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Qualicum Beach Train Station celebrates 100th anniversary

Hundreds of residents celebrate 'A big part of our community'
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Sisters Jessica and Erin Buik of Coombs take a ride on the hand-pump car which drove up and down the railway in Qualicum Beach on Saturday during the Train Station’s 100th anniversary celebrations. For more on the train station and the celebrations

The Qualicum Beach Train Station's centennial celebration brought out hundreds of visitors and residents Saturday for an event which focused on the town's rich history.

Of the many activities and events, there was a 1914 fashion show by the Port Alberni Centennial Belles, free rides for kids on hand-pump cars and 1950s style fairmont speeders, a cake cutting, live music and a beautiful exhibit commemorating the train station hosted at the Qualicum Beach museum. Many came out to celebrate the train station's 100th birthday, including historian Wendy Shaw, who helped plan the event.

"It's awesome," said Shaw of the anniversary's success. "It's just really nice to recognize yesterday."

Shaw said the restoration of the Qualicum Beach Train Station wouldn't have been possible without the help of volunteers, who donated countless hours to preserving the historic site.

"It (the train station) is part of the history and heritage of Qualicum Beach," she said. "It's a big part of our community."

The Port Alberni Industrial Heritage Society and the Canadian Railroad Historical Society also supported the event bringing up items that were featured in the Expo '67 in Montreal such as a bright red restored logging truck.

For more history about the train station, see page A39. For more photos from the event Saturday, visit our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/PQBNews.