Volkssport Association of Alberta History
The first registered volkssport club in Alberta is listed as the Midnight Twilight Tourist Association
(MTTA). St. Albert, AB est. 1985, IVV 4010/85. (Note the registration under IVV) The MTTA promoted Zone 14, North Central Alberta, see map on right. Travel Alberta funded these activities from 1985 – 1989 with the understanding that local clubs would be formed to take over events and funding.
After the Canadian Volkssport Federation (CVF) was established in 1986, this listing is recorded as Midnight Twilight Tourist Association. St. Albert, AB est. 1985 CVF-007.
An application with Bylaw submission for the VAA was signed January 17, 1986 with the Certificate of Incorporation under the Societies Act of the Province of Alberta dated January 21, 1986.
First recorded VAA Executive:
President – Charles Godberson
Vice-President – Rick Shaw
Secretary – David Phillips
Treasurer – Carol Sommer
Other founding members included Jock Archer, President of the MTTA in 1985.
HIGHLIGHTS OF VOLKSSPORT IN ALBERTA
| 1983 Word “volkssport” first mentioned at a MTTA meeting. |
| 1984 MTTA received a $5000 grant to promote volkssport in Alberta |
| 1985 First sanctioned walks in Alberta. 12 weekend events of 10 and 20 km each weekend. First walk in Barrhead in June 8 and 9 |
| 1986 12 Weekend Events VAA incorporated under the Alberta Societies Act, January 21 |
| 1986 – 89 Dr. Charles Godberson is the first VAA President. |
| 1987 Clubs founded: Cold Lake Tri-Town Wandering Club, Rocky Mountain House Volksmarchers, Wetaskiwin Volksmarch Club |
| 1988 27 Events held in Alberta CVF AGM, (Second Annual) held in St Albert hosted by the VAA with the help of the Trekkers. VAA begins raising funds by working Casinos at the St. Albert Inn. Clubs founded: Barrhead Walkie Talkie Volksmarch Club, Camrose Clickers, St Albert Trekkers Volkssmarch Club. |
| 1989 27 events held in Albert including the first Mountain Majesty in Kananaskis. Club founded: Innisfail Volkssport Association Club folded: Rocky Mountain House Volksmarchers |
| 1989-91 President – Jim MacDonnell |
| 1990 Phillips trophy created; a farewell gift to David Phillips in recognition of his work in establishing volkssport in Alberta. (see listing of recipients) The Event Calendar was produced by the VAA for the first time so it now included the entire province. 27 annual events, including 7 sanctioned volksski events, sponsored by the MTTA. First Year Round Event (YRE) (name changed to Permanent Trail (PT) in 2015) set up in province by the St Albert Trekkers. Clubs founded: Gibbons Biped Locomotors, Millet Volkssport Club |
| 1991-94 President – Bill Hughes |
| 1991 Club founded: Buffalo Lake Volkssport Club 35 Events, including 5 bikes and 2 swims. 5 PT First record of VAA AGM being held |
| 1992 Clubs founded: Devon Discovery Walkers, Wainwright Walkers VAA AGM held in Wetaskiwin hosted by that Club |
| 1993 First marathon, held in Medley, AB, August 1. 35 events and 5 PT |
| 1994 CVF AGM (8th Annual) in Alberta, St. Albert Inn. 53 Events, including 4 bikes and 2 swims. 8 PTs including first bike, hosted by St Albert Trekkers Club founded: Calgary Volksmarch Club Club folded: Camrose Clickers The VAA AGM was held in Innisfail hosted by the Innisfail Volkssport Assoc. |
| 1994-96 President – Phil Sturges |
| 1995 August 19 – 26. Jasper to Lake Louse walk organized by Grace Newman. Clubs founded: Fox Creek Wilderness Volkssport Club, Volkssport Club of Medicine Hat The VAA AGM was hosted in St Albert by the Trekkers |
| 1996 – 99 President – Grace Newman |
| 1996 21 YRE and 96 annual events in Alberta. Club founded: Strathcona Striders Club folded: Innisfail Volkssport Association The VAA AGM was held in Wainwright hosted by the Wainwright Walkers |
