For a brief couple years in the late 1980s and early 1990s I lived in the Lower Mainland of BC. During one of my few days off (I’d often work every day for months on end), I’d head out to explore the area. On this trip, I was off to...
In this, our latest Superman 3 then and now series of photos, we look at some of the downtown Calgary locations that were seen in the opening minutes of that movie. The setting is Metropolis, but in fact Calgary Alberta was used as a backdrop for that fictional city in...
Overshadowed by the huge and famous St Eugene Mine across Moyie Lake, the Aurora Mine is in caparison an insignificant and little known operation. Much smaller and shorter lived than it’s counterpart on the opposite side of the lake, the Aurora worked what was a continuation of the same ore...
It’s been a banner year for Boler spotting, and this example, found at a Calgary RV repair business in November is the fifty first one we’ve seen in 2013. I am not sure why this year has been more productive than any other – it’s been decades since Bolers have...
The Alberta Prairie Railway Excursion tourist trains makes regular stops in Big Valley Alberta, a lovely and picturesque town with an historic ex-CNoR train station. This century old building welcomes those visiting no matter how they get here. We came by car but wished it we arrived by train instead....
Of all the look-a-likes out there, the Trillium trailer, similar looking to a Boler but more squared in shape, is the one you’ll most likely see more than any other. This make has been in production for decades now, little changed, and by sheer numbers alone is probably the most...
The subject of this report is a fine reproduction building based on the circa 1893-1911 CPR train station that once stood in downtown Calgary. Located at the entrance to Heritage Park, this picturesque replica depot is made from local sandstone and greets those entering the facility. Interestingly, the old structure...
This adventure has us joining author Jonathan Koch from ForgottenAlberta.com. Together we’ll explore the field that was once the site of Bow City Alberta, “The City of Natural Resources”, a town which existed for only short moment in time. Also accompanying us, as our guide, is Leo Smith, a long...
How many transit systems can say there have an active fleet of GMC Fishbowl buses? Not many! Most cities have retired these venerable workhorses and outside of a couple stragglers here and there, Calgary’s remaining examples comprise the largest fleet in service anywhere. They live! All the buses we see...
Created by artist Mario Armengol, The Family of Man group of statues have long been a downtown Calgary landmark. In this then and now report we compare how they looked way back in 1969 and again today. While a lot has changed in those years, the works are now surrounded...
The quaint little village of Big Valley Alberta is great place to visit if you like historical structures. Among the buildings worth exploring are a traditional wooden grain elevator, roundhouse remains, a lovely train station, and a unique little place of worship located on a small hill overlooking town. It’s...
It’s no secret that many scenes in the movie Superman 3 were filmed in and around Calgary. The producers did little to hide that fact and in some shots, not the ones shown here but others in the movie, the city’s most famous landmark, the unmistakable Calgary Tower is seen...
It’s been a while since we did one of our trademark movie “then and now” posts. For those who have not seen any of these, we search out productions that were filmed in our area and using our detective skills alone, we track down the locations where they were shot,...
This Boler trailer, a 17′ model, represents a major milestone for us and with its sighting we have broken our record for the most spotted in a single year. This is #50, a magical number, and given there are almost two months left in the year, this record can be...
We used to do something called the "pointless challenge" 🤪 and miss those days. It was so much silly fun and often frustrating as heck. In these we'd invite people to send in random photos of obscure locations, but not give any information, and then we'd track where it was and shoot something similar.
Most of these came from old family collections, as was the case here. Anyone up to resurrecting the series?
In hindsight, why didn't we pose someone in our shot?
Pointless: “Devoid of meaning (or) senseless” Merriam-Webster.
If you like what we do and want to support this ongoing project (12 years now), go here: https://www.BIGDoer.com/help-the-society/ Thanks to Connie for making this post possible.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: ca1970 and 2014. Posted by Connie.
Captured on a cold, cold day many years ago. We've been passing this old house for decades and it's little changed in that time. At some point we expect to drive by and it'll be gone.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2017. Posted by Connie.
When retired old railway cars usually get cut up for scrap. Sometimes, however, they find their way into the hands of the general public or whomever. Flat cars make good bridges, and boxcars can be transformed into storage buildings and the like. Case in point here. We see them used like this often enough and in this case, it's part of a corral.
Incidentally, this boxcar dates from 1950 and this was found by tracing the old road number, which is still visible.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2017. Posted by Connie.
This central Alberta racetrack was never a commercial operation but instead just a fun place for car enthusiasts in the area to get together. Early '70s or thereabouts and it only lasted a few years. Even thought it's been abandoned for that long, there is no doubt what was here.
You know we like the the obscure stuff and this one fits the bill perfectly. Found by accident while backroad cruising and the history comes thanks to local car guy Mike.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2022. Posted by Connie.
On top of little Myrtle Mountain in the Kimberley (BC) Nature Park.
There's some good wilderness fun to be had here and nice views as you can see, but the real reason we came is mining history. The whole area near the ski hill was extensively worked over a century ago and we were looking for evidence of this. We didn't find much in the area searched, but it's a big chunk of property and we hope to return to cover more ground again soon. Of all the subjects we cover, mining related is a favourite.
Still, it was a good hike and that can't be bad. Look to the comments for more info 👇.
Exploring nature and history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2022. Posted by Connie.
It's a strange curiosity in south Kananaskis, there on a hillside and we have no idea who created it. We asked around and no one's completely sure about its history. In the past it showed the Canada 100 logo from 1967 but in 2017 someone changed it to reflect the country's 150th.
That's our friend Emily from DanOCan.com having a look.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2017. Posted by Connie.
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