1981 - Data Points by Date/Period

Signal Hill Tower (訊號塔), built in the Edwardian style in 1907, stands at the top of Signal Hill. Originally a three-storey building, it was 12.8 meters (42 feet) tall with a red brick facade. In 1927, a fourth storey was added to improve the tower's visibility to incoming vessels, raising its height to 18.9 meters (62 feet). The new storey featured round windows, while the original floors had square windows. The building's flat roof was replaced with a dome-shaped, light green roof. A 5.5-meter (18-foot) mast, which once held the time ball, was positioned atop the tower.The tower housed the Hong Kong Observatory’s time ball apparatus, which had previously been located at the Marine Police Headquarters. The time ball operated from January 1908 to June 1933, dropping once daily until 1920, and twice daily thereafter. The practice ceased on 30 June 1933 due to the building’s deteriorating condition, lack of staff, and the obsolescence of the method in comparison to radio-telegraphy and telephony.During World War II, the tower was repurposed as a temporary ammunition store.In the 1970s, the Urban Council restored the tower, and it was designated a Grade II historic building in 1981. On 18 December 2009, it was upgraded to Grade I status and was declared a monument on 23 October 2015.

Béthanie is a historic building complex located in Pok Fu Lam, Southern District, Hong Kong. Built in 1875 as a sanatorium by the Paris Foreign Missions Society, it later became part of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts in 2003, along with the nearby Dairy Farm cowsheds. After undergoing renovations, the complex reopened in 2006 and is now home to the Academy's School of Film and Television. It also houses two performance venues, an exhibition hall, a chapel, and a museum. In 2013, Béthanie was declared a monument. Situated at No. 139 Pok Fu Lam Road, it offers a scenic view of the coast and was originally chosen for its ideal location to help French priests recover from tropical diseases. Today, the Chinese Cuisine Training Institute (CCTI) is located next to Béthanie, which can be accessed by following signs to the CCTI. Béthanie, built in 1875 by the Paris Foreign Missions Society as the first sanatorium in Hong Kong, served as a recovery place for priests and missionaries suffering from tropical diseases. It also housed a successful printing press publishing religious items in multiple languages. The building underwent several expansions and renovations, especially in the 1890s, to accommodate increasing numbers of visitors. During World War II, the building was ransacked by Japanese forces, but was later restored in 1949. After political unrest following the Communist Revolution, Béthanie operated beyond capacity until it was sold in 1974. In the late 1970s, students occupied the building, sparking a movement to preserve it. In 1981, it was listed as a Grade II historic building, and by 2009, it was upgraded to Grade I. After significant restoration funded by the Hong Kong government and completed in 2006, Béthanie became a part of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and was declared a monument in 2013.

The Castle Peak Power Station (Chinese: 青山發電廠) is Hong Kong's largest coal-fired power station, located in Tap Shek Kok, Tuen Mun District, along the north shore of Urmston Road. Named after the nearby Castle Peak, the facility comprises four 350 MW and four 677 MW generating units, along with auxiliary facilities.Commissioned in 1982, with its most recent generation unit installed in 1990, Castle Peak is one of three power stations operated by CLP in Hong Kong. The site was designed to accommodate future expansion, including the addition of the Castle Peak B Power Station.In 1981, the construction of Castle Peak B Power Station was approved and developed by the Castle Peak Power Company, a joint venture between CLP and Esso. The first two of its four units were inaugurated by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, on October 22, 1986.Castle Peak Power Station has undertaken extensive measures to improve emissions performance, including refurbishing burners to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions, installing Selective Catalyst Reduction (SCR) and Boosted Over Fire Air (BOFA) systems, and implementing flue-gas desulphurisation to remove sulphur. Despite these efforts, it remains a major contributor to non-traffic-related pollution in Hong Kong.In 2007, the power station consumed 9 million tonnes of coal, 4.6 million tonnes of which were low-sulphur coal sourced from Indonesia. The Castle Peak A Power Station was officially opened by British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher on September 28, 1982.

The Windsor Hotel, a landmark in Montreal’s history, opened in 1878 and became Canada’s first grand hotel. Initially funded by a consortium of prominent Montreal businessmen, including photographer William Notman, it quickly became a social and business center for the city, hosting notable figures like John A. Macdonald, Mark Twain, and Oscar Wilde. In 1889, it gained a prime connection to the Windsor Station, enhancing its status as Montreal’s social hub.Over the years, it expanded to include a new wing, the Windsor Annex, complete with the renowned 'Peacock Alley,' named for its stained glass. The hotel played a key role in Montreal’s social life, hosting events like the annual St. Andrew’s Society Ball and even the 1917 meeting that founded the National Hockey League. Despite its success, the hotel faced two devastating fires, one in 1906 and another in 1957, which led to the demolition of the original structure. Only the North Annex survived, which continued operating until competition forced the hotel’s closure in 1981.In 1987, the Windsor Hotel was transformed into 'Le Windsor,' an office building that houses key tenants like Valeurs mobilières Desjardins and the Bronfman family’s Claridge offices. Its historic ballrooms and Peacock Alley were preserved and remain available for events, offering a glimpse into the hotel’s former grandeur. Recent renovations have enhanced the building while maintaining its architectural features, with event spaces available for rent and ongoing restorations respecting its rich heritage.

