Fonds 504 South Peace Regional Archives Sound Recording collection

50 sound recordings

In 1976, Duane Emch, director of the Grande Prairie Composite High School Concert Chorale took the group to Vienna, Austria, where the cover photograph was taken. This item is phonograph records of music performances from that trip.

Date: 1960-2007 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The series consists of the oral histories recorded or collected at the Archives which are not associated with a fonds.

Physical description: 19 sound recordings

Access points:

•                Sound recording (documentary form)

Publication status:

Published

Winifrede Green’s description of some photographs taken from the train around Slave Lake, during the flood of 1935. Winifrede worked in Grande Prairie as a Salvation Army officer from 1934-1936. Her name then was Winifrede Lessher.

Speeches from government officials; youth; old timers.

Video interview with Kay Trelle by Emily and her mother, Shannon Nelson, as part of Heritage Fair Display, 2006. Topics included Kay’s projects as an inventor and engineer -Triton and Poseidon Missiles, a Moon Buggy, and Triumf Meson Facility. The interview took place in May 2006, in Wembley.

In the summer of 2006 Jack Nelson travelled here with Jane Pilling-Cormick who has been doing research on the military history of the men in the Nelson family and their life in Montrose House (ca. 1936-1947). Jack is the only surviving son out of the five sons of Ike and Lena Archibald. Ike was co-owner of the Nelson & Archibald Store in Grande Prairie from 1926-1947. This recording was made in the Archives with Mary Nutting as interviewer.

Interview done for the Edson Trail Painters group Violet Patterson relates stories she heard from her husband’s family of travelling the Edson Trail. Violet’s father was George Jebb, and her mother was Alice. They came over the Edson Trail with his parents and a cow and they first lived in a tent on the land they eventually proved up.

Her oldest brother, Harry, was first a rough rider, breaking horses for a rancher and then was a cook on a boat that crossed Great Bear Lake. He was burned and drowned in 1932, after a storm came up and sparks ignited some fuel on the boat. Her other brother was a mechanic. Her father was a butcher by trade and her mother, a milliner. She wore the same hat for years, just reshaped it. They settled beside the eleven mile corner on the highway to Wembley. They had a 1/2 section, farmed with horses, and eventually bought a Ford tractor. Her father worked for the Municipality for years and at that time around Christmas, people would bring in the turkeys and geese they wanted butchered to the Elks Hall and her dad butchered them. He would go around and butcher for people. Her father had to travel back and forth to Edson for supplies.

Her parents had both been ballroom dancers in England; her father still had his “slippers” and any time he went to a dance he wore them. By 1926 when the town of Lake Saskatoon had moved to Wembley, there were quite a few people in the area. Her parents often travelled with Mr. and Mrs. Clubine. Her mother had a wonderful garden and her father used to say all they needed was tea and coffee and sugar, and they could provide the rest. They were both good walkers; her father would walk the eleven miles to Grande Prairie. When her grandmother was in Grande Prairie hospital, her mother would walk in to see her and walk home again.

Norma relates stories remembered by her mother of travelling the Edson Trail. Norma’s mother was a child of five at the time and she had a sister and a little brother. Norma’s mother’s folks came from Oklahoma by train in about 1900 and came to Rabbit Hill in Edmonton where Norma’s grandfather worked in a coal mine. Grandfather Thompson came with some of his friends up to the Peace River country and he liked what he saw so they picked out a spot and then in 1911or 1912 they came with a covered wagon and grandmother’s 300 quarts of raspberries packed in blankets in the bottom of the box with mattresses on top to keep them from freezing. They brought three cows and at least four horses and chickens, and a dog. Spring came early and so they traveled up to Peace River and then on to Dunvegan where grandfather went ahead and tested the ice because there was water on the ice already. To get down the hills they had to wrap a chain around the covered wagon to use as a brake so the sleigh wouldn’t run over the horses. Her mother remembered it as fun partly because every night when they would stop at a stopping place, there would be other children to play with. They travelled with other families. They often saw parts of a load abandoned alongside the road. Her mother remembers how much help the Indigenous people were to them. The trip likely took over a month. The Catholic priest met them and offered them a temporary place to stay in the church building (even though they were not Catholic) until they got their house built. They built a log house that is still there 1 mile south and 2 miles west of Rycroft. Grandmother was quite self-sufficient. The men often had to go away for supplies or work. The Indigenous people often helped supply them with wild meat. Mother only liked to do the inside work but her sister was the opposite and liked outside work better. Norma has fond memories of her Grandpa Thompson’s place and has painted the house as she remembered it. Norma’s mother kept a diary which records details of farm life – when thy went to town, what they got for a dozen eggs or a pound of butter. Norma’s mother and grandmother were both good cooks. Her dad would never allow an argument at the table. Her mother was married when she was 16 and her Dad liked hunting and trapping and the children had trap lines too. Norma’s first coat that she wore to school was bought with her “fur” money. She went to Silverwood School and White Mountain School walking three miles to each. There were problems with fires in the fall when it was dry – especially south of their place – and they had to round up their stock. As kids they played ball, their dad loved it and they would play every night and with the neighbor kids too.

