The Beta Sigma Phi Sorority is a women's social, service and cultural organization. The first chapter was opened by seven women in Abilene, Kansas in 1931. Its original purpose was to provide cultural and intellectual stimulation to women who could not afford to attend college during the depression. It is now the world's largest Greek letter sorority.
The St. Albert chapter, Alpha Psi, was founded December 4, 1978 as a friendly venture by Xi Phi (Exemplar Degree.) The chapter began with fourteen members. The chapter had its first meeting on January 15, 1979. The chapter's participation in the community has included providing friendship to Youville Home residents and sponsoring babysitting courses.
The first chapter of the Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire was formed in 1900 by Mrs. Clark Murray of Montreal. The objects of the women's order included promoting education and patriotism, caring for the relatives of wounded or killed Canadian soldiers, and helping to provide for the relief of citizens in distress or poverty.
The St. Albert Father Lacombe Chapter of the I.O.D.E. was formed on February 6, 1963. The chapter fundraised for the local library, sponsored babysitting courses, and sponsored a local scouts group.
The 110 street block in Edmonton was known as “Mission Block” as it included the Oblats Maison Provinciale, St. Joachim church, St. Joachim rectory and the Convent of the Faithful Companions of Jesus. “Mission Block” was built for the expanding French community in Edmonton on land that was acquired by the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1886. St. Joseph Seminary was located in Edmonton, Alberta on 9948-110 Street. The seminary first served as a rectory and then was expanded to a provincial house in 1907. In 1917, Bishop Legal converted the building into an Oblate Scholasticate run by the oblates. In 1927, the Archdiocese purchased the seminary. St. Joachim’s church was built in 1899 at 9920-110 Street in Edmonton Alberta.
The Musée Héritage Museum is the first civic museum in St. Albert. It opened on May 31, 1984 in St. Albert Place with the mission of preserving the history of St. Albert and area. It opened its permanent exhibit in 1988. The collections were originally artifacts from the St. Albert Historical Society, but the Museum has continued to collect both artifacts and archival material. Services include exhibits on St. Albert history, especially Métis history, travelling exhibits, guided tours, education programs, special events, information and reference services, publications, and lending travelling exhibits and kits. The Musée Héritage Museum also functions as the St. Albert archives. In addition to artifacts and archives, the Museum also manages historic sites: the Little White School, the St. Albert Grain Elevators, and the Father Lacombe Chapel. The Museum is funded by the City of St. Albert under the Arts and Heritage Foundation of St. Albert, and it is managed by an independent board. The Museum's first Curator was Michael Tymchuk, followed by Acting Curator Peggy Fortier, then James Tirrul-Jones as Director, followed by Karen Korchinki, Alexandra Hatcher, and Ann Ramsden. The current Director of the Museum is Shari Strachan.
The City of St. Albert formed the St. Albert Centennial Committee for the purposes of organizing activities for Canada’s centennial as well as promoting the event and celebrating the event with the rest of Canada. The St Albert Centennial Committee was formed in April 1966 and its members included Mr. DF MacEachern, Mr. C Tennant, Mr. D Hunt, Mr. R Russell and Mr. G Curial.
Founded in 1861 by Father Albert Lacombe, St. Albert is the oldest, non-fortified community in Alberta and was the largest agricultural settlement west of Winnipeg. Father Lacombe, one of the earliest missionaries in the west, proclaimed Mission Hill home to the St. Albert mission settlement. He built a log chapel for ministering to the Cree and Métis. Father Lacombe Chapel, the oldest building in Alberta, is now a Provincial Heritage Site and has been restored to its original appearance. It is located on the north hill of the river and is open to tours from June to September.
St. Albert was incorporated as a village in 1904 followed by town status in 1962. St. Albert officially became a city in 1977.
Today, St. Albert is a city with over 64,645 residents. With more than 85 kilometres of trails, 1,100 acres of green space, the Arden Theatre, the visual arts studios, the Musée Héritage Museum and numerous special events.
On Feb. 3, 1992, St. Albert, Alberta, was declared the host city for the 1994 Alberta Winter Games. In June 1992, Bill Hole was named the Games Chairman. The St. Albert Games Society was incorporated on Dec. 17, 1992 to organize and manage the Alberta Winter Games, which were held on March 3-6, 1994 in various locations in St. Albert and Edmonton. There were indoor and outdoor competitive sports events for the Winter Games: Archery, 5-pin bowling, 10-pin bowling, Special "O" bowling, boxing, fencing, gymnastics, judo, karate, squash, table tennis, wrestling, curling, figure skating, hockey (male), hockey (female), ringette, speed skating, alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, luge, Nordic combined skiing, and freestyle skiing. In addition to sports events, the St. Albert Games Society also organized cultural and promotional events alongside the Winter Games. The Games office was officially opened on March 3, 1993 at 20B Sir Winston Churchill Avenue.
When St. Albert Place was being built in 1982-83 there was a contest to name the future theatre. A winner was chosen out of a number of great submissions. The winner was Shyamal Bagchee, and his suggestion was to call the theatre the Arden. Welcoming more than 65,000 patrons to over 150 events annually, The Arden has presented excellence in artistic programming for over 30 years, offering a variety of music, theatre, and dance events for arts lovers of all ages.
In 1946, the Edmonton Military Hospital (Jesuit College) was used as a tuberculosis treatment centre for Indigenous peoples in Alberta and the Western Arctic. Of the patients, a total of 98 Indigenous people who had died from TB and could not be returned home for burial were buried on federal land near the Indian Residential School which was operated by the United Church of Canada. Many of the people were buried in unmarked graves, especially Inuit. The Indian Residential School managing the site closed in 1968. In 1979, 2.56 ha were transferred to St. Albert for a civic cemetery. On June 22, 1990, a cairn recording the names of the individuals buried there was dedicated and the Indigenous Cemetery plaque unveiled. The St. Albert Cemetery is owned and operated by the City of St. Albert in the interest of the public. All monies received from Cemetery Services are utilized in the administration, development, extension and perpetual care of the cemetery.