The Forth Junction Heritage Society
is a Registered Charitable Society under the Alberta Societies Act
and the Canada Revenue Agency
Milestones:
April
2009 - a group of four local transportation historians and model
railroaders (Paul Pettypiece, Darcy Colenutt, Roy Sirman and Heather
Shannon) meet to form the Forth Junction Heritage Society: temporary
Board of Directors elected by acclamation: President - Paul
Pettypiece, Vice-President - Darcy Colenutt, Secretary - Heather
Shannon.
May to September 2009 - Several local historians, city and county
civic leaders, business leaders and other people of influence are
briefed about the preliminary concept of a major tourist attraction
based on the railway history of the region with positive
encouragement to proceed.
August 2009 - Steve Parkin added to board as inaugural member and
replaces Heather Shannon as Secretary-Treasurer. Society by-laws
finalized. Development of comprehensive website begins;
September 2009 - Michael Dawe and Audrey Reid become members
expanding Board of Directors to seven; first membership dues
collected;
October 2009 - Bank account set up; Orval Snider becomes member.
November 2009 - Preliminary business plan created; President gave
historical perspective on passenger rail at High Speed Rail
Symposium at Red Deer County Centre.
December 2009 - The society receives confirmation of its status as a
Registered Society under the Alberta Societies Act. Red Deer County
agrees to purchase the former ACR Mintlaw steel railway trestle as a
historic resource, fulfilling the initial stage of one of the
society's objectives;
January 2010 - The society receives a donation of $500 from Red Deer
County Division 2 Recreation and Culture Board for start-up
expenses; Paypal account set up for website. Roger Bouchard becomes
member.
February 2010 - First print media
news articles and commentary on the
vision of the society (Red Deer Advocate and Red Deer Express). Dean
Jordan gives presentation to Board on Innisfail Historical Society's
40th anniversary.
April 2010 - Created banner, brochures, historic photo display and
model rail module exhibit for participation at Calgary Supertrain,
one of Canada's largest model railway shows; membership reaches 12
June & July 2010 - News articles in Red Deer Advocate. Robert Buckle
of Heritage Collaborative Inc. gives presentation to board re future
feasibility study.
September 2010 - Board accepts proposal for $40,000 destination
management study by Heritage Collaborative - requests funding from
Alberta Tourism (unsuccessful).
October
2010 - Presentation to Tourism Red Deer resulting in letter of
support in principle. Display at Red Deer Model Train and Hobby
Show. First Annual General Meeting held at Kerry Wood Nature Centre
in Red Deer with presentations by city archivist Michael Dawe who
spoke on "Red Deer as a Transportation Hub" and president Paul
Pettypiece who spoke on "The Forth Junction Project Vision" as it
was envisioned at the time. Election of Board of Directors:
President - Paul Pettypiece; Vice-President - Darcy Colenutt;
Secretary-Treasurer - Steve Parkin; plus 6 members at large.
Membership rises to 21. News articles in Red Deer Advocate.
November 2010 - Society president contacted for news articles in Red
Deer Advocate and Mountain View Gazette on repairs to Mintlaw
trestle
December 2010 - Application to CRA for charitable status submitted,
meeting with Alberta Tourism
January 2011 - Strategic planning workshop for society members,
membership rises to 23
February 2011 - Informal meeting with Central
Alberta Regional Trails Society re options for preservation of and
access to Mintlaw trestle and regional trail on former ACR right of
way
March 2011 - Changes made to strategic plan and adopted; became
member of Red Deer Chamber of Commerce
April 2011 - Participated for 2nd time at Supertrains in Calgary;
Heather Shannon creates archives scrapbook for display
June 2011 - Field trip to Mintlaw trestle; meeting with RD
Strategies re county study on access and preservation of Mintlaw
trestle; letter from Canada Revenue Agency that some of society's
objectives do not comply with charitable activities
August 2011 - Field trip to Alberta Central Railway Museum near
Wetaskiwin; meeting with Red Deer mayor
September 2011 - Special meeting accepted changes to by-laws and
society purposes as required by CRA for charitable status to focus
on education and preservation activities; regular meeting held at
Innisfail Historical Village
October 2011 - 2nd annual Annual General Meeting held at The Hub on
Ross in Red Deer with speakers Brian McLoughlin who spoke on "There
Was a Time - the Calgary & Edmonton Railway" and Steve Parkin who
spoke on "The Development of Transit in Central Alberta". Election
of Board of Directors: President - Paul Pettypiece; Vice-President -
Roger Bouchard; Secretary-Treasurer - Steve Parkin; plus 6 members
at large. Participated for 2nd time at Red Deer Model Train & Hobby
Show. Membership rises to 28. President met with Red Deer County
mayor re potential Springbrook site for future rail park.
