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Community spirit shines in Granum |
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Written by Delon Shurtz
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Saturday, July 31 2010, 8:25 PM |
Perhaps Peter Veenland, one of Granum’s oldest original citizens, described the community best when he said “Granum will shine tonight.”
Actually, Veenland sang those words Saturday during an impromptu, a cappella performance of a little “ditty” from years gone by. He reminisced about the town’s early stampede in which cowboys decorated steers with ribbons and raced Shetland ponies, and he recalled he and his brother as youngsters riding horses bareback to school in the winter.
Veenland was part of opening ceremonies for the town’s centennial celebrations, which also included comments by Mayor Melva Stinson and MP Ted Menzies.
“Congratulations Granum on your centennial,” Menzies said to a large crowd which had gathered early Saturday for a pancake breakfast.
The provincial government even kicked in a cheque for nearly $11,000.
Despite a population, according to its website, of only about 445 people, the centennial organizing committee was expecting nearly 600 for breakfast and probably even more during the three-day celebration which began Friday.
“We used to be bigger than Lethbridge,” said event co-ordinator Shalaine Williams.
Of course that would have been a long time ago, but back in the early days Granum was also in the running to be the capital of Alberta. But early fires that “wiped out the town,” also took it out of the running for capital status.
Granum has survived hardships over the years, and today it’s slowly growing, Williams said. Many of the newcomers are young families whose parents work in larger centres but prefer the quieter lifestyle.
“It’s a good place to raise your kids,” said long-time resident Don Douglas.
Douglas was raised in Granum and served on the town’s fire department for 45 years, 25 years as fire chief. He remembers working on the family farm as a child and helping his father load eggs on the local train for shipment to Calgary. That train station still exists, but now it’s a home along Willow Creek west of town.
Douglas also remembers life in the town many years ago when 50 cents would last him all day and pay for an afternoon at the movie theatre and a large popcorn, a meal at the Chinese restaurant, a handful of jawbreakers, a chocolate bar and pop.
Today, however, there are only a handful of businesses which contribute to the tax base.
“It’s a tough battle for the mayor and council,” he said.
Still, there’s no other place he’d rather live, and he’s proud of the community and its residents.
“We have small-town spirit.”
That spirit showed in the weekend’s centennial activities, which boasted lots of entertainment, including a family dance and fire spinners from the University of Lethbridge.
“It was awesome,” Williams said of the fire spinners. “It was really cool.”
The centennial also included a youth rock concert, parade, a walking tour of historic Granum, art and quilt shows, trolley car rides, childrens’ games, softball, films and news footage, a church service, and a fireworks display. It all wraps up today at 4 p.m. with closing ceremonies and a balloon release.
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