Updated – May 25, 2026:
The Stettler P&H Elevator Preservation Society is weighing dissolution after losing access to its historic site and facing a newly formed rival organization.
Board members informed a crowd at the Stettler Agri-plex on April 30 that the society has reached a critical “quagmire” that may result in the organization dissolving entirely.
The primary hurdle, according to President Brad Wohlgemoth, is a lack of documented “care, custody, and control” over the privately owned elevator site.
The board noted they have also faced ongoing challenges in accessing official society mail and records.
Ongoing Dispute Over Suspended AGM
The historic site remains caught in the crossfire of a dispute that boiled over during a suspended AGM.
The turmoil follows the society’s May 2025 AGM, which required a month-long suspension amid heated debates over its core mandate and a lack of maintenance to the elevator.
Options Moving Forward
Members were presented with options for the society’s future during the AGM at the end of April.
These range from launching a legal challenge regarding ownership to the complete dissolution of the society.
Other possibilities include transferring all assets to the new museum society & pivoting the P & H Society toward different community heritage projects.
However, the board cautioned that without a formal lease or use agreement, the organization cannot fulfill its primary mandate of preserving the P & H site.
The meeting concluded with the board noting that any shift in the society’s original purpose requires a special resolution and 75 percent approval from the membership
The society currently maintains a base of 101 lifetime members. Details on a future meeting are yet to be determined.
Second Elevator Society Formed
Adding to the complexity is the emergence of a second organization, the Stettler Grain Elevator Museum Society, formed late last year by elevator owner Stan Eichhorn & other individuals.
Provincial authorities, including the AGLC, typically only recognize one entity per project.
Previous AGM Suspended For One Month
In May 2025, The Stettler P&H Elevator Preservation Society elected a new board of directors following a tumultuous annual general meeting that required a month-long suspension.
The meeting was halted amid a heated debate over the society’s core mandate & a lack of maintenance work done on the elevator.
Elevator owner Stan Eichhorn noted the roof on the annex building of the elevator is in need of urgent repairs following the 2019 hailstorm.
Following an open nomination process, ten directors were elected made up of previous board members & a review committee formed in 2024 to examine the society’s bylaws.
Until a resolution is reached, the P&H Elevator remains caught between two organizations.
Pancake Breakfasts & Hot Dog Roasts
Despite the turmoil, locals were well fed over the weekend as both elevator societies held separate events on the same day on May 23.
Members of the newly formed Stettler Grain Elevator Museum Society hosted a pancake breakfast at the elevator, while the Stettler P&H Elevator Preservation Society held a hot dog roast in the afternoon.
Previous AGM Stories
Author: Landin Chambers
Landin Chambers is a news reporter for Hometown Media Stettler. He has a background in broadcast news, with previous roles in Prince George, Red Deer and Calgary. You may also see him as a cameraman for the Stettler Wildcats and Stettler Imperials. Have a story idea? Email: lchambers@htproductionsmedia.ca
