Summary information
| Repository: | South Peace Regional Archives |
| Title: | Grande Prairie Hot Air Balloon Events Association fonds |
| Reference code: | 0263 |
| Date: | 1979-2003 (date of creation) |
| Physical description: | 55 cm textual records
20 photographs 1 slide 1 map |
| Dates of creation, revision and deletion: | Processed by Mary Nutting December 2006 Added to new database December 2025 – TD |
Administrative history / Biographical sketch
In 1979, the Grande Prairie Chamber of Commerce hosted the Canadian Hot Air Balloon Championships in Grande Prairie for the first time, and the public was hooked. The next January, the Grande Prairie Hot Air Balloon Events Assoc. was formed. Their mission was “to provide the best opportunities for people to learn, observe, socialize, and/or participate in the exciting and unique sport of Hot Air Ballooning and to make Grande Prairie the Hot Air Balloon capital of Canada and the World.”
With this mission in mind, the Association and hundreds of volunteers began an enthusiastic program of events. They hosted the Canadian National Hot Air Balloon Championships for the next two years (1980 and 1981) and again in 1983. They worked closely with the Trumpeter Swan Balloon Club, holding the 1980 event in conjunction with Alberta’s 75th Anniversary. In 1983 they began a bid for the World Hot Air Balloon Championships but withdrew in favour of Paris, where ballooning had begun exactly 200 years earlier. They then made a serious bid for the 1985 World Hot Air Balloon Championship, but it was not successful. At the same time they organized the 1984 North American Championships in Grande Prairie.
In 1989 and 1992 the Association again hosted the Canadian Nationals, and in 1986, 1993, and 1998 the Alberta Championships. With dwindling volunteers the organization turned its attention to small local events in conjunction with the Trumpeter Swan Balloon Club, and in 1996 the club and association amalgamated under the Events Association. With the merger came the Club’s Hot Air Balloon, “The Spirit of Grande Prairie.” About this time, the association found that doing smaller events not sanctioned by the Canadian Balloon Society and tying in with other community groups and activities garnered more interest in the sport of ballooning, as well as being more fun and less expensive. Although they would host the Canadian Nationals again in 2002, the large events were not pursued with the same energy. Taking their place were community events such as the RCMP Anniversary Balloon, the Sunrise Festival, the Canada Day Parade and Evening Night Glow, and the Sports Expo.
Custodial history
The records were deposited in South Peace Regional Archives in 2004 by a representative of the Association, Pat Tebbutt.
Scope and content
The fonds consists of the records of the Grande Prairie Hot Air Balloon Events Association, including minutes of executive and annual meetings, financial statements, and society returns; files relating to the major events; photographs and posters advertising the events; financial records of the association; and communications from associated organizations.
Notes
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title of fonds based on contents.
Access points
- Textual record (documentary form)
- Graphic material – photograph (documentary form)
- Graphic material (documentary form)
- Cartographic material (documentary form)
- Sports, recreation and leisure (subject)
- Organizations (subject)
Table of contents
0263.01, Executive Records, 1979-1992
0263.02, Event Files, 1979-2003
0263.03, Financial Records, 1980-1992
0263.04, Associated Organizations, 1979-2001
0263.05, News Clippings, 1981-2001
Series descriptions
| Series 0263.01: Executive Records
Date: 1979-1992 (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of the executive records of the Grande Prairie Hot Air Balloon Events Association, including the minutes of executive meetings, minutes from annual meetings, and the Society Returns submitted to Alberta Community Development each year. There is also a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation and the bylaws of the organization. Physical description: 13 cm textual records Access points: • Textual record (documentary form) Publication status: Published |
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| Series 0263.02: Event Files
Date: 1979-2003 (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of files for each event: the 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1989, and 1992 Canadian Nationals; the 1984 North American Championships; the 1986, 1993, and 1998 Alberta Championships; as well as smaller events such as the Sunrise Festival. The 1979, 1980, 1984, 1989, and 1992 files contain photographs of the balloons and their pilots, and there are oversized posters advertising the 1981, 1984, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1998, and 2001 events. There are two files regarding bids for the 1983 and 1985 World Championships which were not successful, and a map used to plot the flights. Files contain correspondence, event reports, and information on the balloons, pilots, and their standings in the event. Also included is a map in six pieces showing landing sites from Smoky Heights to Wembley. There are also 16 Hot Air Balloon Championship posters and one felt flag. Physical description: 24 cm textual records 36 photographs 1 slide 1 map Access points: • Graphic material (documentary form) • Cartographic material (documentary form) • Textual record (documentary form) • Graphic material – photograph (documentary form) Publication status: Published |
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| File / item list | |||
| Reference code | Title | Dates | Physical description |
