News

Construction Begins on Highway 2 & Township Road 780 Intersection Improvements

The Municipal District of Spirit River No. 133 is advising residents that construction has begun on the long-awaited Highway 2 and Township Road 780 intersection improvements. The project represents a significant investment in road safety and infrastructure and addresses the increasing volume of agricultural and industrial traffic travelling through this important corridor.

Earlier this year, the MD announced that Council had awarded the contract for the Highway 2 and Township Road 780 intersection upgrade following years of collaboration with Alberta Transportation. The need for improvements has grown alongside increased commercial activity in the area, particularly with the expansion of the G3 Grain Terminal and the continued movement of heavy agricultural equipment and grain-hauling traffic.

The project has been designed to improve safety for everyone who uses Highway 2 by adding dedicated turn lanes, improving sightlines, and strengthening the roadway to better accommodate heavy vehicles.

Construction Schedule

According to Alberta Transportation’s Notice of Highway and Bridge Construction Operations dated July 28, 2026, construction was scheduled to begin July 20, 2026, and is expected to continue until approximately August 22, 2026. Work will generally take place during daylight hours between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., five to six days per week, weather permitting.

Construction activities will occur on Highway 2 between km 3.409 and km 4.063, and between km 10.878 and km 11.810, encompassing improvements at the Township Road 780 intersection as well as additional highway work.

What Motorists Can Expect

Throughout construction, motorists should anticipate:

• Reduced speed limits through the construction zone
• Lane closures and one-lane traffic where required
• Flag persons directing traffic
• Rough or uneven pavement during various stages of construction
• Delays of up to 30 minutes
• Increased construction equipment and workers on site

An Order Fixing Maximum Speed Limit has also been issued under Alberta’s Traffic Safety Act. Drivers are reminded that temporary speed limits will be posted throughout the construction zone and must be obeyed whenever signs are in place.

A Message to Farmers and Heavy Haul Operators

With construction taking place during the busy growing season, the MD recognizes that many producers will be moving equipment between fields while commercial carriers continue transporting grain and other commodities.

Farmers, custom operators, trucking companies, and all motorists are encouraged to allow extra travel time, remain alert for changing traffic patterns, and exercise additional caution when travelling through the work zone. Patience and reduced speeds will help protect construction crews as well as everyone sharing the roadway.

Stay Informed

As the project progresses, the MD of Spirit River No. 133 will share any updates regarding traffic impacts and construction progress through its:

• Website
• Facebook page
• Voyent Alert notifications

Motorists can also check 511 Alberta for current highway conditions and travel advisories.

The Alberta Transportation construction notices and location map are available at the links below for anyone wishing to review the project in greater detail.

Notification of Highway & Bridge Construction Operations

HWY 2 & TWP 780 Location Map

HWY 2 Order Fixing Maximum Speed Limit

Dawson Creek’s Living Heritage

The next stop on our Summer Bus Tour is Friday, August 7, 2026, when we will be heading for Dawson Creek.

Dawson Creek, British Columbia—known as the “Mile 0 City” at the southern terminus of the Alaska Highway—preserves its agricultural, railway, and pioneer heritage through three closely linked sites: the Dawson Creek Art Gallery, the N.A.R. Station Museum, and Walter Wright Pioneer Village. These attractions, shaped by local societies, volunteers, and civic effort, transform everyday structures of the South Peace into living records of settlement, grain shipping, rail arrival, and wartime transformation.

The N.A.R. Station Museum and N.A.R. Park

The Northern Alberta Railway (N.A.R.) Station stands as the only designated heritage building in Dawson Creek and anchors N.A.R. Park at the top of 10th Street on Alaska Avenue. In January 1930, the N.A.R. bought land from Duncan McKellar for its yards and reservoir; surveyor Olav Aaberg laid out the first twelve blocks of the new town site, which went on the market that September. The older settlement of Dawson Creek relocated roughly two miles to meet the rails. The final spike was driven on December 29, 1930; the first passenger trains arrived on January 15, 1931, before the station itself was completed in June of that year.