Frank Redl taped 24 pieces of music performed by the Grande Prairie Marching Band in 1958. The tape was given to Guy Ireland who was the base drummer. Track 18 solo is by Cec Morton, director of music for CFGP.

A musical compilation featuring songs produced by Canadian artists for The War Amps Military Heritage Series

Two copies of a musical and pictorial souvenir set of recordings made for the reunion in 1979 of Montrose School and Grande Prairie High School. Groups performing include the Grande Prairie Composite High School Music Department including the Concert Chorale directed by Duane Emch, Jazz Ensemble and Band directed by Mike Townsend, and the Orchestra directed by Norris Berg.

A set of recordings made of various music groups from the Montrose Junior High School and the Grande Prairie Composite High School to celebrate and remember their performances and trips made during 1977. Duane Emch was the choral director, Mike Townsend was the band conductor, and Norris Berg conducted the orchestra.

“The Alberta Story” was produced in celebration of Alberta’s 75th anniversary. It was revised and condensed from scripts written by Doreen Mierau, historical writer and researcher and member of the Saskatchewan Writers Guild. Narration by Stan Sparling whose radio career spans a 25 year period. It covers Alberta’s history from the dinosaurs to Indigenous peoples and fur traders, cowboys and homesteading, the Depression, and oil discovery.

St. Pierre Ferguson was the son of Daniel Ferguson, a Metis born in Fort Garry (Winnipeg) about 1840. Daniel came west to St. Albert with the Michele Normand family after his parents died. He worked for the Hudson’s Bay Company in Grouard and Slave Lake. While in Grouard, he married Genevieve Gladue. They had eight children, St. Pierre being the fifth and born on July 1, 1877. St. Pierre attended a Mission School until grade seven, and started working for the HBC when he was 16 years old. Three years later he was managing the store (at Grouard?). He remembered the Treaty 8 discussions and the signing of Treaty 8 in 1898. In October 1898, St. Pierre married Philomene Calliou, the daughter of Louis Calliou. Their first son, Henry, was born in Grouard in 1900. In 1901 St. Pierre took a leave from the HBC and conducted the 1901 Census throughout the Peace Country. He did this on horseback, traveling all over the country. When he was offered a post at the Revillion Freres trading post at Spirit River Settlement ca. 1905, he took this position and filed on a homestead in the Spirit River area. Because of residence requirements for homestead land, he left his job with Revillion Freres. His other occupations included forest ranger, commissioner of oaths, justice of the Peace, RCMP interpreter, and road contractor. St. Pierre was also school trustee for the Spirit River (Rycroft) School, one of the first councilors for the Municipal District of Spirit River when it was formed in 1916, and a founding member of the Metis Association of Alberta. He was fluent in Cree and English. St. Pierre and Philomene had eight children (Henry, 1900; Mary, 1902; Charles, 1904; James, 1908; Anne, 1911; Margaret, 1914; Malcolm, 1917; and Florence, 1921) and had been married 72 years when she died in 1970. St. Pierre passed away in 1972 at the age of 94.

Note:

Historical notes for biography taken from Chepe Sepi.

Part 1 of 2: Interview of former Alberta Provincial Police Officer Bryan conducted by Sean Moir for his 1988 Masters’ Thesis on the Alberta Provincial Police (APP). Bryan, whose full name is Willoughby Charles “Bill” Bryan, joined the APP in 1931 and worked in the Lethbridge detachment as their wireless radio operator until 1932 when the APP was dissolved. Bryan was the grandson of APP Commissioner W.C. Bryan, Commissioner Bryan was appointed in 1922 and remained in the position until 1931, shortly before the APP was dissolved.

In this interview, Bryan reflects on his grandfathers legacy as a driving force in the success of the APP and his instrumental role in creating a positive and respected reputation for the APP amongst Albertans. Bryan also discusses his families background, his educational background, the training on wireless radios he had prior to and post joining the APP, and the conflict between senior members of the RCMP and the APP.

Conditions governing use:

Blanket permission given to Sean Moir, creator of the records, to use this material in any way he sees fit.

Part 2 of 2: Interview of former Alberta Provincial Police Officer Bryan by Sean Moir for his 1988 Masters’ Thesis on the Alberta Provincial Police (APP). Bryan, whose full name is likely Willoughby Charles “Bill” Bryan, joined the APP in 1931 and worked in the Lethbridge detachment as their wireless radio operator until 1932 when the APP was dissolved. Bryan was the grandson of APP Commissioner W.C. Bryan, Commissioner Bryan was appointed in 1922 and remained in the position until 1931, shortly before the APP was dissolved.

