STAMPEDE WRESTLING P. 6 THE LAND WE WALK UPON P.15
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
THE NEWSLETTER OF THE BOWNESS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION MYBOWNESS.COM MAY/JUNE 2021 STAMPEDE WRESTLING P. 6 THE LAND WE WALK UPON P.15
BCA HAPPENINGS
GOINGS ON IN THE ‘HOOD
CONTENTS
IF YOU’RE INTERESTED IN ANY OF THE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES MENTIONED PLEASE EMAIL US AT ON THE COVER-
VOLUNTEER@MYBOWNESS.COM OR CALL US AT 403-288-8300. 2020 Run Bowness Participants
BOWNESS SPRING CLEAN UP help unload items. Sign up at mybowness.com/volunteer or EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DIRECTOR OF COMMS
contact Laddie at volunteer@mybowness.com or 2 BCA Happenings
Michelle Dice, mdice@mybowness.com
May 9, 9:00 A.M. - 1:30 P.M. Brit Hart
403-288-8300 ex. 121.
Bowness Spring Clean Up is BACK! Masks, hand sanitizer, 2 Community News BOARD OF DIRECTORS DIRECTOR OF EVENTS
social distancing required. The City of Calgary will take
VIRTUAL RUN BOWNESS 6 Stampede Wrestling iheartbowness@mybowness.com Cindy Amthor
away any large or small garbage and yard waste for free.
Thanks to our partners at TechnoTrash, you can also drop June 6 PRESIDENT DIRECTOR OF PLANNING
off your used electronics to be safely recycled. Appliance Registration for 2021’s Virtual Run Bowness, brought to you 7 Across the Prairies
Jason New Jeff Riedl
and metal recycling will be provided by Bowest Appliances, by the BCA and Servus Credit Union, is now open! Join us
and household goods can be dropped off for the Bowness for a day of running and awesome prizes on June 6, 2021. 8 Bowtanical Garden VICE-PRESIDENT DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEV
Whether you’re an experienced runner, or just starting out, Christina Pilarski Teresa Davidson
Legion garage sale. NEW this year, The Medicine Shoppe
this race allows you to train and compete at your own pace,
9 Music & Play
will take any old or expired drugs and medications to be DIRECTORS AT LARGE
TREASURER
safely recycled. Visit mybowness.com/events for a list of on your own route, and on your own time. You can support 10 Historical Society Beverley Sheridan Paul Sipos, Bill Christieson, Mieke
items that can be dropped off. the BCA and receive an awesome race kit full of great items Coppes, Andrew Burgess, Bentley Wilks
from local businesses. Go to mybowness.com/events to 11 Pioneers and Kurt Kinnear.
Volunteers needed at this event to help manage traffic and register.
12 Business Directory BOWNESS COMMUNITY CENTRE & ARENA
7904-43 Ave. NW, Calgary AB T3B 4P9
14 The Land We Walk Upon
403-288-8300
COMMUNITY NEWS EDITOR NOTES 14 Nessie iheartbowness@mybowness.com
mybowness.com
COMMUNITY SCAVENGER In the 2020 Vital Signs Survey Results
15 BCA Directory
/mybowness
HUNT Questions? Please reach out to Sarah at published in the March April 2021 15 Community Directory
403-216-5348 or info@bowwest.org. Bowest’ner it was stated “Gender @mybowness
You are invited to a Community question also contained transgender
Scavenger Hunt on June 11, 2021 from BOWNESS LIONS UPDATE and prefer to self-describe option but VOLUNTEERING IS THE BEST WAY TO SHOW YOUR LOVE OF BOWNESS.
3:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. Please check Despite the restrictions of COVID-19, the was not selected.” However, there was • Meet new people and make new friends • Develop professional networks
out the Facebook and websites of the Bowness Lions continue to Zoom in on one person who chose one of these
• Experience new challenges • Gain experience in a variety of roles
agencies mentioned below for further making a difference in the community. options. Less than 0.5% of respondents
• Raise awareness and support • Email volunteer@mybowness.com today!
information and to download your One of the pillars of Lions International chose one of those options, so rounding important community issues
“passport” and “map.” is targeting childhood cancer through to a whole number, it came to zero.
tangible service and support. Reflecting Because this number is not “statistically
All families are invited to participate in that spirit of service, the Bowness Lions significant” the company that analyzed
this event! The hunt will lead you around made a recent donation of $1,000.00 to and provided the results of the survey MAY/JUNE 2021
the community, stopping at several Kids Cancer Care. (and created the chart and note for the
organizations and quirky spots to collect gender question) did not include it in The Bowest’ner is published bimonthly Melba Seto, Bowness Historical Society,
stamps on your passport. This scavenger the graphs. Not including a number this by the Bowness Community Association. Marg Weber, Nancy Kimberley Phillips,
hunt is done at your own pace, and size in a graph is common practice, but The views expressed by contributors are Brad Hays
once completed please head over to the the note they attached to that graph Run Bowness 2020 by James Doyle not necessarily those of the Bowness PROOFREADERS
green space (field to the left of Bowness was incorrect and misleading. The note Community Association or its Board of Linda MacRae, Janis Giroux, Katelyn
Community Association) to collect your should have indicated that there were Directors.
Gillies, MJ Karelse, Anne Campbell
PRIZE! respondents who did choose options
Copyright is retained by the respective
other than male and female. authors. Articles may be reprinted CIRCULATION
In the age of COVID-19, connection for non-commercial purposes with The Bowest’ner is distributed by Canada
to our neighbors, family, friends, and We apologize for any concern this appropriate credit to the author and Post to nearly 6,000 residences and
communities has been diminished. This may have caused. If you have further The Bowest’ner. businesses in Bowness, and is available
event aims to allow residents to safely questions or would like more information NEWS & ADS DEADLINE FOR at the Bowness Community Centre and
interact with their community, while also please call us at 403-288-8300. JULY/AUGUST 2021 EDITOR/PRODUCER Bowness Library.
offering a way for families to get outside Holding the cheque, from left to right, Jessica Clark, editor@mybowness.com Please direct any delivery concerns to
and do something fun. Also to note, in the March April
are: Bowness Lions members Dennis
2021Bowest’ner, the Bowness MAY 21 DESIGNER editor@mybowness.com
Makowichuk, Elaine Graham and Ed
Thank you to The Vibrant Kids Fund Responsible Flood Mitigation (BRFM) Jocelyn Zoller ADVERTISING
Tysow. The money will go towards
along with our community partners: group was credited with the article at 403-288-8300, editor@mybowness.com
meeting the needs of families in Alberta Editor@mybowness.com or CONTRIBUTORS
Bowmont Families Together, Bowwest the bottom of page 12 and this article
who are dealing with childhood cancer. 2020 Run Bowness Participants, Brit
Resource Centre, Children’s Cottage was actually submitted by the City of 403-288-8300
Society, and Trellis for hosting this event! Calgary. Hart, Alpha House, Beverley Sheridan,
2 I MAY/JUNE 2021I THE BOWEST’NER THE BOWEST’NER I MAY/JUNE 2021I 3
BOWNESS MONTGOMERY LAW OFFICE
Continuing the excellent tradition of providing sound Legal Services to the Bowness & Montgomery
Communities for over 20 years.
BMLAW OFFICE - Trusted for your legal needs in:
• Residential & Commercial Real Estate Law • Immigration Law
• Wills & Estate Law, Enduring Power of • Family Law
Attorney, and Personal Directives • Notarizations
• Corporate/Commercial Law/Assets & Share
Sale transactions
Suite #307, 7930 Bowness Road NW
Calgary, AB Canada T3B 0H3
Tel: 403.571.7755 Fax: 403.571.7759
Lawyer1@telus.net | www.BMLaw.net
Call to speak with *Anthony Merah *Amina Muhammad *Grace Fasehun.
