Tag: sports

From the Vault Friday: Soap Box Derby

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Image: SPRA 2002.30.3

Todays “From the Vault Friday” features a program from the South Peace Regional Archives Paper Artifact collection (fonds 501). The program is for the 1st Annual Soap Box Derby from 1956 in Grande Prairie on Clairmont Road. The winner would advance to the Canadian Finals in Mission B.C. The first place winners in both age groups won a bicycle valued at $50, around $486.62 in today’s money.

Read more about the South Peace Regional Archives Paper Artifact collection (fonds 501) here.

 

From the Vault Friday is a social media campaign that highlights interesting materials from the collections of the South Peace Regional Archives. This project was made possible by an Access to Holdings Grant from the Archives Society of Alberta.

From the Vault Friday: 32nd County Fair

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Image: SPRA 998.22.4.74

Todays “From the Vault Friday” features a program from the 32nd Annual County Fair, from the Grande Prairie Loggers Sports Association fonds (Fonds 042).

In 1973, the Grande Prairie Chamber of Commerce was searching for a way to promote the city as the “Timber Capital” of Alberta. They approached locally based forest industries and allied companies to put together some form of timber show to run in conjunction with Muskoseepi Days. The first timber show was held in 1973.

In 1974, the second logger’s sports was held in Bear Creek Park with one outside contestant, but it was obvious that what was needed was a strong campaign to attract both competitors and local spectators. That winter, the Logging Sports Committee began negotiations with the County of Grande Prairie Agricultural Society to hold the show in conjunction with the County Fair. As well, a number of professional competitors were brought in from the west coast to put on demonstrations of their various skills. As a result of the 1975 show, the committee was accepted into the Canadian Loggers’ Sports Association (CANLOG) as part of a Canada-wide competition circuit.

In 1976, the Grande Prairie Loggers Sports Association began to construct a logger’s sports park, complete with a log house facility, birling pond and climbing poles. That year competitors came from as far away as Australia.

From 1976 to the early 1990s, the event continued to be a part of the annual fair at Evergreen Park. The small association whose job it was to organize the show, however, was having difficulty attracting new members. The organization folded in 1994, the year the last Loggers’ Sports Show was held in Grande Prairie.

Image: SPRA 1998.22.4.26

Read more about the Grande Prairie Loggers Sports Association fonds (Fonds 042) here.

From the Vault Friday is a social media campaign that highlights interesting materials from the collections of the South Peace Regional Archives. This project was made possible by an Access to Holdings Grant from the Archives Society of Alberta.

From the Vault Friday: Victoria Day Sporting Event

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Image: SPRA 043.01.06b

Todays “From the Vault Friday” features a programme for a Victoria Day celebration in Spirit River from the Billy Salmond fonds (fonds 043).

A program from Victoria Day Celebration in Spirit River May 24, 1916. The program includes a list of event that were held like the Ladies’ Fifty Yard Dash or “Putting the Shot”. The judges for the event were listed as A.P Shaw, George Garnett, St. Pierre Ferguson, W.W. Browne. The Starters were Barney St. Clair and Dr. Shaw. The Treasurer was James Fahey, and the Ground’s Policeman was Alex. McGilvary.

Read more about the Billy Salmond fonds (fonds 043) here.

Featured image: SPRA 043.01.06a

From the Vault Friday is a social media campaign that highlights interesting materials from the collections of the South Peace Regional Archives. This project was made possible by an Access to Holdings Grant from the Archives Society of Alberta.

From the Vault Friday: Prairie Squares

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Images: SPRA Fonds 105

Today’s “From the Vault Friday” features postcards from the Prairie Squares Dance Club fonds (Fonds 105).

The Prairie Squares Square Dance Club was formed in 1951 to serve as a social, educational and recreational outing for people who love square dancing. In 1964, one of their members, Mrs. Francis Koffler, designed a wood carving of a Trumpeter Swan to serve as a symbol for the club. The design was adopted by the City of Grande Prairie to also be the City’s symbol, and they ordered a 10 foot high replica made of fiberglass and steel to be placed in Jubilee Park for the Golden Jubilee Celebrations in 1965.

Meanwhile, the Prairie Squares sent the original model on a traveling tour of “Swan” dances. At each dance, the couple coming from the furthest distance was presented with the trophy. The swan traveled to 16 clubs in Saskatchewan before returning to Grande Prairie in December 1966. Sent out again in 1967, it traveled around two provinces and five states before returning home to Grande Prairie in 1974.

Read more about the Prairie Squares Dance Club fonds here.

From the Vault Friday is a social media campaign that highlights interesting materials from the collections of the South Peace Regional Archives. This project was made possible by an Access to Holdings Grant from the Archives Society of Alberta.