Did you know that a special Alberta community is celebrating its sesquicentennial this year? For that matter, do you know what a sesquicentennial is? It’s a 150 year anniversary and the City of St. Albert is marking that major milestone in 2011. At the heart of the celebrations is the Father Lacombe Church situated on Mission Hill. Erected in 1861, the church is the oldest extant building in Alberta and embodies the community’s early history as a Roman Catholic mission. From those humble beginnings, St. Albert developed into one of the largest settlements between Red River and Vancouver. Today, it’s a vibrant, prosperous city. Learn more about this site and other historic places in St. Albert by visiting the Alberta Register of Historic Places and searching for “St. Albert” under the Municipality advanced search option.
Written by: Matthew Wangler, Manager of Alberta’s Historic Places Research and Designation Program
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