11 minute read
Family fun at Meeting Creek
By Lori Larsen
Plan a day of family fun at Meeting Creek on Saturday, Aug. 14 from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., during the Canadian Northern Railway Family Day.
Jump aboard the Track Motor Car for a ride on the rails, then take in a guided tour of the historical Meeting Creek Railway Station and on-site historical grain elevator.
“As a project for 2021, we needed to work on the elevator, specifically the elevator office,” said Canadian Northern Society Board director and Meeting Creek project chairperson Glenys Smith. “People have worked since early spring doing a lot of work inside the elevator to repair things, but we have also had other people helping to clean things and do signage.”
Part of the restoration involved the conservation of the elevator artifacts such as the scales for weighing moisture and grain, as well as creating interpretive signage.
“There is still a lot of work to do on the elevator. This is a huge project.”
Let yourself drift back to a simpler time with a ride on an old fashioned, horse-drawn wagon down the abandoned Canadian Northern rail line.
“This year, the wagon ride will start at the Community Hall and will go down to Highway 56 right through the grassland and then will stop so people will be able to get off and walk the labyrinths,” explained Smith.
The Railway Family Day will also include safely planned crafts and games for the younger and elder alike.
“We are going to have the grass skis and stilts out, and hopefully in the folklore, the children, parents and grandparents will help to build the village so it becomes intergenerational.”
While you are there, plan a hike or cycle on the Linear Park System and marvel at the sights and sounds of the grasslands. Pick up a Discovery Pack or brochure and enjoy some birdwatching and learning about the native flora and fauna.
“We have increased the size of the stile on the trail that goes to Edberg so people can get horses or bicycles through there easier,” noted Smith.
Pack a blanket and enjoy a picnic lunch while imagining what it would have been like to ride the rails into Meeting Creek. Food and beverages will be available for purchase at the Meeting Creek Community Hall.
Smith said it has taken many volunteers to help keep the Meeting Creek project going, including the ongoing restoration of the elevator. “Donny Loewen, Jeremiah Overland, Erhard Pinno, Liam Smith, Yvonne Smits, Elaine Wooden and our summer student Bailey Megli have all been working hard on the Meeting Creek project.”
She added that the community of Meeting Creek has been very happy with the work that has been done.
“One of our goals was to have the community support on board,” said Smith. “It is a small community, but the people around and also people from the County are on board. It is important to share what we have learned and what we have done out there with people.”
Something for everyone awaits on Aug. 14 at Meeting Creek site, where you and the family can step back in time and enjoy a fun and adventurous day of activities.
For more information, visit the Canadian Northern Railway on the Facebook page or visit the website at www.canadiannorthern.ca.
Submitted
The Meeting Creek historical grain elevator office has undergone extensive restoration by volunteers.
Lori Larsen, Camrose Booster
Enjoy an old fashioned horse-drawn wagon ride at Meeting Creek on Aug. 14 as part of the fun-packed day of activities.
LITTLE HELPING HANDS
POLLINATORS TAKE THE STAGE
Lori Larsen, Camrose Booster
City of Camrose Greenspace and Wildlife Stewardship coordinator Rhyleigh Henault, in partnership with Action for Healthy Communities teaches Summer Camp participants 12-year-old Sherlvin, left, and 10-year-old brother Alsher Ubaldo, right, all about the pollinators that can be spotted throughout Stoney Creek valley.
Fridge Clippings
from years gone by
Joyce Wenig sent in a clip of the Booster’s March 30, 1999 front page. Written under the headline: “Baby chicks are a traditional sign of Easter and spring, but they’re also good business, a fact to which many Edberg and Meeting Creek area farmers, including Aaron Taylor and Cindy Wenig, can attest. Having an opportunity to touch and hold the chicks last week were Cindy’s nieces, Kayla (left) and Ashley.” Thank you to Joyce for sending this in! Her reward of a $10 prize is on the way! Show us what you’ve clipped from The Camrose Booster! If we publish your entry, you will win $10, too. The oldest entry submitted prior to the end of December 2021 will earn the sender a cool $100 gift certificate from any Camrose business of that person’s choosing. Send us a copy or a photo of your entry: Mail: 4925-48 Street, Camrose, AB T4V 1L7 Email: ads@camrosebooster.com • Text: 780.679.7070 Drop off in person: 4925-48 Street, Camrose (Your original will be scanned, then returned)
Show us what used to hang on your fridge!
Kasa named executive director, heads CDSS into future
By Murray Green
Lyndel Kasa is the new executive director for Camrose and District Support Services.
“I am excited to have a new role for CDSS. For the past year I have been working in the program director role with Changing Ways (formerly known as Family Violence Action Society). Previous to that I was the program coordinator for the University of Alberta, Faculty of Nursing, Augustana Campus. I have a number of skills as a registered nurse, educator, and leader that are transferable,” she shared.
“Making a career move last year was a challenging experience for me. For 28 years my professional identity has been as a registered nurse and moving into the not-for-profit world felt very foreign. But once I immersed myself in family violence prevention; fund development; social support services; and trauma-informed practice; I quickly realized how transferrable and relevant all my nursing knowledge and expertise is. Community development, relationships and partnerships, building capacity—that is at the heart of nursing.”
