Airdrie marked its milestone with grand celebrations on September 10 that saw provincial, local and international  dignitaries help mark the momentous occasion with a fantastic fireworks display and the unveiling of the prized Legacy Project sculpture in front of city hall.

The Legacy Project, sponsored by leading developer WestMark Holdings Ltd., is a sculpture representation of Airdrie’s growth integrating time, space and people to reveal the history of the small town that was established in 1909, and it is a past worthy of celebrating.

Among those on hand to witness the sculpture’s unveiling were the Honourable Norman Kwong, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta and Her Honour, Mrs. Mary Kwong; Mayor In Kook Yeo of Airdrie’s sister city Gwacheon, South Korea; Provost Tom Curley of Airdrie, Scotland; and the Honourable Lindsay Blackett, Alberta Minister of Culture and Community Spirit.

Celebrations went further into the September 12-13 weekend at Nose Creek Park and Iron Horse Park turning the city into one giant, jam-packed family affair. “It was certainly a celebration for the ages,” says Airdrie Mayor Linda Bruce. “It seemed like everybody from town and then some came out for the weekend festivities.”

It’s not done yet, as festivities roll right along with the Airdrie Centennial Concert Series to be held at the Bert Church Live Theatre starting October 30.

There is much to celebrate, as the city of 38,091 (according to a 2009 census) has a right to be proud of its accomplishments, especially now that it is looked upon as the model by which all other small towns in southern Alberta aspire to become.

“We have been known as ‘the little town that could’, from our small town beginnings we have been able to reach our goals by always acting as a strong community,” Bruce says.

Their pioneering use of an on-line census is one of the things that has kept Airdrie on top of its growth and a number of towns here and the U.S. have followed its example. “This is just one example of how we can stay ahead of the curve in terms of planning,” she adds.

Advanced planning has been instrumental in nursing Airdrie’s growth and the smooth running of the centennial celebrations is a testament on how the community works together to achieve a common end.

“Planning for the centennial party started over three or four years ago, and we were able to secure much of the funding necessary to make it a memorable occasion before the recession hit,” says Airdrie Communications Co-ordinator Tara Richards.

The City spent some $175,000 for the centennial celebrations, a paltry sum considering everything that went on — including the publishing of 242-page centennial book by Anna M. Rebus, free live entertainment and barbecue during the weekend celebrations at Nose Creek and Iron Horse parks, and the Centennial Day fireworks.

“We’ve accomplished a lot with very little. If we hadn’t planned this well ahead, there was simply no way we would have been able to come up with the money for all of these,” Richards says.

“There was strong community support for this endeavor, countless volunteer hours was spent to make it a reality and the celebrations is a testament to everything that makes Airdrie the success it is today,” Bruce adds.

The annual Airdrie Festival of Lights, an independent undertaking by local residents and businesses that adds to the town’s holiday warmth, further evidences this community spirit. It is now the largest free walk-through light display in Western Canada and, now on its 13th year, the festival promises to be even bigger than before.

It seems that although Airdrie has grown by leaps and bounds over the last century, it has never outgrown its small town values and friendliness. “The landscape has changed, the size of the city has changed, but at heart Airdrie will always remain to be that close-knit community where people can live, work and play in peace,” Bruce says. NL