The little town with a big, rich history is 100.
    Big Valley will be celebrating its centennial this August 1 - 3 over the August long weekend.
    The town’s history in ranching and farming runs deep, as do its ties to the railroad.  There was coal mining in the area until the 1950s, and the area also has a history with oil and gas development.
    The town is combining its five year homecoming event with the centennial celebrations.
    Big Valley Mayor Gail Knudson said homecoming welcomes anyone with a connection to the village. Her estimate is that at least 450 invitations were sent out by the homecoming committee for this year.
    Knudson said the village has planned a weekend full of events and entertainment for all ages.

The Village of Big Valley, celebrating its centennial this year, received the designation of Provincial Historic Resource for its grain elevator in 2013. The elevator was built in 1960 and remained in use until 1998.

    The events are taking place in Big Valley’s downtown.
    “There’s basically something for everyone. Everybody’s  been working really hard,” said Knudson.  “Gun shows to a penny carnival to a geocache treasure hunt and a concert on Sunday night.”
    There’s also a parade on Saturday morning at 10 a.m, and the opening ceremonies for the celebrations take place immediately following.
    There will be a display of fireworks on Saturday night, and service groups will be providing meals over the weekend.
    “It’s coming together really nicely,” said Knudson.
    Everyone has volunteered in some way, she said, and the homecoming committee, town staff and Friends of the Library have worked hard to make the event happen.
    Knudson said it’s also the 25th year the railway excursions have been coming into Big Valley from Stettler.
    The railway station in Big Valley is the original station built in 1912, and there are still remains of the local rail yards and former roundhouse.

The reigning champion of the Community Futures Dinosaur Valley Half Marathon now has a chance to represent Canada in an ultra marathon championship.
    Justin Kurek has a connection to the area, not just through his running but he is also married to Audrey Kurek, nee Trentham.
    On Sunday June 1, he ran in his first 50 kilometer ultra marathon. This was a special event to mark the Scotiabank Calgary Marathon’s 50th anniversary.
    For his first ultra, he did pretty good…very good… he won.

Audrey Kurek, nee Trentham, and Justin Kurek at the finish line of the Calgary Marathon. Justin won the 50 kilometer ultra race and qualified for an international championship in Qatar in October.

    “Sunday was my first ultra, I am mostly a marathon kind of guy and did the 50K out of it being a special anniversary in town and a unique opportunity to have a 50K road race, and I decided I just had to do it,” he told The Mail.
       It was more than just a special event, the 50K run doubled as the National 50K Road Race Championship.    
    “It is a part of a series of 18 races between 2013 and 2014. What they do is take the winner of each race and the fastest times and invite the athletes to Qatar for what he calls the World Trophy Final,” he explains.
    “I don’t have all the details, but I imagine I qualified and I should be there in October.”
    Until now, he has mostly competed in North America.
    “I have competed throughout the United States, whether it be half marathons or marathons,” he said.
    Some of the most notable include the Boston Marathon. Last November he took on the Strip at Night Marathon in Las Vegas and finished third. He was the first Canadian to the podium in the race.
     He is not sure what path his training will take him preparing for the race in Qatar, but if he is able, he will attend the Dinosaur Half again.
    “If nothing else, I would love to come out and run the half marathon again and be a part of the community race, it is such a great opportunity and event.”
    To mark the fifth anniversary of the Drumheller road race, It is hosting a full marathon, along with its 5K, 10k and half marathon offerings on Sunday September 14. Already there are close 10 entries in the “big one.”