Get Hitched!

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The cozy and comfortable ambiance of a quaint venue in the countryside is the perfect setting for a unique and sophisticated wedding. A picturesque outdoor wedding inspired by nature, keeps it simple and elegant while providing the opportunity to use nature as your backdrop. Just imagine… mason jars filled with wild flowers become centerpieces, tree branches mark your aisle, and wooden coasters become place cards. The beauty of any wedding is the simple touches that add personality and uniqueness.

If an outdoor wedding isn’t your style, there are also a number of beautiful indoor venues available at The Crossing, including a screened-in riverside pavilion or a traditional barn with an outdoor patio. To accompany the perfect venue, The Crossing offers world class meals, tailored to each couple’s taste or theme.

Whether you have been dreaming of this day since you were a little girl or only recently started thinking about this exciting adventure, The Crossing at Ghost River provides a variety of options to suit any couple.

To inquire about our wedding venues and services, please call 403-932-3392.

Sights, Sounds, and Smells of the Season!

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The Season is upon us!  Whether you are getting ready to string lights, put up the tree, or bust out the rolling pin for some holiday baking, the holidays are right around the corner.  Some may loathe them, and some may love them, but regardless of where you fall on the spectrum it is hard to deny the beauty that this time of year brings.

From lights and decorations, to songs and children’s squeals of delight, it’s hard to be a Grinch.  I mean who can pass up a festive cocktail and canape or two…or seven.  And, the season begins long before the floor is littered with wrapping paper and everyone is fighting for a spot on the couch in a turkey coma.  Some of the best things about the holiday season are the events and traditions leading up the various celebrations.  The annual visit with Santa for the little ones, local holiday markets, food and beverage events, skating, tobogganing….the list goes on.  Here at The Crossing we love tradition, and we love being located in an active community that recognizes and fosters holiday cheer!  And so, we have put together a small list of local activities to help deck the halls and make your season merry and bright!

Enjoy the wonder of the season!

Banff Beer Fest – November 27/28th journey through Banff to find your favourite craft beer! www.albertabeerfestivals.com

Lights – Calgary Zoo ZOOLIGHTS from November 27th to January 2nd with full details at http://www.calgaryzoo.com/zoolightsyyc

Art – Youth Art Show starting December 5th to January 23rd featuring local artists from Grades 7-12 at the Leighton Art Centre http://leightoncentre.org/exhibitions/exhibit/generation-genesis-youth-art-show-206

Public Skating – Saturdays and Sundays from 1-2:15pm through December at Spray Lakes Sawmills Family Sports Centre http://www.slssportscentre.com/

Visit with Santa – December 5th to 20th at Spray Lakes Sawmills Family Sports Centre http://www.slssportscentre.com/

Christmas Market – December 12th marks the Cochrane Farmers’ Market Last Minute Christmas Market at Spray Lakes Sawmills Family Sports Centre http://www.cochrane-environment.org/farmers-market

Santa Claus Parade – December 12th is also host to the second annual Cochrane Santa Claus Parade starts at 5:00pm.

Music – Sounds of the season can be heard from the Cochrane Music Society on December 15th starting at 7:30 pm, Cochrane Alliance Church, 902 Glenbow Drive.  Admission is free.  A donation to the food bank is welcome, more details at www.cochranemusic.ca .  Additionally, The Cochrane Young Singers Christmas Concert, also on Dec. 15th at 7:00 pm, Location TBD.  Please bring a food bank donation.  (www.cochraneyoungsingers.com)

Thanks + Giving

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It’s finally here, our favourite fall feast weekend!  We’ve had visions of drumsticks, dressing, and pumpkin pie dancing in our heads for several weeks now and can almost taste it!  And although we are clearly lovers of all things ‘food’, we love what food can do even more, especially this upcoming weekend….it brings people together.

