This Weeks's Speakers
Our meeting this week was hosted by Jeff at the Selkirk Hotel. We were treated to a lovely meal and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
Jeff Polovick and Janet Tryhuba
The Fort Edmonton Foundation
In 1966, the Downtown Rotary Club began work with City Council who subsequently set aside 160 acres of land in the river valley. This would become Fort Edmonton Park. Over the years that followed, a replica of the Fort Edmonton Fort was created from the original plans and the Park opened in 1974. It was the hard work of Rotarians that created the dream and invested their hard work and money to get this project off the ground. In the following years, various Rotary Clubs, including Edmonton West, participated in assisting the Park with many projects. The Fort Edmonton Foundation was formed in 1969 to provide ongoing funding for further development of the park.
A separate Fort Edmonton Management Company was formed in 2009 to manage the daily operations of the Park. A Board of Directors, appointed by City Council, provides governance and leadership to the management team. The original Master Plan for the Park was created in 1967 and updated in 2010, after the appointment of the new Management Company. It is this new plan that sets the direction for the next several years allowing the Park to add more exciting attractions. The Fort Edmonton Capital Expansion Plan was created to raise awareness and the $168.2 Million needed to develop the top four initiatives in this Master Plan. These four projects are:
• The Indigenous Peoples’ Experience
• The Expansion of the 1920s Midway
• The Expansion of the Hotel Selkirk
• A New Guest Services area reclaiming the Train Station
Fort Edmonton Park holds a special place in Rotary District 5370’s history. The new addition to the Hotel Selkirk will include space for our Rotary District office. With the capital expansion, they will continue to share this community treasure with the world for generations to come.
All levels of government have contributed to the $168 million project. The remaining $11 million is being raised by the community and other events.
Edmonton West is a sponsor of their next event and they have extended a special invitation to our members and their friends to be their guest at the 2019 Fort Edmonton - Rotary Fundraising Event Wednesday, June 19th at the Summer Solstice Celebration!