November 2011 - Approval of charitable status with Canada Revenue
Agency; meetings with Tourism Red Deer, Red Deer County and Heritage
Collaborative; received list of various plans for Jubilee 3001 steam
locomotive from Canada Science & Technology Museum for future
replication
December 2011 - Two page feature in Mountain View Gazette and
article in Red Deer Advocate; letter sent to Red Deer County council
members re update and request for letter of support for Springbrook
site; preliminary contact with some landowners re future site
January 2012 - Article in Innisfail Province regarding proposed
heritage rail park somewhere between Red Deer and Innisfail in close
proximity to the CPR Calgary-Edmonton line.
October 2012 - AGM held at The Hub on Ross in Red Deer. President
made presentation on "The 100th Anniversary of the Mintlaw Trestle
and its Impact on West Central Alberta". Election of Board of
Directors: President - Paul Pettypiece; Vice-President - Brian
McLoughlin; Secretary-Treasurer - Steve Parkin; plus 4 members at
large.
February 2013 - Participated in the Olds Train Show at Olds College.
June 2013 - Nominated Red Deer County for Heritage Preservation
Award re preservation of Mintlaw Trestle.
September 2013 - Participated in Springbrook Information Fair.
November 2013 - AGM held at abc Family Restaurant in Red Deer.
President made presentation on "The Railways as Parents of a City"
similar to a presentation made earlier in the year at the Red Deer
Public Library. Election of Board of Directors: President - Paul
Pettypiece; Vice-President - Brian McLoughlin; Secretary - Heather
Shannon; Treasurer - Steve Parkin; plus 4 members at large.
December 2013 - Editorial in Innisfail Province and Olds Albertan
praising FJHS big dream.
February 2014 - Participated in Olds Train Show at Olds College.
March 2014 - Informed that the 80-tonne east girder was removed in
February from the Mintlaw Trestle due to weakened condition of
timber supports.
May 2014 - President conducted a Jane's Walk with the theme of how
three railways impacted the development of the city of Red Deer.
July 2014 - Provided input to Red Deer County's Red Deer to
Springbrook Trails Study indicating a preference for a Trans Canada
Trail route crossing the historic Mintlaw Trestle.
September 2014 - Acquired 18" section of original Calgary & Edmonton
Railway rail dated 1890 from Enderby (BC) & District Museum after
they discovered the rail in June and offered it to FJHS.
November 2014 - AGM held at abc Family Restaurant in Red Deer.
President made two presentations, one on "Proposal for Mintlaw
Trestle to be part of Trans Canada Trail" and the other on "Railway
Stations of Red Deer Area". Election of Board of Directors:
President - Paul Pettypiece; Vice-President - Brian McLoughlin;
Secretary - Heather Shannon; Treasurer - Steve Parkin; plus 3
members at large.
February 2015 - Participated in Olds Train Show at Olds College
May 2015 - President conducted a Jane's Walk in Red Deer.
October 2015 - Field trip to the Mintlaw Trestle.
November 2015 - AGM held at abc Family Restaurant in Red Deer.
President made presentation on "The 4 Railway Stations of Red Deer".
Election of Board of Directors: President - Paul Pettypiece;
Vice-President - Brian McLoughlin; Secretary - Heather Shannon;
Treasurer - Steve Parkin; plus 5 members at large.
