A few months ago we were contacted by The Battle River Rural Electrification Association with the request to prepare a video on the history of the organization. They were celebrating their 60th year at their annual general meeting and wished to have something significant to celebrate the event. Three months later we had travelled many miles, interviewed many people, searched many records, visited several museums, and captured a lot of images.
The result was a 20 minute video that incorporated interviews with original REA members, their stories told by present employees and interviews with present employees. Woven throughout was the history of the organization told in narrative form, supported by historic photographs.
The best part of the project was the actual gathering of the information. The people we met and spent time with truly are examples of the positive advantages of a rural lifestyle. Great Canadians all.
It was also a great privilege to watch the crews at work. Following the wildfires northeast of Edmonton this spring a lot of the farming community was without power. The crews working the area were truly a testament to the organization. Working quietly without wasted motion and not seeming to hurry, they accomplished a great deal in a short period of time. It became immediately apparent that all were well trained professionals, and that all were part of a team that was greater than the individuals. All team members were experts at their jobs, and when a team member needed a hand help was right there without it having to be asked for.
It was also a treat to watch them operating some of the sophisticated equipment that is available today. The early linemen and farmers that installed the lines back in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s would be astonished indeed.
Truly an exceptional organization made up of exceptional people.