One thing that makes Thanksgiving ‘la crème de la crème’ of holidays is that it is a simple holiday; its roots are firmly planted in gathering to give thanks.  No shopping for present stressors, no figuring out why the strand of christmas lights is out, and as pretty as it is, no snow.  Really let’s all just agree that Thanksgiving is the perfect holiday!

Just as the pilgrims used to gather and feast together, being grateful for the harvest and the year to come, we too still celebrate in that tradition.  Granted, the world has changed significantly and perhaps some of the past traditions have changed but the premise is the same.  On the second Monday of October, Canadians gather with family and friends over turkey, pumpkin pie, and all the trimmings.  Most of us are very blessed; we have roofs over our heads, food on the table, and at least a few people in this world who we can really count on.  That in itself is something to be grateful for.

This year we want to offer up a bit of a ‘thanks giving’ challenge.  As much as we all relax and enjoy in each other’s company, watching the game, jumping in leaves with the kids, lingering over coffee after ‘the feast’, let’s try to be even more present.  Let’s try to take a few moments to really sit and think about everything we have to be thankful for.  One way to do this, and to really make those around you feel special, is by sharing a complement or something you are grateful for before starting dinner.  It is easy. Once everyone is sitting down one person starts and tells the person to their left (or right…whatever you choose) why you are grateful for them or something they do that you appreciate.  It is really amazing the things that come out of this.  Not only do people feel loved and appreciated, but sometimes you can learn that something you do (without even realizing it) makes a difference to someone else.  Perhaps you even want to take it a step further and during dessert share a personal event that you are thankful for that is in your life or occurred this year.  These simple exercises really push us to be present and to reflect on the abundance of good that it is in our lives.

At the end of the day there is so much to be thankful for.  Here at The Crossing we marvel every day at the beauty that surrounds us, we are grateful for the funny, hardworking, and vibrant team that makes this place tick, and obviously we have incredible clients whose loyalty, feedback, and presence allows us to live our dream of sharing this special place with others.

So to you and yours, from us and ours, we wish you a very happy and healthy Thanksgiving weekend!

2014, Thank You

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It’s hard to believe that in less than 24hrs a new year will be upon us, with many of us saying, ‘where did the time go?” So today, in the last few hours of 2014, we wanted to take some time to reflect on what an incredible year it has been.

One of the most important things to us at The Crossing is our relationships, and so, it seems appropriate to start there. This past year has brought us a host of new guests ranging from corporate, to non-profit, education, wellness, public service, and the arts, just to name a few. The variety of the groups and individuals has had such an inspiring impact on our own team and we are constantly learning new things from our guests. We were also extremely proud to welcome back many old friends whose companies and organizations have been visiting us regularly, some for over 10 years; a true honour in our books to have been your chosen host!

A year of firsts comes to mind when looking back through some of the unique, and truly unbelievable events held at The Crossing in 2014! Never in our wildest dreams did our quiet little piece of country paradise think that it would host the Stampede party of the year thrown by The National Music Centre with friends Jim Cuddy, Buffy Sainte-Marie, and Paul Brandt! It was magic, something we will never forget! We also made many people happy when the wish for a yoga retreat was offered by the talented Suzette O’Byrne of Flow Training and Yoga, a very rewarding journey for everyone in attendance and a welcome addition to programs at The Crossing.

Our close ties to art through our sister organization, Reflections West Art, brought the WestGuild artists to us not once, but twice this year. With a retreat in February, and again in August (sharing some events with our friends at the Leighton Art Centre), budding and accomplished artists, both young and old, descended on The Crossing to learn from some of Western Canada’s greatest talents. Both weekends certainly were a feast for the eyes!

We would be amiss if we didn’t include some of our tried and true fan favourite events, especially our ever popular Mother’s Day Brunch and Father’s Day BBQ. The holiday season also brings us many repeat guests who happily mix business with pleasure by working in some team building with their annual holiday party. Throughout all of the yearly festivities, one thing is for sure, no one leaves The Crossing hungry, Chef Doug and his team make sure of it!

