Vol. 38 • No. 3 Website: www.pioneersalberta.org Email: southernalbertapioneers@shaw.ca June 2006

President’s Message

The history continues. The Pioneersand the Calgary Exhibition and

Stampede.The association of the Pioneers

with the Calgary Exhibition andStampede goes back before the turnof the century. In 1884 a group ofpioneers petitioned and establishedthe Calgary and District AgriculturalSociety, thus helping to start theCE&S. In 1899 the name waschanged to the Inter-Western PacificExhibition. In 1911 another namechange occurred, to the CalgaryIndustrial Exhibition Co. and in 1933the name changed again to its pre-

sent name, the Calgary Exhibitionand Stampede. During the fall andwinter of 1884-85 the CE&S, with aidfrom the CPR, filled an express carwith samples of agricultural productsgrown in Alberta and took a tour ofCanada promoting our city. In 1886and to follow, the CE&S held yearlyfairs on the Exhibition grounds andin 1912 the CE&S expanded the fairto include a rodeo. As you all areaware, today the CE&S is knownworld over.

Many, many of our Old Timerswere competitors in the Stampedeevents and others worked in different

areas to help make the CE&S what itis today. Today a dedicated group ofSAOT has worked long and hardand have compiled a special tributeto our great history in the form of apicture display. This interesting col-lection of artifacts is featured duringStampede Week for all to see. We allshould take time to visit the Big FourBuilding during Stampede Week andsee this amazing collection of oldtime pictures – not only of the Stam-pede events, but of the history oftowns, private residences and otherevents around our province.

– Peggy Barr

Volunteers Required – Stampede Exhibit 2006Volunteers view this year’s display and pick up your passes June 19, 2006 at the Memorial Building from 2 - 5 pm

or 6 - 8 pm. David Wake 288-5545 or Bud Vine 279-4744

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The following have donated to ourMemorial Building Fund since my

last report in January, 2006:Mrs. Evelyn CalowMrs. Lucille Togstad (in memory of

Betty Schmaltz)Mrs. Alice HuggardMrs. Linda HermansonRev. William A. SayersMrs. C.M. SkeneMr. Gerald WebberMr. & Mrs. Art HannaMr. David MayhoodContributions to the Fund are

income tax deductible. Chequesshould be made payable to TheSouthern Alberta Pioneers’ Memorial

Building Fund. At April 9, 2006, theFund stood at $184,490.

In addition to donations fromindividuals and bequests from estates,The Southern Alberta Pioneers’ Asso-ciation contributes $50 to the Fundin memory of each deceased member.

– John L. Hutchings

Memorial Building Fund

Membership ReportThe Newsletter can be read

and printed from www.pioneersalberta.org. If you would prefer not to

receive a paper copy in the mailand read the newsletter online,

please e-mailsap.membership@shaw.ca

and let me know your wishes.

In Memoriam:Aileen Sibbald, Gwen Johnston,

Florence Hughes, Vola McPherson,Fern Jensen and Ken Lynn.

Welcome New Gold Card Members:

Mary Harvie, Sabine Joffe, GordonLeslie, Helen Mackie, William Lewis,Bill Cunningham, Alan Hodgson,Bruce Barkley and Bud Vine.

Welcome Back Reinstated Member:James Skinner

Welcome New Members:Jared Paisley, descendant of Jared

Paisley (Jerry), Fort Macleod, 1882.Betty Gray, descendant of John

Copithorne, Jumping Pound, 1882.Meghan Hanna, descendant of

John Alexander Irving, Davisburg,August 1886.

Gail Carscallen, descendant ofWilliam Edward Ross, Calgary, 1885.

Thanks again for keeping meinformed of address/phone changes.Call me at 271-5483 or e-mail me atsap.membership@shaw.ca.

