Emily Plihal
Local Journalism
Initiative Reporter
Town of Peace River is excited to welcome residents and people in the region to celebrate Alberta Day at the NAR Train Station on August 29th from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm.
“The province helped to fund this event, and we are excited to be celebrating Alberta’s 120 birthday together,” says Town of Peace River’s Recreation Programmer Taylor Bak. “It’s a great opportunity to learn about Alberta’s history and spend time with your neighbours and friends.”
The Alberta Day Barbeque event will be absolutely free, and Bak says it will feature free hot dogs, a tour of the NAR Train Station, lawn games, crafts and so much more.
“This event offers a fun-filled, free experience and provides a wonderful opportunity for the community to come together and enjoy a day together at a local attraction,” says Bak. “These events foster a sense of community by bringing people together in a fun, positive environment.
Plus, it’s a wonderful way to celebrate the Alberta Day as a group.”
The day will include a tour of the train station, which is a notable part of both Peace River and Alberta’s history.
According to the Peace River website, the NAR Train Station (Northern Alberta Railways), historically known as Central Canada Railway, Class “C” station was built in 1916. It is the last of its kind still standing in northern Alberta. The station was a hub of passenger activity from its beginning in 1916 when the first train arrived having travelled from Edmonton by way of McLennan and Judah over the recently completed Heart River trestle. The 500km Peace River to Edmonton journey took as long as 13 hours, with departures and arrivals only a few days a week in the early years. Passenger service came to a halt in 1956, but freight service continued until 1981 when the station was closed. After extensive renovations to return select rooms to early
1920s/1930s style it was designated a Provincial Historical Resource in 1988.
Today the train station operates as the Town of Peace River’s Visitor Information Centre throughout the summer, as well as hosting Museum programs such as the popular summer teas.
The Alberta Day Barbeque is funded by monies received from the Government of Alberta.
If you’d like more information about the event, please call Bak at 780-624-3204. Alternatively, show up and enjoy the barbeque with your neighbours.