One of the things that we are perhaps most proud of this year is getting to know and to be in the company of some amazing organizations who do incredible work. Already mentioned are the National Music Centre and Reflections West Art, both bringing the arts to the masses. We are also very proud to be involved with Casting for Life (women’s cancer survivors fly fishing weekend), and Diakonos Retreat Society in conjunction with the Calgary Fire Department (couples’ retreats to help maintain healthy relationships in a demanding career), among several other organizations who are doing spectacular things in our communities.

Last but not least, we want to reflect on all of the additions and teamwork that has taken place internally this year at The Crossing. It takes a certain person to, not only understand guest service, but to genuinely care for our guests. We feel that we have found those team members and they work very hard to make The Crossing feel like your home. Many long hours, multiple shifts, and time away from their own families was sacrificed to make this a very successful year at The Crossing. For all of this, we want to say thank you, thank you, thank you!

With just a few hours left in 2014, we look back with fond memories and are grateful for all the lessons and opportunities this past year afforded us. Our promise is to study and learn from these so that we can provide an even better experience to all of our guests in 2015!

All the best, see you in the New Year!

A Perfect Match!

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It finally happened….yoga!

For as long as we can remember, people have been asking, “when is there going to be a yoga retreat at The Crossing?” Well, it came, it was zen and bendy and fantastic, and now we can officially say we have hosted a dedicated yoga retreat thanks to Suzette O’Byrne and her students from Flow Training and Yoga.

A veteran instructor, Suzette came across our location and decided it was an excellent opportunity to host a local retreat. Truly a professional, Suzette had essentially sold out the retreat before we even had the opportunity to advertise it on her behalf! And so, last weekend, with 14 students in tow, Flow Training and Yoga made the short trek to The Crossing for a weekend of nurturing, yoga, relaxation, and building friendships.

The retreat commenced on Friday evening with an opening and grounding ceremony, followed by an evening yoga practice. With yoga sessions sprinkled throughout the weekend, it was important to Suzette to convey that the retreat was about nurturing; doing what people felt was best for them. Some participated in all practices throughout the weekend, while others took one off to have some downtime and enjoy the setting. Using the Pine Loft as their classroom base, everyone really enjoyed the bright, sunny space and dedicated ‘studio’.

As with most groups, mealtimes were a highlight! Deciding to eat ‘family style’ really made an impact on the group and Suzette mentioned that it allowed everyone to bond more easily, which is exactly what we always hope for around the ‘family table’. Overall it was a lovely weekend and The Crossing was very happy that Suzette and her students chose to host their retreat with us!

Yoga practice is a beautiful and individual journey, and we truly feel that The Crossing atmosphere deepens this experience. Please let us know if you would be interested in participating in a yoga retreat at The Crossing, or if you are an instructor looking for the perfect retreat setting, we would love to talk to you!

Your Friends at The Crossing

*Please note that picture is from a photo shoot with our friends at INLIV

Thanks for Thanksgiving!

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Who doesn’t love a time of year when outdoors looks like a Norman Rockwell painting, or that it is time to pull out your favourite wool sweater, or perhaps that the season now calls for culinary comforts such as shepherd’s pie, chili and cider?

Fall is here in all of its glory! Mother Nature is a master composer, blessing us with brilliant seasons, each one different than the next. With Thanksgiving weekend upon us, it is no wonder that she saved the brilliant colours, tastes and gatherings for Fall so that we could feast our eyes, tummies, and hearts.  To kick off this beautiful Thanksgiving weekend, we wanted to share some of the things that we are thankful for with you!

