Photo: Ready for task at hand—Three Hills RCMP Detachment Commander Sgt. Justin Dawley, paramedics Garry Cunningham and Carson Andrew, and firefighter Luke McCormick about to settle into their judging responsibilities at a chili cook off last week in Three Hills. Rural Alberta Report/David Nadeau

This then-and-now story spans decades.

It’s about a south-end Three Hills building that has seen multiple uses, the most recent being the CommUnity Drop In Center managed by the 31-year-old Seniors Outreach, an NGO social service agency.

But that was then and the color of now sees a re-branding, a re-staffing, and a re-focusing under banner of The Station Drop In Centre. No more Seniors Outreach management.

All of that points to one of The Station's monthly activities September 17, a community supper chili cook off with a prize well worth careful recipe following. How hot-and-spicy labels on each entry. All you can eat for five dollars. Free water. Pop for a buck. Nearly forty guests.

Volunteer organizers Crystal Matthews, Kathryn Plante, and Anne Coupland recruited a table-full of hungry first responders as judges. Their decision: two dinner certificates for The Station use and an IGA gift card now belong to Jessica Troy for what she dubbed Mom’s Chili.

The building, owned by the Town, sees weekday The Station activities (Connect. Play. Belong.) ranging from pool, ladies night, games night, teen night, and the community supper every third Thursday.