We were very fortunate that we stumbled across a member of the Big Valley Heritage Society while touring around the town last month. She was very passionate about the church and was more than happy to get a key and open it up so she could show us the inside. That sort of passion is such a rare thing, it seems. Sometimes when you spend so much time with people who are passionate about history you forget the general public is often not even aware. I’m glad to see the government supporting our local heritage through the use of informational signs such as this one.
On Friday, August 1, 2014 another heritage maker was unveiled to join the family of over 70 provincial markers located throughout Alberta. Situated in Big Valley, the heritage marker profiles the early history and architectural significance of a prominent local landmark – the St. Edmund’s Anglican Church.
The unveiling of the St. Edmund’s heritage marker coincided with the Big Valley centennial and homecoming celebrations that took place August 1 – 3, 2014.
L to R: Gail Knudson, Mayor of Big Valley; Asaph Johnson, Village Councillor; Brenda Manweiler, Historic Places Research and Designation; Lois Miller, Village Councillor and Director, Big Valley Historical Society; Trudy Spence, Secretary, Big Valley Historical Society
St. Edmund’s, valued by residents of Big Valley as an important part of their heritage, was constructed in 1916 through local donations and a $500 contribution from English citizen Caroline Leffler. Leffler offered the donation to the Bishop of the Anglican…
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DanOCan 