Frank Falconer

Audio - Mr. Alex Lafferty discusses his life in Athabasca having moved here around 1906. Freighting, the railroad ,and the many captains and companies on the river are mentioned including: Captain Haight, John Shott, and Captain Mills. Mr. Magnus Brown was a boat builder and Mr. Lafferty helped to build the last ferry (11:48 minutes)

Audio - Mrs. Alice Donahue, Mr. Nick Evasiuk, Mr. Tony Schinkinger, and Mr. Bob Richards discuss life and change in Athabasca following the end of World War II. The rebirth of the town, with veterans arriving back and settling into business with their fathers or on their own, is how the interviewees describe this era. The veterans became involved with service clubs, churches and the resurgence of the Board of Trade. The fire station and the community centre were built around this time for very little money thanks to volunteer labour and donations. Residents and businesses of this era are discussed in great detail including rural electrification starting in 1955. Recreational and cultural activities are also discussed by this group including the building of the skating arena (1971), the arrival of television (1959) and various other cultural firsts in Athabasca (1:11:41 minutes)

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 discusses early Athabasca businesses, but the balance of the tape is stories around Captain J. Shott and Mr. Noddings great great grandfather (29:48 minutes)

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 reminisce about their school years, scarlet fever in the community and various other memories of their early lives in Athabasca (23:09 minutes)

Audio - Ms. Eileen Hendy discusses her personal history in Athabasca including historic sites/events she has researched such as: the railway, the Brick School House, the first blacksmith in town, the Hudson's Bay Co., the fur trade and the Anglican Church (30:11 minutes)

Audio - Mr. Frank Falconer and Mr. Todd Richards discuss stories from their personal history. Mr. Richards was a pioneer farmer who arrived in Athabasca in 1911, his uncle, David Keir built a dance hall in Athabasca. Mr. Falconer tells the story of his family and also shares anecdotes about raising, selling and shipping foxes to Prince Edward Island. They discuss the ferry and how the river was their highway (15:26 minutes)

Audio - Mr. Leo Noddings and Mrs. Amy Stafford discuss the Mills family and some of their jobs as carpenters in Athabasca (Robert Mills was Bertha Noddings father.) Other buildings and businesses in the early twentieth century are mentioned including: the two Grand Union Hotels, (wooden one burned down, its replacement was brick), the Dajo Theatre, the Star Theatre, Dent (A.P.P.) house, etc (50:41 minutes)

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 Ferguson District (after Mark Ferguson) and the first new road up East Hill being built in 1937 (30:59 minutes)

Audio - Mr. Israel Shank, the former Chief Superintendent of the RCMP, discusses his years in the force. He also discusses politics and other subjects (landmarks in Athabasca) while looking at photos with the interviewer (28:02 minutes)