The station served as the western terminus—end of steel—and later as the logistical starting point for Alaska Highway construction in 1942, when troops, supplies, and equipment poured through the yards. Passenger service ended in 1974; the last steam locomotive had already departed in 1960. In 1977, the South Peace Historical Society, under president Walter Wright, purchased the station from the N.A.R. for one dollar. The City of Dawson Creek later acquired the surrounding 4-acre parcel (after negotiations that settled at $315,000) and developed it into N.A.R. Park with lottery grants, municipal funds, interest earnings, and a $250,000 TIDSA tourism grant. Restoration work, aided by Katimavik volunteers and a B.C. Heritage Trust grant, prepared the building for public use.

N.A.R. Park and the Dawson Creek Station Museum officially opened on June 17, 1983. The museum recreates the station agent’s living quarters upstairs and presents four additional galleries covering pioneer settlement, the railway era, wildlife and natural history, and Alaska Highway construction. It shares space and hours with the Tourism Dawson Creek Visitor Information Centre. In 1984, the Canadian Heritage Foundation awarded the park, station, and grain elevator a National Award of Honour.

Dawson Creek Art Gallery

The Art Gallery occupies a renovated 1949 Alberta Wheat Pool grain elevator annex in the same park—an architectural and historical landmark of the region’s agricultural boom. Northeastern British Columbia opened to farming in the 1920s and 1930s; by the mid 1940s the Dawson Creek area ranked among the British Empire’s most productive grain districts for its size, supporting thirteen wooden elevators. Larger concrete elevators later rendered the wooden structures obsolete.

In 1982, with only two elevators left, a “Save the Elevator Committee” (including artist Edna McPhail) persuaded the City to act. The Alberta Wheat Pool sold a 65,000-bushel elevator, 45,000-bushel annex, scale house, and office for one dollar on the condition that everything be moved by November 30^th. Mix Brothers of Edmonton relocated the structures (the annex alone weighed 290,000 lbs.; the elevator 460,000 lbs.) to N.A.R. Park between November 19 & 26, 1982 at a cost of roughly $110,000, later supported by provincial, federal, and foundation grants. Local architect Jim Rose designed a spiraling ramp system that created about 200 linear feet of exhibition space inside the annex while preserving the elevator’s exterior and adding interpretive panels on grain-elevator operations.

The South Peace Art Society (roots in a 1940s/1950s art group, registered 1962) opened the gallery on October 23, 1983 (some accounts note October 21^st). It was the first public art gallery in northern British Columbia. In 1984, it received a Heritage of Canada Foundation Award of Merit; in 2014, the Architecture Foundation of British Columbia named it the northern winner of its Best Building contest. Operated by the artist-run South Peace Art Society on behalf of the City, the gallery presents local, regional, and touring exhibitions year-round, maintains a permanent collection, and houses the Grainery Artisan and Gift Shop. The original main elevator remains open for self-guided tours in summer.

Walter Wright Pioneer Village

Walter Wright (1915–1980), a long-time Dawson Creek resident, businessman, alderman, and president of the South Peace Historical Society, drove the creation of a pioneer village to preserve buildings and artifacts from the 1912–1945 era. The South Peace Historical Society, governments, service clubs, and volunteers assembled original structures moved from the surrounding countryside plus carefully rebuilt replicas, staging them along a gravel main street with boardwalks. Artifacts, vintage vehicles, and farm machinery completed the scene. The village first opened near the airport on Highway 2 around 1970 (sometimes listed as 1969 or opened to the public later in the decade) and was renamed in Wright’s honour in 1981.

In June 1992, as part of the Rendezvous ’92 celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the Alaska Highway, the village was relocated and reopened adjacent to Rotary Lake (now part of Mile 0 Park) at 1901 Alaska Highway. The South Peace Mile 0 Park Society was formed that year to manage the village, campground, and lake facilities; the Historical Society retains ownership of the historic buildings and leases them for operation. Notable structures include the 1916 Dawson Creek School (originally Pouce Coupe School), the 1918 Pouce Coupe School, the 1920 St. Paul’s Anglican Church, the 1928 W.O. Harper General Store (replica), the Taylor House (1928), a trapper’s cabin, blacksmith shop, fire hall replica housing historic trucks, Sudeten Hall (built by Sudeten German immigrants who arrived in 1939), and later additions such as a multiplex of period offices and shops. Gardens North and a memorial rose garden enhance the site. Admission is by donation.