In this part of the interview Bryan talks about the common types of cases the APP would cover in Southern Alberta, including riots that often occurred at weddings and county dances, domestic abuse cases, and cases pertaining to rum running and bootlegging liquor over the boarder during Prohibition. Bryan also discussed the impact his Grandmothers death had on his Grandfather (Commissioner Bryan), and the response APP officers had to the dissolution of the APP.

Conditions governing use:

Blanket permission given to Sean Moir, creator of the records, to use this material in any way he sees fit.

Part 1 of 3: Interview of former Alberta Provincial Police Officer Ed Buchanan by Sean Moir for his 1988 Masters’ Thesis on the Alberta Provincial Police (APP). Buchanan was born in Glasgow in 1899 and moved with his family to Alberta in 1914 shortly before World War I began. Buchanan joined the APP when it was founded in 1916. Buchanan was the officer who opened the Wembley detachment of the APP and spent most of his career with the APP working in the Grande Prairie, St. Paul, and Wembley detachments. In 1932 when the APP was disbanded Buchanan continued his career in law enforcement and became a Mountie for the RCMP.

In part 1 of the interview, Buchanan discusses the origins of the APP, which he attributes to an increasing amount of men leaving the RCMP to fight overseas during World War I. The first 20 minutes (approximately) of the interview are spent talking about prohibition legislature, mainly about the different raids that were conducted on distilleries, the hesitancy of some APP members to enforce liquor laws, and what he thinks the reasons behind implementing prohibition laws were, such as advocacy from individuals like Emily Murphy and Nellie McClung. Buchanan then discusses his families background, his reasons for joining the APP, and shares stories about his early days working in the Wembley APP detachment.

Conditions governing use:

Blanket permission given to Sean Moir, creator of the records, to use this material in any way he sees fit.

Part 2 of 3: Interview of former Alberta Provincial Police Officer Ed Buchanan by Sean Moir for his 1988 Masters’ Thesis on the Alberta Provincial Police (APP). Buchanan was born in Glasgow in 1899 and moved with his family to Alberta in 1914 shortly before World War I began. Buchanan joined the APP when it was founded in 1916. Buchanan was the officer who opened the Wembley detachment of the APP and spent most of his career with the APP working in the Grande Prairie, St. Paul, and Wembley detachments. In 1932 when the APP was disbanded Buchanan continued his career in law enforcement and became a Mountie for the RCMP.

In part 2 of the interview, Buchanan discusses his daily routine as an APP officer which largely consisted of taking care of the police horses, going on patrol, writing in a daily log journal, following up on complaints of citizens, and the different types of houses he lived in while working in Wembley. Buchanan talks about some specific cases he worked on, including a murder in Beaverlodge. He also recalls the feelings of disappointment and loss felt by may APP officers and Albertans when the APP was disbanded.

Conditions governing use:

Blanket permission given to Sean Moir, creator of the records, to use this material in any way he sees fit.

Part 3 of 3: Interview of former Alberta Provincial Police Officer Ed Buchanan by Sean Moir for his 1988 Masters’ Thesis on the Alberta Provincial Police (APP). Buchanan was born in Glasgow in 1899 and moved with his family to Alberta in 1914 shortly before World War I began. Buchanan joined the APP when it was founded in 1916. Buchanan was the officer who opened the Wembley detachment of the APP and spent most of his career with the APP working in the Grande Prairie, St. Paul, and Wembley detachments. In 1932 when the APP was disbanded Buchanan continued his career in law enforcement and became a Mountie from the RCMP.

In part 3 of the interview, Buchanan recalls some of the activities he did in his free time while working in Wembley, including building a curling rink and holding bonspiels in winter, organizing a badminton club, and playing bridge with a young couple who owned a lumber company. Buchanan discusses his role as an investigator in the 1918 murder cases of 6 men, and how he was able to narrow the suspect list down to three men. He worked on the case in 1922 alongside APP officer JD Nicholson.

Part 2 of 2: Interview of former Alberta Provincial Police Officer Frank Rodberg by Sean Moir for his 1988 Masters’ Thesis on the Alberta Provincial Police (APP). Frank Rodberg was born east of Wetaskiwin in 1911 and moved to Edmonton in 1917. In 1931 he began training with the APP in Edmonton and became a wireless radio operator for the APP in their Peace River detachment. He worked in Peace River from 1931 to 1932 when the APP was dissolved, after which he joined the RCMP.In part 2 of the interview, Rodberg talks about the respect Albertans had developed for the APP over the course of it’s lifetime. He felt that the APP’s operations were superior to any force, which he feels is largely responsible for the respect they received from the public. Rodberg also discusses the disappointment that was felt by APP officers and members of the public when the APP disbanded, as it was a seen as a loss of autonomy for the province. Rodberg finishes the interview with a conversation about his social life in Peace River which included attending dances, going golfing, and horseback riding.

Conditions governing use:

Blanket permission given to Sean Moir, creator of the records, to use this material in any way he sees fit.

