Alberta Day Vegreville Style

Rosanne Fortier - News Correspondent

Vegreville Elks/Kinsmen Park was surrounded by free attractions that represented the soul of the people of Vegreville and area at the Alberta Day celebration on September 1.

This event featured the Pysanka Park Farmers’ Market, Artisan Market with artwork by Vegreville Visual Artists, chances to play Pysanka Putt-Putt Mini Golf and in the inflatable bouncy slide area.

A few professionals from Vegreville Emergency Services were also available on site for people to speak to and get a tour of the emergency vehicles.

At Vegreville Elks Gazebo, people were entertained by local musicians from Vegreville and area who were: Debbie Hill, Len Sakaluk, Lorne Fill and Justin Hambridge. Aaron Dean from Castor and Cassie Cameron from Vermilion performed near the large movie screen and Pysanka Egg at the park. Each of these musicians took the audience on a journey through country, folk and pop music.

At dusk, the movie, “The Super Mario Bros” was shown on a big screen where everyone could have free popcorn as they watched.

Jamieson Brown, Community Engagement and Vegreville Alberta Day Economic Development Manager for the Town of Vegreville said the town received $5,000 from the Alberta Culture Days Grant to put on the event.

Town of Vegreville Tourism Coordinator Michelle Gladys explained, “The Alberta Government invited municipalities to take part in the Alberta Day celebration. They gave all municipalities the opportunity to apply for funding to host an Alberta Day celebratory event showcasing Alberta’s cultural identity. We applied for the funding and received it, and so we were able to host an Alberta Day event.

The day of the event coincides with the day that the Province of Alberta was established by federal legislation...September 1, 1905. To recognize this important date, the Government of Alberta established September 1 as Alberta Day in perpetuity. Alberta Day will provide municipalities an opportunity to celebrate the history, heritage and cultural identity of our province.”

Deputy Mayor Justin Curtis made a brief speech. He stated, “In 1905, Alberta had an estimated population of 250,000 people, this figure was said to be derived by Prime Minister Laurier from the number of homestead applications at that time. We can proudly say the population has expanded to 4,703,772 as of April 1, 2023.”