Shared Legacy

These three sites form a connected heritage landscape. The South Peace Historical Society (founded 1952) created and continues to support the Station Museum and Pioneer Village; the South Peace Art Society operates the gallery. Together they illustrate how Dawson Creek grew from a railway terminus and grain-shipping centre into the logistical base for the Alaska Highway, while successive generations of residents rescued the physical evidence of that story—grain elevators, a railway station, and pioneer buildings—and gave them new public purpose. Today they welcome travellers, school groups, and locals, keeping the South Peace’s agricultural, transportation, and settlement history tangible and accessible.

Call the office at 780-864-3500 to save a spot on the bus!

Bus Fare: Age 16+ $25.00; Under 16 $5.00

Fare is due upon registration. Riders are responsible for all expenses over and above the bus fare. 

The Bus leaves the MD garage at 8:30 AM to pick up passengers at designated locations and will return between 3:30 PM and 4:00 PM.

* Priority given to seniors and people with limited mobility. *

We are currently experiencing technical difficulties with our phone lines; however, we are still able to receive messages. You may either leave a voicemail at (780) 864-3500 or email us at mdsr133@mdspiritriver.ca.

Thank you for your cooperation as we work to resolve this issue.

Don’t Miss It—Tomorrow!

The MD of Spirit River’s Annual Ratepayers’ BBQ & Seniors Appreciation Day is happening tomorrow, Thursday, July 23, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Nardam Campground!

Join us for a delicious BBQ, entertainment, prize draws, and the opportunity to meet your Council, municipal staff, and local organizations. Whether you’re coming to connect with neighbours, learn about community resources, or simply enjoy a great afternoon, we’d love to see you there!

Bring your lawn chair, bring your appetite, and join the fun!

Next stop on our 2026 Summer Bus Tour is on July 24^th where we will be heading to Girouxville to visit their museum, the Catholic Pilgrimage site, and the Stations of the Cross at Notre Dame de Lourdes.

Nestled in the Smoky River Region of northern Alberta, the small francophone village of Girouxville (population around 278) preserves a rich tapestry of pioneer life, missionary heritage, and Catholic devotion. At its heart stand two closely linked attractions: the Girouxville Museum and the adjacent Catholic pilgrimage site centered on the Notre Dame de Lourdes Church and Grotto. Together with outdoor Stations of the Cross, these sites offer visitors a poignant glimpse into the French-Canadian settler experience and enduring spiritual traditions in the Peace Country.

The Girouxville Museum: Preserving Pioneer and Missionary Legacy

The Musée Girouxville Museum, located at 5015-50th Street on the village’s main street, opened its doors in 1969. It was the vision and dedicated work of Father Clément Desrochers, O.M.I. (1910–2003), an Oblate missionary, historian, and community pillar who recognized the rapid loss of artifacts from the region’s early settlement days.

The museum houses over 6,000 artifacts illustrating the history of pioneers and missionaries who settled the Smoky River area. Exhibits span natural history, transportation (including an Autobaggan from the Northwest Territories and antique vehicles like a 1954 fire truck and a Studebaker Commander), communications, education, photography, the fur trade, hunting, trapping, and daily rural life. Unique items, such as a five-legged squirrel, captivate visitors of all ages. An additional “Auto Building” on the premises displays more machinery and vehicles.

The collection reflects the broader context of Girouxville’s history. Originally known as Fowler (a railway station name), the community was renamed in 1915 after an early settler named Giroux. The first post office opened in 1917. French-speaking settlers, many from Quebec guided by Oblate missionaries, arrived in the early 20th century to farm the fertile lands. The Cree referred to the area as “umstosee owuskee” (“Frenchman’s Land”). Girouxville became a village in 1951, with institutions like a credit union (1941) and co-op underscoring its cooperative, culturally vibrant character.

