"The late Howard Lyttle served on the Rocky Mountaineer board and was instrumental in asking the tough questions we needed asked as we built our plans. I know he would be proud of what has happened today", said Mr. Armstrong. Mr. Lyttle’s wife, Lillian, unveiled the new park sign to the applause of the gathered guests. Once opened, children raced to the new playground area.

Rocky Mountaineer Railtours is a "Hudson Class" sponsor of the West Coast Railway Heritage Park project, and chose to establish the recognition of its support through the naming of these two areas. "Rocky Mountaineer has supported the development of our project from the start", says WCRA’s Executive Director, Mr. Don Evans. "We are delighted to recognize their contribution in this event today and are pleased to be custodian of their corporate archives as part of our centre of railway heritage".

The West Coast Railway Association (incorporated 1961) is a charitable non-profit society and owner of Western Canada’s largest heritage railway collection. The West Coast Railway Heritage Park in Squamish, the WCRA’s major project, is a successful tourist attraction, having seen 200,000 guests since first opening in 1994. Thanks to supporters such as Rocky Mountaineer, the WCRA has raised and invested over $3 million at the Heritage Park and has generated an economic impact of over $8 million in the last ten years through its activities.

Rocky Mountaineer Railtours’ two-day, all-daylight rail journey travels between the coastal city of Vancouver, British Columbia, and the Rocky Mountain destinations of Jasper or Banff and Calgary, Alberta. During its regular season schedule from mid-April to mid-October, there are more than 50 package tours ranging from two to 17 days. Additionally, during the holiday season, there are six departures featuring winter rail vacations. Headquartered in Vancouver, Rocky Mountaineer Railtours is the largest private passenger rail company in North America with sales representation in 18 countries and over 400 employees."

So read the press release covering a great event for the WCRA and Rocky Mountaineer Railtours, held Thursday, May 15 at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park. It was a gala day in every regard, with a great helping of volunteers, staff and contractors all pitching in to make what many have called our best event ever at the Park.. It was the culmination of several months of hard work.

The day got off to an early start, with several of us arriving at the site before 0730 to prepare for the first event of the day, Rocky Mountaineer Railtours’ board of directors meeting. We checked out the banner (page 22) hung at the entry to Squamish welcoming our guests for the day. The meeting was held in the meeting room of the station at the Heritage Park, and was scheduled to take most of the morning. Emily Hembroff, Peter Armstrong’s Executive assistant, arrived early too and noted that everything seemed to be in hand. The Howe Sound Inn & Brew Pub people were also hard at work, providing a hot breakfast for the meeting. The meeting participants arrived by private vehicle as well as aboard two Gray Line chartered buses. Once they were ensconced in their meeting and looked after, work got to prepare for the onslaught of the crowd for the major function, the ceremonies planned for 1230.

While Sherry Elchuk and staff completed the decorations of the Heritage Park with bunting, balloons and other special décor, Don Evans worked to organize the volunteers who would handle everything from the parking to the mini rail to guest tours to interpretation and guest guiding around the site. Bunting installation was completed on the bridge entering the Heritage Park, along the fence into the station and around the Silver Fox Station, which would serve as the "stage" for the ceremonies. The podium and sound system were put in place and tested. Glen Wideman and helpers placed the new station sign and shrouded it, all was ready.

Meanwhile, over at the tent, the Howe Sound Inn staff were busy setting up the food tables and bar area for the private reception that would follow the formalities, and a special rented plastic pathway was laid in place to make the walking easier for the guests. In the tent was Gordon Hall’s panoramic photo of the Rocky Mountaineer in the canyon. Tables and chairs were set up, with floral centrepieces created by Donna Fourchalk of live plants that would later be planted in the Heritage Park’s gardens.

At 1100 hours the parking volunteers got to work, and the lot started to fill around 1145. By 1215 it was pretty much full, and the invited guests who chose not to drive arrived aboard two Rocky Mountaineer coaches. It was getting busy!

The board meeting concluded and everyone came outside—just as the rain showers that had persisted throughout the morning chose to stop! Everything was going to be ok, and the crowd assembled in the town centre area from the station porch to the Beanery patio and in the open area. Don Evans called the event to order at 1235, and welcomed everyone to the West Coast Railway Heritage Park. He then turned the mike over to Councillor Ray Peters, who had the official duties of welcoming our guests on behalf of the District of Squamish.

Rocky Mountaineer Railtours President & CEO, Peter Armstrong, then took over, and started the real event. He talked about the company’s support of the Heritage Park and the opportunity to recognize a special individual today. He called Mac Norris up to help, and outline the role of Rocky Mountaineer director (and former CPR executive) Howard Lyttle. Howard had passed away last year, and the company had chosen to honour his contribution through the naming of the park area at the Heritage Park.

Howard’s widow, Lillian, was then escorted over to the covered park sign, and she removed the cover to reveal the sign "Howard Lyttle Park". As she removed the covers, there was a blast from the air horns of CPR FP7A #4069 (thanks to Dave Thethi) and the covers were removed from the new children’s playground train by members of the Squamish Lions Club. Children were then released and rushed to try out the new plaything. It was a hit!

Peter then returned to the podium and asked Mac Norris not to leave too quickly. He then proceeded to talk about Mac’s career with Canadian Pacific, Pacific Great Eastern / BC Rail and now with Rocky Mountaineer—a true lifetime of railroading. What Mac didn’t know (although everyone else did), was that he was being honoured as well. Mac had been there for the board meeting and as part of the plan to honour Howard, everyone else had been asked to keep other things quiet from Mac, and it had worked. Even all the printed invitations that Emily sent out had a "secret" card in them!

After talking about Mac’s career and accomplishments, the party moved towards the front of the station building. The crowd looked towards the station. With Mac in position to see the front of the station, the horns on 4069 sounded again, and the cover of the sign "Mac Norris Station" fell away to the cheers of the audience. The look on Mac’s face was priceless! Mac’s wife and family were now present, making it a very special occasion for a very special gentleman railroader. Mac responded with a lovely speech, unprepared and off the cuff, noting his appreciation and his considerable respect for the Heritage Park project. He noted he was deeply honoured to be recognized as he had been today.

The crowd now moved on towards the private reception area, and enjoyed a wonderful spread by Dave Fenn’s Howe Sound Inn—great food, fine beverages and all—and lots of it. Bob Spencer and John Fitzpatrick conducted short tours of the exhibit train, many guests also visited the Royal Hudson cab, and the British Columbia. Bernie Tully even managed to get the board of directors over to Sweet Apple on the mini rail for a group photo!

The planned hour stay turned into an easy hour and a half before anyone was ready to head back to Vancouver, then the guests boarded the buses or started for their cars and, by 1500 hours, things were getting back to normal—just another public day at the Heritage Park. Marg Hope & Carl Vanderspek got a few runs in on the mini rail line with the speeder and little train (and a pedal speeder) that they had brought up with them, and some of the rest of us also joined in on the fun. Lots of clean up went on. At then end of the day we had a total of 492 guests on that special Thursday—a day well worth while and appreciated by everyone who was there.

We need to thank everyone who was involved—all our staff who pitched in with whatever needed to be done, our contractors who included the Howe Sound Inn, Insight Sign Group, Squamish Garden Shop, and the Rental Network Ltd. A special thanks to our volunteers, who included Vivian Downing, John & Beth Fitzpatrick, Bill Hales, Gordon Hall, Marg Hope and Carl Vanderspek, Harold Holtby, Bill Lahr, John & Faye Lighthall, Henry Reimer, Gayle Roberts, Paul & Mary Roy, Bob Spencer, Ralph & Sue Towsley, and Bernie Tully.