– Maureen PeckhamMembership Secretary

HERITAGE FAMILY FUNERAL SERVICESProfessional, Compassionate Service with

Dignity and Respect at Modest Prices

Third Generation Funeral Directors

HERITAGE FUNERAL HOME1708 - 16th Ave. NW

(Across from North Hill Shopping Centre)Ph: 299-0100 Fax: 282-5259

E-mail: hffs@telusplanet.net

CALGARY CREMATORIUM & FUNERAL SERVICES3219 - 4th St. NW

(Within Queen’s Park Cemetery)Ph: 299-0111 Fax: 282-1399

E-mail: ccfsco@telusplanet.net

The only Funeral Service Owned andOperated by the JACQUES FAMILY

Southern Alberta Pioneers Since 1880

Toll Free: 1-888-862-7448 Website: www.hffs.com

Douglas L. Jacques Laurie M. Jacques

Casino Committee Report

Ahuge ‘Thank You’ is extended toa great group of volunteers who

raised over $76,000 while volunteer-ing at our October 10 & 11, 2005casino. That makes the volunteerhours worth approximately $2,000per person, which is pretty impres-sive. We received our funds in Febru-ary and the ‘super group’ included:

Peggy Barr Laurie JacquesLeanne Bateman Barbara KwasnyWayne Bateman Fran McTaggartBob Brewster Dennis MooneyMargaret Buckley Bill MurphyLance Cooke Hilda OnionsMargaret Cooke Sandy PedlarDanny Copithorne Audrey RiceKaren Clark Ernie RiceGeorge Cranston Pat RodriguezFern Dorsch Trish RussellJoe Ferguson Shirley SiddonMoyra Ferguson Marion SmithDon Fipke Curtis SmithKerri Fipke Ken ThompsonBarbara George Dave WakeMargaret Glasford Greg WhiteGwen Hanna Virginia Holmes

The funds are used primarily forthe ongoing upkeep and improve-ments to the Memorial Building andgrounds. Our next casino will beduring the April – June 2007 period.

– Pat Rodriguez, Casino CoordinatorFort Calgary celebrates Canada Day with a Country

Fair, July 1, 2006 from 10 am to 4 pm. 750 - 9 Ave SE.

www.fortcalgary.ab.ca

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Glen@Godlonton.com (403) 829-9500

Proud member of theSouthern Alberta Pioneers

- Native Calgarian- Free in-home appraisal- No pressure assistance whether you are selling or buying a home

www.Godlonton.com

House of Real Estate

Glen Godlonton

Chinook Historical Walk Week

Calgary’s Treasurer’s is thetheme for Chinook Historical

Walk Week. The GEMS are membersof the Southern Alberta Pioneersand our Memorial Building at 3625 -4 Street SW.

OPENING DAY: July 28, 2006 – 10 am to 4 pm.You will be hearing ‘Pioneer

Experiences’ from several memberswho are descendants of pioneersfrom 1873 to 1890.

Information on 1891 census andwalks in the area.

Parking is available, bring youlunch and lawn chairs to enjoy aninteresting day.

Family Roots 2006

Here is an announcement – Cal-gary’s Genealogical Event of

the Year. October 13 & 14, 2006 atthe Carriage House Inn, an opportu-nity for those searching their familyhistory. Beginners as well asresearchers will find helpful ideasand methods. www.afhs.ab.ca.

2006 Men’sPancakeBreakfast

Saturday, July 16th9 am - Noon

Memorial Serviceand Tea

Sunday, July 10th – 2 pmat the Pioneer Building

Convenor: Gwen Hanna 279-5621

Please Note:Our events will be

outside, rain or shine.This includes the BBQ,Pancake Breakfast, etc.

Large tents will be set upat the Building for the

Stampede activities this year.

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MEMBER NAME TAGSCost: $8.50 (including GST)

The name tags will be 1” x 3”, gold color with black lettering.

PLEASE PRINT ALL INFORMATION

Your Name:

_______________________________Your Pioneer Family Name:

_______________________________(Last name only)

Address: __________________________________________________________

________________________________________Postal Code:_______________

Phone # __________________________________________________________

Please send the required information, along with your cheque for $8.50payable to Southern Alberta Pioneers to:

Southern Alberta Pioneersc/o Pat Rodriguez

30, 7166 - 18 Street SE, Calgary, AB T2C 1Y9

Southern Alberta PioneersYOUR NAME HERE

Pioneer Family – NAME HERE

THESTAMPEDEBARBECUESaturday, July 8/06

Memorial BuildingCocktails 6:00 p.m.Dinner 6:30 p.m.

