We’re always wandering about, be it here in our own city or anywhere we happen to be. It’s just what we do. And one little perk of doing this is that inevitably, and I mean it’s almost guaranteed, we’ll stumble across a Boler. Or maybe two. They’re out there, and...
Just south of Downtown Calgary, across the tracks, are a grouping of neighbourhoods collectively titled the “Beltline District”. It’s mixed use residential and commercial, things old and things new, many stately homes, modern condo towers, heritage buildings, schools, churches and countless places to shop and eat. And it’s here we’ve...
To begin…this here article was shot waaaay back in late 2017 and was supposed to be published that following spring. So a year ago. As it happens the poop sometimes flies and a battle with a publisher, never full resolved but behind us now, and some life getting in the...
The southwest region of Calgary Team BIGDoer calls home dates from the late 1950s/early 1960s, but interspersed among all the ranch style dwellings, along with a few slightly newer Brady-esque multi-level-splits, are some dwellings that predate these neighbourhoods by many decades. When new these houses were out in the country,...
Old Jack is a friend. In 2017 he made an appearance in the documentary “Forgotten Prairie” (Rueben Tschetter/Cache Productions – links below), where he took Team BIGDoer and some pals on a tour of his local area. Included, was a (now) ghost town just up the road from where he...
Kids and empty lots, it’s a natural pairing. These unused parcels become an place to hang out and have fun, unsupervised, that’s all theirs and with no adults around to spoil things or get in the way of the good times. Grown ups can be such a buzz-kill. The possibilities...
In an otherwise empty lot down some quiet back street in some town in the Alberta Badlands, remains of an old sign speaking of a business that was once stood here. We’ve driven passed it more times than we can count, oblivious it was there and only on taking a...
We’re at “The Forks” in Winnipeg, a former rail yard now a large multi-purpose outdoor and recreation themed venue. There’s farmer’s markets, museums, historic sites, biking paths and on, with many unique and interesting events held throughout the year. Looks like a fun place. And it’s ours to explore while...
by Chris Doering · Published February 26, 2019 · Last modified February 11, 2020
A most glorious day begins. It’s still and silent here in the early hours at Casa Róan, located in a small village out in rural Galicia Spain. The shutters are open letting in a cool morning breeze. What’s that aroma? It’s so…so…clean and crisp. It’s…it’s…it’s fresh air!A deep breath…ahhhh, that’s...
It’s seen by thousands and thousands of folks each and every day, but we suspect few know much about it. There, looming tall in an empty field next to a bus loop/LRT station and looking as though a rocket ready to launch into the great beyond, it’s the old Firestone...
In 2018 we barely hiked. For any number of reasons we were just not able to get out into the woods, some gig getting in the way, poor weather perhaps, winter not wanting to let go, or maybe it was health issues – far too many of those that year....
On the road to somewhere, we make a brief stop in the little community of Granum Alberta (founded early 1900s), with just enough time to fire off a couple snapshots. The always beckoning highway calls. So for but a few moments we wander about “downtown”, with not another soul in...
It was only matter of time. Everyone knew it. When is something bad going to happen at the old Enoch Sales House? Will they find a corpse inside? Will it get torched? Given the level of neglect shown it by its owners, Calgary Municipal Land Corp a city department, something...
Moodonna & Child, a print (serigraph) by artist Manwoman discovered in the window of a thrift store in Calgary Alberta. It’s was a completely random and most magical find by Chris & Connie. Saw it, knew what it was, bought it, got it and now we’re twelve bucks poorer. Here...
On the road back from somewhere special, the most amazing Hanna Roundhouse (link below), a small detour to take in some old buildings we’ve not looked at for many years. Over there on the west end of Three Hills Alberta, down by the train tracks, two vintage wood grain elevators....
A spring snow dump has us away from the mountains…again. No worries though as we always find somewhere interesting to walk and small towns are where we often do it. They’re just so quaint and charming and laid back. A drive south of Calgary has us visiting the community of...
So there we are climbing high above the tiny town of Wayne, in the amazingly scenic Alberta Badlands, in search of a shot. Up and up we go, dodging prickly things and slipping from time to time on the steep and loose terrain. Gotta get that photo – one where...
by Chris Doering · Published February 4, 2019 · Last modified September 3, 2020
We love to roam the streets of a small city or town. And usually come evening. There, in the ever softening light, that orange/yellow glow at the end of day, exploration becomes something magical. Stuff that seems ordinary at 2pm transforms into things amazing and photogenic. It’s not just inspiring...
