Homestead Aerial Photos Ltd. of Calgary may have a piece of history for you.
Kim Bessette, who owns the company with his wife Eileen Deringer, says they have more than a million photos of farms, and other sites such as hospitals, churchs, townsites and businesses covering Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Prince Edward Island and some areas of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Ontario dating back to 1953.
They are touring around the west, setting up at various venues to allow the public a chance to search for memories. They will be in North Battleford at the Discovery Co-op Mall April 2 and 3 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. where they will feature photos from this area.
Bessette and Deringer started the company in the 1990s. They specialize in aerial photography across the west using an aerial drone allowing for steady, high quality aerial shots of almost any building, personal or commercial events and functions.
Their library, from which the public can purchase copies, and even have framing done, was purchased from Superior Air Photo of Kelowna, which had earlier acquired it from Continental Air Photo of Edmonton, now defunct.
Bessette says for many years they have held exhibits at annual events and people have poured through the library, reminiscing and finding gems from the past.
He encourages the public to bring their land description or some photographs with them to help find specific photos. They can also be searched y referring to the landowner’s name at the time the photo was taken.
Anyone interested in photos from other areas of the province can contact them in advance so they can bring them with them, says Bessette. Their number is 403-253-9282, or you can email them at homesteadaerial@gmail.com.