We are thankful for….
…This beautiful place we call The Crossing; the land is a true gift that gives in so many different ways.
…Our Crossing Team and extended company colleagues who truly are like family; a group where hugs are preferred over handshakes.
…The wonderful smells that waft out of our kitchen from food that is prepared with the utmost love and care, visibly bringing joy to those who consume it.
….The many hands that treat The Crossing as if it were their own, mindfully and tenderly making sure that everything is ‘just so’ to ensure our guests always feel like they are at home.
…Hours of laughter, tears, and long conversation that we have watched our guests enjoy while they are with us.
…The naturally occurring soundtrack of the river, birds, and the rustling shimmer of wind through the grasses and trees that we are priviledged to listen to everyday.
….Our community that has embraced and engaged with us on a multitude of levels.
….Lastly, you, our guests, followers, and supporters, thank you for encouraging us to continue to do what we believe in and for helping make it possible!

In closing, we just want to share the warmth of the season with you. Many of us are so lucky, let us remember this and to share our good fortune with others.

From our home to yours, all the very best this Thanksgiving weekend!

Your friends at The Crossing

Welcome to the family Ray!

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There’s a new friendly face out here at The Crossing!  We would like to take a moment to formally introduce you to the newest member of our family, Guest Services Coordinator, Ray Cluney!

Getting to know our guests is of great importance to us, and we feel that it is important that you know a bit about us too.  Therefore we would like to share a little bit about Ray so that when you walk in the front door, and see his smiling face, it will be as if you are being greeted by an old friend.

As with all of our team members, we like to ask about their first impressions of The Crossing, whatever they may be. Here is what Ray had to say…

“My first impression when I walked through the doors of The Crossing was how welcoming and friendly the staff are, from the heart of the house to everyone behind the scenes.”

Originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Ray moved to Banff, Alberta in April 1998 and never looked back. Jumping in with both feet, Ray started in the hospitality industry at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.   He acquired a priceless skill set working in several departments over 16 years, from dishwashing, to staff cafeteria, room service, the golf course, guest services, and everywhere in between.

Ray and his family and are proud to call Cochrane their home after relocating in June 2013.    When Ray isn’t working his magic at The Crossing he can be found partaking in several of his favourite hobbies stating that he is, “ a comic nerd, movie buff and proud member of the KISS Army who loves the Toronto Maple Leafs.”

We won’t hold that last part against you Ray. All jokes aside, you are part of The Crossing family now Ray and we couldn’t be happier! 

 

Come One, Come All!

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With roots dating back to 1902, “The Little Engine That Could” is a story that we love here at The Crossing.  Its values of positivity and hard work are two things that strive to accomplish every single day.  Similarly, we are not the biggest train on the track and we might not have all the bells and whistles of a larger engine, but we have the ones that count and we more than make up for the rest with passion!

This week we want to spend some time sharing the spectrum of what The Crossing can offer.  With over 140 acres of beautiful Rocky Mountain foothills as our backyard, cozy but modern accommodations, food to rival the best around, and staff who live and breathe hospitality, let us open the doors of possibility for you!

Off-site corporate conferencing and meetings find a comfortable and productive home here at The Crossing.  With several meeting spaces, food services to accommodate a variety of schedules and needs, and casual common spaces which spur social interaction, we are proud to have built strong relationships through the many return visits of our group guests.  Add in endless opportunity to team build, either on or off-site through our local connections, our guests often reach a new level of ‘teamwork’.  Think orienteering, team development with horses, group yoga or fitness, heck, even a bouncy castle obstacle course; we’ll work to deliver a unique experience for your team.   We understand and respect the hard work that not-for-profit and charitable organizations do and, that they too, need time and space to plan and achieve their goals.  At The Crossing, we are happy to work with groups in the non-profit sector to aid in creating an experience that meets both their productivity and financial expectations.

We are often asked, “Can I come out for a night with my friends, family or spouse?”  Yes you can!  Although we do not operate like a hotel, The Crossing does offer a variety of ways that you can enjoy a stay with us through programs and special events.  Throughout the year, various instructors ranging from art to yoga, business, leadership, and fitness just to name a few, set up day or overnight workshops that individuals can sign up for.  Often hikes, bonfires, outdoor games and ample downtime to enjoy the property are worked into the schedule.  The most popular question we are often asked at the end of these are, “when is the next program I can sign up for?”

