A singular job alternative has come up within the village of Vilna, Alta., 150 kilometres northeast of Edmonton.
“We’re in search of a barber proper now, sure we’re,” mentioned Ron Farmer, 76, president of the Vilna Pool Corridor Society.
The profitable candidate will must be proficient in slicing males’s hair, “but it surely would not harm to have slightly bit of data on women’ haircuts,” Farmer says.
It additionally would not harm in the event that they’re eager on historical past, because the store is positioned in the Vilna Pool Hall and Barbershop that is been a fixture within the village since 1921.
“We’re the oldest pool corridor and barbershop in Alberta,” mentioned Carol Trider, the society’s vice-president. “Alberta Historic Assets designated it, so we’re fairly pleased with the actual fact.”
The institution has a crimson leather-based barber’s chair on the entrance of the store, together with two vintage pool tables and a few snooker tables lined in emerald inexperienced felt. Trider says the place continues to be attracting vacationers and locals alike.
“I believe lots of them are simply amazed at how unique it’s. It is like strolling again in time.”
The corridor was owned by native households — the Pawluks and later the Taschuks — within the early days, however by 1997 it had fallen on onerous instances. The society was fashioned to avoid wasting the constructing and restore it to its former glory.
WATCH | Get a really feel for the Vilna Pool Corridor and Barbershop:
One of many oldest pool halls and barbershops in Canada is prospering within the village of Vilna, Alta. It’s due to a bunch of devoted volunteers with a ardour for pool, a penchant for pockets and a stick-to-it perspective that has stored this spot on cue for the previous 100 years.
Residents within the village of 300 spent years and raised 1000’s of {dollars} to restore the constructing’s basis and improve the heating and electrical, all with the purpose of sustaining the neighborhood hub and preserving native historical past.
Trider mentioned spots like this have been fairly widespread in Western Canadian increase cities within the Twenties. Vilna’s pool corridor was a place for males to socialize and get a shave and a haircut, however Trider mentioned it wasn’t thought-about match for a girl.
“In 1921, ladies have been by no means allowed within the pool corridor,” she mentioned.
That lastly modified about 50 years later, and then the children would go to at lunchtime, Trider mentioned. “Typically the principal or the academics would haul them out,” or they’d conceal within the lavatory or dash out the again door, she mentioned.
Laurie Kunyk was a kind of children. “I went to Grade 8. I believed I used to be sensible sufficient in these days,” mentioned Kunyk, who additionally admits to being a little bit of a “pool shark” — and never above dishonest.
“In these days I did not put on glasses, I might see fairly good. Now I see double.”
Taking pictures pool value him 20 cents a recreation, mentioned Kunyk, who additionally recollects the barber protecting busy.
Pool corridor volunteer Linda Yurdiga mentioned costs have gone up since then however the classic spot continues to be drawing historical past buffs, college teams and vacationers from the town.
“They suppose it is nice,” mentioned the 61-year-old. “They’ve a recreation of pool for 2 bucks per particular person, per recreation.”
At these costs, the society would not actually make any cash from the corridor.
They preserve it going by means of grants, fundraising barbecues and the occasional party.
And even when taking pictures stick is not your factor, there is a museum behind the corridor — a duplicate of the modest dwelling quarters that was house to the household that ran the joint.
Largely it is a spot to go to attach with mates and rack up some laughs within the winter time on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to three p.m.
“Catching up on the information and gossip and that form of factor,” Yurdiga mentioned. “It is lots of enjoyable.”
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