Friday letters: Edmonton's Imperial Oil refinery opened 70 years ago
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July 17 marks the 70th anniversary of the official opening of the original Imperial Oil refinery east of Edmonton, on what is now Imperial’s Strathcona refinery.
After discovering oil in the Leduc field Feb.13, 1947, Imperial decided a refinery was needed in the Edmonton area. The original 360-acre site was purchased in the District of Clover Bar, now Strathcona County.
There was a severe shortage of steel and other materials after the Second World War, so building a plant from scratch would have taken several years. But Imperial was able to buy a surplus refinery built for wartime use in Whitehorse from the American government for $1 million. During the winter of 1947-48, it was dismantled and moved 2,170 kilometres to Edmonton by water, rail and road, and reassembled on site. This allowed Imperial to be the first refinery to supply local markets.
A few components of the original refinery are still in use, but most were replaced by the construction of the Strathcona refinery in 1975.
Larry Pope
Sherwood Park
Bravo for Thailand cave rescuers
What a marvellous example of what the International community can achieve when it joins forces across cultural divides to save lives. The “grandeur of the human spirit” was apparent in the immediate, spontaneous response. Kudos to those who risked their lives in this successful mission, including the diver who died in the attempt.
Ike Glick
Edmonton
Edmonton ignoring basic services
Re. “Glenora residents are hardly elitist,” “Royal Alex entry a giant ashtray,” “Parks landscape poorly conceived,” Letters, July 11
After reading these letters, I now see clearly that basic services are no longer required in our city. The mandate to provide services and maintain them properly is not reflected by our high property tax increases. The mayor and his council want the tourists, the money and the glory, but have no regard for the citizens.
Judy Petryk
Edmonton
Respect the Queen, Mr. President
After disrespecting other leaders of the world other than Russian President Vladimir Putin, will U.S. President Donald Trump disrespect the Queen? I hope his advisers can advise him to conform to protocol. This means no folding arms, pushing, smirking, or ranting on about what he believes he has achieved.
Barton Whyte
Sherwood Park
LGBTQ rights vs. religious freedom
LGBTQ rights versus the constitutionally protected right to worship without interference is an ongoing debate.
Recently, the Supreme Court of Canada supported the Law Society of B.C.’s right to deny accreditation to a planned law school at the evangelically based Trinity Western University, where a “community covenant,” binds students to a code of conduct that includes abstinence from sex outside heterosexual marriage.
Meanwhile, an Alberta court dismissed a call to suspend a provincial law supporting high school gay-straight alliances, which provide a safe place to meet and talk about issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity.
What’s at stake is the safety and emotional well-being of tens of thousands of young people across Canada. The issue isn’t whose rights take precedence. With the emotional health of some of this country’s most vulnerable youth at risk, what can responsible adults do regardless of religious persuasion to safeguard their safety and well-being?
Chris Gudgeon, executive director, It Gets Better Canada
Toronto
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