Stories that are unique to Okotoks are expected to draw a crowd of history buffs from across the region this weekend.
Historian Karen Peters, with the Okotoks and District Historical Society, is offering a heritage walking tour through downtown to educate residents and visitors about the prominent people who helped shape Okotoks as part of Historic Calgary Week July 22 to Aug. 1.
“It’s getting our story out there so people can learn more about Okotoks and its history,” said Peters. “People just like a good story.”
Peters led a cemetery tour last weekend as part of the 10-day event, which drew about 20 people to the community – most from the Calgary area.
Historic Calgary Week celebrates the rich history of the region with more than 60 walks, talks, concerts, family events and visits to historic buildings.
Activities include talks about early pioneers, First Nations, archaeology, the Stampede, police and the fire brigade, as well as visits to the Saskatoon Farm, Lougheed House, Leighton Art Centre, Calgary’s first library and University of Calgary.
The Okotoks Heritage Walking Tour begins at 2 p.m. at the Okotoks Museum and Archives.
Peters has been offering the 60 to 90-minute free guided tours during Historic Calgary Week for eight of the event’s 26 years, sharing interesting stories about Okotoks’ residents and businesses in the early to mid 1900s.
“I talk a lot about the people and a lot about the houses that are still standing that they lived in,” she said. “People like to hear about the people and their lives. It’s a tribute to prominent people in the community.”
Peters offered a similar tour in early July, which attracted 34 people from the Okotoks area. Since then, she’s done more research on prominent people who lived downtown over the years and added more details to the upcoming tour.
“When you start doing that all of a sudden you go, ‘This is a street where a lot of people who were important to the town’s politics and businesses lived on,’” she said. “I will share stories of who they were and what they did and when their houses were built.”
Peters said the heritage walking tours attract anywhere from a dozen to 50 people.
“They are usually people who just want to go out for a walk and are interested in history and a good story,” she said.