| 1997 The VAA AGM was held in Devon hosted by that club |
| 1998 Club founded: Chinook Country Pacers Clubs folded: Buffalo Lake Volkssport Club, Cold Lake Tri-town Wandering Club The VAA AGM was held in Redwater hosted by the Gibbons Biped Locomotors |
| 1999-2003 President – Bob Duncan |
| 1999 The VAA AGM was held in St Albert hosted by that club |
| 2000 Millennium Mountain Meander, June 17 – 24, Lake Louise to Jasper organized by Bob and Billie Collins. 34 YRE, 117 annual events. The VAA AGM was held in Calgary hosted by the Calgary Volkssport Club |
| 2001 Club founded: Hinton Hikers Club folded: Strathcona Striders The VAA AGM was hosted in Medicine Hat by that club |
| 2002 Medicine Hat hosted the CVF AGM with the help of the other Alberta clubs Club founded: Lake Isle Pacers Club folded: Wainwright Walkers The VAA AGM was hosted in St Albert by that club |
| 2003-05 President – Myrna O’Neil |
| 2003 Club folded: Gibbons Biped Locomotors The VAA hosted their AGM in Red Deer |
| 2004 20 Years of Volkssport in Alberta celebrated. The VAA hosted their AGM in Innisfail |
| 2005-09 President – Richard Parr |
| 2005 Club folded: Calgary Volksmarch Club The VAA AGM was held in St Albert hosted by that club |
| 2006 VAA and Alberta clubs host the CVF AGM in Edmonton. Clubs folded: Hinton Hikers, Lake Isle Pacers The VAA AGM was held by the Chinook Country Pacers in Cardston |
| 2007 The VAA hosted their AGM in Fort Saskatchewan |
| 2008 The VAA AGM was hosted in Medicine Hat by that club |
| 2009-13 President – Kathleen Parr |
| 2009 49 YRE, 82 annual events. Club folded: Millet Volkssport Club The VAA AGM hosted jointly by the Fox Creek and Wetaskiwin clubs in Camrose |
| 2010 25 years of sanctioned walks in Alberta celebrated at the Horse Creek Ranch event, hosted by the Barrhead Walkie Talkie club. (The first volkssport event in Alberta was held in Barrhead in 1985.) The VAA AGM was hosted by the St Albert Trekkers in St Albert. VAA celebrates 25 years, honorary members recognized see write ups. |
| 2011 VAA AGM hosted by the Wetaskiwin Club in Red Deer |
| 2012 Wetaskiwin Volkssport Walking Club, celebrates 25th anniversary. VAA AGM hosted by Devon Discovery Walkers, in Devon, in conjunction with their 20th Anniversary |
| 2013 Barrhead Walkie Talkie Volkssport Club, celebrates 25th anniversary. St. Albert Trekkers Volkssport Club, celebrates 25th anniversary. VAA AGM hosted by the Medicine Hat Club in Medicine Hat. |
| 2013-17 President – David Hall |
| 2014 65 YRE/Seasonals, 71 annual events VAA AGM hosted by the Wetaskiwin Club in Camrose CVF AGM in Banff hosted by St. Albert Trekkers with assistance of other Alberta clubs |
| 2015 Club folded: Fox Creek Wilderness Volkssport Club VAA AGM hosted by the Barrhead Walkie Talkie Volkssport Club at Horse Creek Ranch, plus 30 Years of Volkssport walking in Alberta celebrated. 62 PTs (formerly YRE/Seasonals), 82 events |
| 2016 68 PTs, 75 events VAA AGM hosted by the St Albert Trekkers in Hinton New club formed in Red Deer – Volkssport Walkers of Central Alberta |
| 2017 67 PTs, 87 events VAA AGM hosted by the VAA in Cochrane |
| 2017-19 President – Glenda Palmer |
| 2018 67 PTs, 69 events, 118 including the scheduled group PTs VAA AGM hosted in Red Deer by the Volkssport Walkers of Central Alberta Wetaskiwin Volkssport Club changed their name to Northern Lights Walking Club |
| 2019 – Present President – Sharon Tchir |
| 2019 71 PTs, 67 events, plus 28 scheduled PTs in the printed calendar and many more added as the weather dictates. VAA AGM hosted in Stony Plain by the Devon Discovery Walkers |
| 2020 74 PTs, 58 events plus 23 scheduled PTs in the printed calendar many of which weren’t held due to the Covid-19, including the AGM. Devon Discovery Walkers changed their name to Parkland Walkers |