120th anniversary of Frank Slide – April 29: Commemoration ceremony, reception and special presentation
April 29 is the 120th anniversary of the massive rockslide from Turtle Mountain that buried part of the community of Frank and killed most of the 100 people in its path.
To mark this tragic event, the Crowsnest Heritage Initiative Society in cooperation with the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre will host a commemorative memorial service and wreath laying starting at 1:00 PM at the gravesite along the old Frank Road.
This will be followed by a programme at the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre, starting at 2:00 PM which will include dignitary remarks, a presentation by Frank Slide Interpretive Centre staff and a reception.
Throughout the day, award-winning audio-visual presentations recounting the fateful events of the Frank Slide and its aftermath will be shown in the theatre.
The public is invited to attend the Memorial Service at the gravesite and the Programme and reception to follow at the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre.
Operated by Alberta Culture, the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre is located 1.5 kilometres off Highway 3 in the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass and is open daily.
For more information about the Frank Slide visit www.frankslide.org or visit www.crowsnestheritage.ca Backgrounder
On April 29, 1903, 110 million tonnes of limestone crashed from the summit of Turtle Mountain and buried part of the sleeping town of Frank.
The rock mass that fell was 150 metres deep, 425 metres high and one kilometre wide. The bustling town of Frank was home to approximately 600 people in 1903.
Approximately 90 of the roughly 110 individuals who lived in the path of the slide were killed.
The primary cause of the Frank Slide was the mountain’s unstable geological structure. Underground coal mining, water action in summit cracks and unusual weather conditions also contributed to the disaster.
Saturday, April 29, 2023
1:00 - 1:45 p.m. - Frank Slide Memorial - Old Frank Road Wreath Laying and Memorial Service
2:00 - 3:30 p.m. – Frank Slide Interpretive Centre Dignitaries’ Greetings, Presentation and Reception