) Lieutenant George Burdon McKean, Awarded the VC in WW1

93) Marie-Ann Gaboury, First Non-Indigenous women in Alberta

As the first non-indigenous woman to live in Alberta, French-Canadian Marie-Anne Gaboury deserves a special place in history because of her courage and determination.

Marie-Anne was born on August 15, 1780 in Maskinongé, Québec. As a young girl, she moved in with an elderly woman to clean and cook for the local parish priest. Many years later, she met a voyageur, Jean-Baptiste Lagimodière, who had spent five years exploring, trading, and negotiating with the peoples of the North West. Shortly after their marriage on April 21, 1806, Jean-Baptiste surprised Marie-Anne as he prepared for another multi-year foray into the West. The new bride put her foot down and said that he was not going anywhere without her.

After a long and difficult journey to Fort Pembina (North Dakota) through Fort Gibraltar (Winnipeg), Marie-Anne gave birth to the first non-indigenous child born in the greater North West, named Reine. After wintering in Fort Pembina, they continued their travels to Fort des Prairies (Edmonton) in late August 1807. There, they found themselves at home for four years among French Canadians as well as French-speaking Métis and traders living and working in the area. Marie-Anne gave birth to Laprairie in 1808 and Cyprès in 1810, each named after their places of birth, which was literally on the prairies and in the Cypress Hills. Laprairie (eventually baptized as Jean-Baptiste) was the first non-indigenous child born in Alberta.

Marie-Anne’s time at Fort La Prairie was marked by stories of attempted child abductions, survival of the elements, and adventures in both war and hunt. As a devout Catholic, it was upon hearing that a permanent colony was to be formed by Lord Selkirk in Red River, that Marie-Anne decided to return there in the spring of 1811. They settled on land in the heart of modern St. Boniface where they lived from agriculture and hunting. Marie-Anne gave birth to five more children, one of whom was Julie, mother of Louis Riel.

French Canadians, Indigenous and Métis peoples have referred to her as “Godmother” because as one of the few Catholic women in the area, she became the godmother to hundreds of baptised children. Marie-Anne Gaboury died on December 14, 1875 in St. Boniface, Manitoba at the remarkable age of 95.

By Denis Perreaux

94) Marion Moodie- Alberta's very First Nurse

While she was doing so well in her career she moved to another hospital where she was invited to be matron of other hospitals and the move to Manitoba. While in Manitoba she managed a sanatorium. She stayed there till 1934 where she then moved back to Montreal to care for her uncle. After her uncle passed away started changing her career and focused on the arts. She enjoyed painting China and landscapes. Moodie also started to write poetry and an exciting part is that her 1934 edition of “Songs of the West” (1904, 1934). Some of these poems were turned into songs; she explored more by writing short fairy tales as well. In 1951 Moodie returned to Calgary and then retired at the Ashelwood Private Hospital. She then passed away in 1958 in the hospital.

By Jasmyn McCulloch

95) Mary-Belle & Elsie Cathereine Barclay- Started hostel movement

George and Elsie Barclay, with daughters Mary-Belle (born 1901) and Elsie Catherine (1902), and son George Franklin (1903) emigrated from Illinois, USA, to Alberta in 1905 – the year Alberta officially became a province.

The girls became country school teachers: Catherine taught French, drama and theatre, while Catherine’s interests were in natural science.

Mary-Belle always gave credit to Catherine for bringing the idea of hostelling from Europe to Canada, but it was Mary-Belle's dream and determination that really made it happen. She believed that travel enhanced language and education, and young people should be able to travel without worrying about cost. They’d read about hostels in England and Scotland where a house parent stayed at each hostel, so they were safe.

What are hostels?

In 1909 a German schoolteacher, Richard Schirrmann, searched for a way for school groups to experience the countryside. The hostelling idea spread rapidly through Europe, and in 1932 the international Youth Hostel Federation was founded.

In May 1933, Mary-Belle visited Bragg Creek west of Calgary, where the idea came to establish a hostel in this beautiful countryside. She rented a field lot and bought a tent for $19. Catherine gathered kitchen supplies, bed mattresses and other essentials. On July 1, 1933, they set up Canada's first hostel, charging each member 25-cents per night.

By late 1935, there were hostels in southern Alberta at Jumping Pound, Morley, Canmore, Banff, and Priddis. In 1937, with 10 hostels and less than 100 members, the sisters helped found and register the Canadian Youth Hostelling Association (CYHA – now HI-Canada). Catherine was its first president, and Mary-Belle the main spokesperson. It became part of the International Youth Hostel Federation. Today, Hostelling International (HI) extends to more than 80 countries and over 4,500 hostels.

Now, thanks to Calgarians Mary-Belle and Catherine Barclay, an affordable network of youth HI hostels is found in every province of Canada.

In 1973, the City of Calgary honoured the sisters as “Citizens of the Year”. International awards followed, for their work as founders of the youth hostel movement in Canada.

Catherine died in 1985.

In 1987, the Canadian government awarded Mary (and Catherine, posthumously) with the Order of Canada in honour of the “pioneer work and dedication to the advancement of the youth hosteling”.

Mary-Belle died in September 2000, a few months short of her 100^th birthday.

In concluding her life story, Mary stated: "May I hope that this little volume on my life and work might inspire readers to undertake their own pioneer work towards uplifted thinking, true education, greater understanding, and the pursuit of peace with all people."

By Shirlee Smith Matheson