The city’s definitive history book is about to get an update. The Black Robe’s Vision, the two-volume set produced and published by the St. Albert Historical Society back in 1985, is nearly finally sold out of its print run of 3,000 copies. A lot has happened in the city in the last 30 years that isn’t represented in its pages.
To the society, that means that it’s a good chance to go back to the books.
“We’re not going to reprint,” commended Ray Pinco, one of the society’s members. “We’re going to print a whole, new, different book.”
The society is soliciting residents’ input into the organization and content of the soon-to-be out-of-date work (although a memory stick containing a PDF version of the original book was produced in 2010 and will remain on shelves).
The prologue of the 1985 edition proclaimed, “The roots of the present are deep in the past.” The title came from Shirley Jamison who called it a tribute to Father Lacombe who wore a black robe as an Oblate missionary.
The weighty tome featured a comprehensive history of the city along with a compilation of family stories focusing on the founding families of St. Albert and the Sturgeon area. Those stories will still be a part of the new edition but no new family stories will join them.
Instead, organizers are hoping to flesh out the history of the last 30 years with more community stories. A lot has happened in St. Albert since The Black Robe’s Vision came out, suggested Lynne Duigou.
“This time, we’ll be looking at things like how the schools changed, how has the business community changed …” the editor and chairperson of the book committee said. “30 years ago, we just had a brand new St. Albert Centre. Now we have a big area by Walmart and other centres. Grandin mall has been demolished.”
“Things have changed. The community has grown.”
She has been soliciting help from the public including such stakeholder groups as service clubs, retired teachers and other community members. While a title for the next edition hasn’t been determined yet, she is soliciting input to reflect various aspects of life, like events, businesses, government, schools, churches and community groups.
Everyone who could play any kind of part in the production of the book is needed to put their hats in. That means volunteer historians, writers, researchers, photographers, proofreaders, typists, bookkeeper, secretary and communications specialists. They even hope to get someone who can prepare some grant applications.
“We want it to be self-sustaining. We’d like to get a lot of people’s ideas.”
The timeline to publication is anticipated to take up to two years. The book is expected to be another comprehensive volume of 400 pages.
Duigou hopes to have all interested parties signed up within the next month. She can be contacted at 780-458-6640 or via email at [email protected].
