ST. PAUL - The St. Paul UFO landing pad made it into the pages of the Alberta Motor Association’s monthly magazine for August, giving AMA members from across the province a cosmic taste of northeastern Alberta.
While the landmark may be just another part of the landscape for many Lakeland residents who travel the area regularly, Rebekah Hatch, Town of St. Paul Tourism Centre attendant, says the space-themed attraction draws at least 20 tourists a day, during the summer, from different places.
“Many of the tourists travel from Edmonton, but we also so many from many surrounding areas, even people from B.C. or Saskatchewan come to see what the landing pad is all about,” Hatch told Lakeland This Week.
While at the landing pad, many of these curious visitors also check out the adjacent tourism centre, which is home to various pieces of art such as pottery and paintings made by local artisans. Visitors can also go away with souvenirs of their experience like postcards, mugs, and other items. The information centre also displays UFO findings, stories and photos. Some people also like to pose for selfies with the on-site alien statues.
In addition to exploring and asking questions about the landing pad, people also learn about its history.
As Hatch explains, in honour of Canada’s 1967 centennial year, a proposal was made to build what would be the world’s first UFO landing pad as a landmark for the Town of St. Paul. It was intended as a permanent way to show the community was welcoming to everyone. The one-of-a-kind project received federal funding and during the grand opening on June 3, 1967, St. Paul was declared the Centennial Capital of Canada.
The UFO information centre next to the landing pad opened in 1990.
Long distance visitors
Since 1967 tens of thousands of visitors have visited the site, which includes a lot of people from the regional and provincial area, many from across Canada, and even some from other countries, but – as far as they know – none have been from another world.
On the off chance that travellers from a galaxy far, far away did happen to use the pad for its quirky purpose, what would happen?
“It is unknown if a (UFO) has actually landed, and I am unsure if there are protocols in place if one did land today,” Hatch said, with a laugh.
One long-standing adage shared by many in the community is that if a UFO were to touch down, they would be welcomed with perogies, garlic sausage and pea soup.
As far as alien sightings are concerned, Hatch said there are many areas across Alberta that receive reports of unexplained phenomena, such as Cold Lake, Lac La Biche, Fort McMurray, Viking, and Jasper.
The landing pad, she continued, helps greatly in putting St. Paul on the figurative map... and the celestial one.
As to what continues to draw folks to this long-running attraction, Hatch says the reasons are varied, including some with a curiosity in beings from outer space, while others simply have a desire to view something most people do not see every day.
“Lots of people are interested in extra-terrestrial life, some just like the history... and some are just interested in collecting quirky little trinkets," she said.