Lyndel wants to use her skills to help the entire community, the community she grew up in. “I feel that this executive director role with CDSS offers all the things I love about nursing and allows me to use my strengths to support our community. I thrive on developing and growing programs, collaboration, ensuring sustainability, creating community awareness and engagement and establishing relationships and partnerships in the community,” said Lyndel. “I am a long time community member. I was born and raised here, my husband and I farm here, we have raised our family here, and I am committed to engaging and serving in this community. I am excited for this opportunity,” added Lyndel.
“What is important, is creating more awareness that we offer programs for the benefit of the community. We are not just an administrative umbrella for human services programs, we offer information and support and referrals, and we want people to be aware and engaged within the community. We also help with transportation, elder abuse, family violence, home support, parenting, rural outreach, and issues related to mental health. Coming out of the pandemic, we have realized that we don’t have to do things the way we have always done them - there are options and opportunities to creatively offer services and supports that meet the needs of our community. We want to serve the needs of the community. Collaboration is important - for example working with the rural FCSS’s and other community agencies to provide accessible resources and support to people that live in rural communities. Some people don’t have access to come all the way to Camrose,” said Lyndel.
“Margaret (Holliston) had a lot of networks in place and I want to maintain those, and grow those relationships. CDSS has been an important of the community for a long time. We want people to know that we are here to help.”
Starting this September, CDSS will have a case manager for elder abuse. “Elder abuse isn’t often reported, but it exists in our community. Changing Ways received a one-year grant to implement an elder abuse response and hire a case manager. That person will be working at Mirror Lake Centre, so they are close to SOS (Service Options for Seniors) as partners. In 2020, only two cases of elder abuse are reported to 211 or police, however, SOS may receive two calls a week. People often report concerns in a different way than initially calling the police.”
Shannon Stolee has taken over for Lyndel at Changing Ways.
Murray Green, Camrose Booster
CDSS executive director Lyndel Kasa agrees to her new position with board chair Doug Lyseng welcoming her at the CDSS office. Lyndel started her position on Aug. 1.
The automotive section of
Giesbrecht enjoys Wildcat convertible
By Murray Green
Henry Giesbrecht of Camrose fully enjoys his 1968 Buick Wildcat convertible.
“We purchased this car in the spring of 1970, so a newer trade-in at two years old. I saw the car was advertised in the paper in Calgary all winter, so I went to the dealership and started to negotiate for it,” explained Henry.
The Buick Wildcat was a full-sized automobile that was produced by Buick from 1962 to 1970. It took its name from a fiberglass-bodied 1953 concept car.
“I had a 1969 Olds Cutlass before that, but I wanted the Wildcat and a convertible. I thought it would be nice to have a convertible for a change,” he continued.
The convertible has also seen its fair share of parades throughout the years. “We go to most cruises if the weather cooperates.”
The Wildcat features OUTDOOR FUN
Murray Green, Camrose Booster
Henry Giesbrecht realized his dream of owning a convertible when he restored this 1968 Buick Wildcat. His pride and joy has been used for special occasions in parades and has served as a wedding car for his daughters.
a 430 engine and a 400 transmission. “That transmission was used in threequarter ton trucks, so it is a heavy duty transmission. I’ve never had any
FUN FACTS
The year 1967 brought a new engine to the Wildcat line (along with the Riviera and Electra 225)–a 430-cubic-inch V8 with four-barrel carburetor and 360-horsepower rating that featured larger valves for better breathing than the previous 401 and 425 Nailhead design that dated back to Buick’s first V8 in 1953.
The 430 was relatively short lived as it was only offered through the 1969 model year. For 1970, the 430 was superseded by the largest Buick V8 engine ever–a 455-cubic-inch engine that was basically a bored version of the previous engine with the same large-valve design, a horsepower rating of 370 and torque rating of more than 500 pounds. In 1967 and 1968, the addition of new federally mandated safety equipment that provided better occupant protection in collisions and accident avoidance features were added as well. Like other full-size cars of the late 1960s, the Buicks became bigger, plusher and less economical.
The Wildcat was offered only in custom trim for its final year of 1970. It was superseded by the Buick Centurion for 1971. trouble with the transmission. We did rebuild the motor after about 125,000 miles,” recalled Henry.
“There is only 5,000 or 6,000 on this rebuilt motor since it was completed in the mid-’80s. I restored the car in the winter of 1982. It was quite badly rusted out, so I had to rebuild the back fenders. Then I re-painted it the same colour and that is the last I have done to the car,” said Henry.
From 1966 to 1969, the base (with trim similar to the 1965 Wildcat deluxe) and custom trims were again the sole options.
“I remember when we lived in Edson. We lived there at the time we bought the car, having moved from Calgary to Edson, and on one trip, we were heading back to Calgary to visit and we had the top down. We saw a storm coming up and it was a real bad thunderstorm. It was raining like crazy and we had the top down. I drove at 80 miles an hour, so the children in the back seat didn’t even get wet,” laughed Henry. “It doesn’t take long to put up because it is on hydraulics. You just push a button.”
Car or Truck Memorabilia?
Perhaps you own vintage automotive repair or diagnostic tools. Tell us what you have. Or perhaps you have terrifi c memories or tales from being in the trade. Allow us to share your stories. Contact Murray Green, News Reporter
