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Architectural Heritage
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 Alberta, like
several other Canadian provinces, owes much of its building stock in
small towns and large cities to boom times. Based on some economic activity or
other, like farming, ranching, mining or manufacturing, communities seemed to
develop overnight. The buildings housed both public and
private activities and, while largely functional in
design, also aspired to make a statement as to the
social standing of the occupant.
While the design elements for domestic and public buildings
generally imitated that of established city centres, there are some buildings that are icons of prairie architecture.
Among these are the grain elevators—the so-called "sentinels
of the prairies." While these were plentiful in the
20th century, with
some communities having more than a dozen along the railway line, they are now
endangered and their preservation is a challenge for local communities.
 Other unique Albertan buildings are the churches that are found in every
community. The Ukrainian Block Settlement, which began in the 1890s, resulted in
the building of many churches with the characteristic onion domes. Important
examples have been preserved at the
Ukrainian
Cultural Heritage Village but also in communities throughout central
Alberta. A
driving tour allows visitors to see these "gems" of prairie architecture as
well as experiencing life in rural communities.
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Heritage Community Foundation Presents
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