Part 1 of 2: Interview of former Alberta Provincial Police Officer Frank Rodberg by Sean Moir for his 1988 Masters’ Thesis on the Alberta Provincial Police (APP). Frank Rodberg was born east of Wetaskiwin in 1911 and moved to Edmonton in 1917. In 1931 he began training with the APP in Edmonton and became a wireless radio operator for the APP in their Peace River detachment. He worked in Peace River from 1931 to 1932 when the APP was dissolved, after which he joined the RCMP.

In part 1 of the interview, Rodberg begins by discussing the background of his family, his educational background, and his employment background prior to joining the APP which included working at Safeway when they first opened in Edmonton in 1926. He talks about the connections he had to the APP through senior members Piper and Hancock, which allowed him to hear of the opportunity to work in the Peace River detachment, and his friendship with Willoughby “Bill” Bryan who was also a wireless radio operator for the APP. Rodberg spends much of the interview recalling what a typical day was while working in the Peace River detachment, the types of crimes the APP dealt with in the Peace River area, and the often racist relationship between the APP and communities in the South Peace with diverse ethnic groups. Later in the interview, Rodberg comments on the general feelings of the APP officers in Peace River after APP Commissioner Bryan retired.

Conditions governing use:

Blanket permission given to Sean Moir, creator of the records, to use this material in any way he sees fit.

Interview of former Alberta Provincial Police Officer R.E. Clark by Sean Moir for his 1988 Masters’ Thesis on the Alberta Provincial Police (APP). R.E. Clark was born in Fort McLeod in 1908, both his father and brother were members of the RCMP. Clark trained in Edmonton with the APP for 6 months before being sent to Lethbridge where he stayed until the APP dissolved.

In the interview, Clark talked about his duties in Lethbridge which included spending many hours travelling back and forth from Ponoka investigating wheat theft and taking citizens to a hospital for mental health in a Ponoka. At the time that hospital was called the Alberta Hospital for the Insane. At the time Clark was on the force Lethbridge was involved with patrolling rum running during the prohibition. Throughout the interview Clark shares a few stories relating to the enforcement of liquor laws, rum runners, and bootleggers during prohibition. Clark discusses labour disputes and strikes among coal workers in Coleman, Alberta. He also recalls that the KKK were often present at these strikes and would sometimes target the strikers.

Conditions governing use:

Blanket permission given to Sean Moir, creator of the records, to use this material in any way he sees fit.

Date: 2006 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The series consists of a copy of the interview form used to obtain the oral histories from the Archives volunteer group and includes the written biographies of Phyllis Stewart, Marie Mencke, Cathy Van Everdink, Edith Burroughs, Betty Welter, and Martin Peterson as well as the oral recordings of their interviews.

Physical description: 1 cm textual records

6 sound recordings

Access points:

•                Sound recording (documentary form)

Publication status:

Published

The series consists of an oral history of Phyllis Stewart recorded in the company of the Archives volunteer group along, with a written biography. Phyllis grew up in a T. Eaton house built on the prairies of southern Alberta. She has vivid childhood memories of life with her parents, brother and sisters, grandmother, and uncle. She and her sister Patsy attended Ione school, sometimes staying with Grandma to avoid the 4 mile walk. Then the family moved off the dried-out farm and into town.

The series consists of an oral history of Edith Burroughs recorded in the company of the Archives volunteer group, along with a written biography. Edie grew up the seventh child and fourth daughter of William and Mary O’Brien in St. Peter’s Bay, Prince Edward Island. She lived on a big farm of 200 acres. Raised in the 1930s, she remembers money was scarce but food was plentiful. They grew potatoes, grain, and apples, and picked blueberries for sale. There were neighborhood parties, dances, and ball games in the summer. She took teacher training and taught for a couple of years but then joined the RCAF in 1942. After training she was posted to the Gaspe and later to Montreal where she graduated from a wireless course. Edie and six of her brothers and sisters were involved in the services so it was an anxious time for her parents. In the spring of 1946 she took nursing training in Charlottetown and then worked in a sanatorium, then in a hospital in Welland, ON. Next, Edie and two other nurses came to Calgary, decided it was to big, and two of them headed for Grande Prairie. In 1950, she met Morris and they moved to a homestead in the Wanham area. They raised one boy, Shaun, and three girls, Beth, Maggi, and Chris. From 1970-73, Edie went back to work at the Spirit River Hospital. In 1975, their house burned to the ground while the family was away. The neighbors came to the rescue with a house to live in while one could be built.

The series consists of an oral history of Betty Welter recorded in the company of the Archives volunteer group, along with a written biography. Betty Smart was born in Bassano, AB, and moved with her sister and parents to the Flying Shot Lake area in 1928. She took her schooling at the one room school and started high school by correspondence. In grade eleven, her mother died and Betty had to quit her studies and help with the farm work. She attended Vermillion Agricultural College from 1939-1941 and returned to Grande Prairie to work in the hospital. She married Jack Welter in 1944 and became the cook in the Grande Prairie High School Dormitory. They raised six children, four girls and two boys and also had boarders for many years so a bigger house on 103 Ave was required along with a large garden. Betty was active in the Women’s Institute, Red Cross, Cancer Society, 4-H, Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, Grande Prairie Museum, and Golden Age Center. Jack died in 1987.

