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The Rotary Club Polio Eradication Time capsule was buried in 2005 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Alberta and 75th Anniversary of the Rotary Club of Red Deer. It contained momentos of events and people that played an integral role in our history. Former Club President Dick McDonnell was on hand for its burial in 2005 and again in 2026. What a tale this capsule will tell when it is opened in 2055!
On Tuesday, September 22, 2026,a 20-year loop was quietly closed with little fanfare. But for the small group gathered outside the Don Moore Recreation Centre, the moment felt special—a sense of closure, and of looking forward to the future. Until 2055, that is, when the Rotary Club Polio Eradication Time Capsule will be unearthed once again. Dr. Robert Lampard, along with his Rotary Club colleagues, Dick and Diane McDonell, gathered with about 10 City staff to rebury a time capsule that was originally placed in 2005. The capsule was part of a celebration of the Red Deer Rotary Club’s 75th anniversary and a commemoration of Rotary’s efforts toward the global eradication of polio.
The original capsule was buried beside Reaching Out, the bronze “Ghost” sculpture that stands in front of the Don More Recreation Centre by artist Eldon Neufeld. Created to commemorate the devastating effects of polio and Rotary’s commitment to its eradication, the sculpture depicts a young girl wearing a leg brace, with her brother reaching out to help her. Rotary has played a significant role in the global effort to eradicate polio. Since the organization began its involvement in the 1980s, the number of polio cases worldwide has been reduced by more than 99.9 %, with Rotary helping fund vaccinations for more than two billion children.
In 2006, the Recreation Centre underwent renovations, and both the sculpture and time capsule were temporarily removed. Unfortunately, the original capsule was damaged during excavation. It was stored while the renovations were completed, but the unmarked, damaged canister was later assumed to be waste during the move and inadvertently disposed of.
While the loss was disappointing, Dr. Lampard saw an opportunity in the mishap. With more time to gather items, he began recreating the capsule—and this time, he made it even better. Over the years, he collected new items to tell the story of Rotary, Red Deer and the community at this particular moment in time. Of note are the letters from former mayors Ken Johnston and Gail Surkan, along with current major, Cindy Jeffries. All 3 are current members of the Rotary club. On a beautiful fall afternoon, those memories were finally sealed away again.
The new capsule now rests beside Reaching Out, where it will remain until 2055, when it is scheduled to be opened as part of the Red Deer Rotary Club’s 150th anniversary. A small silver plaque south of the sculpture marks the location. The City is also using GIS technology to record the locations and opening dates of time capsules throughout the community, helping ensure that these little pieces of Red Deer’s history aren’t forgotten or lost again.
For now, the capsule is quiet beneath the ground. But in 2055, another generation of Red Deerians will have the chance to open it, discover what their predecessors chose to preserve, and see a little piece of the community that came before them.
Article written by Jamie McGillicky and can be found on the City of Red Deer's “We Are Red Deer” community stories page on its website.