By Dorthea CalverleyToday [in 1973] Walter Haddow — old-timer of the Sunrise Valley district — still speaks with the broad Scots accent of his birthplace, but the Peace River country is his real homeland. Retired now, he keeps up many interests, but does not forget that he is an “old-timer” in the local interpretation… Read More

The first family to settle in West Saskatoon district in 1912 was the Willis Piper family, consisting of Mr. and Mrs. Willis Piper, sons Ernest, Bud, and Ray and daughter Helen (Mrs. Harold Brown). Mr. Harry Gibson and Brother Walter came at the same time and both Mr. Harry Gibson and Bud Piper still live… Read More

By Vera Piper McQueenThe early spring of 1912 saw the beginning of the pioneer settlement of the West Saskatoon valley. The Piper family was the first to arrive, traveling from the end of steel at Edson by oxen and covered wagons, crossing rivers on ferries. A wagon trail extended to Tremblay’s on the Pouce Coupe… Read More

By Verna BradenThe first settlers came into the southern part of the Peace River District between 1908 and 1912. By 1914 there were several small settlements. By 1918 there were enough farmers in the district to organize the Alberta Farm Union (A.F.U.). Following this, the women in the Kilkerran district formed a group to assist… Read More

By Mrs. Ruth Veiner , 1957When the first settlers came to the Landry district they were many and there was someone on nearly every quarter of land. The following took up homesteads in around 1911 and all had to have 10 acres broke the first year they filed. Mike O’Rourke Bert Haugen Gus Erikson John… Read More

By Nona StaufferThe Clayhurst district was first settled in 1930 by a group of Ukrainian settlers coming in from Shandro, Alberta. These first settlers are the real pioneers of the vast district of Clayhurst. An English group of Pioneers starting from the Rolla district came into the district a few months later than the Ukrainian… Read More

By Nona Stauffer, 1973The late Mr. Wm. Clay was the first English-speaking settler in the Clayhurst district, taking land in 1930 but not moving his family to the district till 1931. His wife, Rosalie Kiziere, came to the Rolla District in 1919 and worked as a cook in the district until her marriage to Bill… Read More

By W. Ewoniak and Nona Stauffer (Interviewer), April 1973 Mr. John Ewoniak, Bill Ewoniak’s father, was the first Ukrainian settler in the Clayhurst district. He took up his homestead in 1930 and lived there till his death in the early 1940’s. John Ewoniak came over from Europe in 1900 and first worked and lived in… Read More

Interview by Nona Stauffer, 1974 Mr. Sidor Cembrowsky came into the Clayhurst district in the fall of 1930, arriving shortly after Mr. John Ewoniak. Prior to 1930, he had made his home in Shandro, Alberta, working for farmers and at whatever job he could get. As he said, “You couldn’t buy a job for fifty… Read More

  Interview by Nona Stauffer, 1973Mr. Carl Clay came into the Rolla district with his father Mr. Tom Clay in 1914. He worked with his father on the homestead and in the district. In 1929 a new settler by the name of Meyer moved in with his family. Carl then met Kay Meyer and realized… Read More