Attractions Wetaskiwin

1 attractions

1.1 water tower
1.2 peace cairn
1.3 manluk centre
1.4 city hall
1.5 by-the-lake park

attractions
water tower

built in 1909, wetaskiwin s water tower 1 of oldest municipal water towers in canada. 42-metre-high structure has towered above wetaskiwin since 1909 , holds 454,609 litres of water.

in 2004, wetaskiwin city council considered possibility of demolishing water tower, concerned citizens convinced them old tower worth saving. work refurbish tower began in 2005, , 2006 water tower restored.

peace cairn

the wetaskiwin peace cairn commemorates 60 years of peace between blackfoot , cree first nations. historic peace pact took place in group of hills north of present-day wetaskiwin.

at time of construction, school children each carried rock , walked in procession school hill cairn erected.

the cairn dedicated during celebrations canada’s diamond jubilee on july 2, 1927.

manluk centre

the manluk centre: wetaskiwin aquatics , fitness 44,756 square foot facility opened on september 13, 2014. built on two-year period, facility funded contributions local businesses , individuals. amenities include 25-metre pool, leisure pool, lazy river, wave machine, slides, whirlpool, , steam room.

city hall

between 1906 , 1912, new province of alberta built 7 such buildings under direction of provincial architect a. m. jeffers. wetaskiwin court house has distinction of being jeffers first court house design , second such building, after cardston court house undertaken provincial government. building opened in 1907 @ cost $75,000 – substantial sum time.

the building constructed in modern renaissance style, outside being composed entirely of red brick. front steps, steps, columns, , keystones constructed of stone, , foundation made of concrete , rubble sheathed sandstone calgary area. in years, basement of courthouse contained jail cells, caretaker’s residence, , northwest mounted police residence. cells in original state, , still contain original carvings prisoners etched brick walls. caretaker looked after building , grounds while wife looked after family, feeding prisoners , members of northwest mounted police housed there. in 1920, 2 german field cannons seized germany @ end of world war placed on front lawn of old courthouse. these cannons, presented citizens of wetaskiwin dominion government of canada, served honour many men , women of community volunteered active service.

the courthouse served people of wetaskiwin 75 years until 1983, when court relocated current facility. after new courthouse built, old courthouse—a building once icon judicial system in alberta—sat empty on 2 decades. late 1990s, fate of old courthouse left in hands of provincial government. future of building looking grim until local developer approached city plans renovate city hall s new home. after several meetings between parties involved, old courthouse purchased city , construction began. 2005 until 2007, building renovated serve wetaskiwin’s new city hall.

glass used frame new areas of building additions had sympathetic not similar original building exterior. maintain integrity of original building, brick exterior of old courthouse left undisturbed. leniencies allowed in order current building codes met; however, strict requirements, set out alberta historical resources, followed when came restoring , renovating original courtroom, serves council chambers. wood panelling covering lower half of walls needed remain intact, did original cast iron radiators (which tie in geothermal heating , cooling system). changes made courtroom restoration of wall paint original 1920 splendour , installation of new carpet. result of renovation fabulous new city hall provides both employees , citizens opportunity showcase beautiful community structure.

by-the-lake park

wetaskiwin s by-the-lake park day-use facility featuring 2.5-kilometre paved trail surrounding 17-acre man-made lake , large picnic area. along trail, informative signage presented information on various plants , wildlife call area home. lake stocked fish summer , winter fishing (alberta sport fishing regulations must followed) , used school , community groups canoeing , watersports. during winter months lake , surrounding area used cross-country skiing, ice skating, tobogganing, , pick- games of pond-hockey. by-the-lake park located off of automile close wetaskiwin’s downtown core, , 1 of best-used , best-loved parks in city among both citizens , visitors.