Al oeming passes away at 88 ........ Remember al oeming's game farm, or polar park?

[Summitric]

[h=1]Edmonton conservationist Al Oeming dies at age 88[/h] By Staff The Canadian Press

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EDMONTON – Edmonton conservationist Al Oeming has died of complications after heart surgery.
Oeming’s son, Todd, confirms his father died in hospital earlier this week.
Oeming, 88, was well-known in the province for his Alberta Game Farm, later known as Polar Park, 25 kilometres east of Edmonton.
He opened the massive 500-hectare facility in 1958 and closed it in 1998 after admitting that animal-rights activists were becoming increasingly successful at dissuading people from going to zoos.
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In the early 1970s, the game park was home to about 800 species and 3,000 animals and drew thousands of visitors a day.
By the time it closed, amid criticism from groups such as Zoocheck Canada, there were just 500 animals and maybe 200 visitors in a weekend.
“No regrets, but I wouldn’t do it again,” Oeming said at the time. “It’s the colossal costs. You’re also beset with much tougher regulations.”
Oeming was a Second World War veteran and a boxer, held a PhD and spent decades touring elementary schools across Canada with his cheetah named Tawana, presenting award-winning nature films and promoting conservation.
At the height of his fame, he was the subject of a TV series called “Al Oeming — Man of the North,” co-hosted by actor Leslie Nielsen.
After closing his exotic animal park, Oeming turned his attention to collecting and auctioning horse-drawn carriages and sleighs.
“His express wishes were that there would be no funeral,” said Todd Oeming.
“He wanted to have a cremation done and he wanted his ashes placed in a certain portion of our land known as our Spruce Box in order that his spirit can go on (amid) the continued growth of the trees.”
With files from CHED

 

[teamgreen]

I dont remember if I was out to his zoo when I first moved to Sherwood Park. I did do some cash work for him after high school cutting deadfall on his property. It was crazy the amount of gophers that lived on his many acres of land. It would be a hunters paradise, but they were a special breed of gopher and he refused to let anyone on his land to shoot anything.

It will be interesting to see if his kids subdivide more of the land. Its prime territory close to the park and mostly treed.

 

[Snowdin]

I remember going to his game farm when I was a kid. Sheesh that was a long time ago.

 

[neilsleder]

I remember that place as a kid. My brother in law has a full grown tiger stuffed that came from his game farm.


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[Iron Horse Racing]

They have been trying to rezone to build a. "Environmental resort" what ever that is? The article said they been after it for 4 years....


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[blastoff]

I was there in 1971 or 1972, he also brought his Cheetah to our school, all classes were shut down. Too bad there weren't more places for the kids nowadays for them too see.

 

[Summitric]

My dad was friends with al... I remember being at the park in late 60s and visiting at their house.. Was lucky to be able to take our kids to the polar park before it was shut down


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[CamoKVF700]

I grew up not far from the game farm. We went there a few times here and there. My dad knew Al and visited him when I was young. It was always a treat to go check out his place. Through the years you lose touch with people and that's what happened. But about 12 Years ago I bought some land that used to be part of Al's game farm. Built a house and moved in. We reunited with Al about 5 years ago. That brought back memories. So this may sound odd setting as you'd think Al would have every possible truck or trailer or wagon under the son. Well my neighbor sold us their 2 place horse trailer and had one stipulation for the great deal... had to lend Al that trailer whenever he needed it. Lol. Okay no problem. So we had seen Al a couple times a summer when he came to get the trailer. Al offered my kids to all go out back through the fence and ride their motocross over to his land and they jumped at the chance. So for a few weeks they do. One day Al's son shows up and confronts them. I won't mention any names but he's not a very pleasant guy. I wasn't there. He gives my kids the gears and tells them they are not allowed to be back there. My kids explain what Al had told them. You know what he says? Yeah well Al is too old to be making those decisions. WTH!? Anyways, Al was pretty much an icon in my area growing up and everyone knew him and where he lived. Sad to see him go.

Sent while wishing I was on my snowbike

 

[Murminator]

I remember Al bringing his cheetah Tawanna to our school as a kid he was a pretty big celebrity for a a day is small town Saskatchewan. When I moved to Edmonton one of the 1st things i did was go to polar park still think we have a ton of pictures from that place

 

[RobEG]

I grew up maybe 5 Km north of polar park, i think the last time i went i was 12

 

[YamaDad]

I am very sorry to hear of the passing of this colourful and charismatic man. My grandparents knew him well, if fact they lived on the same property near the present day Valley Zoo in Edmonton with him for a time. I have heard many interesting stories involving Al, ranging from his promoting of professional wrestling to his inability to pound a nail. One of the better ones involved my grandma (then a young lady) at a gathering at the Oemings. At some point during the evening she had to use the ladies room, which at that time was actually an outhouse, so off she went. She dropped her drawers and sat on the seat, only to feel something furry on her backside. She turned to see what it was and was greeted by the stare of Al's cheetah in the pit looking up at her. They never told me if she had time to pull up her pants as she ran out, or who cleaned up the cheetah.

Rest in Peace Al Oeming, and thanks.

 

[fidorama]

Wow! a couple really good stories LOL Seriously Al's too old to make those kind of decisions??? what an ass! and that cheetah story by YamaDad LOL priceless!!! I remember visiting the gamefarm a couple times in my youth. I would have to think late 70's early 80's... it was quite an interesting place.

 

[renegade x]

I will never forget my grade one class went to Al's park I wandered off and got chased by a nesting goose lol. One of my classmates got pi$$ed on by a tiger that thing nailed him through 2 fences lol I can still smell that bus ride home and that was 40 years ago
RIP AL