June 8/For immediate release
AIRDRIE, ALBERTA – At the June 6 regular meeting, Airdrie Council gave three readings to Bylaw No. B-25/2022, being a bylaw to designate the 1959 Airdrie Water Tower as a Municipal Historic Resource, deeming the water tower a resource worthy of protection and conservation.
“It’s important to preserve the built history that we have left in Airdrie,” said Mayor Peter Brown. “This is the second designation for Airdrie in as many years and I believe that historical resources like this help future generations understand where we came from.”
“Airdrie’s cultural heritage has been shaped by its history as a railway and farming community,” said Michelle Jorgensen, Culture and Heritage Strategist. “This designation will help us preserve and celebrate this history.”
The Airdrie Water Tower was constructed in 1959 by Horton’s Steel Works and was originally used to store water for emergency use. The 21.8 metre-high,189,270 litre (50,000 US gallon) steel tower represents mid-20th century infrastructure. In 1972, the tower became obsolete after a large reservoir was built and by 1977 the tower was no longer in use.
Council approved funding to repaint and restore the Water Tower in the 2022 Budget and a Request for Proposal (RFP) was issued in the spring. The RFP is anticipated to be awarded in June and work is expected to commence in July 2022.
Learn more about Airdrie’s history at www.airdrie.ca/watertower.
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Media contact:
Michelle Jorgensen
Culture and Heritage Strategist
403.471.6285
Michelle.Jorgensen@airdrie.ca