Above: Postcard from the village of Auvernier in the canton of Neuchâtel in Switzerland (SPRA 006.04.01.P02A)
Pierre Lozeron was born in 1887, in Auvernier, Canton of Neuchatel, Switzerland. When the family of six children lost both parents, Pierre and his younger brother Jean decided to seek their fortunes in America. In July 1912, Pierre walked over the Edson Trail with his friend Charlie Heller. He chose the NW 10-73-7-W6, north west of Bear Lake for a homestead. In 1926 Pierre married Dora Koberg, with whom he had three children.
In 1959, Pierre travelled back to Switzerland to visit his family. During this visit, Pierre shared his tales of pioneering in Canada with relatives, friends, and even strangers. On September 4th, 1959, he presented a short history of his life in Canada to eager listeners at Villiers College. This speech, transcribed and translated from French, describes Lozeron’s difficult journey and settlement in the South Peace region.
It has been 49 years since I left this country. In 1910, I immigrated, with my cousin to the United States, to join my brother, who had left a few months earlier…
We heard that land was being opened to settlement, in northwestern Canada, in the Grande Prairie [region]. We travelled to the North…
We tossed head or tails. I was the one chosen to go survey the land while my brother, because of his work, provided the funds necessary for this voyage.
In the summer of 1912, I arrived by train in Edmonton, the capital of Alberta. I met a certain Heller, who, like me, was going to choose some land. We took the train up to Edson and we spent the night at the Immigration Hall….
In 15 days, we had travelled 350 km. and arrived in Grande Prairie which had about hundred habitants. (Today 7,000).
At the bureau of settlement, we took 3 plots of land…
Those who were close to Grande Prairie weren’t as good. Those from the Beaverlodge area were too far from Grande Prairie. I chose 2 homesteads 4 km. north of Bear Lake. One was without trees, the other had a little forest and source that formed a pond…
We each had a homestead 800 sq meters by 800 sq. meters, for the price of 45 francs each with the obligation to labour, that first year, 10 arpents [also known as a French acre] of land and living there for 6 months; in the second year the same, as well as the third year. And to build a house to live in….
We built a house to live in, with tree trunks, de-barked, and chinked with moss in the interior. The shingled roof was covered with earth.
During our absence in the first year, we entrusted our 2 horses to a neighbour. The second year, we bought 2 new horses. After awhile we ended up with 8 and with a double plow…
During the long and cold winters, the farmers host dances in their houses and in their barns. We get their by sled from 30 to 40 kms. during -20 – 25 degrees cold.
All night long, married women and many men danced to the sound of the violin. Each said his own. My brother, who had the most beautiful voice in Grande Prairie, sang Sole Mio with the gestures of a grand tenor. In the morning, we ate breakfast on site. At noon, we were back home….
In winter, we drove our grain, with 4 horses, on the sled, to a station on the railway a distance of 15 km. These voyages took one day, with temperatures that could vary from -20 degrees from leaving to arrival, because of a chinook, a warm westerly wind…
Our routes were straight. They go from east to west, and from north to south.
In Western Canada, we speak English. In the east, we speak French.
The crops are bought by the Canadian government who pay 3 installments per years.
We pay taxes.
At the age of 70 years, all Canadiens [men] and Canadiennes [women] have the right to an old age pension of 235 francs per month. The parents receive Fr 25. – to Fr 35. – per month, per child, up to the age of 16 years old.
The population of Canada, which was 7 million in 1910, is today 17 million. There is still place for 25 million habitants.
I’m not saying this to get you to immigrate. I would counsel you to never do what I did…
Your Canton of Neuchatel must stay Swiss, thus your Switzerland. Stay faithful to your laws, to your government, to your army which is the best in the world.
I did my recruit training and military service before leaving the country. I received a first prize in shooting at Locle, with a laurel crown.
I was your compatriot. I still am. I will be all of my life.
The translation of Pierre Lozeron’s speech is presented here in an abridged form. The original speech (SPRA 006.01.01) and unabridged translation are available for consultation in the Archives reading room.
This speech was transcribed and translated from French by Archives volunteer Lucille Munro. Lucille is a volunteer researcher for the Indigenous History Committee.
This article was originally featured in the December 2018 issue of Telling Our Stories.