Kaitlin Poapst
For The Stettler Independent
A small gathering of collector car enthusiasts convened last Friday morning at the parking lot of Town of Stettler building with Mayor Dick Richards to officially proclaim July 14 as “Collector Car Appreciation Day.”
Although there were only a few cars due to the impending drag race hosted by the Stettler Car Club, which took place the following weekend at the Stettler Airport, there were three shiny vehicles to grace the occasion.
Yves Tremblay and his son stood proud in front of their 1967 Ford F100 Pickup, while Laurie Tait was present with her and husband Norris Tait’s 1970 Chevy Monte Carlo.
“Tomorrow is our drag race, so there’s a lot of local people at home preparing for that today,” said Tait, a member of the Stettler Car Club. “Stettler has had a car club in some form since at least the early 1960s. We’re currently sitting at about 45 members who meet monthly.”
Not only just for collector vehicles, the Stettler Car Club annually hosts a Show and Shine in June and a Drag Race in July.
Malcolm Fischer, member of the Central Alberta Vintage Car Club (CAVCC), stood next to his and wife Sharon Fischer’s 1938 McLaughlin Buick. According to Fischer, the CAVCC began in 1965.
“We have 99 members currently,” Fischer said. “We meet in Red Deer but our members are spread all across Central Alberta.”
Collector Car Appreciation Day (CCAD) began in 2010 to raise awareness of the role automotive restoration and collection plays in society and is celebrated annually across North America.
“Stettler was one of the first in Alberta to celebrate the day,” Fischer added. “This is our second year, with plenty more Albertan communities joining this year compared to last.”
Mayor Richards issued a proclamation on behalf of town council and the citizens of Stettler that officially recognized July 14, 2017 as “Collector Car Appreciation Day.” The proclamation was written by the Specialty Vehicle Association of Alberta, a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to the preservation, restoration, and enjoyment of all antique, collector, vintage, and specialty vehicles. The day recognizes the direct financial and cultural benefits that automobile hobbyists bring to their communities.