The fonds consists of an oral history of Marie Mencke recorded in the company of the Archives volunteer group, along with a written biography. Marie was born Marie Therese Helene Blanchet on the family farm south of Falher. For her primary grades she attended Ballater North School and for grades 4-7 she went to the St. Augustine Mission along the Shaftesbury Trail, skipped grade eight, came back to Ballater for grade nine and then Falher for grade ten. She worked in private homes, helping with childcare and homemaking, then worked as a waitress for a year. She married Gaston Mencke in 1952. They raised eight children, one girl followed by seven boys. They retired to Grande Prairie in 1992 on their fortieth anniversary.

The series consists of an oral history of Cathy Van Everdink recorded in the company of the Archives volunteer group, along with a written biography. Cathy was born in Poeldyk, Holland, the oldest of four girls. During World War II, when the Germans occupied many of the schools, her school was also a bakery and she was taught practical arts and German. After the war she was never without a job. She worked in a greenhouse, cleaned houses, and clerked in a store. She joined a drama club and a gym and took first aid. In 1958 she met Theo who was vacationing in Holland. He had lived in Canada already for ten years. Six months later she was on her way to Grande Prairie to be married. Learning English was a challenge but her neighbors were helpful. In 1963, they moved to a farm in Wembley and Cathy had to learn how to be a farm worker as well as a mother to three boys, Peter, Ted, and Tom. In 1969, a new house with running water and plumbing made life more pleasant. By 1998, their oldest son was ready to take over the farm and health problems made Cathy and Theo ready to retire to Grande Prairie.

The fonds consists of an oral history of Matin Peterson recorded in the company of the Archives volunteer group, along with a written biography. Martin was born in Nampa, Idaho in 1957. He started school when the family moved to Salt Lake City, and finished his high school after they moved to Peace River when he was 15. He worked at Canadian Propane doing a full shift while attending school. In 1975 he started work with C.N.as a Train Movement Clerk; then in 1980 moved to Edmonton to work as a Machine Operator handling Alberta and BC computer inputs. In 1994 the data center was centralizing so he accepted a severance and headed back to Peace River. A few years later, he and a friend started Riverside Family Foods but soon had to close for lack of sales volume. 2003 found him working at the Peavey Mart and in 2004 he suffered a stroke which left him without the use of his right arm and leg. He spent some time in Ponoka getting help and then found suitable accommodation in Grande Prairie.

Date: 2008 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The series consists of the oral histories recorded for the 50th anniversary of the City of Grande Prairie

Physical description: 27 sound recordings

Access points:

•                Sound recording (documentary form)

Alternative form available:

All interviews in this series have been digitized and transcribed.

Publication status:

Published

Interview notes with counter numbers accompany audio tape. Violet is a longtime resident of Grande Prairie, having grown up on a farm east of Wembley. She has been involved with the IODE, Vial of Life, Meals on Wheels, Peace School of Hope, Book Mending, a companion to travelling ladies, and participated in fund raising auction teas. One of her most exciting memories was watching Billy Salmond’s cattle coming home, crossing the Wapiti River. As Mrs. John Patterson she saw her family’s farm become part of the city.

Interview notes with counter numbers accompany audio tape. Frank was born in 1919 and farmed in the Pipestone Creek area. He was involved with the Grande Prairie Museum, 4-H, the Agriculture Society, and the PEP Program. He loved restoring old vehicles for the Museum. He played baseball and fastball and remembers Grande Prairie as a thriving town in 1958 and was excited by the preparation of the horses for the trip bringing the charter.

Interview notes with counter numbers accompany audio tape. One of Carol-Lee’s involvements after she arrived in Grande Prairie was with the Hot Air Balloon competitions. She was very involved with community activities, including serving as city alderman from 1992 – 2007. The 1995 Canada Winter Games was one of her most memorable involvements.

Interview notes with counter numbers accompany audio tape. Paul was born on a farm near Grande Prairie and was still going to school when Grande Prairie became a city and remembers the city charter coming in. As a city councilor, he remembers the challenges planning for the stable growth of the city. Some vivid memories are the Co-op in its old location, the outdoor pool, and the memorial arena. Procter and Gamble and the forest industry had a major affect on the city. Paul was the owner and manager of Panda Camera, House of Portraits, and Studio on the Park from the late 1960s to the present.

Interview notes with counter numbers accompany audio tape. Elmer Borstad left the Navy to come to Grande Prairie and started Borstad Cartage in the 1950s. He became an alderman and then mayor in the 1960s and then as an MLA he lobbied for parks for smaller cities. Procter and Gamble coming to the city along with the oil business and farming started Grande Prairie growing.

