A Calgary construction crew working on a building at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (Knows) recently made a sentimental discovery.
On December 1, workers found a rolled package under the steps of SAIT’s Heritage Hall, which is being restored in preparation for its centennial next year.
“Our contractor lifted (the ladder) and found the package very low, next to the foundation,” said Michelle Fernandes of SAIT.
“It looked like a subway sandwich, wrapped in craft paper with lots of question marks all over it.
“We knew someone had left it on purpose … and when we opened it we found out who that man was.”
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Inside the box they discovered auto and legion magazines, as well as a dime taped to a sheet of paper and a newspaper dated September 23, 1968.
The owner of the box had also left his name, Donald Kitiuk, a former SAIT instructor and bricklayer.
“He also worked for Alberta Public Works, he was a history buff and he was in the military and we know there is a strong military history with Heritage Hall,” said Fernandes.
The package was addressed to Kitiuk’s son William, who was only three years old in 1968 and SAIT officials didn’t have to go far to locate William.
“It seemed very important that this property returned to William,” said Fernandes. “Our search accelerated with our students and development (team) and our archivist trying to figure out who William was.
More than five decades later, William Kitiuk had followed in his father’s footsteps and was a part-time professor at SAIT.
“He had a lot of these buildings in his hands and he loved these buildings,” William said. “We were passing by (SAIT), maybe when I was 12 years old, and Dad told me they put something under the steps here and he said, ‘Don’t be surprised if you get a call here one day.’
“It’s quite an amazing Christmas gift to receive 53 years later,” said William.
Sadly, Kitiuk passed away in 1987, but William believes his father hid more treasures in the city that are still waiting to be discovered.
“My mom was telling me that she got a call from Return center and they had found a lot of papers on the walls of the Remand Center, “said William. “I think we will find many more of these things in the years to come.”
William and his family hope to keep their father’s spirit alive and plan to hide the box when they finish going through its contents.
“My hope is that in the next few years they are working on some other old buildings and find more interesting stuff,” said William. “Stay tuned.”
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