The Molson Bank Building was constructed in 1866 at the corner of St. Peter and St. James streets (now rue Saint-Pierre and rue Saint-Jacques) in Old Montreal as the headquarters for Molson Bank, founded by William Molson (1793–1875). This was Montreal’s first building designed in the Second Empire style, a design led by architect George Browne and his son, John James George Browne.Molson Bank merged with the Bank of Montreal in 1925.The construction of the Molson Bank Building began in 1864 and completed in 1866. Due to outgrowing its previous location on St. James Street, Molson Bank acquired a neighboring lot in 1863, and an architectural competition awarded the design to George and John James Browne. Construction involved demolishing existing buildings on the site, with the bank’s counters and offices located on the first floor and basement. The upper floors, accessed from St. Peter Street, were leased to various tenants, including a publisher.In 1870, Molson Bank expanded by opening branches, establishing its head office on St. James Street as the main branch. By 1883, the bank occupied the entire building, which was expanded further in 1900 and 1911 to cover the entire lot. The original St. Peter Street entrance was eventually replaced with an entrance on Saint-Jacques Street.Following the 1925 merger with the Bank of Montreal, the building housed a branch and international services. In 1923-1924, the first floor was extended to Notre-Dame Street, connecting to the Insurance Exchange building constructed behind it. The Bank of Montreal branch closed in 1981 and was later converted into a training center. After the bank disposed of the property in 1999, it was renovated and eventually occupied by government and legal offices by 2009.

The Elrose Brick School, a Municipal Heritage Property located at 12 Fourth Avenue East in Elrose, is a two-storey brick building constructed in 1927.Its heritage value is tied to its role as a public building in Elrose. Built in 1927 to replace the original school lost to fire earlier that year, the new school incorporated modest Georgian Revival elements, a popular architectural style for larger schools at the time. The building featured four large classrooms, two per floor, and a principal’s office located in the tower on the second floor. It operated as a school until 1981, when it was closed and handed over to the Elrose Museum, which later relocated in 1997.Key character-defining elements of the Elrose Brick School include features that reflect its former public use, such as the interior layout with classrooms, cloakroom, and principal’s office, as well as its Georgian Revival architecture. Notable architectural details include the pediment, projecting tower, lintelled windows, symmetrical design, and monumental proportions.

History enthusiasts visiting Melville will want to include the Melville Heritage Museum in their plans. This museum is housed in one of the town’s oldest buildings, originally constructed in 1913 in a collegiate Gothic style using buff-coloured brick. Initially built as the Luther Academy, it served as an educational institution until 1926 when the academy relocated to Regina. Afterward, it became St. Paul’s Home for the Aged & Orphans. The museum's journey began in 1975 when the first board was formed, and in 1981, the City of Melville declared the building a Heritage Site. The museum officially opened its doors in 1983 during the city's 75th anniversary celebrations. Today, the museum strives to highlight the ethnic diversity of Melville and the surrounding area while preserving the history of early Lutheran education in the province.The museum boasts over 10,000 artifacts, along with around 1,000 books, including textbooks in languages such as German, English, Greek, Ukrainian, and Latin. The building's three floors are home to 22 rooms of exhibits that cover local, provincial, and national history. Highlights include collections on Chapel, Library, Grand Trunk Pacific/CNR, Military and Sports History, over 100 original black-and-white photographs of Melville's early years, as well as murals and a gift shop.Located 1.3 km north of the No. 10 Highway overpass, the museum offers limited wheelchair access. Visitors requiring the lift, which is located at the side door and provides access to the main floor, should contact the museum in advance or notify the guide upon arrival.The museum is open from May to August, seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, while children 12 and under enter for free. For more information, you can call (306) 728-2070.

The Poplar River Power Station, a coal-fired plant owned by SaskPower, is located near Coronach, Saskatchewan, approximately 8 kilometers from the Canada–US border.Construction of the power station began in the fall of 1974, with the Morrison Dam built between 1975 and 1977 along the East Poplar River to provide cooling water for the station. Work on the powerhouse started in 1975, and the station's single stack stands 122 meters high. The lignite used to power the facility is sourced from Westmoreland Mining's Poplar River Coal Mine.SaskPower plans to shut down the Poplar River Power Station by 2030.The power station comprises two units, each with a net capacity of 291 MW, commissioned in 1981 and 1983, respectively. The boilers were supplied by Combustion Engineering and Babcock & Wilcox, while Hitachi provided the turbines and generators.Originally, the station was planned to have four 300 MW units, but water supply limitations constrained the expansion. SaskPower had considered diverting water from other sources, including Lake Diefenbaker, to the East Fork of the Poplar River to support the additional units.Fuel is delivered from strip mines located about 20 kilometers to the north via the Poplar River Mine Railway.

