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A Canadian Pacific Railway Vintage Train is scheduled to stop in Blairmore on Sunday, July 17th, to celebrate Blairmore’s Centennial as a town and the important role the CPR played in the settlement of Blairmore and the economy of the Crowsnest Pass.
The train will be arriving in downtown Blairmore between 125th and 129th Avenue at 11:30 AM and will depart at 1:00 PM.
There will be a short arrival ceremony and entertainment will be provided by a Barbershop Quartet. All interested persons are encouraged to attend and celebrate the arrival of the train.
Originally the train was to be powered by the Empress 2816 steam locomotive, but due to a mechanical failure it is now out of service for the balance of the summer. However, the train will arrive powered by a historic diesel locomotive pulling the vintage CPR passenger cars.
For individuals who purchased tickets to ride the train from Fernie to Crowsnest (Summit Lake) through the Children’s Wish Foundation, a bus has been arranged to transport people from Blairmore to Fernie and from Crowsnest (Summit Lake) back to Blairmore. To reserve a seat on the bus please contact Community Futures Crowsnest Pass at 562-8857 by Thursday, July 14. Seating on the bus is limited.
The Fernie to Crowsnest ride has proven to be so popular that the Children’s Wish Foundation website as of early July had indicated that rides on that section of the train’s route had been sold out.
The Blairmore Centennial Committee approached Canadian Pacific in early 2009 about having a vintage steam train stop in Blairmore to celebrate the centennial of Blairmore’s incorporation as a town.
In the spring of this year CPR confirmed that they would have one of their vintage trains stop to assist with the celebrations.
The Blairmore Centennial Committee would like to thank Canadian Pacific, the Rum Runner Days Committee and Teck Corporation for their support and assistance for this event. |
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Other Blairmore Centennial Events
Blairmore Centennial Celebration and Crowsnest Pass Homecoming Reunion, September 23rd to 25th.
The main commemorative events will take place on the weekend of September 23rd to 25th. A Homecoming Centennial Social is planned for Friday evening, September 23rd, at the Albert Stella Arena. During Saturday, September 24th, the Crowsnest Pass Allied Arts Association will hold their Marty Market at the Albert Stella Arena. There will be arts, crafts, family activities and an entertainment stage hosting Blairmore Centennial events. The highlight of the weekend and the principal Centennial celebration will be the Harvest of Memories Banquet and Dance at the Crowsnest Sports Complex on Saturday evening, September 24th. Hosted by the Crowsnest Historical Society, this event is a major fundraiser for the local Crowsnest Museum, a repository of the Crowsnest’s unique history. The Harvest of Memories Gala will include a gourmet dinner, live local music, silent and live auctions, and a night of great fun and good company. A Homecoming Centennial Breakfast will be held at the Albert Stella Arena on Sunday, September 25th.
Ticket Packages for the Crowsnest Pass Homecoming events celebrating Blairmore’s Centennial and the Crowsnest Museum Harvest of Memories Banquet are on sale now. Individual Harvest of Memories tickets will go on sale August 1st at the Crowsnest Museum. For ticket packages contact the Blairmore Centennial Committee C/O Alan Martini C.A., Box 780, Blairmore, Alberta T0K 0E0 ( phone 403-562-2895) or check www.crowsnestheritage.ca for updates and further information.
Background:
2011 marks the 100th Anniversary of the incorporation of the community of Blairmore as a town. The Blairmore Centennial Committee has been planning a number of events to celebrate the occasion.
In 1898, with just a handful of log cabins along the C.P.R. tracks, the settlement was first called
"Tenth Siding" after the railway siding and then The Springs. On November 15th, 1898 the new community was named Blairmore after the Hon. G. Blair, the federal Minister of Railways. In 1901, Blairmore was incorporated as a Village. Ten years after that - 100 years ago for us - Blairmore became a town.
Its official birthday is September 29th, 1911. H.E. Lyon, a past C.P.R. station agent and a builder of one of the early log cabins, was its first mayor.
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