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In Halkirk, Alberta, Canada, not far from Big Knife Provincial Park, you’ll find the Halkirk Snack Shack. It’s the local general store. Halkirk is like many towns in this part of Alberta: tiny, with a population of just one hundred and seventeen. Thirsty and needing a snack on our road trip through this part of the Canadian Badlands, I visited the store while Glenn checked out the Halkirk Hotel. My snack choices turned out to be pretty limited but the back of the old store was a real find. Amid all the second hand stuff I discovered some great old fishing lures, Redcliff and Medalta pottery, and a mint-condition Edison Fireside Gramophone. There was also a kick-butt old wooden counter which I immediately fell in love with and, I asked about its origins. “From the old general store that closed in Botha”, the gal at the cash told me. Bummer, I thought. Another one bites the dust.
The Halkirk Hotel, aka “the Pearl of the Prairie” is right next door to the old store. Built in 1910, it’s been refurbished and is up for sale. We’re hoping it finds a good owner who understands this region’s roadtrip potential. I’d stay there if I was going through here again. The place has real wild west appeal and its saloon serves good homecooked meals and cold beer.
The Halkirk Hotel – purveyors of clean rooms, fine food and potable spirits.
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On the same roadtrip, we later stopped at the Sedalia Co-op, the only store in Sedalia, Alberta. This place sells everything under the sun from fan belts to camping equipment to groceries. You name it, they have it. We sat and chatted with a couple of friendly folk here. Just when a young family of four walked in, Glenn was asking one of the guys what the population of Sedalia was and the guy quipped,
“Half the population of Sedalia is in this store right now”
and he wasn’t kidding.
Interior of the Co-op in Sedalia, Alberta. If they don’t have it, you don’t need it.
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There are very large areas around here called the Special Areas, which I think may be unique to Alberta as far as Canada is concerned. The three Special Areas total about 2.1 million hectares of southeastern Alberta. First established in 1938 due to extreme hardship of the drought years of the 1930s, they’ve more or less remained intact to the present day. Total population now is only 5,300 so, you can see why I wax poetic about the lack of traffic and light pollution and the abundance of wildlife in this part of the world. In fact, just south of Sedalia, I snapped this pic, one of several deer we saw on our way to Cereal, about 40 minutes south. This sleepy community is home to the Gurlitz kid, a bullriding champ who Glenn and I saw ride at the Oyen Bullarama.
The deer and the antelope literally do play on the prairies of western Canada.
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If you have a favourite old store in your part of the world, we’d love to hear about it.
Halkirk is not in the Special Areas. It is in The County Of Paintearth.
Thanks for correcting that Julie. It’s such a big area! 😉
That’s something I love about the Prairies/Alberta, you’ll find plenty of places where time has stood still. I found many relics and old storefronts on my way through: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=511498&page=3
Can you name some of the towns that you went to. I would just love to go to some small towns like that.
I walked those streets as a kid, My Grandmother Annie Mae Dartt, they farmed north of Halkirk, on road to Big Knife Park, back in my day it was a treat to go up and see the Drag-Line, or go get coal. Uncle Lawrence Gormley, farmed the original farm for many years, after grandma died. Raised there were Katharine, Lawrence Alice, Dora, Ina. Ina is still alive in Red Deer, She Married Harry Dunkle who has passed, My Mom was Katharine, married Paul Vanderberg from Gadsby. I am Valerie Vanderberg, and I miss my heritage out there. I miss Jim Poons Café, and his Ice cream cones, just down the street from hotel and Campions General Store.
Valerie, your memory was wonderful and thank you for sharing it. What is the “Drag-Line”? and where did you get coal? Have you got any pictures that you can send me? Jim Poon’s Café sounds great!! – Glenn
Drag line is a large machine that digs up coal, located just north of halkirk is a coal mine and a coal powered power plant
So glad you wrote this, my family owned the Halkirk store in the early 90’s (think 92 or 93 is when we bought it) however it was the local grocery store (no second hand items), the snack shack is still open and hosts coffee time/bs every morning from 9-10:30. The hotel, known to most locals as the hilton is no longer open, but looking for new owners to serve cold beer & homemade meals. This hotel is a true GEM, having tons of renos done it can only be appreciated with a visit or tour….ic your ever wanting to visit again be sure to come when the bullarama is on as its always a great time with fabulous entertainment/rough stock and cold beer to go with your dancing shoes. August 13, 2016 is when its happening and tons of camping space for trailers or tents!!!! Small towns nothing like them, best places for fun!!!!
Sedalia Co-op is my favorite store….they do have everything. Next door is the post office/liquor store/wine boutique/ DVD & Blu-ray rental emporium. It’s a worthwhile destination.
Have you got a recent picture that you can send us?
My husband’s grandpa built the first grocery store in Sedalia. His name was Norman Fisher. Long time ago!