$22.00/person(age 13 and over)

Children 12 and under FREE

To order tickets call:

Gwen Hanna279-5621

Pat Rodriguez279-6435

Catering by

The Rotary Club of Calgary

Cook Book

After many requests we havedecided to re-print (third print-

ing) our first cookbook, From PioneerKitchens, our Anniversary editionprinted in 1990. The books will beavailable by the first part of June.Please contact Fern Dorsch, 278-2793.

We still have a few of our ethniccookbook, Pioneer Kitchens FromMany Lands. Both of these bookshave been very popular and makeexcellent gifts for showers, weddingsand out-of-town guests.

was originally situated near the oldNorth West Mounted Police barracksin east Calgary, when the popula-tion of the settlement was only 75persons. Thus, Mary became the firstAnglo-Saxon woman to make herhome in Calgary. The neighbour-hood men built some crude furni-ture and Mary Jacques, with yards offactory cotton, made curtains andlined the walls for the winter. Shelater acquired a stove, and Georgemade a wooden floor.

In 1882, her husband built thefirst jewellerystore, adjoin-ing theirhome. Thestore waslater movedto StephenAvenue.In1893, thestore wasr e p l a c e d

by a two-storey sandstone buildingat 123 - 8 Avenue SW, where Georgeoperated his business until retiringin 1911. George Edwin died in Cal-gary in 1926; Mary’s death occurredin 1939, after 58 continuous years asCalgary’s first white woman toreside in Calgary.

A daughter and two sons wereborn to Mary and George Edwin inCalgary: Winnifred in 1885; Harry(a Calgary jeweller) in 1888; andGeorge Lindon (a Calgary funeraldirector) in 1894. The lineage of theJacques Family residing continuous-

ly in Calgary since 1881 currentlydescends through seven

generations.

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Family History

Mrs. George E. (Mary) JacquesCalgary’s First White Woman

The Newsletter can be read at www.pioneersalberta.org.To help reduce the expense of mailing the Newsletter,

please notify the office to have your address removed from our mailing list. Send to: sap.membership@shaw.ca.

Born at Millbrook, Ontario onJune 3, 1856, Mary Christo

taught in the Indian Mission Schoolat Saugeen, Bruce Co., Ontario. OnAugust 20, 1879, she married GeorgeEdwin Jacques, the son of Rev.George Jacques, a Missionary to theIndian Reserve. Early in 1880, Mary’shusband left Peterborough and trav-eled west to Alberta. An itinerantjeweller and watch repairer, heestablished his headquarters andworkshop in John Glen’s “stoppingplace” at Fish Creek, from where hetraveled by stagecoach from Edmon-ton to Fort Macleod. Thus, hebecame the first jeweller in what isnow Alberta.

Later in 1880, on August 20th,their first wedding anniversary,Mary left Ontario with their infantdaughter Minnie, accompanied byher father-in-law, to join her hus-band at Fish Creek. The child dieden route at Fort Benton, Montana,succumbing to the strain of the jour-ney.At Fort Benton, another of theReverend’s sons, J.E. “Jimmy”Jacques, joined Mary and Rev.George Jacques. The party arrived inMidnapore on November 14, 1880,and it was decided that Marywould stay at John Glen’s forthe winter where, for the nextfour months, she taught read-ing and writing to the native Indianchildren of John Glen and his wife.

The following spring, Mary andher husband, George E. Jacques, pur-chased a log cabin in Calgary fromsurveyor A.W. McVittie for $120 andmoved in on March 10, 1881. Nowpreserved as a historical buildingwithin Heritage Park, the log cabin

OFFICERSPresident

Peggy Barr.........................246-2843Vice-President

Bob Brewster.....................225-2376Past President

Bill Murphy ......................252-6565Secretary

Sandy Pedlar.....................278-1334Treasurer

John Hutchings................255-4211 Membership

Maureen Peckham ...........271-5483Directors: Two-Year Term

Laurie Jacques ..................271-0138John Douglass ..................641-2562Pamela Hilton ..................932-2637Fran Copithorne ..............271-1972