Interview notes with counter numbers accompany audio tape. Helen remembers coming to Grande Prairie on Halloween. Her early involvement with the community included the Welcome Wagon Club and United Way. She saw Grande Prairie as having big city assets with small town charm. She saw the population grow from 20,400 to 52,000. She was one of the longest serving councilors in the City of Grande Prairie’s history.

Interview notes with counter numbers accompany audio tape. Nora was born in Grande Prairie and was in the hospital having her son when Grande Prairie became a city. She sees the most exciting developments as Muskoseepi Park, 214 Place, the College, and Crystal Park School. She was involved in a pilot project for home care which involved training people to look after their sick family members, and later was involved in the VON. She started a loan cupboard which enabled patients to borrow items needed for recuperation.

Interview notes with counter numbers accompany audio tape. Douglas Cardinal was the architect who developed the master plan for the Grande Prairie Regional College to be built on the side of Bear Creek. A now famous Canadian architect, he believes in design matching functionality and the curving shapes of his buildings are his trademark. Despite the requests for a more conventional building, he persevered and the resulting GPRC building is a major attraction in the city. In 2007, the GPRC theatre was named the Douglas Cardinal Theatre in his honour.

Interview notes with counter numbers accompany audio tape. Margaret O’Brien was born in Grande Prairie and she remembers having a great childhood. When Grande Prairie was becoming a city she was married to Bill Bowes and busy raising her children with no paved roads or sidewalks. She has been an extremely active community volunteer over many years including work for the United Church, the G.P. Museum, Grande Prairie Regional College, Odyssey House, the Hospital and the Mental Health Board, Prairie Gallery, and the Music Festival. She remembers celebrating many of the achievements of local young people which makes her believe that Grande Prairie has been a good place for people to develop skills in both athletic and cultural fields.

Interview notes with counter numbers accompany audio tape. Beth was born on her father’s homestead in the lower Beaverlodge district in 1920. She went to school in the Lower Beaverlodge School and then took secretarial training at Alberta College and worked in Toronto for a few years. Returning home, she kept books for the Grande Prairie Livestock Co-operative Livestock Association and in 1943 married Everett Sheehan, a Clairmont farmer. She was living on the farm when Grande Prairie became a city and later became involved with the Trumpeter Swan Society, and the Hot Air Balloon Competitions. As Grande Prairie grew, she took thousands of photographs recording buildings and events. Her community involvement included the UFA, UFWA, Cubs, Home and School Association, Agricultural Society, and various craft clubs. She remembers the opening of the Smoky River bridge in 1949 as exciting as well as the opening of the Grande Prairie Regional College in the 1974.

Interview notes with counter numbers accompany audio tape. Mina was born in Beaverlodge and trained as a nurse. She came to Grande Prairie to work in the Health Unit and remembers long work hours and travelling bad roads, but the work was exciting, including starting to work with new mothers. Mina was involved with the United Church, later studying to become a minister and working part-time in the church in Grande Prairie. She was the first president of the United Church Women for the Peace River Country.

Interview notes with counter numbers accompany audio tape. Jenny remembers living on the northwest side of Bear Lake. The town seemed to almost stop growing during the War but the 1950s saw more comforts like roads and sidewalks. Her community involvement goes back to the beginning of live theatre with the Companion Players in Grande Prairie, and rental of the Bittersuite for a theatre. Then the Swan City Players emerged and they eventually dissolved and GP Little Theatre was created. Theatre groups and music groups cooperated on many productions. More recent offshoot ventures include the summer drama courses for children and Overture Dinner Theatre.

Interview notes with counter numbers accompany audio tape. Gordon Pearcy was born in Grande Prairie and remembers the establishment of the military training center here during World War II. He started a lengthy career in radio at CFGP, married and raised a family here and is now retired. He was involved with the Chamber of Commerce and was a radio contact for people of the Peace country, doing remote radio broadcasting for many years. He arranged for the visit of Prince Andrew and the Duchess of York and remembers lunching with them. He witnessed the growth of the community, the arrival and impact of Procter and Gamble Pulp Mill, and the oil exploration.

Interview notes with counter numbers accompany audio tape. Roger Field was born and raised in the Grande Prairie area. He was attending Montrose Elementary when the city charter was brought in. The growth of the city became a planning problem and G.P. became part of the South Peace Planning Commission. A big planning challenge was Procter and Gamble locating here. Roger trained as an architect and became part of the firm Field, Field & Field. Most of the schools, the ADAC Center, the Regional Hospital, the provincial building, Weyerhaeuser, and oil and power company facilities in Grande Prairie were planned by their firm. Roger played hockey and was involved in theatre. He believes planning for future expansion has to take environmental concerns into account.

Interview notes with counter numbers accompany audio tape. Jack Soars has lived all his life in the Peace country and was part of the inauguration of CFGP, the first radio station in northern Alberta in the 1930s. He worked in programming and hosted an evening show called “Pioneera” which featured reading letters from pioneers relating their stories of settlement in this part of the north. He also hosted a morning radio talk show for many years. He remembers when radio was available for people to phone in and announce meetings or send messages to friends. He believes the pioneer spirit still lives in older people and that “people” really make the country.

