The Heartland Belles celebrated Stettler history with tea and snacks in the P&H grain elevator, followed by a tour on Thursday, July 17.
The Belles started as the Red Hat Society, but when the club got too big eight years ago it split, and the Heartland Belles were formed. Members have to be over 60 years old, and they wear red and purple when they meet.
“Our purpose in having this group is for fun and friendship,” said the group’s queen, Joanne Vallet.
They group, which is for ladies only, meets once a week at the Anglican Church hall. The group is primarily for socializing.
“We do not raise money. We’re not an organization to raise money,” she said.
They like to support community events and other things in the town, which necessitated the trip to the elevator.
The group had tea along with the elevator’s summer student, Maggie MacKenzie.
The club, which has 34 members, regularly goes around to the lodges in Stettler to perform music for the residents there.
The Heartland Belles also meet with other clubs, such as those from Red Deer, Camrose, and Drumheller. Next week, the Belles are meeting up with three other clubs for a picnic in Drumheller.
“We like meeting new friends and talking,” Vallet said.