February 2016 - Participated in the Olds Train Show at Olds College.
March 2016 - President gave public talk and presentation at the Red
Deer Museum on the history of the railways in Central Alberta and
the impact on the development of Red Deer.
September 2016 - Received call from Gary Southgate of Saskatchewan
concerning a possible future partnership to display his extensive
collection of railway equipment.
October 2016 - AGM held at abc Family Restaurant in Red Deer.
President made two presentations, one on "The Southgate Collection"
and the other on "Potential Sites for a Future Rail Park". Election
of Board of Directors: President - Paul Pettypiece; Vice-President -
Brian McLoughlin; Secretary - Evan Bedford; Treasurer - Steve Parkin;
plus 6 members at large.
December 2016 - Acquired gifted miscellaneous telegraph equipment
from Olive Iddiols of Calgary. Article in Red Deer Advocate about
possibility of acquiring Southgate Collection.
January 2017 - Liz Taylor of Red Deer Tourism and Paul Pettypiece of
FJHS met with Alberta Tourism in Edmonton. Had first meeting with
Gary Southgate regarding his collection. Met with Discovery Wildlife
Park at Innisfail.
February 2017 - Participated in Olds Train & Hobby Show at Olds
College.
March 2017 - Met with Red Deer County officials regarding possible
future heritage rail park at Springbrook.
April 2017 - Acquired gifted railway-themed sculpture by 1994 Red
Deer College student Melinda Setters from Rod Trentham of Red Deer.
July 2017 - Met with Red Deer economic development officials, GATX,
and Gary Southgate re possibility of acquiring land from the city in
north Red Deer. Gary Southgate negotiating with CN Rail to acquire
abandoned rail right of way in Riverside industrial area.
August 2017 - Met with Sylvan Lake officials regarding a possible
tourism rail park in the area.
September 2017 - Received information from CP Rail re connecting our
proposed rail park at Innisfail to the CPR main line. Correspondence
with CN Rail re acquiring track from the abandoned industrial rail
spur in Red Deer. FJHS board met with Gary Southgate about
partnering with him to display his equipment. First presentation to
Innisfail Town Council.
October 2017 - Met with Greg Garson at Sylvan Lake about the
possibility of creating a rail park on his property. Met with Red
Deer County officials re Springbrook option for a future heritage
rail park.
November 2017 - AGM held at abc Family Restaurant in Red Deer.
Michael Dawe made presentation on "The History of Railways in
Central Alberta". Election of Board of Directors: President - Paul
Pettypiece; Vice-President - Brian McLoughlin; Secretary - Evan
Bedford; Treasurer - Steve Parkin; plus 4 members at large.
December 2017 - Met with Donald School of Business regarding student
practicum for feasibility study.
February 2018 - Second presentation to newly-elected Innisfail Town
Council re proposed heritage rail park.
May 2018 - Participated in Carstairs Model and Hobby Show.
July 2018 - The Junior League of Edmonton offered its significant
collection of artifacts housed in the closed Calgary & Edmonton
Railway Station Museum located in the Old Strathcona district of
Edmonton. Several members of FJHS did a field trip to Edmonton to
look over the collection. Contacted Red Deer Museum and Red Deer
Culture Services to see if they would be interested in storing the
collection or displaying; unfortunately they didn't have space
available. Board decides to pursue acquisition of C&ER museum
collection. Morris Flewwelling gifted to FJHS a copy of the Alberta
Museums Association Handbook.
August 2018 - Board officially decides to proceed with negotiations
for acquisition of C&ER museum collection. Acquired gifted original
CNR switch lock from Cliff Fuller of Red Deer. Adoption of the
Springbrook Community Heritage Park Master Plan.
September 2018 - Received a grant from the City of Red Deer
Community Culture Development Fund to cover the cost of transporting
and storing the C&ER station museum collection for one year on the
understanding that the collection will eventually be displayed in
the Red Deer area. Both the Junior League of Edmonton and FJHS
boards passed resolutions for the unconditional gifting of the C&ER
station museum collection. Transfer agreement finalized. Meeting
with Red Deer County officials including the mayor about proposed
rail park at Springbrook.
