List of 150 Alberta Historical People
) Onesie Dorval, Pioneer of Bilingual Education
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- 101) Paul Brant- International Country and Western Singer
- 102) Peter Elzinga- Canadian Politician with Dutch Heritage
- 103) Peter Erasmus- Metis Interpreter
100) Onesie Dorval, Pioneer of Bilingual EducationMademoiselle Onésime Dorval, first certified teacher in Alberta Onésime Dorval is the first certified layperson to teach in the North West and was a pioneer of bilingual education. She was born in 1845 in Saint-Scholastique, Québec. Although she wished to devote herself to God, her health was too fragile to become a nun, so she turned to the vocation of teaching. After meeting Father Lacombe in 1876, she asked him to petition Bishop Grandin to find her work as a teacher, which he accepted. She moved out West in 1877 and taught for 37 years. At first, it was considered too dangerous to allow her to go further West than Saint-Boniface, so she stayed there for three years. During that time, she adopted a daughter, Marie Giroux, before traveling through Saint-Laurent de Grandin, Battleford, and Fort Edmonton, to arrive, finally, in Saint-Albert and Lac Sainte-Anne in 1880-1881. After that brief time, she returned to the region of Saint-Laurent-de-Grandin and Batoche.
By Denis Perreaux 101) Paul Brant- International Country and Western SingerDo you have singing talent? Paul Brandt once asked himself that same question and came to an answer that shaped his life. Paul was born Paul Renee Belobersycky, in Calgary, AB. (He changed his name to Brandt by looking in the phone book and picking something that sounded country and western to him!) His musical roots were with him from his early childhood. He enjoyed singing and playing guitar from a young age. His love of words and poetry was cemented by family and faith. He still credits listening to a cappella singing at a gospel hall as being a great influencer in his life. Paul did not seek out a music career as his first choice. His mom was a nurse and his dad was a paramedic and he had visions of becoming a pediatrician. Paul trained to become a registered nurse and worked at Alberta Children’s hospital as part of his early career dreams of helping other people. He was ready to pursue more education to possibly become a doctor when one summer, dreams came calling and Paul entered a Stampede Singing Contest and was discovered by talent scouts. He moved to Nashville Tennessee and signed his first professional contract at age 21. Since that moment on the stampede stage, Brandt has gone on to become the most awarded male Canadian Country Artist. His awards include: 7 Junos, 14 Canadian County Music Awards, and the 2005 American Country Music Associations’ global country artist of the year! Paul has been awarded many other awards and has an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from the University of Lethbridge and an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Briercrest College and Seminary. Paul lives with his wife and 2 children west of Calgary in the Rocky Mountains and gives back to his community with his music, time, and philanthropy. By Heather Enzie
Peter was a farmer and rancher near Ardrossan, Alberta before he entered politics. In 1974 he was elected to the House of Commons as a Progressive Conservative (PC) Member of Parliament representing the people of the riding of Pembina, Alberta. He was the President of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1983 to 1986. He was also the Chairman of the 1983 PC Leadership Convention. In 1986, Peter resigned as MP to run for election in the 1986 Alberta provincial election. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta as the MLA for Sherwood Park. He later became the Minister of Agriculture under Premier Don Getty and in 1989; he became the Minister of Agriculture and Trade. In 1992, he helped Ralph Klein win the leadership of the Alberta PC Party in 1992 and later became the Deputy Premier and Minister of Federal and Intergovernmental Affairs. In 1993 he decided to not run for re-election. Instead, he chaired the Alberta PC Party’s election campaigns in 1993, 1997, 2001, and 2004. From 1998 to 2004, Peter served as Chief of Staff to Premier Ralph Klein. Peter is now semi-retired and enjoying life with his wife, Patricia. They have three sons, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. By Bonita Bjorson 103) Peter Erasmus- Metis InterpreterPeter Erasmus was born in 1833 to a Danish father and a Métis mother in the Red River colony in what is now Manitoba. He was the nephew of Reverend Henry Budd, who was the first ordained Native minister in the Anglican Church. By the time he finished school, he was asked to assist Reverend Woolsey, a Methodist minister out of Edmonton. Peter was a guide and interpreter for Rev. Woolsey until 1862. During his time with the minister, Peter was also an interpreter as part of the Palliser Expedition. He also assisted the Earl of Southesk and other Christian missionaries as an interpreter. Peter was fluent in six aboriginal languages, as well as English, Latin and Greek. His travels as an interpreter helped him to learn much about the Aboriginal peoples in Canada between Lake Superior and the Rocky Mountains. In the early 1860’s, Peter married Charlotte Jackson, a young Métis woman, and they had six children together before she passed away in 1880. In 1876, the Cree Chief Mistawasis and Ahtahkakoop hired Peter to be an interpreter at the Treaty Six negotiations at Fort Carlton. He was hired by the Canadian government’s Treaty Commissioner Alexander Morris for his interpretation skills. In this role, he assisted the Canadian Government in convincing Aboriginal groups to sign treaties that they were not going to sign. Peter had different jobs with the Canadian Government in the Indian Department and tried to prevent the 1885 conflict at Batoche between his people (led by Louis Riel) and the Canadian militia. He later settled near Whitefish Lake in what is now Alberta, trapping animals and trading furs, and farming until he passed away in 1931 at the age of 97. By Tom Elder Download 0.5 Mb. Share with your friends:
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