Veterans should be honoured for their service, but they were not all unblemished heroes. James Pettigrew, a former resident in what is now Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park, is one of those veterans with a tarnished past. In January 1916, 36-year-old Private James Pettigrew enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (C.E.F.) of the First World War… Continue reading An Unlikely Hero
Category: Soldiers in WWI
Historic Calgary Week 2024
“Community Builders” is the theme of Historic Calgary Week 2024, which is put on by the Chinook Country Historical Society (CCHS). Although based in Calgary, the society seeks to preserve and share the history of Alberta from Olds to Nanton. The 34th annual Historic Calgary Week runs from Friday, July 26 to Monday, August 4… Continue reading Historic Calgary Week 2024
Remembering Alberta Parks
Listen to the interview I recently did with Michael Bartz for his podcast In Over My Head. My episode is in the most recent series on “Remembering Alberta Parks.” You can listen to the series trailer where “Michael explores the unique and sometimes surprising history of Alberta Parks. He learns about Aspen Beach, Miquelon, Glenbow… Continue reading Remembering Alberta Parks
Event at Calgary!
Join Shari on Thursday, February 1 at 7:00 PM at The Military Museums (located at 4520 Crowchild Trail SW, Calgary) for a presentation as part of the Blood sweat and tears: Canadian Military Medicine Lecture Series. Shari’s presentation, entitled “…And A Few of the Best of Us,” highlights the residents of Glenbow, a former settlement located in today’s… Continue reading Event at Calgary!
Remembrance Day: The Norris Family
Although the Norris family homesteaded and farmed in the Glendale District, they had a notable impact on Glenbow, which was located in today’s Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park. They also made a significant contribution to Canada’s armed forces. Thomas Henry Norris and his son Arthur came to Canada from England in 1903, arriving in Alberta the… Continue reading Remembrance Day: The Norris Family
Christmas Cards of Hope
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
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
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
Margaret Mole
Food is an important part of holiday celebrations, but do we always appreciate the people who prepare our festive treats? All too often, historical records focus on the wealthy party-goers, while the people working behind-the-scenes are forgotten. This photo from the Vanderhoef collection is a classic example: the notation on the back names the dog,… Continue reading Margaret Mole
Blytha Copeman Pearkes
Constance Blytha Copeman Pearkes, who was born at Glenbow on 18 March 1902, led “an extraordinary life” due to “her wit, good humour and positive attitude” — and a bit of good luck. In 1900, William and Edith Copeman, left England and purchased Waverley Ranch (now in the centre of Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park). During… Continue reading Blytha Copeman Pearkes