In recognition of the first anniversary of the July 1, 2023 tornado that caused widespread property damage north of Didsbury in Mountain View County, the local museum has unveiled a display about historic tornadoes in the district.
Remarkably, the district has experienced several tornadoes on July 1 during the past decades. The Didsbury Museum display includes eye-witness accounts.
On July 1, 1909, a tornado – called a cyclone in those days – occurred outside Didsbury.
“We were on our way to a school picnic the day the cyclone turned Springside School around on its foundation,” reporter Louis B. Holmes wrote after the event.“It tore all the shingles off one side of the school, went across the road, took the roof off a barn, recreated the road and raised a horse about forty feet in the air, took him some distance, and dropped him unharmed.
“It went through Mr. W. Hardy’s yard and took a smokehouse full of meat. When he came home from the picnic there was no meat left for supper.”
On July 1, 1912, another tornado hit the district.
“A cyclone swept through the Springside district, turning the school on its foundations and doing considerable other damage west of town. We could see the twister plainly from our home in Didsbury,” reporter Cecil A.B. Studer wrote after the event.
On July 1, 2016 another tornado hit the district.
Storm chaser Ben Holcomb wrote: “I headed north on Highway 2, then west through Didsbury on Highway 582. I ended up getting west of Didsbury before stopping and realizing the storm was moving faster than I thought. It was also coming at me, so I stopped and set up. It was by far the slowest tornado I’ve ever seen, but because there were no reports of damage, Environment Canada confirmed an EF-0. What a storm, with a great sculptured mesocyclone structure.”
And then there was the July 1, 2023 tornado north of Didsbury, which was witnessed by many people and even filmed by several people.
Didsbury Canada Day event organizer Kathleen Windsor said, “When the emergency alert came through, organizers raced out to save our garden (model) train and moved everyone downstairs to the basement till the ‘all clear’ was sounded. It was very exciting.”
Meanwhile, Mountain View County Reeve Angela Aalbers says the community response to the July 1, 2023 tornado highlights "our community's unwavering resilience and spirit."
'"In the face of nature's fury, Mountain View County has shown remarkable strength as neighbours continue to rebuild their lives and homes," she told the Albertan.
"Out of this tragedy emerged a profound sense of community spirit. From heroic first responders to countless volunteers who rallied together in the aftermath, new bonds were forged amidst the debris."
The second tornado in two years in Mountain View County, with the first being the July 7, 2022 tornado near Bergen, was a catalyst for learning within Mountain View County, she said.
"They highlighted the importance of preparedness and collaboration in responding to large-scale emergencies and the lessons learned from these experiences continue to inform our efforts to safeguard and support our community in times of crisis," she said.
"Today, we honour the perseverance of those impacted and celebrate the bonds that have grown stronger amidst the challenges. Mountain View County stands resilient, guided by the enduring spirit that defines us as Albertans."