activity that exists in the Region today. I knew it would be big, but I was still awed by its size when I saw with my own eyes.

 

I had the opportunity to go to Dinosaur Provincial Park – UNESCO World Heritage Site. It truly is like stepping into a different time and place, and had I more time, I would have loved to have hiked their trails. A warm, sunny day in January seemed like the perfect opportunity to do so.

 

 

“Rural areas have a great opportunity to capture new tourism opportunities.”

~ Roger Brooks

Ethnic Food, Coffee Shops, and Microbreweries

I ate well while I was in the Brooks Region and in some unique atmospheres.

I was first delighted by The Steaming Cup in the downtown. This quaint coffee shop is exactly what every downtown needs. They sell specialty coffees, lattes, teas, snacks, art, and the wares of local artisans – truly local. The hearty bowl of soup and biscuit made for a perfect lunch!

      

Nikko Sushi has a reputation for producing great sushi and was plenty busy when I checked in there. This picture really says it all…Because of the diverse cultural make-up of the Brooks Region, they have some great ethnic food options. I ate a delicious meal at the Indian PanFlame Restaurant. I had a mango lassi and tried the chicken biryani.

Wasana Restaurant was recommended to me and I’m glad it was; I would have easily passed it over otherwise. This family-run restaurant specializes in Asian and Thai food and includes all kinds of Asian decor. Another unique and delicious ethnic meal. It was obvious by the conversations occurring that this friendly owner was beloved by his customers.

Brooks has two fantastic microbreweries that are great places to hang out: The Newell Brewing Company[1] and Piston Broke. Virendra Singh founded the Newell Brewing Company and he had a friend from India do all the wood décor. The artwork is also fascinating and has an interesting story.

Piston Broke, founded by a couple of mechanics, has a fun theme and atmosphere. When I popped in it was a hopping place as it was crib night. This was a great example of that “third place” where people like to hang out.

      

Microbreweries are also great places to purchase local souvenirs (product) and I definitely did that :).

I had to conduct some interviews in the rural areas as well, so stopping in at the Little Teapot Cafe & Bakery in Duchess was a must. Although I would have loved to have spent more time there, I did get a chance to have a lovely cup of tea, a delicious bowl of soup, and melt-in-your-mouth pastry.

   

The People

I was greeted by many friendly business owners and workers throughout my expedition. It was obvious to me both during my visits as a consumer, and as a consultant conducting interviews with locals, that the good folks of the Brooks Region are the honest, friendly, down-to-earth folk that are familiar to me in rural regions.

Next Trip

Unfortunately, I simply had to rush through a lot of my experiences due to my time commitments; however, there is always next time. I was to travel to the Region again this spring, but sadly the COVID pandemic halted all travel plans. That doesn’t mean I won’t go back. I would definitely visit all of the above again, but there were a few places that I didn’t get to check out which I hope to next time including:

• More shopping and exploring in downtown Brooks including the Brooks Hotel (they are supposed to serve a delicious Brooks Hotel sandwich there)
• There was a new Mexican restaurant – Don Chava Taqueria – in Brooks
• Badlands Mercantile in Patricia (since it was the offseason, it was closed)
• Lake Newell and Kinbrook Island Provincial Park – lots of folks raved about this place
• Bassano Dam
• Pivot Spirits – a microdistillery in Rolling Hills that was under construction during my visit

 

[1] Newell Brewing Company has since sold to Canadian Beaver Brewing & Distilling Company Ltd.