Rix Grant was born in 1902, near Orillia, ON, to English and Scottish parents. Coming west on a “harvest excursion trains” when he was 18, he worked at several farms in Saskatchewan, one summer, and in southern Alberta the next year. During the first winter, he returned to Ontario to work in lumber camps. In May 1924, Rix came to the Sexsmith and Clairmont area intending to someday buy a homestead, working for Walter Ward as a thresher. Once more going back to Ontario, he married Kay Crockford in 1925. For the next two years, Rix farmed a rented a section of land from Dave Sexsmith. His crops were so profitable that he could purchase thee quarters of land, and file for a homestead in La Glace. Proving up the homestead land, Kay and Rix farmed and raised 3 children: Shirley (later married John Heiken), Phylis (who married Hugh Powell), and Herb. The children attended the new Old Post School. At age 39, in 1941, Rix joined the army. In 1945 he was discharged in Calgary. In addition to his grain production, Rix also enjoyed livestock buying, selling and feeding. Retiring from farming, Rix and Kay moved to a house in Grande Prairie, keeping busy with gardening, and attending the Senior Citizens’ Centre.
Source: La Glace Yesterday and Today p. 298-299 Family History; Photo of family with Rix in uniform.
P. 314 name in list of veterans
Grande Prairie Herald Tribune – March 19, 1953 p. 9 c. 6 Kay – Irish jig (?)