*Sheri Crowdis (Legal Assistant)
Kerry McClelland (Retired)
The Bow Show ‘21
Live-stream concert and fundraiser in
support of the Bowness High School
[Type a quote
Music Program featuring the BHS [Type
from thea quote
Concert Band, Jazz Band and Choir. from theor
document
With special guest performance by the the summary
Redline Trio – Calgary’s premiere jazz trio. of an
interesting
point. You can
position the
text box
Bid for amazing anywhere in
items in our the document.
Use the
online Auction!
Drawing Tools
tab to change
May 27, 2021 the formatting
6:30 – 9:00 pm • Cost: $20 of the pull
Toz register, please e-mail your name
quote text
to bownesshighbbdd@gmail.com
box.]
4 I MAY/JUNE 2021I THE BOWEST’NER THE BOWEST’NER I MAY/JUNE 2021I 5
BOWNESS ODDITIES AND INTRIGUE: STAMPEDE WRESTLING ACROSS THE PRAIRIES – FROM ASSINIBOINE TO CALGARY
Did you know that Bowness is currently the home of the is somewhat of a holy grail within the wrestling world, having INTERVIEW WITH LEONARD
wrestling ring used for every single Stampede Wrestling show been the training grounds for many of the industry’s greatest
held at the Pavilion? Yep, Bruce Hart, a long time resident of talents.
Bowness, lives on Bow Crescent and as one of the brilliant Leonard has been a resident of The Clayton on Bowness Road House runs downtown and that he appreciated their harm
minds behind Stampede Wrestling, has the ring casually tucked The ring itself weighs over a tonne, constructed from solid for almost a year now. Originally from Saskatchewan, he reduction approach.
away in his backyard. Up until 2018, he was actually still using welded steel and dense, hardwood boards. The ropes are lived in a variety of towns and cities across the prairies before
the ring to train wrestlers, and if you were lucky, you could now frayed after decades of wear and tear but still manage a series of difficult circumstances led him to homelessness in A year after he ended up on the streets, his brother passed
peek your head over the fence and catch a glimpse of the to bounce wannabe wrestlers off with the same exuberance Calgary, Alberta. He lived on the streets of Calgary for nine away. Leonard speaks fondly of his brother but says, “his
training sessions yourself. as they did in their heyday. Stepping into it is like stepping years. Winters were spent in shelters and in the summer he death hit me really hard. My dad passed away around then
into a flashback to Calgary in the 80s. You can almost hear would camp with his friends in Marlborough Park. Last year, a too.” It was 2011 when he ended up on the streets, but his
Bruce moved to Bowness in 1985 and still lives in the same Ed Whalen and his signature closing “In the meantime and in bout of pneumonia left him hospitalized. However, in a positive main point from the year is that the Boston Bruins won the
house along Bow Crescent. It wasn’t until 2004, after between time…” You can almost smell the sweat rising through turn of events, the hospital helped him get in touch with Alpha Stanley Cup. His favourite hockey player is Patrice Bergeron,
Stampede Wrestling had its final hurrah that it took residence the air and the warm metallic scent of the ring interacting with House who worked with Leonard to find a home that suited him their captain. He watches Boston play whenever he gets the
in our community. the athletes’ hot flesh. Stampede Wrestling was more than just best. “When I saw the room (at the Clayton) I asked if I could chance.
a sporting event; it was a cultural tidal wave that helped serve move in right away, and they said okay. So I moved in that
Now, if you don’t know what the city of Calgary for decades. day.” When he talks about growing up on the colony, he mentions
Stampede Wrestling is we - Brit Hart the stigma he felt when he’d travel into town. He speaks about
can only assume you moved Hailing from a Hutterite colony near Assiniboia, Saskatchewan, running into gangs of teenage boys when he’d visit the mall in
to Calgary after 1990 when Have your own tale of intrigue within Bowness to share? Email Leonard left at 18 to find work outside the colony. He has Moose Jaw. He was afraid to tell people he was a Hutterite for
things started to die down it to editor@mybowness.com thought about going back over the years, but he describes a long time after that. But over the last 15 years he says “I’m
for the promotion, but we’ll colony life as being dictated by rules and he had a dream of not afraid to tell people anymore. I’m just a human.” He has
offer you all a quick refresh seeing the world. When he first left the colony, CBC news did eight brothers and four sisters, most of whom live on colonies.
