In October 2004, Flames alumni Colin Paterson approached us with a problem. He had purchased four of the original bleacher seats from the old Forum in Montreal and he wanted to sell these seats in the annual auction he organizes for Kids Sport.

The problem was he didn't get any brackets or hardware with his seat purchase. He asked if we could come up with a frame to make the seats usable and therefore an item that could be auctioned off to raise money for this worthy cause. The next problem was the auction was under a week away.

Plant Superintendent George Williams and shop coordinator Hue Van Nguyen took the project and managed to fabricate the brackets, send them to Calgary Powder Coatings to get powder coated and then assemble them just in time for the auction.

One seat was sold this year for $1600.00. Colin says the remaining three will be sold over the next three years.

This is the story of the Biosand Water Filter steel mould.

In August of 2004, I had the opportunity to go to Guatemala on a mission trip. As part of that experience, one of the objectives of the mission trip was to fabricate and ship a steel mould for producing the Biosand water filter which would enable the people of Guatemala to produce hundreds of self-contained water filtration units made of concrete.

In August of 2004, I approached Philip Sommerville with the possibility of Triangle Steel helping with the fabrication of this mould. They, in fact, donated all of the shop time and materials to construct the unit and it became a reality in October 2004.

How it works is water is poured into the top of the filter and the organic material it is carrying is trapped at the surface of the fine sand, forming a biological layer or 'schmutzdecke'. Micro-organisms colonize the schmutzdecke, where they consume bacteria and other pathogens. Traveling slowly through the sand bed, the water then passes through several layers of gravel, trapping cysts and worms, and collects in a pipe at the base of the filter. The water then goes through plastic piping encased in the concrete exterior, and out of the filter for the user to collect.

The filter can produce up to 60 liters/hour, therefore accommodating entire villages with potable, disease-free drinking water.  

The unit weighs approximately 250 lbs, and will have to be shipped to Guatemala via truck. At present, it is being stored in a warehouse in Calgary ready for shipping in spring of 2005. It will be going to an organization called The Arms of Jesus working out of a mission headquarters in Guatemala who will update me as the mould is used.  

It’s been a blessing for all those who worked on this project and everyone involved. Pictures and updates will be available as to where it is and how people's lives are changing.  

Thank-you to Philip and Triangle Steel from Dean Crowe and The Arms of Jesus.