Community Lifestyle
Recreation
The County of Barrhead realizes how important recreation is to the social and physical health of its residents, and though we are a rural municipality, we partner with the Town Recreation Department to provide top notch recreation facilities and programs to meet the community's needs!
With the County encompassing parts of the Boreal Forest, Natural Sandhills Ecological area, as well as three rivers and many lakes, there are many activities for outdoor enthusiasts. There are a variety of community and cultural events offered in the Town and County, including a minor mixed ball program, summer fun programs, trips, anniversary events, and fireworks. There are many rural and urban parks, as well as a paved walking trail that meaders through Town and out into the County along the scenic Paddle River.
Within the Town, we offer an indoor swimming pool complete with climbing wall, sauna and hottub, and kiddie area. There is also a splash park, bowling alley, tennis courts, curling rink, indoor minigolf in the summer, indoor walking track, new top of the line arena with excellent seating, and many active groups to keep other interests going strong, from dancing to judo to choir to community theatres, and the list goes on!
We are well known for our golf facilities, the local golf courses include the Barrhead Golf and Recreation Area, which has a championship 18-hole course, driving range, recreational vehicle and camping sites, full lounge and fully stocked pro shop and the Paddle River Golf Course, which has a 9-hole course, lounge and restaurant and a pro shop, is located in the Town of Barrhead.
In the winter, the Misty Ridge Ski Hill offers downhill and cross country skiing and snow-boarding, equipment rentals, and an outdoor skating rink, as well as a heated chalet for those who wish to curl up with a cup of cocoa and a book while the family braves the elements!
The Thunder Lake Provincial Park is located 18 km west of Town, and offers fishing, boating, swimming, 127 campsites, group camping, board rentals, boat launch, mooring, sandy beaches, campers beach, water skiing, playgrounds, activity programs, farmers market, sewage dumping station, Park Ranger security, cross-country ski trails and winter camping.
Other camping facilities are available at Clear Lake, Dolberg Lake, Peanut Lake, Elks Beach, the Klondyke Ferry Crossing Campground, and the Barrhead Golf and Recreation Area.
Holmes Crossing Campground, near the Holmes Crossing Provincial Ecological Reserve
There are many recreation and special interest clubs including but not exclusive to the Barrhead Archery Club, Barrhead Art Club, Barrhead Centennial Museum Society, Town & Country Art Club, Barrhead Tai Chi, Barrhead Boxing Club, Blue Heron Bowl, Barrhead Gemseekers, and the Barrhead Judo Club. A wide range of community organizations, sports clubs, 4-H clubs and service groups operate in the County, including but not exclusive to the Barrhead & District Chamber of Commerce, Barrhead & District Agricultural Society, Barrhead Elks Club, the Rotary Club of Barrhead and the Royal Canadian Legion No. 75.
Religious Services
Religious services include the Barrhead United Church, Christ Lutheran Church, Glad Tidings Pentecostal Church, St. John's Lutheran Church, Barrhead Alliance Church, German Church of God, Canadian Reformed Church, Barrhead Christian Reformed, Church of the Nazarene, St. Anne's Roman Catholic, Bethel Pentecostal Church, Barrhead Church of God, Canadian Reformed Church, Neerlandia Christian Reformed, Redeemer Lutheran Church, St. May Abbot's Anglican and the Emmanuel Reformed Church of Neerlandia.
Special Annual Events/Attractions
Barrhead is a leader in hosting several outstanding special events throughout the year. Here are some of the highlights:
- Figure Skating Carnival -- March
- Volunteer Appreciation Activities -- April
- 4-H Achievement Day -- May
- Blue Heron Street Festival-- June
- Fun Run / Terry Fox Run -- June
- Annual Volksmarch -- June
- Canada Day Celebrations -- July 1
- Agriculture Service Board Annual Tour -- July/August
- Blue Heron Fair Days -- August
- Cattle Penning Association Finals -- September
- Wildrose Rodeo Finals -- September
- Christmas Light-Up -- November
- Christmas Parade -- December
- New Years Eve Activities -- December 31