Red Deer

I’m off to Red Deer!

With a few more than 100,000 people, it is Alberta’s third largest city. Red Deer was my goal because of only one person, my cousin Kelly.

I had actually met Kelly a few years before, at a Ramsey reunion in when we both were visiting in Buffalo. Ramsey was my mother’s maiden name.

Kelly is a hard core genealogist, as is my cousin Bobbie, who was hosting the get together. When I looked back through my photos of the event, all the shots I had of Kelly were similar to this one. She was devouring information about our family.

This was the coolest family tree I’d ever seen. It traces us back to the Olstads. I’d always wondered why Mom would talk about the Olstads. I guess I should have asked.

Kelly and I were both from this particular sector of the family. I think by the time we left the get together, the names of me and my sibs were on the wheel, and I HOPE someone corrected the spelling of my father’s last name.

As much as I admire the people who get into family histories and can tell how people are related, this was my contribution to the gathering.

It kind of looks like that impressive family tree, doesn’t it?

Anyway, I was all hitched up with a full tank of gas and ready to roll. I decided that I might as well change the settings in my data display to “metric.”

And, yes, when I was towing, eight miles to the gallon was common, especially when I was just getting rolling.

Red Deer was only about two hours up the highway. I got into the Westerner Campground, which was quite nice, early enough in the day to do some exploring  in Red Deer before Kelly got off work.

When looking for things to do in Red Deer while I was waiting to check in, I saw something about the Ghosts of Red Deer, which are statues around the central business district. I took off to see what I could see.

My first ghost I saw was dedicated to the volunteer fire brigade, which was placed in front of the former headquarters. It was undergoing some maintenance, so it was hard to get a clear shot of the whole sculpture.

There was a member of the brigade,

but the horses really stole the show.

They were awesome!

The old firehouse was right next to the library – in fact, I think it was part of the library. I decided to go in and see if they could give me any information about the Ghosts.

They were very hospitable and eager to help. They photocopied me some information about the sculptures and a map about where to find them. I set off on a scavenger hunt of sorts.

My next stop was the bus terminal, where Julietta Sorensen was waiting for her husband, Gordon, to arrive with the last bus of the day.

The Sorensens started a bus service in Red Deer and Red Deer County in 1933.

I like the detail of the suitcases waiting for their owners.

Gordon drove the bus and Julietta ran the lunch counter in the bus depot.

The Sorensens sold their bus service to the City of Red Deer in the 1960s, which is the basis of the city’s current public transit system.

The next ghost I found was Keith Mann, who was an internationally acclaimed music director. According to the librarians, Mr. Mann once held a baton in his right hand.

This ghost is called “Choices”. In the early 1900s, the railroad was central Alberta’s largest employer. As a result of the Depression, railroaders, who worked hard days for their money, had a certain distrust of “Eastern” banks. Their desire to take control of their own money lead to the credit union concept in the 1940s. The Parkland Savings and Credit Union sponsored this ghost that is positioned outside one of the branches.

In case you missed it in the big shot, here is a close up of the money that is under the dog’s paw. I guess a credit union would be more convenient than trying to get it away from a protective dog.

I ambled along on my ghost hunt and came upon the Reverend Dr. Leonard Gaetz. He was one of the first settlers of the area and is regarded as the founder of Red Deer.

I enjoyed sauntering abound the downtown, but it was time to head back to the campground to meet my cousin, Kelly for dinner.

You know how they say, “If there’s not photo, then it didn’t happen?” For some reason, I didn’t get a picture of the two of us together.

But I did take a shot in the restaurant that proves I was in Canada.