Alix community opens Lloyd Dahl Memorial Bridge

The Alix village community gathered to open a new bridge dedicated to a volunteer’s efforts and memory while recognizing the hard work of many others. The Lloyd Dahl Memorial Bridge on the Alix Lake Nature Trail was officially opened June 2.

Alix Nature Trail Society President and Mayor of Alix Rob Fehr opened the ceremony near the bridge which is located not far from Lake Street at the southeast corner of Alix Lake.

Fehr noted the bridge was named in honour of the late Dahl, who spent 40 years volunteering on the nature trail and laying the groundwork for a trail some consider one of the best in all of Alberta. An ardent outdoorsman, Dahl advocated for a trail around picturesque Alix Lake and spearheaded efforts to develop the feature.

He also invested sweat equity too as Dahl spent years maintaining the trail.

“He knew every inch of this trail,” said Fehr, who added that Dahl was eager to share his knowledge of the Alix nature trail with others. Fehr noted that Dahl’s legacy lives on whenever someone enjoys the Alix nature trail.

Fehr also wanted to recognize the many volunteers who helped develop the new bridge and who keep the popular trail in tip-top shape all year.

Dahl’s wife, Arlene, cut the ribbon officially opening the new bridge. She said her husband’s deep commitment to a trail which shares Alix Lake’s beauty with everyone was obvious.

“He loved the trail,” said Arlene after the ribbon cutting. “He walked the trail every day.”

She noted that her husband was humble of is achievements yet proud of all the people who helped make the Alix trail a gem. She added that the old bridge was about 40 years old and was built by the provincial government.

Arlene related that even when her husband’s health began to fail, he still did his best to visit the trail every day. It was noted at the ceremony that Dahl was a recipient of the Emerald Award for Environmental Protection.

In a phone interview June 3 Mayor Fehr noted the new bridge project had a budget of about $60,000 and was made possible by grants from the Government of Alberta, the Village of Alix and Lacombe County.

A donation of $2,000 was also made by Rahr Malting representative Ramona Gartner on behalf of the company; the money will be used to cover expenses for the commemorative plaque prominently displayed on the bridge.

He said the new bridge project was truly a community effort, as many people contributed to its completion, noting for example the high school students helped out by installing deck boards.

A key contributor to the new bridge project was trail manager Marc Hougestol who the mayor noted played an important part in bringing the project to fruition.

The Alix Nature Trail is a continuous natural route around virtually the entire circumference of Alix Lake; it’s almost seven km long.

Stu Salkeld
Local Journalism Initiative reporter
ECA Review