October 2018 - First and second trip to Edmonton to acquire much of
the collection which was put in storage at StoreSmart in Gasoline
Alley. Display and surveys at Discover Springbrook information fair.
AGM held at abc Family Restaurant in Red Deer. President made
presentation on "The Calgary & Edmonton Railway Station Museum
Collection". Election of Board of Directors: President - Paul
Pettypiece; Vice-President - Richard Astle; Secretary - Evan
Bedford; Treasurer - Steve Parkin; plus 3 members at large.
January 2019 - Board adopts Artifacts Collections Policy. Rail park
vision modified to separate non-profit museum complex from
commercial aspect.
April 2019 - Display at Supertrain in Calgary.
May 2019 - Met with Canada Malting at Niobe regarding possible
future extension of elevator spur south to Melcor property for both
heritage and industrial use. Met with Melcor re possible future rail
park south of Niobe. Participated in Carstairs Model and Hobby Show.
June 2019 - Final trip to Edmonton to pick up a few items from the
closed C&ER station museum including a large wall clock gifted to
FJHS by the Legate Family and the freight wagon that needs
considerable repair as well as architectural plans for the museum
building that is a replication of the original built in 1892.
Acquired gifted candlestick phone from closed Edmonton Telephone
Historical Centre. Met with Discovery Wildlife Park at Innisfail.
Conversations with Gary Southgate indicated that most of his railway
collection has been moved to Saskatchewan, including former Okanagan
Wine Train that had been stored at Mossleigh, but large steam
locomotive is still in Regina.
August 2019 - Met with Innisfail CAO and Melcor re future rail park
north of Discovery Wildlife Park.
September 2019 - Acquired gifted 3 CNR wall mountable oil lamps from
closed Edmonton Telephone Historical Centre. Initial conversations
with Innisfail Historical Society re partnering with FJHS on display
of C&ER museum collection.
October 2019 - AGM held at Innisfail Aquatic Centre in Innisfail.
Anna Lenters, president of Innisfail & District Historical Society,
made presentation on "My 10 Years at Heritage Park in Calgary".
Election of Board of Directors: President - Paul Pettypiece;
Vice-President - Richard Astle; Secretary - Evan Bedford; Treasurer
- Steve Parkin; plus 2 members at large.
November 2019 - Article in Innisfail Province regarding possible
future heritage rail park at Innisfail.
January 2020 - Members of Innisfail & District Historical Society
examines C&ER station museum collection and confirms decision to
accept the collection on loan at the Innisfail Historical Village.
March 2020 - Stored C&ER station museum collection moved to
Innisfail Historical Village for future display. Article in
Innisfail Province.