In 1907, the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) tracks were laid through the district, and by 1908, the Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad had arrived. The settlement of Biggar, named after W. H. Biggar, general counsel for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway (GTPR), was incorporated as a village in 1909. In 1910, the GTPR established a divisional point in Biggar, leading to a construction boom that pushed the population past 600. Biggar became a home terminal where train crews changed, and its station, one of the largest in the west, featured a 24-hour restaurant. In 1911, Biggar was incorporated as a town.Development continued, and by the early 1920s, the population exceeded 2,000. Over the next 30 years, the population remained stable, but Biggar saw renewed growth in the 1950s.Today, Biggar remains a divisional point for the Canadian National Railway (CNR), employing about 190 people. The railway contributes approximately $12.3 million annually in payroll to the community. With a current population of 2,161, Biggar is a thriving and prosperous town with much to offer visitors and residents alike.Biggar is known for several notable symbols. One of the most famous is Milo Hanson and the Hanson Buck, a world-record white-tailed deer shot on November 23, 1993. The Hanson Buck holds an official Boone and Crockett score of 213 1/8. Another symbol is Sandra Schmirler, a three-time world curling champion and the 1998 Olympic gold medalist. Schmirler grew up in Biggar and was active in curling, including winning the 1981 provincial girls high school championship. She went on to claim world titles in 1993, 1994, and 1997, with her Olympic gold medal in Nagano marking the pinnacle of her career. The Sandra Schmirler Olympic Gold Park, officially opened on August 6, 2000, honors her legacy. It surrounds Biggar Central School 2000 and features a gazebo, soccer field, playground, a Memorial Wall, and a Wall of Fame.Biggar is also famous for its slogan, 'New York is Big, but This is Biggar.' According to local legend, the slogan was created in 1909 by a survey crew who, after a night of drinking, wrote the phrase on a sign as a prank. The townspeople embraced it, and today, the slogan and sign are among Biggar’s most recognizable and celebrated symbols worldwide.

Grasslands National Park, situated near the village of Val Marie, Saskatchewan, is one of Canada's 44 national parks and park reserves, with only two located in Saskatchewan. The park, which lies adjacent to the U.S. state of Montana, is divided into two distinct parcels: the East Block and the West Block.Established in 1981, Grasslands National Park was Saskatchewan's second national park, following Prince Albert National Park. It attracts approximately 12,000 visitors annually.The park represents the Prairie Grasslands natural region, safeguarding one of the nation's few untouched dry mixed-grass and shortgrass prairie landscapes. It is part of the World Wildlife Fund’s Northern Short Grasslands ecoregion, which extends across southern Saskatchewan, southern Alberta, and the northern Great Plains of the U.S. The park's unique, semi-arid climate and terrain support diverse flora and fauna, including the only black-tailed prairie dog colonies in Canada. Wildlife in the park includes bison, pronghorns, greater sage-grouses, ring-necked pheasants, burrowing owls, coyotes, ferruginous hawks, swift foxes, prairie rattlesnakes, black-footed ferrets, eastern yellow-bellied racers, and greater short-horned lizards. Vegetation includes blue grama grass, needlegrass, plains cottonwood, and silver sagebrush. The landscape's distinctive features were shaped by glacial meltwater erosion, with notable sites including the Frenchman River Valley, Seventy Mile Butte, and the Rock Creek badlands.In 1874, Sir George Mercer Dawson discovered Western Canada’s first dinosaur fossils in the Killdeer Badlands during the International Boundary Survey. In 1877, Sitting Bull and about 5,000 Sioux sought refuge in the area following their victory over General Custer at the Battle of Little Bighorn.The East Block of Grasslands National Park, located about an hour south of Assiniboia, lies on the south side of the Wood Mountain Hills in Census Division No. 3. It is a more remote, wilderness area compared to the West Block, offering views of Rock Creek's badlands, the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary, and expansive prairie skies. The East Block features a one-lane, 11-kilometre parkway that traverses the Rock Creek Badlands. It also encompasses the Grasslands National Park (east) Important Bird Area (SK 023). The interpretive centre is housed in the McGowan House at the new Rock Creek Campground, while additional information can be found at the Wood Mountain Regional Park museum.

1981 (20)

Other Dates/Periods

04-05-2014

26-10-1922

28-07-1933

12-12-1911

07-01-2021

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