Tourism Amenities & Attractions

The winter season is when Veren Place, Provost Regional Actitvity Centre is a hub of community activity.

There are hockey teams of all ages busy practicing through the week and its easy to find multiple games on weekends.  Multiple levels of U18 teams as well as old-timers hockey and the Combines hockey all call the arena home throughout the hockey season.

Further, there is power skating, and learn-to-skate programs.

Figure skating is very popular and the season comes to a dramatic end with the “carnival” in March when the young performers show case all they have learned in the season.

Many people love the 184 meter indoor walking track in the winter months allowing them to continue walking without dealing with ice or snow. There are often walking programs available with FCSS seniors walking groups.

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The Curling Club is very active throughout the winter. From Youth After-School Curling to League Curling and multiday bonspiels there is always an activity happening.

Located in the Provost Recreation and Culture Centre , is the Provost Bowling Centre. This 5-pin bowling centre has 4 lanes and automatic scoring.

Youth and league bowling.

Glow bowling

Party facility with snack bar, fully licensed. Arcade and eating area.

Phone: 780-753-6848

5113- 43 Street Provost, AB

In the winter months, a cross-country ski track is groomed an maintained by the Parks and rec department.  weaving through the golf course its is an excellent way for residents to enjoy the outdoors through out the winter. 

Many citizens also enjoy activities such as snowshoeing and snowmobiling just outside of town. 

As well there are many lakes in the surrounding area that are great for ice fishing.

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Seniors Fair is June 4, 2026

As part of Seniors Week celebrations throughout Alberta, Provost & District FCSS, Hosts a Seniors Fair with display booths and volunteers from the community serving lunch.

June 11, 2026, is Museum Heritage Day at the Provost Museum. from 9 am to 1 pm. Admission is $2

A Hot Dog Lunch is available for $5.

Come in the Evening for a Thrashing Demonstration and Car Show. Pig Roast or BBQ Brisket Supper is $25 and always a fan favorite.

Provost & District Museum holds a museum heritage day in June, bringing children from multiple schools in the region to experience many of the ways early settlers of the area did in their daily lives.

From Thrashing, and horseshoeing demonstrations, to dressing up in pioneer clothing young and old have a great day at the museum.

The day ends with the annual pig roast open to the whole community, and always mouthwateringly annicipated.

This Years Community BBQ is 5-7 pm, June 12, 2026, at Crescent Point Place.

A FUN kickoff to the Splash n’ Smash weekend! The Town of Provost and the MD of Provost No. 52 come together to present a Community Barbecue for all residents and visitors. Served by the Town and MD councilors participants enjoy some fantastic food and fellowship.

Saturday June 13- The Chamber of Commerce Presents a Community Breakfast at Veren Place from 8 am to 10 am

The Candy Filled Parade starts at 11 am

You can email the chamber

provostchamberofcommerce@outlook.com

for the route map and participant updates

Bodo Archaeological Sites –The Bodo Archaeological Site is one of the largest and most well-preserved archaeological areas in Western Canada. Located south of Provost, the site is a large and rich complex of archaeological resources that date back as early as 5000 years ago. The site also includes evidence for the continued use over the last 500 years of a “bison pound” where hundreds of bison were corralled and killed at one time.

Bodo, Alberta

Bodo, Alberta

At Bodo, you have the unique opportunity to take part in the ongoing archaeological excavation at this important locale and to contribute to the discovery of Alberta’s exciting past. The Bodo Archaeological Site and Centre has many amazing hands-on activities and experiences you, your family, or your school can take part in. Annual summer programs include: Adult Dig-It Camps, Kids Day Camps, and Curriculum Based School Tours. Learn more at bodoarchaeology.com.

Learn More – bodoarchaeology.com

Bodo, Alberta

Bodo, Alberta

St. Norbert’s Rosenheim Church – Located nine and a half miles southeast of Provost, this Alberta Historic Site is the largest Neo-Gothic church in rural Alberta. Built in 1922, it is an excellent example of architecture from southern Germany. The Rosenheim Historical Society has lovingly and painstakingly restored the building to its original beauty and stature. and they celebrated 100 years in June 2022.

Learn More: www.stnorbertschurchrosenheim.ca

On Monday, September 16, 2024, a piece of Rosenheim History was moved.

The one-room Rosenheim School House, built in 1908 was moved from its original location to reside permanently on the grounds of the Rosenheim Church. 

The Rosenheim school was built by Felix C. Schneider on a portion of his homestead and educated the children of pioneer settlers in the Rosenheim district for 39 years. 1908- 1947.

Provost & District Museum – Located at the southwest corner of the town, historical buildings on-site include the Western Ridge and Stainsleigh Schools, Our Saviors’ Lutheran Church and two historical houses, a T. Eaton’s House owned by the Stockdale family and bachelor’s cabin. The Provost & District Museum’s Artifact Display Building is currently under construction, thanks in large part to the Alberta Centenial Legacies Program. The Museum opened in 2006. The dedicated efforts of local citizens will make possible the preservation of the community’s earliest beginnings and tell the story of Provost’s commercial and farming pioneers.

