Twenty
years ago a big and bold initiative was realized with the relocation
of the Canadian Pacific Railway yards from the downtown to the
northwest sector of the city. The construction of a major road
corridor and commercial area as well as preservation of the historic
railway station and river bridge followed.
A few years ago, another initiative in thinking big and bold was the
decision by the City of Red Deer to relocate the civic yards from
the downtown riverfront in an industrial area once used by the
railway, opening up a large tract of land, referred to as the
Riverlands, to future development as an extension of the city core.
Two years ago, an ad-hoc tourism subcommittee of the Red Deer
Chamber of Commerce proposed a major attractor for the Riverlands
area of a series of canals using the San Antonio model as a basis
for a once-in-a-generation controlled redevelopment. Although the
proposal did not proceed as a result of public perception that the
concept wasn't authentic, unique or affordable enough, it did get
city administration and the general public to think even bigger and
bolder as to the potential of the Red Deer downtown as the location
for a world-class community and tourist attraction.
During
the summer of 2008 as part of the update for the 2000 Downtown
Action Plan, the public got involved in a big way in a series of
workshops for a new concept in the redevelopment of the area between
the existing downtown and the river.
Some
initiatives had already been realized from the earlier plan
including the creation of Alexander Way using a railway theme as a
cultural and pedestrian-friendly corridor through the city core
linking the east downtown recreation and culture park to the river.
The
new plan focused on enhancing and linking three areas -- the new
Riverlands (site of the former civic yards and includes the
Cronquist Business Park, some residential and the Carnival Theatre),
the Railyards district (sometimes referred to as the Cannery Row
district) and the historic downtown.
The
Greater Downtown Action Plan, adopted by the city in January 2009,
includes commercial and residential development, a pedestrian bridge
across the river to Bower Ponds, hotel and convention centre, water
features, a public market, public square, cultural facilities, a
placeholder for a major attractor for the Riverlands and a trail
link between the historic railway bridge and station as well as the
acquisition of a historic locomotive for the Railyards district.
By
1913, Canadian Pacific had designated Red Deer as the divisional
point between Calgary and Edmonton and had built a new station,
expanded yards, turntable and roundhouse, a beautiful park with fountain and
had replaced the wooden river bridge with steel. Twenty-three years
earlier, the railroad had accepted an offer from Rev. Leonard Gaetz
to build the railway and create a townsite on his property resulting
in the relocation of the small community at 'the Crossing' where it
had been assumed the railway would cross the river.
Meanwhile the Red Deer-based Alberta Central Railway and the
Canadian Northern Western Railway were constructing largely parallel
railways to Rocky Mountain House. Plans were made for railways to
run in nine directions with Red Deer as the centre. Red Deer was
prospering and growing rapidly and had become the distribution and
transportation centre of Central Alberta.
The expectation was that the boom would continue indefinitely and
speculators planned for the community to become a metropolis of
20-30,000 in ten years. So with a population of 3,000, Red Deer
applied for city status which was granted by the province in March
1913. Ironically, just as the status was approved, the new city was
hit by a recession that resulted in the population remaining
essentially the same for the next ten years. However the city's role
as the hub of Central Alberta had been established.
To mark the anniversary, it would be appropriate to have a legacy
attraction in place that would be a landmark for decades to come.
Red Deer County is now in the final stages of identifying the most
appropriate means of preserving and developing open spaces through
its Open Spaces Master Plan. Through research and public
consultation, the result has been a proposed system of natural
recreational corridors linking communities, natural areas and
heritage sites. One of the natural corridors includes portions of
the abandoned former Alberta Central Railway roadbed between Benalto
and Red Deer. These natural corridors could eventually evolve into a
regional trail network, taking advantage of the potential for rural
tourism, the opportunity for bed and breakfasts, the increasing
desire for active transportation and the celebration of the county's
rich heritage.
A
recent comprehensive study of the county's heritage inventory
identified the Mintlaw trestle and the Ardley railway station as
potential future historic resources.
The two initiatives have prepared the county for an opportunity to
create an attraction that combines natural areas, recreational
trails, historic interpretive centres, eco- and agri-tourism and
unique rural visitor accommodation.
The Search for a Unique and Authentic Tourist
Magnet
For
over a hundred years, the people of Red Deer and area have taken
great pride and value in their river valley, parks, natural areas
and, more recently, the evolution of a first-class modern urban
trail system as well as the region's rich heritage. A large segment of the
population, largely activated by the public process in creating a
dynamic downtown, is now looking for a unique, authentic and
sustainable visitor magnet to compliment its treasured assets
provided that it is unique, authentic and sustainable.
Inspired by the imaginative public process of the Greater Downtown
Action Plan and the bold vision of the Tourism Subcommittee of the
Red Deer Chamber of Commerce, as well as a thirty-year dream to
commemorate and celebrate the rich railway history of the city and
region, a group of railway modellers and transportation historians
have come together to propose a multi-venue community and visitor
attraction based on the trail, rail and transit heritage of the
area.
An ongoing process of consultation with several local people of
influence that have resulted in many suggestions and ideas, the Forth Junction Project
is continuing to evolve.
The opportunity to create one unique attraction in Canada is unusual
enough -- the opportunity to create three is rare, especially
attractions that are self-supporting, sustainable and ones that
people will return to again and again. The keys are that they are
interesting, varied, interactive, stimulating, fun and appeal to all
ages.
