|
 If you lived in Wetaskiwin between
1946 ‑ 1985, you most likely knew Al Arner, his store, the Sport Shop,
and his dime‑zapper connected to the Model‑T magneto. Al was raised just
east of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. In 1939, he enlisted with the
Saskatoon Light Infantry. His main regiment was Princess Louise
Dragoon Guards - his assignment was Communications Signal Corps -
and he attained the rank of Lieutenant. Italy was the site of his
most major and newsworthy wartime campaign.
Tall, strong and athletic, he
excelled in boxing, volleyball, and baseball. Discharged in 1946 in Nova
Scotia, he traveled by train to Calgary and headed northward on Highway
2 on a motorcycle. He stopped at each centre along the way and looked
for a shop to rent or buy to set up a radio shop. Eventually, he found
such a building in Wetaskiwin, but with radio shops in every centre, he
reconsidered and opened the Sport Shop instead. He retired in 1985.
Sponsorship
Al was a great supporter of sports
in Wetaskiwin and sponsored many local teams.
1949 ‑ Bicycle Club
1949 ‑ Coach, Ladies Red Sox Softball Team
1949 ‑ 1953 Representative, Hockey and Ball ‑ Wetaskiwin Amateur
Athletic Association
1949 ‑ 1958 Coach, Wetaskiwin Cubs Baseball Team
1960 ‑ The Gwynne Ski Hill and Club
1970's ‑ Intra‑Mural Volleyball and Volunteer at Hockey games
1961 ‑ 1980 Organizer, coach, sponsor ‑ Wetaskiwin Fast‑Pitch Softball
1980 ‑ Chickadee Hiking Trail
Team Championships (As a coach
and sponsor ‑ 13 Championships & 2 Runner‑up achievements)
Jubilee League Championships ‑
Wetaskiwin Cubs Baseball 1955, 1956, 1957
Fast‑Pitch Softball Provincial Championships - 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973,
1975 ‑ (with new players)
1974 ‑ Sport Shop Juniors entered the Intermediate A Men's Playdowns at
Grimshaw and won silver
1975 - Silver - Canada National Finals ‑ Saskatoon ‑ lost to
Newfoundland, 2‑run homerun in 7th inning
Fast‑Pitch Softball Provincial Championships - 1976, 1977, 1979
1977 - Western Canada Fastball Championships
1979 - Western Canada Fastball Championships
RECOGNITION AWARDS
Al Arner
received eleven awards in his lifetime ‑ three sports awards listed here
1983 ‑ AASA Sports Hall of fame
1993 ‑ City of Wetaskiwin ‑ Al Arner
Ball Park
2005 ‑ Province of Alberta ‑
Centennial Special Award
Lieutenant Arner Coaching
Approach
When it came to practices,
techniques and strategies, Al Arner was a legend. He set high
expectations for himself, and he expected no less from the players he
coached. Al Arner was in the Armed Forces for six years and he coached
teams in Wetaskiwin over three decades. He touched the lives of many,
both in the military and in this community. Testimonials attest to this. |
