This release was issued under a previous government.
“The returns on investing in heritage preservation are knowledge and awareness of our past, pride in our communities today and economic growth for a strong future. Culture matters to Albertans and an Alberta built for the future is one that honours its past.”
Alberta Culture, through the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation, is providing 58 grants from fiscal 2013-14, totaling $1.03 million to support community heritage preservation and conservation projects across Alberta. This is a standard bi-annual announcement.
Grants have been awarded to individuals as well as municipalities, nonprofit organizations and businesses to support a range of heritage preservation projects from conservation of designated historic buildings to research projects, publications and heritage inventories.
Examples of funding provided through the foundation’s grant programs include:
Rocky Mountain Rail Society: Steam Locomotive 6060 (Stettler)
Grant amount: $16,560
Increasing numbers of rail passengers, troops, prisoners of war, and massive amounts of freight at the start of the Second World War led Canadian National Railroad to order a new variation of Mountain class locomotive, the U-1-f class. In 1944, the 6060 came off the assembly line at the Montreal Locomotive Works. Retired from active service in the early 1960s, it was placed on static display in Jasper in 1962, but was returned to active service for tourist excursions in Ontario in the 1970s. To mark the province's 75th anniversary, CNR presented the 6060 to the people of Alberta, now known as the "Spirit of Alberta."
Atlas Coal Mine Historical Society: Atlas Coal Mine (East Coulee)
Grant amount: $90,000
The Atlas Coal Mine in East Coulee was an integral part of the coal industry in the Drumheller region and the site of several trailblazing techniques in coal extraction and processing. Active in the region since the late 1910s, the Atlas Coal Mine Company established its third mine (Atlas No. 3 Coal Mine) near East Coulee along the south bank of the Red Deer River in 1936. Among the significant innovations introduced at the Atlas No. 3 Coal Mine were the use of a self-propelled coal cutting machine on tracks and the Cardox method of retrieving coal. The site has been designated as provincial historic resource and is also recognized a National Historic Site.
Calgary Mosquito Aircraft Preservation Society: De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito (Calgary)
Grant amount: $25,000
With more than 8,000 built, only 28 De Havilland Mosquito aircraft remain. Built in 1946, the Mosquito did not see wartime service; however, this aircraft and its owner, Spartan Air Services, were instrumental in the development of northern Alberta. Spartan employed the Mosquito to conduct aerial surveys that allowed for increased settlement and resource exploration.
The complete list of grant recipients and projects is available online.
Related information
Full listing of grant receipients (pdf)
Alberta Historical Resource Foundation grant application criteria
Multimedia
Photo Gallery: Alberta historical resources