Next Tuesday the Rosebud Gas Co-op has a lot to celebrate. Not only are they celebrating the grand opening of their new building, but also 40 years of business. This also coincides with the International Year of Co-operatives.
On Tuesday, July 17 members are invited for lunch, refreshments and a short program to mark the occasion.
About 40 years ago the life of rural residents was very different. While many urban centres had made the transition from heating with coal to gas, the luxury wasn’t available to farmers.
Rosebud Gas Co-op manager Carol Callaghan explained that across the province little groups of farmers got together and decided they wanted natural gas to their homes
“ATCO gas was installing into the small hamlets and towns, but the cost of putting it into individual farms was too high. So the farmers got together and formed their own little gas co-ops,” said Callaghan.
By 1970, 25 gas co-ops were established across Alberta. By 1973 the province introduced the Rural Gas Act to encourage more gas co-ops. The government helped out with capital and technical assistance. Alberta Gas was then set up to act as a broker to buy gas, pool the costs and resell it to individual co-ops.
“Most of these co-ops have survived and now in the 35 to 40-year-old range,” said Callaghan.
Today the Rosebud Gas Co-op has over 1,000 members and its franchise area stretches from Lyalta on the west, to east of Highway 56. It goes north to Drumheller and south to the Standard area. It amalgamated with Dalum and Wintering Hills in 2009.
Rosebud Gas Co-op has recently began its involvement in rural broadband Internet market as well. It is a shareholder of CCI Wireless.
It’s the same theory, trying to get good quality broadband to all rural points in Alberta,” said Callaghan.
“It started out as an operation on a kitchen table at one of the director’s home,” said Callaghan of the Rosebud Gas Co-op. The office moved to a small trailer office outside of Rockyford, and then the trailer was moved into Rockyford. They have now been in their new building since February and have planned the grand opening for Tuesday.
The Rosebud Gas Co-op will be hosting an open house with lunch and refreshments from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. A short program will take place at 2 p.m.