It’s a nothing photo that shows zero technical merit nor any mastery of composition. Label it unremarkable. Yet there’s something really cool and interesting here – if you look for it – that if seen back in the day would have had you standing in awe. Just picture it in...
Some business finds us in the tiny community of Enchant Alberta, a dot on the map type place out there on the endless Alberta Plains, no where close to a major population base. Post lunch at the town’s only eatery, the most satisfyingly bowl of Wor Wonton Soup ever, we...
They’re tucked away on an otherwise disused siding, way back behind a huge maze of pipes, valves and vessels and for the most part were well hidden from view. Here, at a recently decommissioned gas plant a little south of Calgary, a most amazing collection of vintage railway equipment. With...
Where’s this now? Onarch? Wait, no, it’s Onarc. Moving about a bit…ohhhh, Monarch…now we get it. Guess we should open our eyes more. Here’s a little village in Alberta, home a couple hundred folks, just a bit west of Lethbridge. At one time the highway ran right through the place,...
by Chris Doering · Published January 22, 2019 · Last modified February 11, 2020
Time does fly. Here we’re a week into our Spanish trip and day three trekking the El Camino Pilgrimage Trail and it seems like we just arrived. Where as the first two days had us going up and over some mountains, here the land changes and is gently rolling in...
One evening in Coleman Alberta, in the wondrous Crowsnest Pass. With no goals or plans in mind we simply wander the historic downtown taking in this and that, passing trains and old buildings from the boom days when coal mining drove the local economy. It’s about getting out, working those...
Amazingly one can find the remains of long abandoned railway lines deep inside the city of Calgary. And here’s a most interesting section. There’s the old roadbed, grassed over and a dumping ground for things unwanted and most fascinating to the railway archaeologist, telegraph poles, cross-bucks and all still standing...
Here’s another enjoyable in-the-city hike taking in the neighbourhoods of Mount Royal and Bankview, as mentioned in the title, along with some of Sunalta and a chunk of the Beltline. Along the way those following this route will pass many old homes just chock full of personality, some of them...
One amazing weekend…and seems so long ago now. We’re in Dinosaur Provincial Park in late May 2018, and we’re here to take in anything and everything it has to offer. Out there along the Red Deer River near the town of Brooks we pay this most special place a visit,...
It’s July 2018, we’re just back from Spain and still basking in that El Camino glow and already we’re out exploring. We rarely sit still. This weekend it’s the Ghost Town Convention, as it’s called (Alberta edition), where friends get together and tour abandoned places. It’s as much about the...
by Chris Doering · Published January 4, 2019 · Last modified February 11, 2020
Dawn arrives clear and cool and we’re already wide awake in giddy anticipation of the day to come. It’ll be wonderful….we just know it…friends, we can feel it in our bones. Team BIGDoer is in Spain, a most amazing country, we’re trekking the legendary El Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage Trail...
No, we’re not heading to the afterlife here, even if the biting cold this day had us thinking it might not be a bad place to get away from these frozen limbs and frostbitten noses (and mine’s a biggie). Hell sounds so nice this time of year. No sir, we’re...
Kenopsia: "the eerie atmosphere of a place that's usually bustling with people but now vacant or abandoned."
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Byron Robb:
The Tug SS Hosmer (1909)
Byron Robb:
Along the Kootenay Central w’ Greg McDonnell
Jack Rutherford:
Anastasia Lords of Anastasia Village
Johanna (Connie) Biggart:
Nier Alberta’s Psychedelic Grain Elevator
Byron Robb:
A Downtown West End Alley (Calgary)
Helen Besterling:
Stampede Speedway Calgary (1982-1987)
Anonymous:
The Grist Mill / Blacksmith Shop (2015)
Byron Robb:
Ogden Road Calgary 1950 & 2016
Anonymous:
Sibbald Gentleman’s Club (Closed)
Rob Pohl & Arturo Pianzola:
Riverview Hospital Coquitlam BC
Johanna (Connie) Biggart:
Empress Alberta at the 4th Meridian
Johanna (Connie) Biggart:
St Peter and Paul Church 1918
Tim Swaren:
The Last Grain Elevator in Torrington
Anonymous:
Radio Shack Westbrook Mall (Calgary)
Anonymous:
Ghost Railways: Fort Macleod Alberta
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