Turner Valley, May 14, 1914. The dramatic rush blasting from Calgary Petroleum Product’s Dingman No. 1 well would soon help change the nature of Alberta forever. Here, the discovery of petroleum 100 years ago led to the creation of Alberta’s first natural gas plant, helping start the modern era of oil and gas exploration and processing.
The Turner Valley Gas Plant is a tangible industrial remnant of the development of the Turner Valley Oilfield, western Canada’s first commercial petroleum producer.
The Turner Valley Gas Plant has been open to the public every weekend throughout the summer. The tours will continue throughout September from 10am to 5pm. The site is open Saturdays and Sundays until Alberta Culture Days weekend at the end of September, including Labour Day Monday. Interpretive guides will offer full tours of the gas plant site. While waiting for tours to begin, visitors are encouraged to check out the new displays in the site’s interpretive centre. Admission is by donation.