Learn More: www.provostmuseum.com

The Johnson Bluebird Trail

Had you taken a spring drive in the country surrounding Provost during the late 1960’s the brilliant cerulean flash of a Mountain Bluebird would likely not have added to your enjoyment.  But that was before Roger and Lois Johnson moved to Provost.

From that summer of 1969 to the present the Johnson’s have devoted many hours each year to re-establishing and maintaining the bluebird in our area.

Three species of bluebirds are found in Canada – the Eastern, the Western and the Mountain.  All arrive early in the spring, raise their young and migrate south each fall with their new family.  Mountain bluebirds, which are more likely seen in our province than the other two species, prefer to forage in the short-grass prairie of Alberta. You may observe these azure ‘masters of hovering’ as they hang almost motionless 2-3 meters in the air. Suddenly they dive to pick up a tiny spider, a juicy green worm or a tasty grasshopper from the grasses.

Bluebirds are considered secondary cavity nesters. Their bill is not strong enough to excavate a cavity for nesting, so they traditionally depended on used woodpecker or flicker holes in which to nest and raise young. Hot, dry growing conditions in the prairies during the ‘30s and recurring infestations of tent caterpillars stressed our native trees. With increased land under cultivation mature trees for these primary cavity nesters was reduced and in turn, the availability of nesting sites for the bluebird. The spread of the House Sparrow and the European Starling, both introduced species, was also devastating to these passerines. The bluebird was in trouble.

Roger and Lois, as well as many other groups and individuals throughout the province, took up the challenge and vowed to ‘bring back the bluebird’

From Johnsons’ 1970 start of 13 nest boxes and 27 young fledgling nests, Lois’ trail now extends 80 km to over 368 houses with well over 1,000 bluebirds raised each year.  As a Master Bander, Lois continues the work she and Roger started.  Identification bands have been placed on more than 11,000 birds in the Provost/Cadogan area over the past 34 years.  Information gathered from the data collected on recovered bands helps ornithologists learn more about the status, habits, and ways to help the Mountain Bluebird.

Many hours are spent on the trail each year.  Bluebirds arrive early in March and the nest boxes must be clean, in repair, and well located before they arrive at the nesting ground.  These shelters provide a place for several birds to huddle for warmth to survive spring storms.

The trail is checked at least once more during the first week of May.  Tree swallows will have arrived and most bluebirds will be laying eggs.

During June and July, several trips will be spent banding the young nestlings on the 80-km trail southwest of Provost.  By the end of the first week in August, the last of the second hatch of bluebirds will have been banded.  Tree swallows and wrens will also have raised families in some of the nest boxes and those will also be fledging in late August.

Once all birds have left the next, the fall cleaning of all houses is completed.

Young bluebirds remain in trees and shrubs near the nest box where adults continue feeding until the birds are about 30 days old.  By late September and early October, groups of 100 – 150 birds have formed to eventually migrate south to California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico.

Johnson Bluebird Trail continues to provide homes for thousands of bluebirds, tree swallows, and wrens. And, Lois continues to share her knowledge and compassion for nature with groups and individuals who accompany her on the outing.

Lois M. Johnson

Johnson Bluebird Trail

Box 555, Provost, Alberta Canada T0B 3S0

1 (780) 753-2678

Tips for encouraging Mountain Bluebirds to occupy an area: 

• Male bluebirds are looking for a desirable nesting area in April.
• Ensure the opening is 1 and 9/16 inches only in diameter to prevent starlings from encroaching the house;

Choose the location for the house wisely:

• away from corrals, barn yards, feeding stations, or other areas where house sparrows habitat;
• choose short grass prairie locations as opposed to cultivated crops. Remember these birds hover and dive to collect insects. Tall crops and tame hay fields grow too tall for the bluebirds to hunt there, and they will avoid these areas.
• a single post or tree near the nest box area provides a roost for the male bird protecting his mate on the nest;
• a grove of trees or bushes within 30 feet of the nest box. This will afford a safe local for the juvenile birds to fledge and live their first 20 or so days out of the nest;
• away from sloughs; tree swallows will take over most nests near water.

If Possible, locate your trail as an extension of an existing trail. Bluebirds that return to their natal homes, and find them occupied may select yours instead. 

For more information, check the Provost Library for “Blue Wings: Wild Roses” by Lois M. Johnson.

More tips

Lois’s reasons for cleaning out the nests in the fall versus the spring:

1. Removing the old nest makes more room for the new nest come spring.
• Winter frost kills larvae and overwintering parasites in a clean nest box.
• Mice are less likely to set up a home in a clean nest box.
• Walking to the nest boxes in the fall is much easier than trudging through snow and braving the cold in early March.
2. Because tree swallows aggressively compete for the birdhouses, try putting 2 birdhouses near each other. The swallows will choose one and leave the other to the bluebirds.