A culmination of over 100 years worth of trial and tribulations, milestones and achievements; Westlock’s centenary celebration is finally here.
This coming July 1-3 will be an ode to the people that have worked hard to make Westlock a strong and prosperous community.
But it’s more than just a celebration of the then and now, it’s everything that’s happened in between.
There’s the farming, education, community service, local industry, family, cultural heritage and sports.
It’s the people that have been there all along, the ones that have come and gone, the generations past, present and future, and everything over the course of 10 decades to make Westlock, well … Westlock.
The town’s story dates back more than 100 years, but it really began taking shape on March 16, 1916.
That’s when Westlock first became incorporated as a village — its the name, an amalgamation of William Westgate and William Lockhart, two local landowners.
From the first reeve George MacTavish and a population about 45 people, to current mayor Ralph Leriger, and a town of more than 5,000 residents, a lot has changed.
Westlock survived through two world wars and the Great Depression and continued to thrive and in 1947, with a population of 854, became a town.
But as some things change others stay the same. The railroad and agriculture remain key to the local economy and the two major highways continue to attract business.
To encapsulate all that into one celebration was no easy task.
For the last year and a half a group of hard working volunteers, known as the 100th Anniversary Committee, were tasked to do just that.
They’ve spent countless hours planning to create a year of celebration that’s as significant as the town’s history.
Starting with the centenary New Year’s Eve party to this weekend’s celebration, they’ve delivered.
Featuring a parade, tours, entertainment, fireworks, sports, and much, much more, homecoming weekend truly stands to be the party of the century.
Congratulations, Westlock! Here’s to 100 more.