| 0263.02.01 | Item – The Spirit of Grande Prairie | 1989 | 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in. |
| Scope and content:
“The Spirit of Grande Prairie”, owned by the Trumpeter Swan Balloon Club and later by the Grande Prairie Hot Air Balloon Events Association, flew in many Provincial and National Hot Air Balloon Championships. |
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| 0263.02.02 A-F | Item – Sites Used By Hot Air Balloons Department of Energy, Mines and Resources |
1986 | 6 maps |
| Scope and content:
A contour map in six pieces including Smoky Heights, Debolt, Sexsmith, La Glace, Wembley, and Grande Prairie. |
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| 0263.02.03 | Item – Walk on Air | 1993 | 1 poster |
| Scope and content:
Poster from the 1993 Alberta Hot Air Balloon Championships held in Grande Prairie |
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| 0263.02.04 | Item – Sunrise | 1998 | 1 poster |
| Scope and content:
Event poster for the 1998 Hot Air Balloon Festival and Alberta Championships held in Grande Prairie. |
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| 0263.02.05 | Item – Alberta Hot Air Balloon Championships | 2001 | 1 poster |
| Scope and content:
Poster for the 2001 Alberta Hot Air Balloon Championships held in Grande Prairie. |
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| 0263.02.06 | Item – Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Festival | 1997 | 1 poster |
| Scope and content:
Event poster for the 1997 Hot Air Balloon Festival held in Grande Prairie. |
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| 0263.02.07 | Item – Canadian Hot Air Balloon Championship | 1981 | 1 poster : 18 x 24 in. |
| Scope and content:
Event poster for the 1981 Canadian Hot Air Balloon Championship held in Grande Prairie. |
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| 0263.02.08 | Item – North American Hot Air Balloon Championship | 1984 | 1 poster : 18 x 24 in. |
| Scope and content:
Event poster for the 1984 North American Hot Air Balloon Championship held in Grande Prairie. |
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| 0263.02.09 | Item – “Take a Grande Prairie Break” and Hot Air Balloon Championship | 1986 | 1 poster : 17 x 22 in. |
| Scope and content:
Double sided poster. One side says “Take a Grande Prairie Break” and shows events taking place in Grande Prairie during the summer. The other side is advertising for the 1986 Alberta Hot Air Balloon Championship held in Grande Prairie. |
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| 0263.02.10 | Item – 10th Anniversary Canadian Hot Air Balloon Championships | 1989 | 1 poster : 15.5 x 23.5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Event poster for the 10th Anniversary Canadian Hot Air Balloon Championship held in Grande Prairie. |
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| 0263.02.11 | Item – Alberta Hot Air Balloon Championships | 1990 | 1 poster : 24 x 16.5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Poster for the 2001 Alberta Hot Air Balloon Championships held in Grande Prairie. |
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| 0263.02.12 | Item – Pacific Hot Air Balloon Championships | 1992 | 1 poster : 17 x 22 in. |
| Scope and content:
Poster for the 1992 Pacific Hot Air Balloon Championships. |
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| 0263.02.1979-1 | Item – Canadian National Hot Air Balloon Championships pennant | 1979 | 1 pennant |
| Scope and content:
Felt pennant for the 1979 Canadian National Hot Air Balloon Championships held in Grande Prairie. |
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| 0263.02.1984-1 | Item – Oscar Blais Paquin Photographs |
1984 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 5 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
Portrait of Oscar Blais, mayor of Grande Prairie. |
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| 0263.02.1984-2 | Item – William Houseman | 1984 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 2.5 x 3.5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Portrait of William Houseman, reeve of the County of Grande Prairie. |
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| Series 0263.03: Financial Records
Date: 1980-1992 (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of the financial records of the Grande Prairie Hot Air Balloon Events Association: financial statements from 1980 to 1989; four ledgers with general accounts from 1980-1992; and licensing and accounting for the bingos which provided the funding for the Association. Physical description: 10 cm textual records Access points: • Textual record (documentary form) Publication status: Published |
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| Series 0263.04: Associated Organizations
Date: 1979-2001 (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of material from organizations with which the Grande Prairie Hot Air Balloon Events Association was affiliated: a 1986 proposal for a Hot Air Balloon Park in the County of Grande Prairie; newsletters from the Alberta Free Balloonists from 1984 to 1998; and some information from Transport Canada, the Canadian Balloon Association, and the Federation Aeronautique Internationale. Physical description: 7 cm textual records Access points: • Textual record (documentary form) Publication status: Published |
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| Series 0263.05: News Clippings
Date: 1981-2001 (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of magazines and news clippings regarding Hot Air Balloon Events in Grande Prairie between 1981 and 2001. Physical description: 1 cm textual records Access points: • Textual record (documentary form) Publication status: Published |
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