KBPV hosts Canada Day Pincher Creek 2013

Honour Guard marches in at beginning of Canada Day celebration

Christian Davis

Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village (KBPV) hosted Pincher Creek's Canada Day 2013 party on July 1 (naturally), an event that saw about 350 people come through the gates to attend the festivities, which were held under a scorching blue sky.  The temperature got as high as 27°, according to The Weather Network. By the way, it's forecasted to get as hot as 34° here in Pincher Creek today, July 2.

Dignitaries assembled for the singing of O Canada

Canada Day at KBPV is one of our town's biggest family events, and this year was no exception as children, parents, grandparents, and friends made the most of the extensive KBPV grounds and exhibits.  Two bouncy tents were set up for the kids and saw continuous use.

Bob Westrop 

The official ceremonies were officiated by Bob Westrop, and began with the entry of an honour guard led by Pincher Creek Legion #43 Sergeant At Arms Fred White, which was also composed of past and present RCMP members and Cadet Rubert Palao.

After the singing of 'O Canada' Westrop introduced the event's guest speakers, beginning with Macleod MP/Minister of Finance Ted Menzies.

MP Ted Menzies 

"It's been a very interesting and challenging week for the people in south western Alberta," said Menzies, in reference to the recent flooding of many southern Alberta communities.  "Forgive me if I dwell on that for a few moments.  This country is 146 years old today, but it came together in the last twelve days." Menzies expressed his gratitude towards the many people who have been helping deal with the situation, at one point saying our area was lucky to have "dodged a bullet".

Related link: MP Ted Menzies addresses Pincher Creek Canada Day crowd, addresses flooding in southern Alberta

Bob Westrop concurred with that point of view during his own interlude.  "We did dodge a bullet.  The rain came in the other watersheds.  It came in the Castle, the Crowsnest, and the Oldman.  We (Westrop and his family) didn't get the rain out here that puts the pressure on us.  We live downstream from Picher Creek.  When the waters high, we feel the brunt of it.  It's been washing our area away, dramatically.  We did dodge a bullet.  We're lucky.  Others were not as lucky this time."

"When you watch the tv, and you see the devastation, and the way the community pulled together, it makes you proud.  Proud to be a Canadian.  Proud to have the ability to help others."

Mayor Ernie Olsen 

With that, Westrop introduced Pincher Creek Mayor Ernie Olsen.  "I always hate speaking after Bob," said Olsen. "Just to reiterate on what's been said,  I've been watching the news, and yes, there are a lot of people that have been devastated. There are a lot of people that just show up with shovels and brooms and walk into peoples homes and say 'What do you want me to do?' I look at those people and I think, 'They must be from Pincher Creek'.  Because there's no other place around that has volunteerism as Pincher Creek does."

"I know that if it happened here, everybody sitting here now would be grabbing a broom, grabbing a shovel, doing whatever they could."

It's Canada Day, and I hate to dwell on bad news," continued Olsen, "So I want everybody to celebrate.  Everybody have a great day, and if you have a hat, put it on, ladies and gentlemen, because it's going to be a hot one."

Reeve Bjorn Berg 

MD of Pincher Creek No. 9 Reeve Bjorn Berg was up next.  "Good morning Pincher Creek," he said.  "What a glorious day to be Canadian."

"We're 146 years old, as Ted Menzies pointed out.  A young country with much to be proud of.  We have a venerable and ancient history.  On the hills around my home there are rock cairns that were put there by a civilization 2,000 years ago.  Buried in the earth there are remains of those peoples going back 10 thousand years."

"Those were our first Canadians."

"We've won honour and glory by fighting for our beliefs.  Though we've been affected by war, we have not let it shape us.  No, we've been shaped by our environment, as is still evident today.  Our monuments are our mountains,  our epitaphs are written in stone and wood.  Our voice is in the wind.  We are the true north, strong and free.  Happy birthday, Canada."

RCMP Cst. Marcel Montgomery 

RCMP Constable Marcel Montgomery spoke of the RCMP's long and seminal history in Pincher Creek.

 "When I found out that I was coming to Pincher Creek I started doing some history, and I was amazed to find out how much history the RCMP has with the town of Pincher Creek.  In 1875 members were out this way looking for land to create a grain farm, and that's when they found the pincers in the creek, and that's how the town got its name."

"Having found such great land in this area, in the summer of 1878 they opened a ranch to breed horses to supply for all the members in Fort Macleod and surrounding areas.  The demand was so high they had to find breeders in the surrounding areas as well, and at one point they had 300 head of horse just on their ranch here.  Unfortunately, in 1881 they weren't able to meet the demand and found it more profitable to get horses from the breeders in the area, so they ended up closing the farm, but the members loved the area so much that they decided to retire and take their land in this area, and helped build what is now the town of Pincher Creek."

 "I'm very honoured to be here, it's a great history that the RCMP has with the town , and I'm looking forward to the many years I have left here."

Bob Westrop recited a passage from Gordon Lightfoot's brilliant 'Canadian Railroad Trilogy' before introducing KBPV Curator and local historian Farley Wuth.  "He's a giant in our community because he's kept track of our heritage," said Westrop.  "Farley's been the one that's done that job, and he's done it admirably."

Curator Farley S. Wuth 

"2013 also marks the 135 anniversary of the founding of the settlement of Pincher Creek by the North West Mounted Police, " Wuth told the crowd.  In 1878 the mounties came west from Fort Macleod to establish the horse ranch here, at Pincher Creek."

"Both company ranches and family ranches were established here.  Pincher Creek became a social, commercial, and educational center for southwestern Alberta.  The Northwest Mounted Police's history in this area is absolutely pivotal to the town itself."  Wuth encouraged everyone to have a look inside the original North-West Mounted Police horse barn, which was moved to the KBPV grounds from its original location where the library now stands and reconstructed.

Bob Westrop read an excerpt of a poem by local poet Scotty Freebairn that told of John George (Kootenai) Brown, from a book available in the KBPV gift shop, before saying  "Enjoy the rest of Canada Day, enjoy the birthday party."

Events Coordinator Denis Somerville cuts the cake

And that's exactly what people did.  As mentioned, the bouncy tents did a brisk business.  So did the concessions and the exhibits/buildings.  Face painting was a hit with the kids too, and so were the helium balloons.  Denise Somerville took over the position of Events Coordinator from Toni Lucas when Toni left earlier this year to join this publication full time, and Somerville has done a terrific job of ensuring that KBPV is THE place to be on this important day.   She also cut the Canada Day cake (with some help) that was distributed freely to those that wanted a piece.  In addition to the exhibits, there were also the lovely KBPV gardens to enjoy, plus turkeys, sheep, chickens, and the vintage cars displayed by Ray Degan and Garnet Heinzig.

The most notable aspect of the whole event was once again the spirit of community in evidence everywhere one looked.  Pincher Creek, we're blessed with each other.

Canadians give each other a helping hand when necessary

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