Elk Point in 1996: a year of progress and growth
from Elk Point Review By Vicki Brooker
January
The Town of Elk Point and the FCSS Board and director started off the year with discussions of the department, future with of the that goal being to determine what services could be provided within their budget.
The Elk Point Chamber viewed changes on the business scene, with two longtime businesses, United Grain Growers and Sew’n’Knit, closing, two others with new management, and the imminent retirement of Dr. Keith McNeilly from the hospital staff.
Close to $3000 was raised at the annual Skating Club Skate-a-thon.
Elk Point Historical Society's CN caboose took a road trip to its new home in Heinsburg, where it became a companion piece to their water tower and train station.
Elk Point Town Council spear- headed a steering committee to look into recruitment of another physician.
Elan Energy and Gibson Petroleum announced plans for a major oil pipeline from Elk Point to Hardisty.
Town and County Councils discussed cooperative ventures including an ambulance subsidy and fire protection at a joint meeting.
Seniors Gwen Nelson, Lena and Stepa, Pearl Slywka and Bernice Byskowsky won gold in Military Whist at the Alberta Winter Games, while Charisse Kinneberg won silver in Junior Archery and the Elk Point Pacers won silver in Men’s Basketball. Rod Randall’s St. Paul rink won the Elk Point Town and Country bonspiel, and Murray Babcock’s rink won the Windsor Club Mixed.
February
Elk Point Chamber of Commerce explored the computerized Business Attraction Information System at their annual meeting, but came up short of a president and secretary for their 1996 executive. Only half of a quorum showed up for the next regular meeting, and the Chamber questioned its future.
The Great Canadian Egg Race, hosted by the Midget Thunder, was a huge success, as was the 13th Oilmen’s Bonspiel, won by Vulcan Electric.
A total of 371 machines and 442 participants registered for the Heinsburg Snowmobile at Rally.
Stella Lorenson skipped the winning rink the Windsor Ladies Bonspiel, while Wayne Hanson skipped the winners at the Elk Point Men’s Open.
The Town of Elk Point considered providing 911 emergency service for town residents, and tabled approval of the FCSS budget.
A group of F. G. Miller High School students enjoyed a week-long exchange trip to Quebec.
Elk Point Lions Club looked back proudly on a quarter century of community service at their anniversary celebrations.
Elk Point Surface Rights Association saw increased oil patch activity as both helpful and hazardous.
Robyn Danyluk and Monica Naber placed first in the largest ever 4-H MultiClub Public Speaking competition.
Danielle Schnurer and Joan Wheat won the Saddle Slickers speak-off.
Elk Point hosted the St. Paul- Smoky Lake Business and Community Development Corporation’s Entrepreneur Showcase.
March
Elk Point Crusaders won the SPAA Junior Girls Basketball championship and were second in the Senior Girls division.
Elk Point Chamber finally got back on track, and decided to hold just one meeting a month, rather than the traditional two.
Elk Point livestock producers hosted their first annual bull sale with good response.
Nathan Brown of Dewberry won the Youth Talent Quest’s individual category and was joined by his brother Jeremy and Jason White to win the group category. Jim Bodnar and Margaret Clark won the regional cribbage championship.
Elk Point Community Choir’s excellent “Phantom of the Op’ry” was a sellout for all five dinner theatre performances.
Monica Naber placed first in the Junior division and Robyn Danyluk second in the Senior at District 4-H Public Speaking.
Lean Ostopovich of Owlseye won the Ag Society's Instant Rancher raffle.
Elk Point Skating Club circled the globe with their annual carnival “Around the World in Minutes.”
Elk Point Thunder lost out in semi-finals at the Provincial Midget tournament. Elk Point Peewee Blades won their league championship.
The Ag Society’s second annual Bull Chutin’ Classic packed the fairgrounds arena with spectators as thirty top bull riders competed. Mrs. Josephine Topylki marked her hundredth birthday with a family celebration.
April
One of the young entrepreneurs from the ”I Want To Be A Millionaire” program was a special guest at the Chamber’s first meeting of the month.
John Kaplan’s Magic Bus rolled into town to entertain with an evening of magic.
School staff reductions were predicted, due to cost-cutting.
Elementary School students presented an enjoyable Fine Arts Night.
Town Council investigated the BAIS computerized system.
Motorists were warned to beware of deer, due to the high number of vehicle-wildlife collisions.
Plugged culverts resulted in a short-lived flood as winter snows melted away.
Quebec students visiting Elk Point on the second half of an exchange program were greeted with a multicultural talent show.
Elks and OORP held their district meetings in Elk Point.
Fort Buckingham George and House Interpretive Centre hosted a volunteer appreciation afternoon.