Today, the museum—managed by the village and volunteers—operates seasonally (typically late June to mid-August) and by appointment off-season. It serves as a vital cultural anchor, complemented by the village’s French heritage.

The Catholic Pilgrimage Site: Notre Dame de Lourdes Church and Grotto

Next door to the museum stands the Paroisse Notre Dame de Lourdes (Our Lady of Lourdes Parish) and its neighboring grotto, a focal point for Catholic devotion in the Archdiocese of Grouard-McLennan. Father Clément Desrochers also played a key role here, instituting the annual pilgrimage in 1950—making it a tradition spanning more than seven decades.

The site replicates elements of the renowned Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in France, honoring the 1858 apparitions to St. Bernadette. The Girouxville grotto, located in the village center near the church at 4904 50 Ave, features statuary, paintings, reliquaries, and sacred artifacts. Many of these items are also represented or housed in the adjacent museum. The pilgrimage draws faithful from across the archdiocese, especially around the Feast of the Assumption (August 15).

Typical events include Masses (often bilingual), rosary, reconciliation, vespers, processions (including candlelight and with the Blessed Virgin Mary statue), benediction, a healing service, and communal meals. The 2022 schedule, for example, featured a vigil Mass, movie screening, and Divine Mercy Chaplet, blending prayer, reflection, and fellowship.

The site embodies the deep faith of the French-Canadian pioneers and missionaries who built the community amid the challenges of northern settlement.

The Outdoor Stations of the Cross at Notre Dame de Lourdes

Complementing the church and grotto are the outdoor Stations of the Cross (Chemin de Croix), providing a contemplative path for pilgrims to meditate on Christ’s Passion. These stations form part of the sacred grounds, enhancing the pilgrimage experience with an immersive, open-air devotional walk amid the natural surroundings—typical of many Catholic shrines that feature a Calvary or outdoor Via Crucis.

While specific construction details for Girouxville’s stations are tied to the broader development of the grotto site under Father Desrochers’ influence, they align with the 14 traditional stations and support processions and personal prayer. Visitors and locals can walk them as part of regular devotions or during the annual pilgrimage, fostering a tangible connection to faith in a serene rural setting.

A Living Heritage

Girouxville’s museum and pilgrimage site are more than tourist stops; they are testaments to resilience, cultural preservation, and spiritual life in Alberta’s Peace Country. Father Desrochers’ dual legacy—safeguarding material history while nurturing faith—continues to draw visitors and pilgrims. Whether exploring pioneer artifacts by day or joining evening processions at the grotto, one encounters the intertwined stories of those who shaped this Francophone corner of the prairies.

For current hours, events, or visits, check the Village of Girouxville website or contact the museum directly @ 780-323-4252. In a world of rapid change, these sites quietly invite reflection on roots, community, and enduring belief.

Click 2026 Summer Bus Tour to view the remaining tours for this year.

Echoes of the Peace: Pioneers, Steam, and Brushstrokes in Beaverlodge

Our next Bus Trip is heading for Beaverlodge & Valhalla this Friday, July 17^th where you’ll get to tour the South Peace Centennial Museum and Interpretive Centre, Beaverlodge Art & Culture Centre, and Euphemia McNaught Homestead Heritage Site. Together, these three places form a rich tapestry of heritage in the Beaverlodge area of Alberta’s Peace River Country. These sites preserve the region’s pioneer agricultural roots, early settlement architecture, and vibrant artistic legacy.

South Peace Centennial Museum and Interpretive Centre

The South Peace Centennial Museum, located on Highway 43 between Beaverlodge and Hythe, stands as one of Alberta’s premier agricultural heritage sites. It began modestly in 1967 as a hobby of local enthusiast Ted McLean, who collected and restored old farm machinery, particularly steam engines. That year—Canada’s Centennial—saw the first “Pioneer Day” event, featuring threshing demonstrations, sawmill operations, homemade ice cream, flour grinding, and vintage tractor displays, drawing community support.

