Why in the world did they do that? It’s great the old building was given a new lease on life, but wasn’t consideration given to saving the sign? An iconic part of Edmonton’s Jasper Avenue since forever it’s now partially obscured by new construction. That new addition…well…the aesthetics are not...
In one of the photos below you’ll see Marilynโs doll carriage from her childhood and the abandoned farm house documented in this post, was her home at the time. The old family homestead has been vacant for about sixty years but still holds many memories and here a cherished toy...
Here’s one from back in 2019, a Boler found in a small town storage lot. It’s a photo that somehow slipped through the cracks and until now, had not seen the light of day. That’s how it goes sometimes where you’re dealing with an archive a billion photos deep (
A request comes out of the blue. Could you drive our old motorhome from one spot in Calgary to another close by? We’re into vintage campers โ that’s well known – so I guess they though us perhaps the best people to call. Bad idea folks! Anyway, the conversation plays...
This installment we’re looking at two scenes down by the tracks in Okotoks Alberta and captured fifty years apart. There’s been change, the passage of time guarantees it, and the only constants are two steel rails extending off in the distance. The trains still run, but the grain elevator is...
We’re not sure what’s more interesting. Could it be that Linclon Avenue/ฦงeventh Avenue Northwest, in Calgary, has a century (plus) old identity crisis? Or perhaps it’s due to the poor spelling skills of certain cement workers from long ago? Their words, incidentally, should read Lincoln and Seventh respectively, had someone...
This is an in-town hike, but that the route mostly travels through parks and green spaces belies the fact. We’re in Camrose Alberta making use of the city’s extensive pathway system and linking together a couple loops into a nice little cohesive package. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and should you...
Nobody’s Home: Ramsay edition and we’re looking at a group of vacant dwellings in a historic Calgary community, before they were torn down. No mansions here, they were working class digs in a working class neighbourhood. After standing empty for years, here on a triangle-shaped chunk of land backing on...
The Legacy, in Lion’s Centennial Park Ponoka Alberta, is claimed as the world’s largest saddle bronc statue. Photographed while out for an evening stroll, this roadside attraction is a subject we never planned to share. We shoot a lot of images just for us, as was the case here, even...
We’re in Claresholm Alberta at the Bluebird Motel and comparing how the business looks today to an old postcard from about fifty years ago. Spoiler alert: it hasn’t changed! In this crazy fast paced world of constant flux, it represents a timeless scene. Our home one fall weekend it functioned...
Global News Boler: it’s one of our favourite little trailers spotted while channel surfing a couple years back and in the background of some news story playing out on the screen. It’s May 2020, height of the pandemic (first wave edition) and no doubt this topic, perhaps how it relates...
The location: Sundre Alberta. The mission: To hike! Today’s target: What we’ll call Sundre Loop, taking in a couple sections of town, the Snake Hill recreation area and with a final stretch paralleling the Red Deer River. It’s sounds about perfect for a lazy day, and in spite of where...
There we were, hiking in Southern Alberta, in search of history and on rounding a corner eye up something curious. Here’s a most beautiful setting overlooking a forested valley and on this spot two simple crosses mark this mine road memorial. We came to look at some coal mining remains...
Among collectors of classic vehicles there’s a fringe group that does things a little different. A little? Let’s label them crazy weirdos and leave it at that. There’s no ’57 Bel Airs for these folks, no T-Birds, no roided out muscle cars, but instead things called Fishbowls, Old Looks and...
We’re standing on 95th, a tattered paper in one hand and camera long past its prime in the other. This can only mean one thing – that’s it time for another BIGDoer.com Then & Now, this one touching on a theme we really like, an ordinary street scene. Printed on...
We’re visiting a charming county church built just over a century ago. Not all that far from Calgary, perhaps you’ve seen it beside highway while on your way to some weekend fun out in the badlands. It’s located a bit outside its namesake town, just before a dip down into...
Massive wood beams and what must be a million bolts make up this imposing structure, an abandoned train trestle found along a branchline closed decades ago. This is a former Canadian Pacific property in Northern Alberta, put in during the 1920s and witness to its last train in the early...
