The Canadian Northern Society is always seeking new leaders, new members, and new volunteers. The society’s efforts in preserving heritage railway depots at Big Valley, Camrose, and Meeting Creek, as well as supporting other related projects, have been successful only due to the quality and dedication of its core group of volunteers, and its long-time supporters who have donated cash and supported by way of membership each and every year. The Canadian Northern Society sincerely appreciates all individuals who are willing to volunteer their time, talents and enthusiasm to our community efforts. To keep the society’s efforts moving forward in the future, new visions, ideas, and members are needed. Please, consider getting involved.
Big Valley Railway Station and Roundhouse Interpretive Park
General maintenance and security help overall for Big Valley, including the roundhouse site; become a director of the Canadian Northern Society; maintaining and developing the interpretive signage at the Big Valley roundhouse. We welcome those who might like to get involved with carpentry skills repairing windows, doors, and maintenance items that are needed at the station such as repairs to the storm windows (upstairs work needed) and basic interior repairs and upgrades.
If you would like to volunteer in any of the above areas in Big Valley please email Rich Graydon at graydonrich@gmail.com for more information.
Camrose Heritage Railway Station and Park
• Organizational Tasks
Filing books and articles in the library; care of costumes; assisting with needed collection updates, caring for textiles, taking pictures and labelling of new artifacts and those already acquisitioned, writing thank-you cards for donations. Yearly reorganizing of resources, cupboards and drawers. Administrative opportunities in the tea room; gift shop co-ordinator and collections manager; exhibits co-ordinator; board member. Helping with one or more yearly events: setting up, clean-up, helping with the tasks during an event, helping with baking bees or other baking prior to events, making or delivering posters; corporate fundraising for society.
• Garden and Grounds Care
Decorating seasonally in and outside the station; driving track vehicles and running model trains; planting pots or garden; spring and fall clean-up; help with repair of model buildings; adopting one of the gardens and caring for one only. (Training regarding organic gardening and care of any of the plants is available, families welcome). Summer grass mowing and trimming around the buildings; winter snow removal; maintenance of track vehicles; servicing the lawnmower and snowblower in the spring and fall; handyman tasks as needed.
• Interpretative Learning
Assist the Education Coordinator to manage Children’s mentorship and outreach programs; washing and ironing of school program costumes; assisting with children’s programming or events in the spring or summer; researching information for displays, stories or developing displays; tour guides of gardens or tour of the station and site. Assist with Pre-school and Kindergarten programs as well as Grade 4 and 5 school programs in May and June
• Camrose Railway Station Tea Room
Hostesses for Saturday afternoons in July and August; preparing food or baking for station events such as the Cookie Walk and Tea, Founders Day, Meeting Creek, occasional booking requiring food; yearly cleaning of freezers, cupboards, stoves. Help promote our facility for rentals for private parties such as weddings and Christmas parties.
If you would like to volunteer in any of the above areas call the station at 780 672 3099 or email canadiannorthern@telus.net. The society does not put demands on people and respects the time anyone has to offer be it only a few hours per year. We welcome families and young volunteers. Training is available for all volunteer tasks and positions. Volunteers become members of the Friends of the Station and can meet (if desired) approximately three times yearly for planning and connection.
Meeting Creek Station, Elevator and Grounds
Write a historical perspective on the Canadian Northern Railway for a large interpretive sign; repair cracked parging around the north side of station; grass mowing and winter snow removal at Meeting Creek Station driveway and platform. We also need volunteers who are interested in helping build and maintain pathways through the grasslands around Meeting Creek for the linear park trail system.
If you would like to volunteer in Meeting Creek call our administrative office at the Camrose Heritage Railway Station at 780 672 3099 or email canadiannorthern@telus.net.