What started as a small collection has grown into a 40-acre pioneer village and interpretive centre, recognized as the largest working, steam-powered farm equipment museum in Alberta. It features hundreds of restored antique tractors, steam engines, stationary engines, horse-drawn wagons, carriages, and automobiles. Visitors explore 15+ historic buildings moved to the site, including homesteaders’ cabins, a trading post, church, school (such as Two Rivers School), grist mill, community hall (Circle Bank Hall), general store, blacksmith shop, barn, carriage house, and railway structures. A notable addition is the Foster’s Pioneer Grain Elevator complex, relocated in a major project around 2004.

The museum emphasizes hands-on experiences of pre-modern pioneer life, highlighting the ingenuity required to build the region without electricity or advanced machinery. Annual events like Pioneer Days (featuring working equipment, antique vehicles, and entertainment), Harvest Festival, car shows, farmers’ markets, and seasonal activities draw visitors year-round. Open daily in summer by donation, it continues its mission: “Preserve the Past ~ For the Future.”

Beaverlodge Art & Culture Centre

Housed in the historic former Beaverlodge Hospital (built in 1937, operated until 1956), the Beaverlodge Art & Culture Centre (also known as the Beaverlodge Area Cultural Society or BACS) represents the town’s transformation of a practical medical building into a vibrant community arts hub.

The centre features multiple galleries for rotating exhibits, a gift shop highlighting local artists and craftspeople, artists’ studios, workspaces for potters and weavers, and a charming Pink Tea Room (formerly the men’s ward) with stained glass. It includes the McNaught Room, dedicated to the legacy of Euphemia McNaught. The facility hosts art classes, workshops, monthly shows, and community events, serving as a gathering place that bridges the area’s pioneer history with contemporary creativity.

Its location across from Beaverlodge’s iconic giant beaver statue makes it a visible landmark along the Alaska Highway route, drawing locals and travelers alike.

Euphemia McNaught Homestead Heritage Site

The McNaught Homestead, located south of Beaverlodge on secondary highway 722, is a Provincial Historic Resource designated in 2003. It exemplifies early 20th-century settlement in the Peace River Country and is deeply tied to one of Alberta’s most acclaimed artists.

In 1909–1911, groups of settlers from Ontario, including members of the Christian Association, arrived in the Beaverlodge area. Charles and Eliza McNaught homesteaded starting in 1911, building a two-storey log house and other structures. Their daughter Euphemia (“Betty”) McNaught (1902–2001) arrived with the family in 1912. She trained at the Ontario College of Art (graduating 1929) under Group of Seven members J.E.H. MacDonald and Arthur Lismer, then returned to the homestead. She established a studio in the relocated Appleton schoolhouse on the property and became renowned for her vivid depictions of northwestern Canadian landscapes. Her work earned provincial and national recognition, including awards like the Alberta Achievement Award (1977) and the Sir Frederick Haultain Award (1982).

The site comprises about 17 buildings on roughly 64 hectares, including the original log house (stucco-covered), large and small barns, chicken coop, pump house, garage, granaries, and the schoolhouse—forming one of the most complete early settlement farmsteads in the region. Donated by Noel McNaught to the Art Gallery of Grande Prairie, it is now stewarded by the McNaught Homestead Preservation Society (formed 2005). The Society focuses on restoration, an artists’ retreat, festivals, workshops, nature trails, and preserving the legacy of Euphemia McNaught as an educator and advocate for the arts.

Interconnected Heritage

These sites are intertwined: the Beaverlodge Art & Culture Centre honours McNaught’s contributions, while the South Peace Centennial Museum preserves the broader pioneer agricultural context that shaped her world. Together, they celebrate the hardworking settlers who tamed the Peace Country, the cultural life that flourished there, and the enduring artistic inspiration drawn from its landscapes. Visitors to the Beaverlodge area can experience living history—from steam-powered demonstrations and pioneer buildings to galleries and the serene homestead that nurtured a major Canadian artist. These institutions keep the region’s stories alive for future generations.

RR 61 from Hwy 49 north to TWP 784 will be closed from July 15th, 2026, to July 17th, 2026.