Interview notes with counter numbers accompany audio tape. Fern was one of ten children born to John and Mary Keillor who arrived in the Last Lake district in 1915. She remembers living in a log shack with a sod roof while a log house was being built. As children they found their own entertainment: wading in the dam, building a house out of sticks, ball games. Their mother taught them to sing and dance. They started school when there was a teacher available and took correspondence after grade eight. In 1937 she married Oscar Gudlaugson, son of Icelandic parents who had settled in the Clairmont area. Oscar worked as a grain buyer at Gage, then Rycroft. In 1946 they moved back to the old farm in Clairmont and then bought the Hugh Thompson farm in 1951 in the Albright district. Their son Derril was born in 1941 and Craig was adopted in 1948. She remembers looking forward to going to the show in Grande Prairie and to Joe’s Corner Coffee Shop. Fern became very active in the Beaverlodge community, in the United Church, the Salvation Army, and the Beaverlodge Cultural Center.

Interview notes with counter numbers accompany audio tape. Roy was born in 1930 in the Debolt area and moved to Grande Prairie in 1941. When Grande Prairie became a city he was married and working in the forest industry. The Bickell family became involved in the lumber industry, establishing the Plywood Plant which eventually became the center for the Canfor operations in northern Alberta. Roy has been involved in the political arena, a major supporter of the Grande Prairie Museum, and has a fascination with hunting for fossils. He owns one of the largest fossil collections in private hands in Alberta

Interview notes with counter numbers accompany audio tape. Parminder Syan immigrated to Canada from Kenya. He has been involved in the real estate business in Grande Prairie since he moved here. He realized sales of over $4 million his first year. He was the first Canadian to be accepted for FRI (?) and then CRA(?). During the recession from 1970-1980, he became an appraiser. He saw the jobs created by Procter and Gamble and the building of the hospital in the 1980s as contributing to the growth of the city. His community involvement includes the Kinsmen Club, the Masons and Shriners, the Parks and Recreation Board, and the Assessment Appeal Board. As a member of the Sikh church, he presides over weddings and funerals and has seen many of his fellow Sikhs own businesses. The Sikh culture, including dress and language is maintained within their temple but many have adopted western traditions outside the temple.

Interview notes with counter numbers accompany audio tape. Clem Collins was born in Spirit River, his father having come into the country before World War I broke out. After returning home from World War II, Clem attended UBC and earned a Commerce Degree. Working in Edmonton he met his future wife, Muriel. He was offered a job as an accountant in Grande Prairie making $150 a month and promised his wife they would only stay a few years. In the 1950s, he borrowed $2000 to buy “Block X”, 88 Ave. and 100 St. and borrowed $600 to buy a 1950 Meteor car. He approached builders Durrant and Bloomfield about building a house from a picture Muriel had cut out of the paper. He remembers the liveliness of the 60s with new businesses, schools, churches, the museum. He became president of the Chamber of Commerce when the concern was expanding the airport, roads south and north, and the forest industry expansion with Canfor. Later, he became the Alberta Chamber President. In the mid 1970s he was asked by Premier Lougheed to join a mission to Europe to promote more world trade. Clem and Muriel have been major supporters of the Grande Prairie Regional College and the Grande Prairie Museum.

Interview notes with counter numbers accompany audio tape. Tim Heimdal was born and raised in Grande Prairie. He always wanted to paint and do theatre. He remembers playing a London Bobby in My Fair Lady, and also acting in Ballad of Knobby Clark and painting sets for All My Sons. He made a transition from set painting to murals and created about 100 murals throughout Alberta, including Hythe and Beaverlodge and about 20 in Grande Prairie, the most famous being the painting of Kakwa Falls on full height of the AGT building. Grande Prairie Regional College made a big impact on his life with fine arts program adding to the community investment in art and drama. He also did the murals for the main gallery of the GP museum and scaled an incline into a gorge at Kakwa Falls to photograph winter perspectives for the stairwell wall murals of the Grande Prairie airport. Tim continues to work as a visual artist in Grande Prairie.

Interview notes with counter numbers accompany audio tape. Jenny Tomshak was born on a homestead and started school in Clairmont only knowing Polish. They were a big family but always had a garden, cattle, pigs, and chickens and wheat that could be taken to the mill in Sexsmith for grinding. She took grade twelve in Grande Prairie and got a job at the post office in Clairmont. She married Rudy Croken, the elevator agent, and lived in Clairmont for a time. When her husband’s health declined, they moved to Grande Prairie. Rudy worked at Northside Oil and then in the liquor store. Jenny also had to work, first at a hotel and then the post office, where she was working when McCullough brought in the Charter.

