) Clarence "Big" Miller- Award Winning Musician

20) Clarence "Big" Miller- Award Winning Musician

Clarence Horatius Miller was born in Sioux City, Iowa in 1922. He is a descendent of African-American slaves and of the Sioux peoples. He began studying music while in high school, focusing on the trombone, bass and singing. He earned a nickname, “Big” Miller, because of his larger-than-life stature standing at 6 feet and 3 ½ inches and weighing more than 250 pounds.

With a deep powerful voice, Clarence began singing and playing trombone professionally in 1949. He toured across the United States, performing at the most popular clubs and concert halls, like Carnegie Hall in New York. He also performed with fellow jazz legends including Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Count Basie and Dizzie Gillespie.

Despite his success and popularity, Clarence disliked the racial tensions that existed in the United States and began touring internationally. While performing in 1970, Clarence fell on hard times and he did not have enough money to return home. To make money, he decided to perform across western Canada. He found himself in Edmonton, and immediately fell in love with the city and its people.

He decided to make Edmonton his permanent home and became a contributing member of the community. He continued to perform at local clubs, children’s concerts, and jazz festivals. He performed with the Edmonton and Canadian symphony orchestras, and also represented Canada internationally in Switzerland and Japan. Throughout his lifetime, Clarence was recognized for his talents and contributions, including winning a Juno award and receiving an honorary doctorate from Athabasca University. He even had the National Film Board of Canada produce a documentary based on his life.

Clarence passed away in June 1992, but his spirit is kept alive. Today in Edmonton, you can find Big Miller Park with a bronze statue dedicated to the Canadian jazz icon.

By Rebecca Johansen

21) Colonel James Macleod- NWMP Colonel who Named Calgary

In 1873 James joined the Northwest Mounted Police (NWMP). At the time he was number three in seniority and became a trainer to new recruits of the NWMP. He was a skilled snowshoer which only aided him in his choice to become a trainer for new Mounties. In 1874 he became the assistant commissioner of NWMP. After the march west in 1874, he had a post named in his honour, Ft. Macleod. James had a great admiration for the buffalo herds that roamed the plains, and it was Macleod that suggested that the buffalo head be added to the NWMP monogram that we see today.

Colonel James Macleod is also the person we should thank for naming Fort Calgary. James suggested Fort Calgary rather than 'Fort Brisbois' after the inspector, who actually had no credentials to name the Fort at all.. James picked 'Fort Calgary' because it reminded him of an area near his sister's home in Scotland.

In 1875 James left the NWMP to become one of three stipendiary magistrates for the North-West Territories (NWT). In February 1887, he was appointed to the first supreme court of the NWT, up until the creation of the Legislative Assembly established to replace the Supreme Court. During the 1890's James received pressure from the people of Calgary to return as a judge there rather than stay at his current post in Fort Macleod. In May of 1894 James was given both Southern and Northern Judicial districts with his new residence in Calgary. By this time, James was very ill with Bright's disease (a type of disease that affects the kidneys). Shortly after taking up his new role, he died on September 5th 1984.

By Eva Boda

22) Corporal Mike Mountain Horse, Brave WW1 Soldier

During Mountain Horse’s two years of service overseas, the brave corporal survived the four-day-long Battle of Amiens, recovered from shell shock, captured enemy prisoners and lived through being buried alive for four days in a bombed house! When he returned home, he was recognized as a hero by the Blood Tribe and was celebrated at sun dances, powwows and grand entries. Additionally, a school was named after him in Lethbridge.

Finally, Corporal Mountain Horse also recorded his war experiences in a unique way. Using a cowhide robe as his canvas, the Corporal drew significant events he experienced during the war.

By Rob Lennard

23) Deerfoot- The Famous Runner from the Siksika First Nation

“Deerfoot” (1864-1897) was the name given to Api-kai-ees, or Scabby Dried Meat, by a group of Calgary race promoters in 1886. The name had been used by a Seneca runner in the 1860s, who set running records at races in London, England. The Calgary group thought the name fit the young Siksika man who ran so fast he was once described as a “human thunderbolt.”

Api-kai-ees was born on the prairies about 1864. He was the son of Natowes-tsitsi (Medicine Fire) and a nephew of Isapo-muxika (Chief Crowfoot). The Siksika knew him as a good long-distance runner, and in 1884, his reputation spread to Calgary. Professional foot races were a relatively new and exciting sport at the time, and many people bet money on who would win. Calgary even had an indoor track for races. In 1886, Api-kai-ees participated in a four-day race, running 84 miles and six laps in 16 hours. He defeated Little Plume, another Blackfoot runner, and James Green, a professional athlete. His reputation spread, and that fall promoters organized a ten-mile race that included J.W. Stokes from Birmingham, England. Api-kai-ees won by a full lap, but Stokes’ handlers insisted that the laps had not been counted correctly, so a re-match was scheduled for a few days later. The situation made Api-kai-ees suspicious, and he gave Stokes a six-lap head start before overtaking him to win the race, running ten miles in 54 minutes and 30 seconds. His remarkable win made international news, and was covered in newspapers from as far away as New York. Deerfoot was inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 1998.

By Joan Lawrence

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