Giant Time Capsule Hits the Road

Transcription

1 Volume 4 Summer 2005 Issue 1 Giant Time Capsule Hits the Road Alberta s Centennial Time Capsule was part of the excitement Edmonton s Klondike Days Parade. If you think you just saw a rocket ship rolling down the highway, you ve probable seen Alberta s Centennial Time Capsule. The capsule is traveling to 10 communities this summer as part of the province s 100th birthday celebrations. More than 200 communities will be given micro time capsules to deposit in the larger, 6.5 meters (21 feet) long, and 1.8 meter (6 feet) in diameter, time capsule. It is up to the communities to decide what treasures from their region will be included. Possibilities include photographs, newspaper clippings, compact discs and unique items reflecting local culture and telling the story of their area. The time capsule, filled with special messages, mementos You re Invited to Alberta s Birthday Party! Alberta is getting ready for the party of the century! Star-studded concerts, family-friendly festivals, a travelling time capsule and big-time fireworks will be part of AlbertaSpirit a multicommunity celebration of Alberta s 100th birthday on September 1st, A total of ten communities will host celebrations including simultaneous fireworks displays and top-shelf Alberta entertainment. Edmonton, Calgary, Banff, Lethbridge, Grande and memories, will be sealed for 100 years. The centennial is all about celebrating the people and events that have shaped Alberta into the great province it is today, said Gary Mar, Minister of Community Development responsible for the Alberta Centennial. The Centennial Time Capsule will capture the memories and legacies of this generation to share with the next century of Albertans. A gentleman in period costume driving a 1914 McLaughlin touring car representing the past will escort the futuristic time capsule. Albertans are invited to come out and see both vehicles as they make stops across the province. It is still not decided where the capsule will rest to await its reopening in Prairie, Fort McMurray, Red Deer, Medicine Hat, Bonnyville and Wainwright were selected to allow the maximum number of Albertans to join the fun. About 95 per cent of Albertans are within an hours of drive of one of these communities. Albertans who can t make it out, can watch a live broadcast of events on Citytv. The broadcast will also include coverage of two gala concerts at the newly renovated Jubilee Auditoria in Edmonton and Calgary. Centennial Time Capsule Schedule Sunday, July 17 Edmonton Grand Prix of Edmonton (display only) Wednesday, July 20 Red Deer Westerner Days - Parade, then Westerner Park, 1-5 p.m. Thursday, July 21 Edmonton Klondike Days Parade, 10 a.m. Saturday, July 30 Grande Prairie Old County Fair Evergreen Park Fairgrounds, 8-4p.m. Sunday, August 7 Fort McMurray InterPLAY Festival Franklin Avenue, noon-6 p.m. Wednesday, August 10 Banff Council of the Federation Banff Train Station, 4 p.m. Saturday, August 13 Cold Lake Silver Buckle Stampede Parade & Exhibition Grounds Sunday, August 14 Wainwright TBA Sunday, August 21 Medicine Hat TBA Tuesday, August 23 Lethbridge Whoop Up Days Parade Wednesday, August 24 Calgary Olympic Plaza Friday, August 26 Edmonton Eskimos game, Commonwealth Stadium Thursday, September 1 Edmonton Alberta Legislature For more information on AlbertaSpirit celebrations near you, visit or call toll-free celebration times page 1

2 History in the Hills 2005 A Centennial Celebration Did you know Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park is Canada's first and only Interprovincial Park. Located in the southeast corner of the province, the Cypress Hills are higher in elevation than the Banff town site in the Rocky Mountains. Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park received an Alberta Centennial Legacy Grant to create a new Learning and Resource Centre. The rolling contours, buried fossils and past and present residents of the Cypress Hills tell a rich story of landscapes, plants, animals and cultures. Between June 15 and 18, an impressive partnership of organizations came together in Cypress Hills Provincial Park to share some of their stories at History in the Hills 2005 A Centennial Celebration. Beneath the aspen treetops and encircled by tipis and traditional tents, visitors enjoyed traditional music, performances, demonstrations and stories. Staff from various partner organizations presented Blackfoot, Cree, Nakoda and Métis heritage. A Mountie from Fort Walsh National Historic Site animated the stories of the North West Mounted Police, and archaeologists from the University of Calgary shared artifacts from the 8,000 year-old Stampede Archaeology Site. Interpreters at Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park also joined the events to share a message about the future. Their Heritage Forever presentation was shown to over 1200 students and visitors. The presentation highlighted the importance of preserving and interpreting the past, the role that Alberta s Parks play in protecting special places today, and the role that individuals can play to help protect Alberta s heritage into the next century. For more information on the Cypress Hills visit Alberta s Centennial Medallions Alberta Centennial Medallions are available for purchase at the Queen s Printer Bookstores, in select Alberta museums and historic sites and online at qp.gov.ab.ca. This brass medallion sells for $8.95 (including GST). More information on how to purchase this medallion is available online, or by calling tollfree from anywhere in Alberta. Alberta s birthday money! Next time you make a purchase, take a good look at your change. You just might find a special Alberta Centennial memento amongst your coins. A commemorative 25-cent piece celebrating Alberta s 100th birthday is now in circulation right across Canada. Earlier this year, the Royal Canadian Mint invited Albertans and other Canadians to vote for the design of Alberta s Centennial coin. The chosen design, selected from four contenders, features an oil derrick with cattle grazing at its base with the Rocky Mountains in the background and the decorative embellishment of an Alberta wild rose flanked by two shafts of wheat. The design, created by Calgary-based artist Michelle Grant, received 7,955 of the total 26,536 votes cast. The vote for the quarter s design marks the first time in the Royal Canadian Mint s almost 100-year history that the public has participated in the selection of a coin design. The Mint will produce up to 20 million commemorative circulation 25-cent coins. Alberta residents will be able to obtain the coin at any one of the 210 Credit Union branches in Alberta, as well as at any of the 149 branches and 131 agencies of ATB Financial. All Canadians can look for the coin in their change. More information about Alberta s Centennial 25-cent circulation coin or Alberta Centennial collector coins is available on-line at celebration times page 2

