experience
leads you
through the
bison corrals for
a new perspective
on the beasts’ place on
the Canadian Prairies and
plains around the world.
Pre-register for the tour
at the park’s visitor centre.
pc.gc.ca/elkisland
EVENTS
Heavy industry
in Turner Valley
also led to the
construction
of the Turner
Valley Gas Plant,
Alberta’s first natural-gas
processing facility, which
operated for nearly 70 years.
Today, it’s a national and
provincial historic site,
housing informative exhib-
its and offering tours to
visitors every summer.
Big-Time Bikes
history.alberta.ca/
Every July, the stampede
turnervalley
grounds in the Central
Alberta town of Ponoka hosts
Heritage on Track
a different kind of rodeo.
At least two-dozen railway
Motorcycle enthusiasts from
roundhouses dotted Alberta
across North America
in the early 1900s. The ic onic
gather here for the Ponoka
buildings, once essential for
Vintage Rally. The biggest
servicing and storing loco-
vintage motorcycle event in
motives, have nearly disap-
Western Canada is a family-
peared; just three remain—in
friendly affair with on-site
Strathcona, Big Valley and
camping plus a number of
Hanna. The latter’s Canadian
activities spread
over three days,
including a
show and shine,
steak dinner,
pancake break-
fast and motor-
cycle-themed
Jeopardy.
Canada’s 150th
birthday is this Vintage motorcycles roll into Ponoka
year’s theme:
Organizers plan to highlight
Restored ruins
of the Big Valley
Canadian-made bikes.
July 28-30
Harvesting a
berry bounty
Northern Railway Round-
house is the most intact of
the trio, and was declared a
Provincial Historic Resource
in 2015. Locals are currently
spearheading a restoration
of the site, which includes a
large facade, turntable and
water tower foundation.
The Roundhouse is open
for events—check online to
find out what’s happening
this summer—and private
tours can be arranged in
advance.
Email sandra.beaudoin1
@gmail.com to book a tour;
hannaroundhouse.com
AGRICULTURE
Top Pick
Set your gaze to the ground
in Southwestern Alberta
during Castle Mountain
Resort’s annual Huckleberry
Fest. The weekend-long
event takes place during
prime picking season for
the tartly sweet, blue and
black (and sometimes red)
fruit, which thrives at higher
elevations. Ride a chairlift
to reach the mountainside
bushes at this once-a-year
harvest, then make your way
back down to the resort—
picking as you go—where
live bands, kid-friendly
activities, a craft and bake
sale, and an evening pig
roast await.
August 25-27
skicastle.ca/events
Roundhouse
HISTORY
Very Resourceful
Step back in time to learn
about a discovery that
changed the course of
Alberta’s history. Petro-
leum first sprayed out of
the Dingman No. 1 well in
Turner Valley 103 years
ago, ushering in a century
of oil-and-gas exploration
and processing. The find
AMA InsIder
summer 2017
61