Imagine our thrill on seeing someone at this property…someone who looks like they should be there. A quick introduction, some confusion over our motives (honestly, this is what we do), and we’re in. However, the light’s failing, we’ve got the wrong camera and no tripod, so we’ll have to make...
What a sad ending for the Alberta 2005 Centennial Railway Museum, out in Beiseker Alberta. The group behind it all has long since disbanded, the old station, a planned showpiece, burned down years ago and their railcar collection dispersed to wind. It started off with grand plans, and no doubt...
Deep in the Rockies, we’re visiting a very special place and sharing with you a little of that adventure. It’s rather hidden away, but not far from a busy traffic corridor (sometimes faintly heard on the wind), and seemingly lost in time. Over there it’s a fast-paced world, and here,...
We came for the brutalish architecture and as it happens (fairly often too) our explorations lead to another random Boler discovery. We love when that happens! So there we were, coming back from photographing a really funky school (it looks like a military bunker – link further down), and on...
Step after step and much distance travelled only to end up back where you started? Yes and such is hiking. This walk in the woods plays out in West Bragg Creek and takes in several trails in that extensive network. They are: Snowy Owl, Old Shell Road, and Braggin’ Rights...
Come join in and imagine yourself a curious time traveller. Today, it’s two for the price of one and in this Then & Now we’ll show you some scenes of Tofield Alberta captured about forty years apart. It thrills us knowing we’re standing close to the spot where the original...
With a tight schedule and and only minutes to spare, all there’s time for in Derwent Alberta is a quick pit stop to snap a couple photos of Holy Spirit Ukrainian Catholic Church. In the Eastern Orthodox style (meaning domes are a prominent feature) the building dates from the late...
We’re out exploring with a friend and looking for abandoned places. This is Backroads Saskatchewan and we’re in the southwest corner of the province kicking up a little dust. We’ve been down this way before, so not exactly strangers, but it’s always nice to come back and take in something...
Mulled wine (most important): check. Spiky things for the shoes (not needed, as it turned out): check. Two shirts, a sweater and two jackets (layers are best): check. I guess we’re set! Today it’s an urban hike in an un-city like setting…oh, and the temperature outside is colder than your...
No matter the location, weather, or any other factor, we’ll fit in a walk each and every day. It’s our Tesla recharge and as an added bonus, we’ll often pass something along the way that’s fascinating to us. You know, a Boler trailer, some old truck, maybe see a passing...
Channel your inner HG Wells and join us in Foremost Alberta for a little time travelling adventure. Armed with an old photo of the town showing Main Street we’re here to shoot another of similar composition from the same position. It’s a silly little obsession and we find it thrilling...
Walking about random Calgary neighbourhoods, as we’re apt to do, it’s almost guaranteed we’ll make a new Boler discovery. It happens almost every single time and case in point, the little trailer seen here, spotted by chance while out for a stroll. Based on our hit-ratio, it’s clear there’s a...
These businesses were once a commonly seen in older neighbourhoods, in towns both big and small. We’re talking about the humble corner store, even if many, like the one spoken of here, were actually located somewhere mid-street. These were the 7-11s and Macs Circle-Ks of the day, convenient and close...
Kenopsia: "the eerie atmosphere of a place that's usually bustling with people but now vacant or abandoned."
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Empress Alberta at the 4th Meridian
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St Peter and Paul Church 1918
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Radio Shack Westbrook Mall (Calgary)
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Ghost Railways: Fort Macleod Alberta
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Berte Georgeโs Williamโs Grocery Lethbridge
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Union Bay (Vancouver Island) Coal Wharf
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1 Day: Denman & Hornby Islands (BC)
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Crossley Slides: A Corner in Erlton
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Ioco Port Moody BC (Ghost Town)
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Historic Fort Macleod After Hours
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Ghosts of the Crowsnest Subdivision
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Moose Jaw SK Train Station (~90 Yrs Apart)
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Kart World or Kart Gardens? (2014)
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Prairie Sentinels: Cadillac Sask
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Dominion Bridge Calgary (Ramsay) ca1960-2014
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World of F.E.A.R Figure-8 (Abandoned)
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