3 Calgary Stampede and Edmonton Klondike Days Showcase the Centennial Two of Alberta s biggest summer events are pulling out all the stops to celebrate the centennial. The Calgary Stampede (July 8-17) has a long history in Alberta. From meagre beginnings in 1912, the stampede has grown to become the greatest outdoor show on earth. This year s stampede included a number of nods to the province s centennial. These celebrations and tributes included the Calgary Stampede Legacy Awards to honour southern Albertans who have contributed to western heritage, the launch of a new digital archives project to provide access to the stampede s large collection and special gifts for babies born in 2005 in the Calgary Health Region. The stampede also celebrated Aboriginal Albertans with a special centennial performance in the Indian Village. Edmonton s Klondike Days Exposition (July 21-30) showed its provincial pride with several spectacular attractions highlighting Alberta s 100th birthday. Some of the events included a parade to mark Alberta s centennial and to kick off Klondike Days and the Alberta Centennial Tattoo, a theatrical military production featuring hundreds of local dancers, musicians and military bands from across Canada. This year s feature exhibit, Prairie Finds: Alberta Shows Off, took visitors on a journey to find the innovative products, places and people in our own backyard. Feathered Hats and Pantaloons all the Rage at Alberta s Legislature! Tour guides at the Alberta Legislature are decked out in dapper duds from a more traditional time in our province s history. The guides are wearing 1905 period costumes during Alberta s Centennial celebration. Visitor services staff will also be wearing the costumes for special events. celebration times page 3 Alberta Legislature tour guides in their centennial finery.

4 A Golden Moment for an Alberta Centenarian Even Evelyn Smith is amazed that she is older than the province of Alberta. At 102, she s experienced more progress than most of us can begin to imagine. From new technology to changing trends and major world events, this very long-time Albertan has seen it all and she s not alone. During 2005, more than 600 Albertans will be 100 years of age or older. To acknowledge their long-time contributions to helping build Alberta, each centenarian will be presented with a 14 karat gold Alberta Centennial Medallion. Evelyn received her medallion in March. The day was extra special for her because her son, Ted Smith, one of Alberta s Centennial Ambassadors, and local MLA Bharat Agnihorti made the presentation together. It was an Centenarian Evelyn Smith received her Alberta experience both mother and son will treasure. Centennial Medallion from son Ted Smith, a This was a very special privilege for me as a Centennial Ambassador. Centennial Ambassador to be involved in my mother s medallion presentation, said Ted. My mother was thrilled to be recognized by the province of Alberta as a centenarian. Evelyn keeps the certificate that accompanied her medallion in a frame hung proudly beside her bed. Medicine Hat Canada s Pottery Capital In 1912, the Medicine Hat Pottery Company was created and the southern Alberta city became the centre of a burgeoning pottery industry. Three years later, the company changed hands and was renamed the Medalta Potteries Limited. Medicine Hat s natural advantages of cheap natural gas and abundant supply of excellent quality clay, helped solidify the clay products industry as one of Medicine Hat s earliest and most successful. Medalta developed into a large and diverse company that manufactured items such as bowls, churns, kegs and china. This company, along with other ceramic companies, helped Alberta s, and more specifically Medicine Hat s, economy to thrive. At the height of its success, Medalta employed more than 200 people. Pottery manufactured in the area was sold across the country and as far away as New Zealand and Australia. By 1929, Medalta Potteries was manufacturing 75 per cent of all pottery produced in Canada. Although the last pottery closed its doors in 1989, the buildings and artifacts that remain have been designated heritage sites. The Medicine Hat Clay Industries Historic District received an Alberta Centennial Legacy Grant of $2 million to continue the preservation and interpretation the sites. Visit medalta.org for more history on Medicine Hat s clay industry, museum information and ongoing projects and events. Celebrate Alberta Team takes flight in a humorous skit about legendary bush pilot Wop May. Take a trip on the Alberta Centennial Time Machine this Summer Albertans can travel back in time at fairs, rodeos and festivals this summer. The Celebrate Alberta Team is a unique Alberta Centennial program that uses the energy and dramatic talents of 20 high school students to re-enact colourful stories from Alberta s past. The time machine is a collection of short plays based on actual Alberta events that occurred during the past 100 years. The time machine comes to life when the time machine roulette wheel stops on a specific decade and the Celebrate Alberta Team cast acts out a vignette based on an event from that time in Alberta history. The vignettes are inspired by the events and personalities of Alberta history, including the legendary flight of pilot Wop May to deliver life-saving medicine, the world famous Alberta Grads basketball team, Guy Weadick, creator of the Calgary Stampede, Vegreville s most famous landmark and how Alberta has remained North America s only rat-free zone. Look for the Celebrate Alberta Team at an event in your community, or check the schedule by visiting celebration times page 4

