OLDS, Alta. — A Calgary businessperson and rancher has given 100 vintage cars and trucks to Olds College to mark the agriculture school’s centennial in 2013.
The Jack Anderson collection, worth more than $2 million, includes Ford Model Ts and a 1984 Rolls Royce. The vehicles will be auctioned next year and the proceeds donated to the college to use as it sees fit. Anderson, now 84, gave the Alberta college $1 million in 2007.
“I sponsored people to go here and they were very impressed and graduated with glowing reports,” he said.
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No stipulations have been attached to the donation, but college officials speculate the money will be used for new building projects.
“Olds College has been very responsible in how it has developed and how they use funds in the past, so whatever they do will be for the benefit of the agriculture community,” said Anderson’s daughter and ranch business partner, Wynonna Chisholm.
Anderson has been collecting and restoring vintage models since he was a teenager. He ranches at Jumping Pound and Cochrane and the collection remains at his home north of Calgary.
“My hobby became my passion,” he said.
Chisholm said the vehicles were always part of the family’s life.
“When we were growing up we could never use the garage because there were always car projects going on it. Dad still can’t park in his garage,” she said.
Olds College celebrates its centennial next year and is hosting a number of events throughout the year, including an international 4-H conference, national equine events and the world plowing match.
A history of the college has also been published. A chapter dedicated to donors included interviews with Anderson, in which he talked about how the idea was formed to donate 100 cars to commemorate 100 years.
