Canadian Northern Society

In addition to our own efforts, the Canadian Northern Society has been engaged in outreach projects in several communities since 1989 including the historic Canadian Northern Railway Hanna Roundhouse Project and the Preservation of the 1904 Canadian Northern Railway depot – Canora, Saskatchewan (1995-97).

Today, we continue to regularly support the following community projects.

Viking Heritage Railway Station

Located within a 1.5 hour drive east of Edmonton on Highway 14, or 45 minutes east of Camrose, the historic Viking Station is maintained by volunteers from the Viking Station Gallery and Arts Centre Guild. Built in 1909 by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway it occupies a commanding position at the south end of main street, one of the few survivors on the former GTP main line between Winnipeg and Prince Rupert. The Canadian Northern Society was instrumental in its initial preservation in 1991. Today the depot features a local art gallery, a display of Grand Trunk Pacific Railway artifacts, and remains a railway station for VIA Rail Canada’s famous transcontinental train service “The Canadian”.

The Viking Historical Museum, located on the opposite end of main street is an excellent heritage attraction featuring unique pioneer artifacts from Viking’s community history. In addition, the Historical Society maintains St. Matthew’s Church on Main Street Viking, a 1935 classic English Church still used for special services.

Check out Facebook for more on the Viking Station Gallery and the Viking Museum, including opening hours.

Canadian Northern Railway Depot – Donalda

The original Canadian Northern depot at Donalda - virtually identical to the Meeting Creek station - was demolished in 1984. With the advent of tourist excursion train operations along the former CNoR Battle River line in 1989, the Village of Donalda found itself without a railway depot and platform to accommodate train excursionists. In the fall of 1990 the Village approached the Canadian Northern Society in the hopes of finding a suitable railway station.

The late Keith Ewart of Saskatoon, a founding member of the Society, knew of a potential candidate located in eastern Saskatchewan. In 1962 Vandura’s Canadian Northern Standard Fourth Class station had been sold to a private individual and relocated into a farmer’s field for use as a granary. By 1990, the structure required heavy repairs. As the owner had no intention to make these repairs he planned to destroy the structure. But once contacted by the Canadian Northern Society, a crazy thought became reality when the Vandura farmer donated this station to the Society. Robert Stonehouse of the Saskatchewan Railway Museum, a building mover by trade but historian at heart agreed to move the station to Donalda! In September 1991 the Vandura station hit the road – again, this time over 700 miles across the prairie to Donalda. The locals were somewhat chagrined when this weather beaten hulk – resembling every bit its one time life as a grain bin – was set down on the site of the original Donalda station and preserved for future generations.

While the railway through Donalda has long since been abandoned, the station is a part of the Donalda and District Museum’s collection. It complements the world’s largest lamp, historic Creamery, Lamp Museum, and the picturesque Meeting Creek Valley it overlooks. It is also gateway for a hiking trip to Scenic Willow Canyon.

For further inquiries, please reach out to us by phone at 403-883-2100, via email at info@donaldamuseum.com, or through Facebook at Donalda Museum.