Vandalized historical sign prompts offer of reward 

  By Alan Kausy

The Victoria Home Guard Historical Society (VHGHS) is a non-profit organization that voluntarily preserves and promotes the rich history of Smoky Lake County’s Victoria District.

Due to their efforts, the Victoria District was named a National Historic Site of Canada in 2001. In 2020, Smoky Lake County Council designated the Victoria Trail as a Municipal Historic Area.

The VHGHS, founded in 1997, is a registered charity that helped establish the RCMP Memorial Sculpture and the Red River Cart monument, both of which are along the Victoria Trail.

The VHGHS’s namesake originates back to the 1885 Northwest Rebellion when the Victoria Home Guard was established as a protective measure.

The Victoria Trail runs alongside the bank of the North Saskatchewan River and is known for being the oldest road in Alberta. It was the main route between the current cities of Winnipeg and Edmonton. Most famously, the Northwest Mounted Police traversed the rugged road to establish their presence within Alberta.

VHGHS volunteers are continually preserving the historical significance of the Victoria Trail. In fall 2019, seven roadside interpretative panels were installed, allowing travellers to learn some of the associated history.

 The weather-resistant sign panels, which detail specific historical sites, were installed on the trail beginning east of Victoria Settlement and continuing west.

Mounted on steel posts, the signs are all situated within County road allowances, and Smoky Lake County constructed roadside pullouts for three of them. A development permit was obtained to accomplish this.

VHGHS board member Don Klym was the lead hand for this two-year-long project which required extensive research, writing and planning. Smoky Lake County Public Works staff and Mr. Klym permanently installed the signs in autumn 2019. The ‘Behrends Group of Edmonton’ was contracted to make the sign panels.

‘Bears Ears Reserve,’ ‘Site of the Henry House,’ ‘Steamboat Landing,’ ‘Waskatenau Ferry Crossing,’ ‘Fort White Earth and the Grist Mill,’ ‘Welcome to the Elbow’ and ‘Elseys’ Hill’ are each of the sign’s headlines which are followed by several paragraphs of related history.

A brand new brochure was simultaneously published that includes a detailed map of the Victoria Trail’s historical points, including the signs.

One year later, in the fall of 2020, the ‘Elseys’ Hill’ sign was permanently defaced by what appears to be a shotgun blast. The spread of the pellets badly damaged the laminated sign beyond repair, and it likely requires replacement. The cost to do so is around $3000.00.

Considering that the VHGHS relies on monetary donations from membership to accomplish their projects, this is a significant, unplanned cost they will be expected to absorb.

For this reason, during their December 2021 meeting, the VHGHS decided to offer a $500.00 reward to any individual with sufficient information that leads to the perpetrator’s conviction. Shortly after the damage was discovered, a related report was filed with the local RCMP.

Anyone with useful information is encouraged to contact the Smoky Lake RCMP Detachment.

Becoming a member of the VHGHS costs $10.00, enabling one to receive the ‘Victoria Mission’ newsletter, which is released twice a year. Board member Sharon Phillips spearheads this publication task. The newsletter includes historical articles and news related to the Victoria District.

A VHGHS Anthology Project is currently being undertaken, and this 200-page book will be a collection of stories, history, and photographs related to the Victoria Trail. It will also feature a pictorial and anecdotal history of the VHGHS activities, meetings and Home Guard dinners. Residents of the Victoria District and VHGHS members will also be contributors to the upcoming publication.

Jason Boykiw is current President of the VHGHS, Elaine Breadon Peiche is Secretary, and Bill Sadoway is Treasurer. Other board members are Graham Dalziel, Leon Boychuk-Hunter, Barry Feniak, Robert Van Iderstine and Pat Elaschuk.

Membership applications, donations or other inquiries can be mailed to Victoria Home Guard Historical Society, P.O. Box 28, Warspite, AB, T0A 3N0.