Oct 22 2002 Minister pledges support for the Forts
He came, he saw, he was impressed, and before Minister of Community Development Gene Zwozdesky headed _ back to Edmonton on Saturday night, he pledged support for continued operation _and improvements for Fort George and Buckingham House Historic Site.
The Hon. Mr. Zwozdesky told the crowd at the Ministers’ Fur Trade Ball he had taken “ a very special trip to Fort George and Buckingham House. I've never been there before, and it was a real eye-opener to see this small smattering of what made this area tick here back in the fur trade days, and probably still does today. Without understanding our past, we are challenged in preparing for the future.”
The Minister called the local Friends of the Forts and the historic site's Advisory Board “extremely valuable partners who help on a day to day basis to make sure people come. You cant put a dollkervalue on that.” These local volunteers are among those around the province who put in 40,000 hours in the past year in support of the 19 Alberta historic sites which contribute over $54 million to the economy.
“This is a major attraction and I'm going to try to help it further along. I know the problem with staffing and the end of the STEP program for historic sites, but I guarantee that Fort George and Buckingham House will have the four people you need for next year. You also need signage, and I will make a commitment of $10,000 for signage.”
The Hon. Mr. Zwozdesky and Minister of Sustainable Resource Development Mike Cardinal were met at St. Paul airport by MLA Ray Danyluk and Friends of the Forts president Marvin Bjornstad, and traveled the Iron Horse Trail to Elk Point en route to the historic site. The guests were taken on a tour of the Interpretive Centre by Visitor Services Coordinator Ross Stromberg, and were shown plans for upcoming development projects. “We need a little bit more to increase visitation,” Bjornstad said, adding that the Friends recently received a Community Facility Enhancement Grant for the upgrade.
“We have the real thing here, Facility Supervisor Marianne Mack said. “We have no buildings [at the fort sites], but-we have done archaeological digs and have marked the location of fort buildings with timbers... but many people have problems visualizing the forts as they were.” Plans for improvements include marking the bastions, gates and corners of the forts’ palisades with rows of upright logs, making the sites accessible for seniors and the handicapped and creating a circular route from Bucking-ham House to the south gate of Fort George. Around the interpretive center itself, improvements include creation of a modest but safety-oriented play area, a free play area, a multifunctional outdoor stage and seating area, and new Black Powder and demonstration areas. “We're looking at what could be modest development, but will get [the fort experience] through to the visitors more.”
Miss Mack said the development process is “a bit of an experiment’, with the plans going through two approval processes, and documentation underway for archaeological approval. Historic Sites will provide management for the projects. “That way we can move ahead and actually accomplish things to enhance the experience for visitors.”
Following a brief tour to the two original fort sites, the ministers’ party joined other honored guests, including Elk Point Mayor Lyle Frisby, St. Paul Mayor John Trefanenko and Frog Lake Chief Raymond Quinney, at the Fur Trade Ball in the Elk Point Elks Hall, where they were led in to dinner by bagpiper Brent Mosely. Another special guest, Provincial Métis Association president Audrey Poitras, arrived later in the evening.
Mayor Lyle Frisby brought greetings from the Town of Elk Point, Division 2 councillor Sharil Baumgardner from the County of St. Paul and Mayor John Trefanenko from _ the Town of St. Paul. MLA Ray Danyluk congratulated the Ball’s planning committee on the “hard work it took to make this possible. Its very much a great event.” Danyluk introduced the Minister of Community Development, whose department is “the ultimate melting pot, the human aspect of government... its rare when we get a little of his time.” Danyluk also introduced the Hon. Mike Cardinal, “the Minister of disasters such as fires and the decreasing level of lakes” and passed along regrets from Minister of Economic Development Mark Norris, who was unable to attend the Ball.
The evening featured unique fur trade hors d’oeuvres and a traditional bison dinner prepared by the Frog Lake School staff and blessed in the traditional fashion by Chief Quinney and Ted Quinney.
One of the original promoters of Forts development, Sid Holthe, offered the toast to the Queen at the conclusion of the meal, joking that her visit to Canada would have been much enhanced with a visit to Elk Point.
Guest speakers for the evening were Michael Payne, who spoke knowledgeably on the food of the fur trade, and best-selling author Billie Milholland, who talked about the importance and significance of the North Saskatchewan River, both in fur trade days and at the present time.
Five talented young people were introduced by their grandmother, Liz Poitras, as they took to the floor to demonstrate Native Grass and Fancy dances, and a variety of Métis dances including the Broom Dance, the Belt Dance and the Red River Jig, with their grandfather Homer Poitras and his band providing the Métis accompaniment, and music for the dance which followed.
A tremendously successful Silent Auction was also part of the Ball, an exquisite eagle’s head carved from moose horn bringing the evening's top bid of $800.
