New Sarepta Historical Society secures municipal funding

LEDUC COUNTY -- The New Sarepta Historical Society continues its work in preserving the region's rich history.

For decades, the society has advanced historical preservation projects to highlight local heritage while also operating the Tire and Girdle Museum on Centre Avenue. On May 26, 2026, the non-profit was awarded new grant funding from Leduc County to allow them to move ahead with a pair of notable current projects. 

"We continue to work closely with the historical society on several projects, specifically in the Yardley Jones Park area," said Dean Ohnysty, Director of Leduc County Community Services. "That is our recommendation -- a total of $3,050 for the New Sarepta Historical Society.

The new funding for the society will be split between two projects, the first being a new booklet covering the hamlet's history from 2006-2025. This will come as the latest installment of the "Looking Back" series, which has seen two previous editions in 1980 and 2004. The society says the goal is to continue to document the community's past to ensure it is remembered by future residents.

"This sequel will record irreplaceable history of New Sarepta and Leduc County for the last twenty years," reads a statement from the New Sarepta Historical Society. "It will join its prequels at the local libraries, where it will be accessible to anyone in the Alberta library system who is interested in our local history. It will provide an indispensable resource for the next generation of Albertans."  

The second project being pursued is the replacement of New Sarepta's historical plaques. The plaques were installed in 2004 with the help of the former Village of New Sarepta to record and celebrate the heritage of the area. Plaques were placed in front of every business that existed prior to 1950, and shared photos of the property and a brief history of the property. The organization says that over the years, these markers have weathered badly, and some have been lost to redevelopment.

"If you've been in New Sarepta, there are some green signs placed throughout the community," said Ohnysty. "They talk about historical businesses and facilities that were in the community. Those have deteriorated to the point where they need to be upgraded and replaced."

The society adds that the replacement of these markers would serve both residents and visitors to the eastern portion of Leduc County.