One-Year TermDavid Wake......................288-5545Shirley Siddon..................271-1118Beryl Sibbald ....................932-5584Bud Vine...........................279-4744

COMMITTEESBridge

Fern Dorsch......................278-2793Building

Danny Copithorne...........271-1972Casino

Pat Rodriguez ...................279-6435Cookbooks

Fern Dorsch......................278-2793

HistoricalJim Mackie .......................228-4046Joan Davis ........................251-4915

LibrarySharon Thielen.................282-1302

NewsletterKerri Fipke ........................271-9581

Newsletter AdvertisingBeryl Sibbald ....................932-5584

Records ManagementAnne Fitzpatrick...............271-3179Peggy Barr.........................246-2843

Sick & Visiting Alice Schwieger ................287-0995

Social Moyra Ferguson ...............249-9989

Stampede ParadeDon Edge..........................875-6851

Stampede DisplayDavid Wake......................288-5545Bud Vine...........................279-4744

Telephone Bud Vine...........................279-4744

PadreRev. Bill Sayers .................282-8526

Pioneer LadyAnne Fitzpatrick...............271-3179

Pioneer GentJim Colvin ........................289-1477

Memorial Bldg. Caretaker – Sherry TofinSAP Office........................243-3580SAP Fax ............................287-2485Hall ..................................287-2489

Friday, Jul. 7 – Pre-Parade Breakfast forparticipants at Rotary House, 5:30am.Convenor: Kerri Fipke, 271-9851.

Saturday, Jul. 8 – Stampede BBQ,6:00pm. Convenor needed.

Sunday, Jul. 9 – Memorial Service &Tea, 2:00pm. Convenor: Audrey Rice,255-4103.

Monday, Jul. 10 – Sandwich Making forRotary House. Convenor needed.

Tuesday, Jul. 11 – Pioneer Tea at RotaryHouse. Convenor needed.

Saturday, Jul. 15 – Pancake Breakfast,9:00am - Noon. Convenor: Danny Cop-ithorne, 271-1972.

Sunday, Sept. 10 – Family Day & PotLuck at Champion Park, 2:00pm. Con-venors: Danny & Fran Copithorne,271-1972.

Saturday, Oct. 14 – Annual GeneralMeeting & Luncheon, 12 Noon -3:00pm. Convenor: Kerri Fipke, 271-9581.

Saturday, Nov. 4 – Round-Up Dinner atPalliser Hotel, 6:00pm. Convenors:Danny & Fran Copithorne, 271-1972.

Saturday, Dec. 2 – Christmas Dinner,6:00pm. Convenor needed.

All events are held at the Memorial Hall,except where otherwise noted.

Relay any updates or changes to Peggy Barr,246-2843.

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2006 Board of Directors and Committee Chairpersons

Historical CommitteePlease submit Family Histories to

be entered in our archives. Wewould like to feature a family histo-ry for each newsletter publication.Contact Pat Cox, 252-4220.

DeadlineDeadline for newsletter copy and

photos to be submitted in writing atmonthly Board Meetings or left atSAP office. Newsletter printed Janu-ary, May and September.

Historical CommitteeResumes regular weekly meetings

on Monday, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.Contact Jim Mackie, 228-4046.

Sick and VisitingPlease notify Alice Schwieger

(287-0995) of any illness or death inyour family or if anyone has need ofa hospital visit.

Board Meetings1st Tuesday of the month at

7:00 p.m. (except July). Memberswelcome.

Card Night3rd Thursday of the month at

7:00 p.m. (except July, August andDecember). Everyone is invited,members and friends. $2.00 perperson. Contact Fern Dorsch at278-2793.

AdvertisingTo place an ad in this publica-

tion, please call Beryl Sibbald,932-5584. Deadline to place a clas-sified ad – SAP Board meeting priorto publication.

Members are encouraged to sup-port the businesses advertised in ournewsletter.

Memorial BuildingBookings phone 243-3580 (office)

287-2489 (hall), fax 287-2485.

Website: http://www.pioneersalberta.org

Email:southernalbertapioneers@shaw.ca