Approximately 150 people attended the Big Meadow Hall’s 75th anniversary celebrations Nov. 17. Kirsten Dupres, president of the Big Meadow Water Co-op, says there are 85 families living in the Big Meadow area. The asscociation has provided valuable services for many years.

Mac Olsen
South Peace News

For area residents, the Big Meadow Hall is a place to build and continue community relationships. Approximately 150 people celebrated the hall’s 75th anniversary Nov. 17. The dinner consisted of roast beef, potatoes, salad and a cake denoting the hall’s anniversary. The “Bad Timing” band performed later in the evening. In addition, volunteer board members of the soon-to-be-defunct Big Meadow Water Co-op received certificates of appreciation. The Municipal District of Big Lakes is taking over the co-op’s operations Dec. 1. Darla Daly, the president of the Big Meadow Community Hall Association, is a fourth-generation resident. Harold Nielsen, her grandfather, helped construct the hall. “The hall has been a part of my life since I can remember,” says Daly in an interview. She gave a speech about the history of the hall following the dinner. She explained that the association was incorporated Oct. 3, 1932. However, the original hall was built in 1930. Daly adds the opportunities for the development of “community” and “belonging” are encouraged. In terms of programming, there is a New Year’s Family Night, the Family Day Family Skating Party and private swims in the winter months. There is also the Farmer’s Day, Family Halloween activities and Family Christmas, the latter beign a traditional event. “Today, we celebrate our rural community, our dedicated volunteers and our community members and families who work together, live together and help one another as a gesture of our true ‘Big Meadow’ community spirit,” says Daly. Kirsten Dupres spoke next, providing a history of the Big Meadow Water Co-op. She says the first meeting was held on March 9, 1988, to begin forming the co-op. Those who sat on the board were Arthur Smith as chair and Howard Nordin as vice-chair. The board of directors was comprised of Stan Sware, Byron Carson, Tom Hartman, Lynn Sandquist and Sam Wiley. The co-op signed a memorandum of agreement with the provincial government on May 16, 1990. This was for the purpose of purchasing water for distribution to the co-op’s members. Two weeks later, the co-op received money from the Alberta Farm Water Grant Program. The co-op filed its incorporation documents under the Alberta Rural Utilities Act June 21, 1990. Also this day, the co-op and the Transportation and Utilities Department signed the Alberta Farm Water Grant Program Agreement. The tendering process began on Sept. 12, 1990 with A.K. Construction eventually receiving the contract. The co-op will soon end. Dupres says the M.D. of Big Lakes signed an agreement of purchase with the co-op on Nov. 15. The M.D. takes over the co-op’s remaining assets Dec. 1. The M.D. agrees to maintain the current minimum standards. They also agree the access and present supply of water to current members/installs will remain relatively unaffected by future development. The supply will not be reduced to a trickle system, as long as their access to water from the Town of High Prairie does not change. “The Big Meadow Water Co-op no longer exists to serve its members and all of our water services will now be maintained by the M.D. of Big Lakes,” Dupres says in conclusion. Volunteers who served on the co-op’s board of directors received certificates of appreciation. These people are Arthur Smith, Stan Sware, Howard Nordin, Byron Carson, Tom Hartman, Lynn Sandquist, Sam Wiley, Abe Froese, Ken Sandquist, Anne Rose, James Walker, Dwayne Pollack, Kirsten Dupres and Harvey Nielsen. Marlee Thiessen and Chris Pollack were also recognized. They served as the volunteer auditors for the co-op’s financial statements. In an interview, Stan Sware says he had good contacts with the provincial government. The biggest challenge was to convince area residents to sign on with the co-op. He held quite a few meetings with residents, made a lot of calls and personal visits. “The more members you had, the less cost per member,” says Sware. He was the treasurer for all 19 years of the co-op’s existence. Arthur Smith, who was the president of the co-op, says he also spent a lot time to get residents to buy into it. He also says it took four years of negotiations with the M.D. to get them to take over the co-op. Smith adds he is leaving the water distribution for Big Meadow safe with the M.D.

Copyright © 1999-2005 South Peace News. All Rights Reserved.
No part may be reproduced without written permission.

View our Privacy Statement.
Send website suggestions to the Webmaster