INNISFAIL — For the first time in more than a decade there is a big clock ticking in the downtown core.
At 11:45 a.m. on July 9, the new towering 14-foot tall Downtown Clock on the west side of the ATB building at Bankers Corner was installed and ticking.
"It is ticking now, as of 11:45 a.m. It's operating and has the right time," said Steven Kennedy, the town's director of operational services.
The last community downtown clock was on the upper front facade of the historic Berscht building on the southwest corner of 50th Street and 50th Avenue. The clock along with the entire Berscht building was destroyed in a 2009 fire.
However, the community, led by Debra Stoski, the former president of the now dissolved Innisfail Downtown Business Association (DBA), made the new downtown clock project happen.
"We have a number of guys chipping in, which is fantastic," said Kennedy of the many volunteers who supported the Downtown Clock project.
However, he noted the downtown clock and its included amenities are not quite complete. Kennedy said the clock's planter box, made by Collins Concrete & Bobcat, was also installed around the clock but there is still more work to be done with it.
He said a composite board, four-sided bench will be strapped to the outside of the planter. Kennedy said flowers will be added to the planter box. Plaques will also be mounted to the clock to salute citizens and businesses who contributed to the project. He said last week the clock should be fully complete by Aug. 1.
It was almost 21 months ago when Stoski brought an idea to town council that would restore a community clock for the downtown. The DBA was dissolving and would fold with $12,000 in the bank that was collected from various DBA-sponsored community events. Stoski wanted that money to go to a project that would benefit everyone in the community.
Last year, town agreed that Stoski's plan was a good one and approved the community clock project for Bankers Corner. The total cost of the project was $35,000, with the town's share at $17,000, and the Rotary Club of Innisfail contributing $6,000.
She noted there was some discontent in the community that the DBA did not put its savings into other local projects, such as the new skatepark. However, she stands by the choice she made, as it is a gift to the entire community, no matter what age goup any citizen is in.
"It doesn't matter how old your are it is for everybody. It doesn't just go to the seniors. It doesn't just go to the skateboard park. We needed something that would cover everybody. Also the tourism, as people come in, it's really nice to see a town clock," said Stoski, noting the valuable contributions to the project from Central Alberta Co-Op, Jackson's Pharmasave, and the Gift Loft. "It's an attraction also for people who are not from Innisfail. So we've hit every age group. That is why we picked it."
