Several years ago, just before Christmas, I was charged with forwarding the personal possessions of a pioneering Albertan doctor and his family to the Royal Alberta Museum. Although Dr. Andrew Walter Park and his wife Amelia resided in Cochrane, their adopted daughter Lorna had been born to the Wall family of Glenbow (located in today’s… Continue reading Christmas Cards of Hope
Author: shari@sharipeyerl.ca
The James Family
As we pause for a moment of silence at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, we mark the anniversary of the declaration that ended The Great War. For many Canadians, war — especially the one that began this tradition — seems remote. The First World War, although conducted overseas, wasn’t… Continue reading The James Family
Event at Calgary!
Join Shari on Monday, November 14 at 7:00 PM at the Bow Cliff Seniors Centre (located at 3375 Spruce Drive SW) for a presentation about her new book Alberta’s Cornerstone: Archaeological Adventures in Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park, published by Heritage House Publishing. This event hosted by the Alberta Family Histories Society is also being broadcast over Zoom (contact AFHS… Continue reading Event at Calgary!
Travellers
The vagaries of modern travel are nothing new. People a century ago would have empathized with today’s long lineups, last minute delays and lost baggage. Many of Glenbow’s former residents encountered challenges while travelling. One of the most frightening incidents was endured by the Fitzgerald family, residents of Glenbow from 1905 to 1908. In October… Continue reading Travellers
Arthur Bottom
Prior to the invention of commercial passenger planes, the only option for intercontinental travel was by ship. For many of Glenbow’s former residents, their ocean crossing to Canada was a rare, perhaps unique, event. However, Arthur Bottom sailed the world for nine years before he gave up his seafaring lifestyle and came to Glenbow. At… Continue reading Arthur Bottom
Cochrane Culture Days Event!
Come on out to Cochrane this weekend for Cochrane Culture Days, organized by the Cochrane Integrated Arts Society! There are lots of interesting things to do and performances to see. You’ll find music, dancing, cultural events like a tipi-raising and drumming circle, classic cars, and kid-friendly fun like face painting and balloon animals. New this… Continue reading Cochrane Culture Days Event!
Ukrainian Immigrants: John & Anna Charyk
Today, Ukrainian refugees are fleeing their war-torn country and seeking asylum in Canada. Immigration from this region is not new. More than a hundred years ago, the community in today’s Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park welcomed Ukrainian immigrants, John and Anna Charyk. In 1880, John was born in the Ukrainian village of Bila, in the vicinity… Continue reading Ukrainian Immigrants: John & Anna Charyk
The Wall Family: Loss & Legacy
Although historians and archaeologists study all aspects of life in the past, grief and loss are not common research topics. However, we can benefit from understanding how others coped with tragedy, since we all eventually suffer the heartache of losing someone close to us. The Wall family once lived in what is today Glenbow Ranch… Continue reading The Wall Family: Loss & Legacy
Historic Calgary Week Event!
Join Shari on Tuesday, July 26 at 7:00 PM for a special presentation as part of Historic Calgary Week (organized by Chinook Country Historical Society). This Zoom event is titled “The Unbreakable Porcelain Doll: Digging Up the Hidden History of Girls & Women.” Archaeological discoveries, historical sources, genealogical research and oral histories reveal surprising stories of remarkable… Continue reading Historic Calgary Week Event!
Event at Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park!
Join Shari Peyerl on Sunday, July 17 at 3:00 PM at Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park for a presentation about her new book Alberta’s Cornerstone: Archaeological Adventures in Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park, published by Heritage House Publishing. A short presentation will cover the archaeological work that inspired the book, summarize the history of the park area, and introduce some of… Continue reading Event at Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park!