5 Celebrate Alberta s Native Prairie Heritage Did you know that Alberta has some of the largest areas of native prairie in North America and the world s largest area of rough fescue grassland? Grasslands are rich and diverse ecosystems defined by low precipitation, temperature extremes and wind. A large variety of habitats exist in these natural regions, including large flat expanses of prairie, arid sandhills, badlands, coulees, lush cattail-filled wetlands and dense river valley forests. Native prairie grasses, wild flowers, cacti, sage, and cottonwood trees are just a tiny sample of the unique vegetation that is found in prairie habitats. Wildlife abounds; look closely and you may see pronghorn antelope, mule deer, badger, white-tail jackrabbit, swift fox, bull snake, prairie rattlesnake, golden eagle, sharp-tailed grouse, meadowlark and other grasslandnesting birds. Seventy-three per cent of Alberta s at risk wildlife species rely on prairie habitats. The unique sights, sounds and fragrant aromas of the grassland are mesmerizing! For much of the world, prairie grasslands are but a memory. Alberta has also experienced significant losses of the native prairie landscape through cultivation, industrial development and urbanization. Albertans can take steps to maintain their remaining prairie habitats. For more information visit the Prairie Conservation Forum at On the 30th of April 2003, rough fescue was officially proclaimed the provincial grass emblem of Alberta. History in Motion is Rolling Your Way! The UFA s History in Motion features nearly 350 square feet of interactive displays retracing 100 years of agriculture in Alberta. From gas pumps to government policy, the United Farmers of Alberta (UFA) continues to influence the lives of Albertans each and every day. The History in Motion traveling caravan is a museum-quality exhibit that shares the UFA s unique story from 1909 to the present day. The interactive displays feature more than 200 artifacts and showcase everything from the UFA s war efforts and political successes, to its involvement in the women s movement, coal mining and, of course, agriculture. Visitors can watch clips from a 1969 promotional video, get a gumball from a reproduction globe gas pump and even look up their hometown in a growing database of photos and histories from local UFA agencies and stores. Throughout the summer, History in Motion will be rolling into communities across the province. Look for the exhibit at special events and take a walk through a century of co-operative service to agriculture in Alberta. Alberta Centennial Medal A province is only as great as the people who call it home. During the centennial, 8,000 Albertans who have helped make Alberta great will be awarded the Alberta Centennial Medal. The prestigious medal is included in the Canadian Order of Precedence of orders, decorations and medals. Nominations for the program are closed. The recipients will be announced between August and November. The Alberta Centennial Medal will be cast in bronze and plated in gold. The colours of the ribbon reflect Alberta s heraldry. Write Around Alberta! Alberta has many stories to tell. The Writers Guild of Alberta is celebrating Alberta s centenary by sending 100 writers to 100 communities between June 1 and October 31, Together with local community partners, the guild is hosting readings, speaking engagements, and workshops that showcase and share the talents of Alberta s writers and authors. For a schedule of events, or for more information on how to get involved in Write Around Alberta, visit the Writers Guild of Alberta website at writersguild.ab.ca, or call celebration times page 5

6 Royal Visit 2005 Highlights May The Queen becomes the first reigning monarch to address the Alberta Legislature. 2. Premier Ralph Klein announced that Highway 2 between Edmonton and Calgary will be renamed Queen Elizabeth II Highway. 3. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh were officially welcomed to Alberta at the Centennial Kick-off Party at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton. 4. The Queen visited Edmonton s City Hall. 5. His Royal Highness visited Fort McMurray to tour the oil sands. 6. The Royal Couple attended centennial celebrations at Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary. 7. The Queen designated the Provincial Museum of Alberta as the Royal Alberta Museum A series of centennial stained glass windows highlighting the role of the monarchy in Alberta over the past 100 years are unveiled in the Alberta Legislature. 9. Hundreds of royal-watchers greeted the Queen on a walkabout at the Alberta Legislature. 10.The Queen s visit to Alberta in Did you know Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has been in Alberta six times. Her first visit was during a coast-to-coast tour in Prior to her visit this year, Her Majesty s most recent trip to Alberta was a visit to Calgary and Red Deer in More information Get the latest news and information Stop by or drop us a note: Give us a call: (780) online: Alberta Centennial Initiative Toll Free: Send us an alberta2005@gov.ab.ca 500, HSBC Building Street Edmonton, Alberta T5J 1G3 celebration times page 6