A “Circle of Learning” at Elk Point Elementary was fun for students, staff and community volunteers.
The 17th Annual Ukrainian Dance Spring Concert was a feast for the senses.
Adeline Zenko was sworn in as the new Honored Royal Lady for the Elk Point OORP, while Randy Ballas started a second term as Elks Exalted Ruler.
Elk Point’s horse show season was off to a Fun and Furry start.
Elk Point Elementary hosted an open house and science fair.
Elk Point 4-H Multi Club’s Crafts Division held their annual achievement day, with Travis Lindquist, Nichole Havener and Janelle Ryks placing first in the three divisions.
May
The ad hoc Physicians Recruitment Committee was successful in spearheading renovations to the former nurses’ residence to provide accommodation for locum physicians and to upgrade the doctors’ clinic. They also applied to the Minister of Health for emergency status regarding location of an additional doctor.
Twenty-six people and seven dogs took part in the Lions Journey for Sight.
Northern Expressions Art Club’s second annual show and sale was an outstanding success, with 28 exhibitors.
Elk Point Community Choir sang their way into spring.
The Chamber decided to operate the tourist information centre on a contract basis. Three new businesses, Kelly’s Closet, Pioneer Radio Control and Florence’s Country Crafts, opened on Main Street.
F. G. Miller High School hosted a Mother’s Day Tea. Rapid growth in the oil patch was outlined in a supplement saluting the petroleum industry.
The Town of Elk Point dropped both residential and non-residential mill rates slightly from 1995 figures.
F. G. Miller’s Class of 1996 was presented to an enthusiastic crowd of family and friends at a ceremony and prom.
Ron Croteau was named Elk Point Minor Hockey’s Coach of the Year.
Frog Lake School celebrated the accomplishments of three Grade 12 graduands and thirteen Grade 9 promees.
St. Paul's Tuu Times won the 10th Annual Jan Frisby Ball Tournament. Peter Danyluk showed the Grand Champion steer, George Danyluk the champion yearling heifer and Tim Havener the champion Multi cow-calf pair at the Elk Point 4- H Club Achievement Day.
Heinsburg saluted their twelve-member Class of 1996 with the theme, “Hold On to Your Dreams.”
Twelve track and field records were equalled or broken at the Elementary School track meet, while Heinsburg’s Michael Calliou set a new SPAA record at the County Senior Track and Field competition.
June
A whopping total of 348 entries took part in the Elk Point Spring Classic Stampede, while close to 40 classic vehicles were displayed at the Happy Daze Auto Show.
Elk Point Chamber went back to two meetings per month and agreed to meet during the summer as well. F. G. Miller Crusaders won the SPAA Junior Boys Fastball banner, while the girls lost out to Glen Avon in the final inning.
St. Paul / Smoky Lake Business and Community Development Corporation opened a part time office in Elk Point. Elk Point hosted the District 4-H Heifer Show, with Robyn Danyluk showing the champion yearling and Tim Havener the overall reserve champion.
Sod was turned for a new Roman Catholic church in Elk Point.
Dewberry Agricultural Society unveiled the world’s largest chuckwagon, built by Moe’s Wheelwright Lindbergh Shop, at their annual chuckwagon race meet.
Concerned residents attending Fishing Lake Metis Settlement’s general meeting were told the likelihood of school closure was minimal. A child restraint education program was launched by the RCMP and health unit. Christina Sereda and Justin Conrad qualified for scholarships from the University of Alberta.
July
After a final week activity of June packed which included the demolition of the three UGG elevators, Elk Point Elementary’s Awards Day, commencement ceremonies for fifteen F. G. Miller grads and a well-attended gospel concert, July started off with a whole day of Canada Day celebrations. The Alberta Senior Games Torch Run visited Elk Point on the home stretch of their journey to St. Paul.
The Town of Elk Point designated an area for memorial trees in their newly revamped East Cemetery.
Membership in the new Community Health Council was announced.
The circus, complete with elephants, came to town.
The 4-H Saddle Slickers Achievement Day, the 34th annual Stoney Lake Stampede and the Whitney Lake Rodeo gave the month a western flavor. Elk Point seniors, Pearl Bespalko, Sid Holthe, Florence Demchuk, Jeannette Frisby and Sid Holthe won gold medals at the Senior Games. Larry and Donna Babcock and family were honored Northlands Farm with the Family Award.
A fire designated as “suspicious” in nature destroyed Phil’s Hardware.
Elk Point Community Choir headed off on their European tour.
August
A wagon train stopping in Elk Point on its way to St. Paul's Centennial celebrations brought with it memories of our 1992 Bicentennial.
Six new businesses joined in a huge joint grand opening.
