Discovery leading to first western Canadian commercial oilfield celebrated at Turner Valley

News Release
Discovery leading to first western Canadian commercial oilfield celebrated at Turner Valley
*The rumble that preceded the gush of oil and gas as the Dingman #1 well “came in” May 14, 1914, echoes today as events marking the 100th anniversary of the discovery take place in Turner Valley.

“The discovery of the oilfield at Turner Valley was a transformative moment that changed the industrial and economic face of Alberta forever and helped to mould the culture of our province. As Albertans, we are the stewards of the legacy left to us by those who risked all they had on a dream. It is up to us to ensure that this legacy is shared and understood by the generations of Albertans to come.”
Heather Klimchuk, Minister of Culture

More than 900 students from area schools along with visitors from across the region, industry stakeholders and officials from all levels of government join in public celebrations of the Dingman Discovery centennial at the Turner Valley Gas Plant provincial historic site.

Built to handle the production from the Turner Valley field, the historic gas plant was the first natural gas processing facility in western Canada and is a reminder of the development of the Turner Valley Oilfield, western Canada’s first commercial petroleum producing field.

The Government of Alberta acquired the Turner Valley Gas Plant from Western Decalta Petroleum Limited in 1988 and designated the site a Provincial Historic Resource in 1989.

The site was also designated a National Historic Site in 1995.

Alberta Culture is working with community and industry stakeholders to develop the site for heritage interpretation and tourism. The first phase of development, that includes rehabilitation and restoration of the laboratory and office building, will begin later this spring.

Under the Building Alberta Plan, our government is investing in families and communities, living within our means, and opening new markets for Alberta’s resources to ensure we’re able to fund the services Albertans told us matter most to them. We will continue to deliver the responsible change for which Albertans voted for.