The federal government jumped into St. Albert's 150th anniversary celebrations this week by giving local organizers a hefty grant.
Edmonton-St. Albert member of Parliament Brent Rathgeber announced this week the government will chip in $114,600 towards St. Albert's Rendezvous 2011 event. The yearlong event is being held in celebration of the city's sesquicentennial.
St. Albert's significance to Albertan and Canadian history is well documented, Rathgeber said. "Father Lacombe's Métis settlement was a major outpost when the West was developed," he noted. The city is the oldest non-fortified community in Alberta, and was the site of Western Canada's first flourmill and permanent bridge.
The grant comes from the Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage program, which was established in 2007.
The city faced stiff competition for its grant in these tight financial times, he continued, but the 150th anniversary committee sent in a solid bid. "They've worked hard and I'm glad the federal government could contribute."
Funds to honour volunteer
Committee chair Margaret Plain said she was very pleased by the news of the grant, some of which would go towards supporting the event's volunteers. "We're expecting to have around 500 volunteers over the course of the year," she said, and they'll all need shirts, ID tags and drinks. Some of the funds would also go towards equipment rentals.
A chunk of the grant would go towards the creation of a small bronze statue honouring former city resident Millie Seitz, Plain said.
Seitz, who died in 2009, was a teacher in St. Albert well known for her volunteerism, and was instrumental in the creation of the Celebration Garden near Chateau Mission Court. She was named the city's Volunteer Citizen of the Year in 1999 and was a recipient of the Queen's Jubilee Commemorative Medal and the Alberta Centennial Medal.
The statue will be placed in Celebration Garden, Plain said, and dedicated to the volunteer efforts of everyone in the community.
The city has already wrapped up two of its major anniversary events, Plain said — the gala and the Black Bonspiel of Wullie MacCrimmon — and is gearing up for the Family Day Snow Festival on Feb. 21.
For details, visit www.rendezvous2011.ca.
