Kathy Townsend featured in the September 2026 issue of Spruce Grove Living Magazine
That's me on the cover!
I'm thrilled to share that I was featured in Spruce Grove Living magazine!
I moved to Spruce Grove in 1992, and raised four wonderful boys here. This is home.
ROOTED IN GRATITUDE
By Maria Manna
Photographed by LMack Photography
How family, community and an appreciation for life's everyday blessings have shaped Kathy Townsend's journey.
Spend just a few minutes with Kathy Townsend and one thing becomes immediately clear—gratitude isn't something she talks about occasionally. It's the way she lives.
On the acreage she shares with her husband, Kelly, just south of Spruce Grove, life moves at a gentler pace. Towering evergreens provide privacy, walking trails wind through the neighbourhood, and evenings are often spent outdoors appreciating the beauty that surrounds them.
For Kathy, this peaceful chapter isn't something she ever takes for granted.
"I've worked hard not to become bitter with life's difficulties," she says. "I've learned that you can't truly appreciate the light until you've walked through the dark."
Rather than allowing life's challenges to define her, Kathy has chosen to let them deepen her appreciation for family, friendships, community and the quiet moments that often become life's greatest gifts.
A Chance Meeting
Love has a funny way of arriving when you least expect it.
For Kathy, it happened in 2005 while she was promoting her publication, Parkland Classes, during an information fair at the TransAlta Tri Leisure Centre in Spruce Grove.
"A tall, handsome man walked in front of my booth," she remembers with a laugh.
That man was Kelly.
Four years later, Kelly became part of Kathy's family, joining her and her four young sons. Twelve years after that, the couple married, beginning another chapter built on friendship, partnership and a shared appreciation for life's simple pleasures.
Whether tending their acreage, camping, travelling or simply enjoying time outdoors together, they have built a life centred on gratitude rather than possessions.
The outdoors has become one of Kathy's favourite places to recharge. She recently experienced her first float down the Pembina River, calling it unforgettable.
"Swimming immersed in Mother Nature is the best," she says.
Family Comes First
Although Kathy has enjoyed a rewarding career, ask what she's most proud of and the conversation quickly turns to family.
Her sons—Derek, Cooper, Brady and Tucker—are now adults, each working in the trades.
"We're basically a construction family," she jokes.
Despite their busy lives, they remain remarkably close.
Family barbecues at the acreage have become a favourite tradition, with plenty of room for lawn games, laughter and making memories together.
If Kathy had to describe her family in just three words, they would be the same words she considers their family motto.
"We're a team."
Simple, yet powerful.
Those words reflect years of encouraging one another, celebrating successes together and supporting each other through every season of life.
After more than three decades of raising children—and saying goodbye over the years to beloved family pets—Kathy and Kelly officially became empty nesters last year.
Instead of seeing it as an ending, they see it as the beginning of another adventure.
With more freedom to travel, spend time together and enjoy their property, they're embracing this new season with the same optimism that has carried them throughout life.
A Creative Career
Creativity has always been woven into Kathy's life.
Originally trained as a graphic artist, she began her professional career in Toronto with Scotiabank's Economics Department before expanding into traditional marketing.
Never one to stop learning, she later earned a Social Media Marketing diploma through Northwestern University, adding another dimension to an already successful career.
Eventually, Kathy combined her creative talents with her entrepreneurial spirit to launch Parkland Classes, an education and recreation guide serving Spruce Grove, Stony Plain and Parkland County.
Distributed to more than 24,000 homes, the publication became a valuable community resource, connecting residents with local programs, businesses and recreational opportunities.
For Kathy, however, one of the most meaningful parts of publishing wasn't the advertising or production—it was writing the "Message from the Publisher."
Those personal reflections unexpectedly opened another door.
After sharing part of her own life story, Kathy was invited to contribute to a publication produced by the Alberta Council of Women's Shelters. Her story resonated with readers and eventually led to opportunities to become a fundraising spokesperson and, later, an author.
Writing, she discovered, had become much more than a profession.
It had become a way to encourage others.
Finding Joy Close to Home
Although Kathy enjoys travelling, she believes some of life's greatest pleasures can be found much closer to home.
She loves the beauty of her acreage, the peaceful walking trails nearby and the friendships she built throughout years of working in the Spruce Grove and Stony Plain communities.
Launching Parkland Classes introduced her to hundreds of local business owners, many of whom have since become became lasting friends.
She also treasures her family's rich heritage.
Her paternal grandparents emigrated from Iceland, while her maternal grandparents came from Britain and settled in Alberta generations ago.
Family stories have been carefully preserved through written records and audio recordings, including treasured memories shared by her great-aunt describing Indigenous riders travelling on horseback across Alberta during seasonal migrations.
Those stories remind Kathy that every family contributes another chapter to the history of a community.
Looking Forward
Ask Kathy what message she'd most like to share with others and her answer comes without hesitation.
"Never give up."
She believes life has a remarkable way of placing the right people, the right opportunities and the right lessons in our path—often when we least expect them.
"There have been so many teachers and miracles that changed the course of my life," she says. "A person never knows what's around the next corner."
Rather than dwelling on what she's endured, Kathy chooses to celebrate what those experiences have taught her.
"All of my hardships have given me the appreciation for all the good in my life now."
As she looks toward the future, Kathy isn't focused on the chapters already written.
She's looking forward to the ones still waiting to unfold—with Kelly by her side, her family close at heart, and gratitude leading the way.
Because if there's one lesson Kathy Townsend hopes readers remember, it's this:
Life may not always follow the path you imagined.
But hope has a remarkable way of meeting you around the next corner.
Let's connect
Whether you're a reader, a bookseller, a publisher, or a business looking for marketing support, I'd love to hear from you!
EMAIL
kathy@kathytownsend.ca
LOCATED IN
Parkland County, Alberta Canada