Although museums and historic sites gradually reopen across Alberta, visitors are not yet permitted through the gates of the historic gas plant in Turner Valley.
Further measures are required to ensure the historic site adheres to guidelines set by Alberta Health Services in light of the COVID-19 pandemic before the 106-year-old Turner Valley Gas Plant can reopen to the public, said David Makowsky, director of Ukrainian Culture Heritage Village with Alberta Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women.
“Given the need for physical distancing requirements at sites and/or in buildings, we have already determined that certain historic sites are unable to safely implement measures and procedures that adhere to public health guidelines,” he said. “In the case of Turner Valley Gas Plant, it is currently undergoing an occupational health and safety review. At this time, it will remain closed until the recommendations from the review can be addressed to improve staff, contractor and visitor safety.”
Makowsky said he’s unable to provide a timeline for when the facility might open.
The historic site, located along the banks of the Sheep River on the east side of Turner Valley, has typically opened to visitors the Victoria Day weekend and closed for the season after the Labour Day weekend since Alberta Culture and Tourism hosted a centennial anniversary in 2014 to celebrate the Dingman No. 1 discovery well that became Alberta’s first major oil and gas discovery.
Makowsky said when the Province permitted museums and art galleries to reopen to the public on May 14 as part of phase one of its relaunch strategy, a phased approach was taken to reopen provincial museums and historic sites as guidelines start to relax and new COVID-19 cases decline.
“The Royal Alberta Museum in Edmonton reopened on May 16, and the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology in Drumheller reopened on May 22,” he said. “Phase one with the Royal Alberta Museum and Royal Tyrrell Museum reopening has been successful, so we are taking what we learned in that phase and looking at how we can apply it with regards to our other museums and historic sites.”
Each season, the Province hires a full-time worker to oversee the gas plant, along with seasonal interpreters to work on site, but Makowsky said seasonal interpreter positions have not yet been recruited.
The site undergoes ongoing management, remediation and monitoring of natural gas seeps and the ground-water containment system and flood berm. An underground barrier circles the perimeter of the site and brings groundwater to a small water treatment area where it’s filtered and tested to ensure it meets safety standards before being released into the Sheep River.
The heritage site consists of, but isn’t limited to, a compressor station, well sites, office building with washrooms and an interpretive centre in the historic light plant.
Last season, approximately 1,600 people visited the site.
Makowsky said further reopenings of Alberta museums and historic sites will be announced soon.
“We look forward to welcoming Albertans back to their provincial historic sites and museums in the future,” he said.
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