1. The
most versatile attractor with mass appeal is a proposed trail-rail-transit family
entertainment-education-retail centre, tentatively called the
Western Canada Transpo Centre in or close to downtown Red Deer that would be
the first of its kind in Canada. The shopping centre and theme park
components will support the operations of the centre and act as
sustainable local attractors. The other components including the
gathering hall, transportation exploration facilities and atriums
will also be interactive, interesting, changeable and/or stimulating
and act as regional and international attractors that the city can
be very proud of. Additional opportunities include combining the
major attractor with a hotel and convention centre development as
well as other heritage and cultural facilities.
2.
Appealing to visitors and residents alike, a heritage railway
station and transit resort, family activity and nature park, and
interpretive centre, tentatively referred to as 'The Railway
Station and Transit Heritage Resort', is proposed for a relaxed natural setting on the fringe of the city
next to an active railway, the first multi-use outdoor facility
of its kind in Canada. Instead of old static equipment typical of
most railway museums, interpretive displays will be interactive, fun
and functional and yet convey the historic significance of the
railway. Income from the rental of replicated stations and bed and
breakfasts will provide sufficient revenue to maintain and operate
the park.
3. Complimenting the resort and park would be a fully-functioning
1/8 replication of the historic locomotive CPR 3001 'The Chinook'.
4. Canada's largest
historical model railway museum
celebrating key historic milestones in the region's economic
development will be best located in 'The Western Canada Transpo
Centre' providing
complimentary access to the gathering area for major regional or
national model railway shows as one of many uses potentially
bringing visitors from all over North America to Red Deer's
downtown.
Walking, bicycling, buses and other transportation modes will tie
the three features with other historic icons in the city and region
providing further opportunities for transit and tour operators as
well as entrepreneurs who develop innovative ways to expand the
overall theme of recognizing the critical role of the railway in the
settlement and
prosperity of Central Alberta as representative of all of Western
Canada.
Twenty
years ago a big and bold initiative was realized with the relocation
of the Canadian Pacific Railway yards from the downtown to the
northwest sector of the city. The construction of a major road
corridor and commercial area as well as preservation of the historic
railway station and river bridge followed.
During
the summer of 2008 as part of the update for the 2000 Downtown
Action Plan, the public got involved in a big way in a series of
workshops for a new concept in the redevelopment of the area between
the existing downtown and the river. 
Some
initiatives had already been realized from the earlier plan
including the creation of Alexander Way using a railway theme as a
cultural and pedestrian-friendly corridor through the city core
linking the east downtown recreation and culture park to the river.
The
new plan focused on enhancing and linking three areas -- the new
Riverlands (site of the former civic yards and includes the
Cronquist Business Park, some residential and the Carnival Theatre),
the Railyards district (sometimes referred to as the Cannery Row
district) and the historic downtown. 
The
Greater Downtown Action Plan, adopted by the city in January 2009,
includes commercial and residential development, a pedestrian bridge
across the river to Bower Ponds, hotel and convention centre, water
features, a public market, public square, cultural facilities, a
placeholder for a major attractor for the Riverlands and a trail
link between the historic railway bridge and station as well as the
acquisition of a historic locomotive for the Railyards district. 
By
1913, Canadian Pacific had designated Red Deer as the divisional
point between Calgary and Edmonton and had built a new station,
expanded yards, turntable and roundhouse, a beautiful park with fountain and
had replaced the wooden river bridge with steel. Twenty-three years
earlier, the railroad had accepted an offer from Rev. Leonard Gaetz
to build the railway and create a townsite on his property resulting
in the relocation of the small community at 'the Crossing' where it
had been assumed the railway would cross the river. 
A
recent comprehensive study of the county's heritage inventory
identified the Mintlaw trestle and the Ardley railway station as
potential future historic resources.
For
over a hundred years, the people of Red Deer and area have taken
great pride and value in their river valley, parks, natural areas
and, more recently, the evolution of a first-class modern urban
trail system as well as the region's rich heritage. A large segment of the
population, largely activated by the public process in creating a
dynamic downtown, is now looking for a unique, authentic and
sustainable visitor magnet to compliment its treasured assets
provided that it is unique, authentic and sustainable.
1. The
most versatile attractor with mass appeal is a proposed trail-rail-transit family
entertainment-education-retail centre, tentatively called the
Western Canada Transpo Centre in or close to downtown Red Deer that would be
the first of its kind in Canada. The shopping centre and theme park
components will support the operations of the centre and act as
sustainable local attractors. The other components including the
gathering hall, transportation exploration facilities and atriums
will also be interactive, interesting, changeable and/or stimulating
and act as regional and international attractors that the city can
be very proud of. Additional opportunities include combining the
major attractor with a hotel and convention centre development as
well as other heritage and cultural facilities.
2.
Appealing to visitors and residents alike, a heritage railway
station and transit resort, family activity and nature park, and
interpretive centre, tentatively referred to as 'The Railway
Station and Transit Heritage Resort', is proposed for a relaxed natural setting on the fringe of the city
next to an active railway, the first multi-use outdoor facility
of its kind in Canada. Instead of old static equipment typical of
most railway museums, interpretive displays will be interactive, fun
and functional and yet convey the historic significance of the
railway. Income from the rental of replicated stations and bed and
breakfasts will provide sufficient revenue to maintain and operate
the park.
4. Canada's largest
historical model railway museum
celebrating key historic milestones in the region's economic
development will be best located in 'The Western Canada Transpo
Centre' providing
complimentary access to the gathering area for major regional or
national model railway shows as one of many uses potentially
bringing visitors from all over North America to Red Deer's
downtown.