Custom, each and every visit to The Crossing is built upon the needs of our guests and no two are alike.  Need one meeting space for an afternoon or the entire property for several days?  We can do that.  Does your group have several dietary restrictions?  We can work to provide a menu that suits those needs.  Looking for something truly ‘out of the box’ to engage your team?  The sky is the limit!  Interested in challenging yourself individually through a new program being offered?  Pack your bag!

Every season brings new opportunities for groups and individuals of all kinds to experience The Crossing.  Be sure to follow our website, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram pages to stay up to date as well to benefit from the many articles on business, wellness, local news, pictures and recipes to enhance your day to day!

 

 

A Feast for the Eyes

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A feast for the eyes; there has not been an event so colourful than that which just occurred at The Crossing! From Aug. 21-24, we were honoured to host the second Reflections West Art Workshop, featuring talented WestGuild artists, Roger Arndt, Maurade Banton, Rick Berg, Doug Levitt, Murray Phillips and John Zacharias, who taught and mentored many eager students!

Following Reflections West Art’s inaugural workshop event last year, in addition to putting on several successful shows at The Hyatt Regency Calgary with the WestGuild group, it was no surprise that the number of participants doubled this year!  Clearly it was a combination of all things irresistible that called to the talented group of individuals who spent days and nights perfecting their technique, encouraging fellow participants, and sharing stories by the campfire. Although the common denominator was an appreciation for art, the participants ranged from those indulging their hobby to those who were exploring the possibility of creating a career out of their passion. Inspiration and talent were abound!

So, perhaps you are wondering what happens at an artists’ workshop at The Crossing? Reflections West did an excellent job of showcasing each of the WestGuild artists’ strengths and giving them the opportunity to teach and mentor all of the participating artists. Several studios were set up throughout the property to enhance specific styles and techniques. Each day three separate workshops were taught by different artists. This was followed each evening by a ‘show and tell’ of sorts where all of the participants toured the workshop spaces to see what others had created during the day. The evenings were capped off with “fireside chats” where the teachers and participants shared their experiences, not only from the retreat, but in their careers as well.  With Mother Nature sharing some beautiful weather on the last day, some of the artists took to the grounds for a little plein air painting, a great way to end a wonderful weekend. Needless to say there were many laughs, some (happy) tears, friendships and personal growth that resulted.

Clearly one does not come to The Crossing without eating and having a place that feels like ‘home’, and the participants’ creative fires were kept burning by the weekend-long feast prepared by Chef Doug and his team. We are also happy to hear from Reflections West that when asking the participants for feedback on what their least favourite part of the retreat was (a job well done for always striving to improve), the response was, “packing up and leaving, and saying good-bye.” Well, we at The Crossing feel the exact same way!  Looking forward to seeing everyone again next year and in the meantime keep being inspired by the beauty around you!

Riverside Rejuvenation

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The river that runs through our property at The Crossing has a calming affect; the sound, the colour, the visual presence, it truly has a mesmerizing and transformative power. It is hard to leave the riverside without feeling lighter, brighter and, overall, simply better.

For the past several years The Crossing has welcomed Casting for Life to share in the beauty of the property, and the river in particular. Casting for Life is an incredible organization that, “was created to provide physical, spiritual and emotional support to breast cancer survivors.” This is done through a weekend retreat at The Crossing, this year will be July 18th-20th, and we are honoured to be part of it.  The land, the river, the art of fly fishing, allow these incredibly brave women the chance to connect to themselves and each other. Time for reflection, fun, and rest, afford them the opportunity to focus on the mental, emotional and physical aspects of healing and rejuvenation.

This is an incredible weekend, one that many women have found powerful and uplifting! If you or someone you know might be interested in partaking please contact Casting for Life via their website by clicking on the highlighted links. We would like to thank Casting for Life for allowing us to be a part of this profound weekend for so many years and we look forward to continuing to provide a special place for this magic to occur!