St. Albert Celebrates Sesquicentennial Anniversary

January 10, 2011

On a January day in 1861, Father Albert Lacombe and Bishop Alexandre Tache had a pemmican lunch on what is now called “Mission Hill”. “What a magnificent site,” Tache reportedly exclaimed, as he looked down on the snow-covered hill. The two men agreed that the valley below them would be a fine place to start a mission and Bishop Tache named the site in honour of Father Lacombe’s Patron Saint, Albert. The following summer the first Metis settlers came here with Father Lacombe. Together with the Grey Nuns, the new settlers established St. Albert as an agricultural community.

Rendezvous 2011

150 years later The City of St. Albert is celebrating its Sesquicentennial anniversary. To make the anniversary a tremendous success, St. Albert needs volunteer commitment in a big way! The St. Albert Community Information and Volunteer Centre will be helping to connect volunteers to the events during all the exciting celebratory events.

Please come out and help! With volunteer help, Rendezvous 2011 will truly be the biggest party in St. Albert’s 150-year history!

A calendar of Rendezvous 2011 events can be found at www.rendezvous2011.ca and there are events scheduled for nearly every month.

If you wish to volunteer to make these events extra special, please continue to check the Volunteer Opportunities to see where you may be able to help. Or phone 780–459-6666 to offer your services. Help is needed immediately at the Jan. 14–16 performance of W. O. Mitchell’s play the Black Bonspiel of Wullie MacCrimmen.

Other large events where many volunteers will be needed include the Snow Festival Feb. 21; the Father’s Day Soap Box Derby on Mission Hill June 19; LaFete Franco-albertaine July1–14; the Homecoming July 16 and of course St. Albert’s Record Breaking picnic Aug. 28.