Push is on to preserve Turner Valley's history
100th anniversary looms for natural gas discovery
By Kelly Cryderman, Calgary Herald April 19, 2011
...This is no ordinary abandoned building -its grit and grime is testament of the first years of Alberta's oil and gas industry. Many see this gas plant located just southwest of Calgary as a historical gem that should have its gates flung open to the public...
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Letters to the Editor:
Industry should preserve historic Turner Valley gas plant
By John Hutchins, Calgary Herald April 19, 2011
http://www.calgaryherald.com/travel/Ind ... story.html
Re-energized
By Joy Hinman, Calgary Herald April 24, 2011
http://www.calgaryherald.com/travel/ene ... story.html
Editorial:
Respecting our past
Calgary Herald April 25, 2011 Comments (5)
Perhaps the biggest testament to the importance of the energy industry is the series of skyscrapers in downtown Calgary. The highrises, which carry the names of multinational giants, are proof of the city's and province's weight as an energy power.
Much less prominent is the aging Turner Valley gas plant southwest of the city, which is credited with being among a handful of projects that ushered in Alberta's prosperity. "It's because of this oilfield that companies came to Alberta," says David Finch, a Calgary historian working to create an interpretative centre at the Turner Valley site.
It's a pitch the provincial government should accommodate, beginning with next year's budget, so the centre can open by 2014 -the 100th anniversary of the discovery of natural gas in the area. The province assumed control of the site in 1988, after all, and has spent $16 million on environmental cleanups and dealing with local health concerns. It seems short-sighted to step in and save the historic plant from destruction and then fail to ensure it plays a role in educating the public about a pivotal sector of the economy.
The government should follow up on hints from industry that it is willing to share in the cost of the project, estimated to be a minimum of $10 million. Because despite those shining towers downtown, Alberta's link with its most important natural resource is in danger of being lost.
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