Search Islandora Content

Audio - Mrs. Violet Rein discusses her life in Athabasca from the 1920s on. She recounts the time that her husband shot a bear trying to get into their house at night to get the Irish cranberries she had picked during the day. She recounts the…

Audio - Mrs. Dorothy Chartrand discusses her family history which includes her grandfather, Octave, and his son Pierre setting up the Bellerose Livery Stable in Athabasca in 1898. She talks about her family's short sojourn in Colinton near the…

Audio - Mr. Al Cramer talks about his time as a trapper, fur trader and farmer in Athabasca during the first few decades of the twentieth century. He describes trapping wolves for a ten dollar bounty, trapping foxes on McKay River and on a farm at…

Audio - Mr. Roy Bergeron and Mr. George Bergeron, sons of Horace Bergeron, owner of the Bergeron Sash and Door Store, discuss their personal history including the arrival of their mother in Athabasca from Jolliette, Quebec by covered wagon. They…

Audio - Mrs. Alice Donahue speaks of her early life in Red Willow, Alberta and her eventual move to Athabasca in 1937 following her marriage. She discusses the curriculum she studied as a child and other early memories. Mrs. Donahue's time in…

Audio - Mrs. Cloe Day discusses her life as a teacher including how difficult it was to teach home economics and shop class with no equipment and materials. She talks about games she played and how it was sometimes difficult to obtain food during…

Audio - Mr. Percy Ward and Mrs. Marion Ward discuss their family history, particularly Mrs. Ward's family (Lewis) as they were one of the original families in the Perryvale area. They discuss how Perryvale got its name (it was originally called…

Audio - Mrs. Ellen Bishop (Loutit) discusses her personal history. She talks of life in the Athabasca area in the early part of the twentieth century with stories about dog teams pulling sleighs, collecting syrup from birch trees, etc. Mrs. Bishop…

Audio - Mrs. Jesse Rollings gives a detailed account of life and work on the Athabasca River starting from 1922. She explains logging/lumbering and freighting on the river with great detail including: names of companies, ships, employees, and…

Audio - Mrs. Nancy Appleby talks about her life in Athabasca starting with her arrival at Baptiste Lake in 1944. Mrs. Appleby discusses the first Klondike Night in the basement of the Athabasca Community Centre organized by her and Hazel Hall. Can-…

Audio - Mr. Joe Logan gives his personal history touching on his family, working life, and interactions with a variety of early Athabasca area residents. Mr. Logan talks about freighting and the Hudson's Bay Store, as well as lumbering and…

Audio - Mrs. Gladys Wright discusses homesteading in Athabasca including living in a tent on the riverbank when her family initially arrived in Athabasca in 1912. She mentions her time as a night operator in the telephone office as well as a lengthy…

Audio - Mr. Alexander Lennie arrived in Athabasca in 1930 with his wife and seven children to homestead on Soldier Settlement Land. He talks about clearing the land, and starting his farming life in Athabasca. Mr. Lennie discusses other settlers,…

Audio - This is a discussion of the involvement of Mr. David H. Bower, Mr. G.J. (Jack) Smith, Mr. Arlo Rooke, Mr. Raymond W. Lewis, Mr. Nick Wyntonyk, and Mr. William Chrusch in World War II . Mr. Smith was the first soldier to land back in…

Audio - Mr. Gordon Vance discusses his personal history and life in Athabasca. He talks of the ferry and of his early teachers (Edith Chapman, Jean Falconer, Fred Meadows, Miss Plumley and Tiny Shaw- the Principal.) He discusses his friendships and…

Audio - (Poor quality at beginning of second cassette for about 10 minutes). Roy recounts the history of his grandfather, Onesime Bergeron, who moved from North Dakota to Washington state to Morinville, AB to Athabasca, AB. Roy's father, Horace…

Audio - Mr. D. Shalapay Sr., Mrs. Annie Rypien, Mrs. Nancy Shalapay, Mr. Mike Rypien, and Mrs. Olga Meardi have a general conversation on farming topics including: how farmers supplemented their income by logging in the winter, the cost of tractors…

Audio - Mrs. Viola Overholt discusses all aspects of her life in Athabasca from 1912 through to present day (1988.) Farming life, homesteading, social activities, businesses and residents of Athabasca are discussed at length. Topics touched on range…

Audio - Mrs. Elizabeth Byrtus tells her personal history starting with the arrival in Athabasca of Mike Byrtus via Austria and the United States in 1912. She discusses raising a family and early farm life, including her fear of the wild animals in…

Audio - Mrs. Violet Aldridge talks about Fort McMurray and the Athabasca area after 1912. She discusses the boats (sternwheelers and propellers) and the captains on the river including Captain Mills and Captain Haight. She mentions the funeral of…

Audio - Mr. Leo Noddings talks about the Depression and politics, including the Farm Credit Arrangement Act with R.B. Bennet in power. Other politicians mentioned are : George Mills, Ike Gagnon, Charlie Cross and Bill Waller. Mr. Noddings also…

Audio - Mr. Edwards discusses immigrating to Alberta due to segregation in the United States. He recounts the early history, leaders and locations of black settlements in Alberta. He reveals how Amber Valley got its name along with descriptions of…

Audio - Dr Josephine Mary Brown gives a very detailed account of her life as a doctor and active member of several boards in Athabasca. Dr. Brown was born in 1919 and became a doctor following university and a stint in the army in 1947. Her first…

Audio - Mrs. Elizabeth Byrtus talks of her early life and family in Poland before she came to Athabasca. Mrs. Byrtus brother-in-law was in Athabasca and Mrs. Byrtus came out with her sister to help with her nieces and nephews. She discusses her…

Audio - This is a personal history of Mr. Alex Lennie who arrived in Athabasca Landing in 1903 with his brothers. He talks about his first home in the area, life at that time and the changes he has seen since 1903. He talks about the naming of the…