Board
of Directors 2021-22:
Paul Pettypiece (President), Evan Bedford
(Secretary),
Richard Astle (Vice-President), Steve Parkin (Treasurer),
Roy Sirman, Jim Mattheis
Current (2021-22) members in addition to 6
Board Members: David Craig,
Heather Shannon, Lane Petrosenko, Denise Bedford, Laddi Pettypiece
2020-21 members: Paul Pettypiece, Evan
Bedford, Richard Astle, Steve Parkin,
Roy Sirman,
Heather Shannon, Lane Petrosenko, Denise Bedford, Robert Meyer
2019-20 members: Paul Pettypiece, Evan
Bedford, Richard Astle, Steve Parkin, Brian McLoughlin,
Roy Sirman, David Craig, Heather Shannon, Lane Petrosenko, Denise
Bedford, Lon Marsh
2018-19 members: Paul Pettypiece, Evan
Bedford, Richard Astle, Steve Parkin, Brian McLoughlin,
Roy Sirman, David Craig, Heather Shannon, Lane Petrosenko, Clayton
Hazlett, Lawrie Hignell,
Bill Wilson, Dennis Downham, Jim Mattheis, Laddi Pettypiece, Denise
Bedford, Liz Taylor,
Morris Flewwelling
2017-18 members: Paul Pettypiece, Evan
Bedford, Brian McLoughlin, Steve Parkin, Lawrie Hignell, Richard
Astle, Jim Mattheis, Roy Sirman, David Craig, Daniel Craig, Heather
Shannon,
Lane Petrosenko, Clayton Hazlett, Rod Trentham, Bill Wilson, Dennis
Downham
2016-17
members: Paul Pettypiece, Evan Bedford, Brian
McLoughlin, Steve Parkin, Heather Shannon, Roy Sirman, Dennis
Downham, Lawrie Hignell, Richard Astle, Jim Mattheis, Bill Wilson,
Ellen Wilson, David Craig, Ernie Beskowiney, Ed Molenkamp
2015-16 members: Paul Pettypiece, Brian
McLoughlin, Steve Parkin, Heather Shannon, Roy Sirman, Dennis
Downham, Evan Bedford, Bill Wilson, Ellen Wilson, Richard Astle,
Lawrie Hignell,
Laddi Pettypiece, Ronald Simonson
2014-15 members: Paul Pettypiece, Brian McLoughlin, Steve
Parkin, Heather Shannon, Roy Sirman, Dennis Downham, Evan Bedford,
Bill Wilson, Richard Astle, Lawrie Hignell
2013-14 members: Paul Pettypiece, Brian McLoughlin, Steve Parkin,
Heather Shannon, Roy Sirman, Roger Bouchard, Dennis Downham, Evan
Bedford, Bill Wilson, Richard Astle, Lawrie Hignell,
Peter Wagstaff
2012-13 members: Paul Pettypiece, Brian
McLoughlin, Steve Parkin, Heather Shannon, Roy Sirman, Peter
Wagstaff, Roger Bouchard, Dennis Downham, Evan Bedford, Bill Wilson,
Ellen Wilson,
Richard Astle, Lawrie Hignell, Kenneth James, Tony Blake, Rod
Trentham, Ben Alain,
Don Holt, Virginia Holt
2011-12 members: Paul Pettypiece, Brian McLoughlin, Steve
Parkin, Orval Snider, Heather Shannon, Roy Sirman, Peter Wagstaff,
Roger Bouchard, Dennis Downham, Michael Dawe, Evan Bedford,
Bill Wilson, Ernie Beskowiney, Richard Astle, Bill Lundie, Wayne
Brow, Steven Ruthven
2010-11 members: Paul Pettypiece, Darcy Colenutt, Roy Sirman,
Heather Shannon, Steve Parkin, Michael Dawe, Orval Snider, Roger
Bouchard, Steven Ruthven, Dean Jorden, Innisfail Historical Society,
Andrew Stott, Martin Parsons, Peter Wagstaff, Ernie Beskowiney,
Dennis Downham, Gerry Gummo, Preston Parks, Bill Wilson, Ellen
Wilson, Rich Graydon
2009-10 members: Paul Pettypiece, Darcy Colenutt, Roy Sirman,
Heather Shannon, Audrey Reid, Steve Parkin, Michael Dawe, Orval
Snider
In Memoriam:
Ellen
Wilson (1933-2017). Ellen passed away peacefully on October 25,
2017. He is survived by her husband, Bill, 2 sisters, one son, two
step-sons and 7 grandchildren. She was a member of the society for 6
years. She and her husband, Bill, have operated the Alberta Central
Railway Museum southeast of Wetaskiwin since 1992.
Orval Snider (1928-2012). Orval
passed away peacefully on June 6, 2012. He is survived by his wife,
seven children, 23 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. One of
his unfulfilled dreams was that a steam locomotive be located in
front of the historic Red Deer downtown CPR station. Another was
that an elevated high speed rail line be established between Calgary
and Edmonton through Red Deer. His contribution to the FJHS Board
will be missed.
AGM
2019 Report
AGM
2018 Report
AGM
2017 Report
AGM
2012 Report

Strategic Plan 2011
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