Epic journey launched K of C in Alberta in 1907

Edmonton, Calgary councils to celebrate their centennials

Edmonton Knights in 1912, five years after Alberta's first K of C council was formed.

By RAMON GONZALEZ
WCR Staff Writer
Edmonton

The Alberta Knights of Columbus are marking 100 years of service to the Church and the community.

The celebrations will begin in Edmonton, where the first Knights of Columbus council was established Jan. 5 1907. Two days later a council was established in Calgary.

"It's quite an honour to be the grand knight of a council that was formed 100 years ago," said Joe Smith, the grand knight of Edmonton Council 1184. "We are marking 100 years of knighthood in Alberta; 100 years of service to the Church and the community."

Entourage from Winnipeg

The formation of Alberta's first two councils was an epic event. About 60 knights from Winnipeg, plus 20 knights from Montana, Minnesota, Ontario and Wisconsin, along with 30 of their wives, chartered a special train, consisting of three sleeping cars, a dining car and a baggage car.

They made a 3,200-km round trip, leaving Winnipeg on the morning of Jan. 3, 1907. They arrived in Edmonton at noon on Saturday, Jan. 5 and initiated 30 members the same day.

Joe Smith

The train left at 5 p.m. Sunday for Calgary, arriving at 10 a.m. Monday morning in bitterly cold weather, perhaps explaining why the trip lasted 17 hours. Forty-nine Knights were initiated in Calgary Jan. 7.

"We are the oldest council in Alberta," Smith says proudly. "There were no Knight councils in the province before Edmonton Council 1184."

Special celebration

The council will mark its centennial with a special celebration March 23 at the Mayfield Inn and the Trade Centre, 16615-109 Ave. The celebration will begin with a 5 p.m. Mass in the grand ballroom followed by a dinner. Calgary Council 1186 will celebrate its centennial on Columbus Day, Oct. 12.

The state board as well as guests from Saskatchewan, Ontario and Calgary will attend the Edmonton centennial celebrations.

Msgr. John Hamilton, administrator of the Edmonton Archdiocese, Msgr. Francis Patsula and Father Henry Rosenbaum, the Knights state chaplain, will concelebrate the Mass.

Council 1184 was formed as a council of St. Joachim's Parish but then it moved to St. Joseph's Basilica. It was part of the basilica until about 10 years ago, when it sold its headquarters to Mary Help of Christians Chinese Parish and became affiliated with St. Andrew's Parish.

Its headquarters are currently located at 11030 St. Albert Trail, close to St. Andrew's Church.

Stained glass

As part of the 100th year celebration, the council will install a stained glass window featuring Knights founder Father Michael McGivney at St. Andrew's Church.

Over the past century the Knights of Columbus have supported many Alberta and international projects. Among these is the popular K of C hockey program, which involves 1,600 boys and girls. NHL icon Mark Messier and other stars once played in the program.

The Columbian Choirs, established and sponsored by the Knights, have been singing for 40 years in Canada and many countries in Europe.

Support for charity

Camp Encounter, a camp for young people, also receives financial support from Council 1184. Internationally, the council supports a home for orphan girls in Syria. Over a period of 25 years a bingo program established by this council earned $15 million for a variety of charitable groups.

Council 1184 has 250 members and is one of 43 councils in the Edmonton area.

"With the council being 100 years old, our average age is up there as well," laughed Smith, 71.

"We've got two members-Bill Connolly and Msgr. Allen Reynolds - who have over 70 years of service in the Knights."

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