The Rover Hut , a former Scout Hut on 47 Ave. in Red Deer. (rdnewsNOW / Sheldon Spackman)

By Sheldon Spackman

Scouting History

Future uncertain for Red Deer’s Rover Hut

Jun 3, 2020 | 1:43 PM

The future of Red Deer’s Rover Cabin, the rustic former scout hut in the city’s downtown, remains uncertain for now.

In January, officials with the Central Alberta Women’s Emergency Shelter (CAWES) announced plans to potentially expand their 47 Avenue facility to the north of their current location on City-owned lands where Rover Cabin still stands.

Before any expansion can proceed, however, rezoning of the land would need to take place first. A virtual public hearing to consider that rezoning is scheduled for June 24 at 1:30 p.m.

Although City officials don’t anticipate any direct impact on the cabin should the land be rezoned, there are those in the community that would like to see its future ensured.

Preston Parks is a long-time resident of Red Deer and a former scout himself. With strong family ties to the local scouting community over several generations, the 87-year-old says he would like to see it moved if it’s unable to stay where it is.

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“There’s a plot of land between the Golden Circle and the museum,” says Parks. “That’s City property. I would like to see that building moved to there.”

Parks, whose grandparents settled in Red Deer in 1900, suggests the City should consider moving the log cabin there, and preserving it next to the Red Deer Museum and Art Gallery (MAG).

“My dad was a boy scout in Red Deer in 1921,” recalls Parks. “I was a scout in the 40’s, my two sons are both Queen’s Scouts. It’s a part of history, it’s a museum piece.”

Red Deer’s Rover Cabin and local scouts have a long and storied history in the community.

City councillor and local historian Michael Dawe, says the cabin was built in 1937 and used by the local Boy Scouts for 70 years.

However, according to Dawe, in the mid-2000’s, contractors used the hut for Christmas tree sales and offered hot chocolate and other Christmas goodies as part of the seasonal sale which was only for a few weeks until Christmas. Otherwise, he says the hut has only been used by the Scouts.

“The last use of the hall was at Christmas 2007,” says Dawe. “My personal opinion is that it does have historical value. For many decades the Scout-Guide movement was the largest organized activity for the young people of Red Deer.”

Dawe says Lord Baden Powell for example, made at least two visits to Red Deer, with the first being in 1910.

“Lady Baden Powell made at least one visit to Red Deer without her husband and concentrated on visiting the local Brownies and Guides,” explains Dawe. “I think that is reflective of the importance of the Scout -Guide movement not only in Red Deer, but the importance of the Red Deer organizations provincially and nationally. As a further note, despite what Calgary often claims, Red Deer had the first organized Scout troop in Alberta.”

Governor-General Lord Tweedsmuir, Chief Scout of Canada, at the opening of the Rover Cabin built for the boy scout troops in Red Deer on July 14, 1937 (Photo: Red Deer Archives P7219)

In 1937, Lord Tweedsmuir’s vice regal train arrived in Red Deer at the CNR station on Ross Street.

As Chief Scout of Canada, Lord Tweedsmuir officially opened the new Rover Cabin and was presented with a bow and quiver of arrows made by Kerry Wood.

During his stop, Lord Tweedsmuir also took time to inspect the cubs in Red Deer before visiting Stettler and Lacombe.

With decades of experience as a historian for Red Deer, Dawe says it’s his opinion that the Rover Cabin is worthy of historic site designation and preservation.

“I do not know yet if the CAWES proposal means that the cabin HAS to be moved, in that the proposals submitted so far do not include the actual site of the cabin,” he points out. “However, if the cabin cannot be kept on its current location, I would welcome it being moved to another location where it can be preserved.”

“I think Red Deer has had a rather poor record over the years in terms of preserving our more notable historic buildings and sites,” concludes Dawe. “I would therefore hate to see another go.”