Christina Brown won her third consecutive Elk Point Fair Grand Aggregate trophy. Pat Nairn was the champion of the Oilmen’s Golf Tournament.
Elk Point Town Council approved four grants to help local groups with water and tax bills.
Hocus Pocus placed fourth in a national coed slowpitch tournament in Niagara Falls.
Storyteller Merle Harris charmed the summer reading program participants at their windup.
Lana Graham, Marion Ryan and Ashley Larson were winners at the Elk Point Horse Show.
Community Enhancement Grants Facility gave $50,000 each in assistance to the Elk Point Golf and Country Club and the Elk Point and District Agricultural Society.
The Alberta Physicians College and of Surgeons declared Elk Point as having an emergency medical situation due to the doctor shortage.
The second annual Fort des Prairies Jamboree wound up the fifth season of Fort George and Buckingham House with a five-and-a-half-hour long success.
September
Summer was over, with the Chamber planning for Small Business Week and their Christmas Extravaganza, and Elk Point Minor Hockey taking registrations. Tourist numbers at both the Tourist Information Centre and Fort George and Buckingham House Interpretive Centre were down for the summer, but the cool, damp summer did not deter campers from enjoying Whitney Lakes Provincial Park.
Marjorie Robinson became the bride of Roy Scott in the first wedding ceremony to be held in Heinsburg in many years.
Elk Point businesses were well represented at the Heavy Oil Show in Lloydminster.
Town Council was concerned with sewage disposal and other public works matters.
The 42 participants in the Terry Fox Run raised $2218 for cancer research.
Top students were honored at F. G. Miller’s awards ceremony.
Paul and Marie Ruzycki died in a crash at the junction of secondary highways 646 and 881.
Two members of St. George’s Masonic Lodge, K. C. Miller and Joe Tredger, were honored for fifty years of membership.
Elk Point FCSS held their annual Information Night.
Industrial subdivision lot sales created a mini land boom as new buildings went up.
Heinsburg Hall received a grant to expand their facility.
October
Elk Point Chamber of Commerce looked at ways to cut expenses, and addressed concerns with highway maintenance.
Elk Point firefighters showed rescue techniques at their Fire Prevention Week Open House, which was sponsored by the Elk Point Oilmen’s Association.
Elk Point Interagency looked into the formation of a grassroots health support committee.
Elk Point United Church marked seventy years, while Elk Point Baptist Church celebrated their fifteenth anniversary. Council debated the sale of the final Town-owned industrial lot, and the proposal for development of a truck wash facility on it.
Five injuries resulted from a rash of six road accidents, three of them in a one hour period attributed to icy roads.
Elk Point Scouting Association welcomed then new members and a new leader.
Elk Point was represented by eight businesses at the Business and Community Development Corporation’s Entrepreneur Showcase.
November
Plans for an oilfield waste processing facility were unveiled by Newalta Corporation. Remembrance Day was a day of reflection for veterans and their families and was observed by high school and elementary students earlier in the week.
Elk Point Liquor and Cold Beer Store was named the Chamber’s Business of the Year.
Signatures Collision and Frame celebrated their grand opening.
Dr. Sandy Koe was welcomed when she came to Elk Point for a three-week trial period.
MP Deborah Grey told sorrowful hometown constituents that although she was leaving Beaver River to run in Edmonton North, Heinsburg “will always be home.”
Council told Elk Point residents to remove snow from sidewalks in 48 hours or face a fine.
Operation Christmas Child was helped out by F. G. Miller students and staff who collected 54 boxes of gifts.
A head-on collision near Frog Lake killed one and injured eight others.
Frog Lake Knights won the boys’ senior SPAA Volleyball championship.
December
Winterfest kicked off December at the A. G. Ross Arena.
Orin and Donna Ockerman won the Big Bucks contest.
The CFCW Country Critters were more than a match for local Minor Hockey coaches.
The Extravaganza Christmas was fun for skaters, hay riders and shoppers, and featured a tree, swag and wreath auction with proceeds going to local groups.
Town Council passed a new off-highway vehicle bylaw.
Fort George and Buckingham House applauded their volunteers at a pre-Christmas gathering.
Heinsburg Community School hosted their annual Christmas supper and concert. Elk Point Royal Canadian Legion honored Poppy Contest winners from five area schools. Elk Point Community Choir saluted the season in song. Further Ed crafters held a pre- Christmas display and luncheon.
Elk Point Lioness Club once again helped the less fortunate with their Santas Anonymous campaign.
The rebuilt Home Hardware store opened just before Christmas with new ownership.
Concerts and Christmas lighting and decorating contests filled the week prior to Christmas. The year wound up with another very successful First Night Festival.
