Amid bright blue skies and waving red and white Canada flags, patriotic folks at Big Valley celebrated Canada’s 145th birthday, the 100th year of the Big Valley’s train station, and the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s coronation, in grand style Sunday.
Rolling into town just ahead of schedule, the Alberta Prairie steam train decorated with many Canada flags was greeted by the Legion Colour Guard of Big Valley and Stettler, officers of the RCMP from the Stettler detachment and the music of bagpipes played by Brian O’Neil of Innisfail, as well as many Canada Day celebrants waiting on the station platform.
Several of the 386 passengers who stepped off the train, young and old alike, as well as spectators, were caught up in the patriotism of the day, wearing red and white, waving miniature Canada flags or wearing period costumes from eras of the past.
The steam train, pulled by Engine 41, was driven by 79-year-old engineer Harry Home of Jasper. The trip from Stettler took one hour and 40 minutes, including a stop for a “train robbery.”
The train also slowed down as it passed the famed Engine 6060, parked at Warden. That engine had pulled the train carrying Princess Elizabeth on her 1951 visit to Canada, before becoming Queen Elizabeth.
“The steam train excursions here have a terrific future,” Home said. “I have been all over the world and have seen many train-fan trips, but none can compare with this one.”
The afternoon festivities included the reaffirmation ceremony of the 1912 train station built by the Canadian Northern Railroad.
Don Totten, vice president of the Rocky Mountain Rail Society, was MC for the short ceremony, which opened with O Canada and closed with God Save the Queen.
The Legion Colour Guard and RCMP constables Lewadniuk and Yome presided as Big Valley Mayor Gayle Knudson read the reaffirmation oath — repeated by those in attendance. Drumheller-Stettler MLA Rick Strankman also attended the ceremony.
Big Valley school principal Corey Raugust spoke on the history of the Canadians before us.
“Today, as we celebrate being part of a great nation, it is also time to reflect,” Raugust said.
“If we look back to 1867 on this spot, you may have seen our first nation’s people or Métis following the buffalo herds. In less than 50 years, the buffalo were gone and the railway had arrived. When the railway came, new Canadians chose to settle here and make a home.”
“Two world conflicts took place and young people from this community walked on this station platform and boarded a train similar to the one here today. Some returned, many — too many — did not.”
“Today, you see a time capsule here of Canadian prairie life; a passenger steam train positioned at the train station, with a roundhouse and grain elevator to the south. How fortunate we are to have this glimpse of our Canadian roots.”
After the ceremony, the dignitaries, along with the Legion Colour Guard and RCMP constables, gathered at the steam train for the photos.
“Our village doubles in size when the steam train visits,” said Mayor Knudson, who described the reaffirmation ceremony as “very sentimental.”
The passengers boarded the train for the return trip to Stettler, with bagpipes playing as the train pulled away from the historic train station.
Leaving the picturesque village behind, almost 400 passengers took with them the memories of spending Canada Day in Big Valley.