Western Canada PowerCruise glides through town

By Rob Vogt
It was a veritable vintage vehicle caravan that made a stop in Claresholm last week.
The Western Canada PowerCruise, which was on a three-day journey from Chilliwack, British Columbia, to Medicine Hat took a break in town at the green space behind the station building of the museum on Friday, July 14.
Greeting them were members of the Porcupine Hills Classic Cruisers car club and the Claresholm and District Museum.
Tom Hanson, who was leading the group with his 1958 Ford Ranch Wagon and trailer, said it is the 10th anniversary of the Western Canada PowerCruise.
It was started by the Reno Rodders, a club in Consul, Saskatchewan in 2013.
The cruise has four tiers or legs, all ending up in Medicine Hat at the Gas City Auto and Trade Show. One started in Brandon, another in Grande Prairie, a third in Bonnyville, and the fourth in Chilliwack.
Hanson said his leg of the cruise has attracted cars from places as far as Tacoma, Washington and Vancouver Island.
They left Chilliwack with 11 cars, picked up four along the way, lost some to break downs, and arrived in Claresholm with 12. One more was set to join them in Coaldale.
“I love the old cars,” Hanson said. “I love to see what people build.”
When he bought his own 1958 Ford Ranch Wagon it was a rusty car.
It has taken three years to get it to this stage. It is by no means finished, but is restored enough to drive, and that is the goal.
Last year he took this rig on a cross-country odyssey from Coquitlam to St. John’s, Newfoundland, then back to Victoria.
“I love to drive,” Hanson said.
Dave Wasylyshen, president of the Porcupine Hills Classic Cruisers, said the Western Canada PowerCruise approached the club, so he connected with the Lions and the museum.
“It all worked out fantastic,” he said. “(Events like this) are good for the town.
“It shows people from a different province that we’re a friendly town.”
Bill Kells, executive director of the museum, said they jumped at the chance to support the Porcupine Hills Classic Cruisers, and wanted to build on the success of the Father’s Day car show in June, which brought people through the museum as well.
“We wanted to make sure the museum is open and people go through it,” he said. “We’re happy to do it.”
Kells also appreciated the partnership with the Claresholm Lions Club who provided beef on a bun, and the Friends of the Claresholm Museum who used the day as a fundraiser.