Interview notes with counter numbers accompany audio tape. Jillian Oliver came to Grande Prairie from England in 1971 to work for the Grande Prairie School District. She was involved with the Child Development Center in teaching children with disabilities. She was involved with the establishment of Crystal Park School which combined but a regular program and a program for children with handicaps. She found living in Grande Prairie exciting, joining in skiing and curling, and she enjoyed Muskoseepi Park. She and her husband made good friends while here, but they returned to England in 1989.

Interview notes with counter numbers accompany audio tape. Fred Tissington was born in Grande Prairie. His grandfather came in the country over the Edson Trail having immigrated from England. He was seventeen and in high school when the city charter came in. His father started a construction business and Fred worked for him. Later the business started to build modular homes, but the factory burned down in 1970. Fred became involved in building homes, land development, and in the 1980s formed a partnership with cousin David Tissington, TWest Canada Developments, building Earl’s and Joey Tomatoes in Western Canada. One of his biggest challenges was building affordable housing. The planning process was onerous and there was a great challenge after the recession when interest rates skyrocketed. The building industry has done very well in the last years with the development of Country Club, Wedgewood, and Country Side South subdivisions and Willow Place downtown. Fred also worked with the United Way, and for the Canada Winter Games in 1995.

Interview notes with counter numbers accompany audio tape. Angie was brought up by loving, supportive Metis parents who became her role models in later life, but she had to grow out of her early experience in the residential school system which had ben very depressing and had lowered her self esteem. Angie moved to Grande Prairie in 1966. She had eight children and was recently divorced. She had moved from Yellowknife for the health and welfare of her children. Grande Prairie offered more opportunities for growing children. One of her fondest memories is meeting her new husband and remarrying in 1967. He embraced her children and made her feel worthy and loved. They were able to establish a happy, secure life. Angie has been involved with many community programs including programs at the Friendship Center. In 2005 she received the Aboriginal Lifetime Achievement Award and the Provincial Centennial Award for volunteering. In 2007 she received the Governor General’s caring Award for spearheading the Aboriginal Elders Caring Shelter. She is an example of how strong dedication and willingness to work with others can create programs that change lives.

Interview notes with counter numbers accompany audio tape. Sam arrived in Grande Prairie in 1950 with his brother Yuen and his mother. He was 16. His father had already come to Grande Prairie in the 1920s, spent some time in Dawson Creek and then returned to Grande Prairie. His father established the Palace Café on Richmond Ave. next to Croken’s Store and across from Macleod’s. Sam remembers working in the restaurant after school. When it rained he had to put on knee high boots to cross the street. In 1958 he took over the business and changed the name to New Palace. When the Hudson Bay burned they bought Sam’s property and he bought Croken’s store and made it his café. He remembers the cold day when the charter came to town, but it was a busy day in the restaurant. Most of the Chinese families that came to Grande Prairie at that time came from a small area of China so they spoke the same dialect. One of Sam’s best memories was when Grande Prairie got natural gas. Before that they had to chop wood (later get coal) and get the furnace and the stove started. Natural gas gave him another hour of sleep in the morning. He married and raised his children here, living close to downtown and remembers never having a key to his front door.

Interview notes with counter numbers accompany audio tape. Bill joined the Air Force and went overseas in 1942 as a navigator on Lancasters. When the war ended he became part of the occupation Air Force, stationed in Britain. He was discharged in 1946 and came home to Barry, Ontario where his brother was working in a newspaper. He arrived in Grande Prairie in 1950 with Orm Shultz to join his brothers Jim, David, and Howard Bowes in the newspaper business. In 1952 he married Margaret O’Brien. Later Bill had a desire to move out of the newspaper operation and bought a dry cleaning plant. They serviced a large area including the Bennett Dam construction workers. He gradually looked for other businesses to buy. He built Nordic Court after giving up the idea of getting into politics. Later he built Windsor Court and then he decided to venture into the storage business as well. His brother Jim moved to Ontario and then to Kelowna, staying in the newspaper business; David became a lawyer; and Howard had a big newspaper operation in Leduc so Bill sold out his interest to Bowes Publishing. He also sold their dry cleaning operation to Canadian Linen. Bill has been very involved in the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, Alberta Newspaper Association, Central Business Association, GPRC College Foundation, “D” Company Armouries, fundraising for Canada Winter Games, and the Province of Alberta Public/Private Advisory Committee. He received the “Citizen of the Year Award” in 1968.

Date: 18 Feb 2018 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

This series consists of one CD with two sound recordings made in partnership with the Grande Prairie Museum’s Family Day. There are also documents relating to the project.

Physical description: 0.5 cm textual records

2 sound recordings

Access points:

•                Textual record (documentary form)

•                Sound recording (documentary form)

Publication status:

Published

One oral history interview with the Morkin family. The family were visiting Grande Prairie during the Family Day festivities. They discussed their favourite family activities, described their family home, and their favourite memory connected to the South Peace.

This file contains an oral history interview with the Alshikh and Hamond family. The family lives in Grande Prairie.