Alberta Destinations

Events throughout province celebrate 2005 Alberta Centennial

At the stroke of midnight on January 1, 2005, Albertans started a year-long celebration of Alberta’s centennial, the 100th anniversary of our becoming a province in 1905.

Every month will see the centennial theme reflected in community activities and events intended to celebrate our past and help us imagine our future.

January 1 marked the beginning of the Alberta Centennial Mountain Expedition, which involves hundreds of Albertans climbing 100 summits in the Alberta Rockies, or skiing Alberta's western border, 1,200 kilometres from south to north.

As the weather warms up, many communities will establish Alberta Centennial Heritage Gardens as part of the annual Communities in Bloom project.

From April 28 to May 10, Alberta Scene in Ottawa will showcase the talents of 600 Alberta artists at 19 venues in the nation's capital.

Provincial events will include:

• The Royal Visit to Alberta by Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, which will take place sometime between May 17 and May 25. The couple will also visit Saskatchewan, which is also celebrating its centennial next year. This will be the Queen’s first visit to Alberta since 1990 and her fifth since becoming Queen in 1952.

• September 1 birthday celebrations, with re-enactment of the first Legislature in Edmonton.

• Unveiling of the refurbished Northern Jubilee Auditorium in Edmonton and Southern Jubilee Auditorium in Calgary.

Alberta communities will also be putting on a host of events to celebrating the centennial. Some will be marking important anniversaries in addition to the provincial. On May 6 and 7, “100 Years on the Prairie” takes place in High River. This quilt and handicraft show celebrates the 100th anniversary of the establishment of High River, as well as Alberta's becoming a province. Taber is also celebrating its 100th anniversary with “Party in the Park” on June 28.

On April 16, Sons of Norway Solglyt Lodge 143 is putting on “Norway and Edmonton Celebrate 100 years”, an event marking the dual centennial of Alberta as a province and Norway as an independent country. It takes place at the Dutch Canadian Centre in Edmonton and will include craft demonstrations, a Norweigan market, and a dinner and dance.

Heritage Park in Calgary is celebrating the 120th anniversary of the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway, along with the Centennial, June 25 and 26, with a re-enactment of the driving of the last spike. The Cathedral Church of the Redeemer (Anglican) in Calgary is also celebrating its 100th anniversary with tours, concerts and special events.

Homecoming events are being planned for this year by communities including Edgerton, Olds, Erskine and District, Medicine Hat, Barrhead, and Marwayne.

In Calgary, a variety of events will take place as part of “100 years in 10 days”, from August 27 to September 5. This includes the Alberta 2005 Garden Party, which is the official opening of Lougheed House, a restored 1891 mansion as a public heritage centre.

Other events include “Ice Magic 2005", an international ice sculpture competition at Lake Louise to be held from January 14 to 16, featuring a centennial theme.

From July 18 to 22, the “Alberta Centennial Trail Ride” will be held on Canadian Forces Base Suffield, following a route down into the South Saskatchewan River Valley. Some 1,200 riders and wagon teams are expected to take part in the five-day ride and the public is welcome. Applications will be available July 1.

Musical events will include the “Centennial Celebration of Community Bands” at the Winspear Centre in Edmonton on April 17. At least six community bands from across Alberta will take part in this celebration of Alberta’s centennial and Western Canadian music. A performance of the famed “RCMP Musical Ride” will take place August 25 at Midnight Stadium in Fort Macleod. Throughout the year the choir of the Northgate Lions Seniors’ Centre in Edmonton will be performing mixed chorus music of the last 100 years.

National and international sporting events taking place in Alberta during the province’s centennial include the 2005 Brier, the inaugural Canadian 3D Indoor Archery Championships, FIBT Bobsleigh and Skeleton World Championships, Essent ISU World Cup Speed Skating, IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, Alberta Centennial World Cup of Cross-Country Skiing, 2005 Canadian Open 5-Pin Bowling Championships, 2005 World Masters Games, Alberta Centennial Triathlon Festival, and Mobility Cup 2005.

An official centennial website carries a list of centennial heritage, cultural, recreation and sporting events across the province. Visit www.albertacentennial.ca for the events calendar, for more information on community events, historical notes, upcoming details of the Queen's visit in May and official birthday celebrations on September 1.