I’m Brit - Brit grew up in Bowness and her
nonetheless. Stampede a televised interview with him. He spoke then of his ambitions He’s been back to visit, but because of religious custom he can
fondest childhood memories are of riding her
Wrestling was founded to find work and of struggles with loneliness and learning what never move back permanently.
bike around Bowness Park and fishing along felt, at times, like a different culture. When he did find work
by Stu Hart in the 60s and it was a cultural phenomenon
across Western Canada. Every week people would tune into the Bow River. Brit and her husband bought in construction his boss spoke highly of Leonard, saying he’s He likes his room
Stampede Wrestling to see the likes of The British Bulldogs, their first home in Bowness and started their keen and happy to work. This was in Swift Current. However, at the Clayton, and
Bad Co. with Brian Pillman, Owen Hart and Bruce, Bad News family. Their active lifestyle (and two large after asking his neighbour to turn down a stereo early in the even has a pet fish
Allan, even The Rock trained with the Hart family in their dogs) are perfectly suited to the neighbourhood and they morning, he was confronted in his apartment by that same named Leonard Jr.
infamous Dungeon and stepped foot in this wrestling ring. take full advantage of the beautiful paths and dog parks in neighbour armed with a bat and crowbar. He decided to leave He’s been able to
And with the Dungeon no longer around, this wrestling ring the area as well as the hospitality of the local businesses. town after this and was forced to quit his job. access a pharmacy
for smoking cessation
He relocated to Saskatoon where his older brother, who had aids, which he gets
also left the colony, was living and got a job in a carpet store. every month. He’s got
He was a successful writer and publisher, releasing books on a TV set as well where
Hutterite food and culture including The Hutterite Treasury of he can watch his favourite show Big Brother. “I applied for this
Recipes. His brother would often test out the recipes and ask season but didn’t get accepted” he relates. Leonard also loves
Leonard to try them. He recounts one time when they were watching Survivor and Britain’s Got Talent. His favourite song
eating sauerkraut for six months because his brother had made is “You are the Reason” by Britain’s Got Talent Star Calum
so much! Scott.
Eventually, Saskatoon didn’t work out either. He describes The Clayton is run by Calgary Alpha House Society and was
ending up in a bad way, mostly due to a dealer “who was built by HomeSpace in 2019; a 30-unit permanent-supportive
available all the time. You’d call him up anytime and he’d be housing program with 24/7 wrap-around supports. The
there in 30 minutes. He’d float you $200 worth of drugs. So I building is one of a handful of affordable housing options in
paid him off and left town to start over.” Calgary designed for people who have experienced chronic
homelessness.
He travelled then to Winnipeg where he built on his experience
working at a carpet store to become the manager of a carpet
warehouse. In Winnipeg he had a daughter, who is 13 now.
“She’s home schooled right now because of COVID.” They
speak over Facebook when they can.
After getting back in touch with his first girlfriend, he
relocated from Winnipeg to Calgary. He found a basement
suite in Calgary, but then ended up without a home after his
relationship didn’t work out. He and some friends would camp
out in and around Marlborough Park. “We’d lean boards
against a wall and stick a tarp over.” In the winters when it
got cold he’d go to various shelters. But he expressed some
hesitancy about using them. “I’m not a big guy. The walk to the
shelter can be scary.” He mentions staying at the shelter Alpha
6 I MAY/JUNE 2021I THE BOWEST’NER THE BOWEST’NER I MAY/JUNE 2021I 7
We
Instagram @musicandplayYYC
Facebook Music and Play Bowness
THE www.MusicandPlay.ca Business
BOWTANICAL
GARDEN When I arrived at Music & Play (M&P), I walked up the stairs This past year, M&P has been a place the community looks
to find myself in some magical, musical wonderland. to for finding focus for their mental health as well as physical
health. A place that not only embraces the community mindset
Music rooms encircle the common area and students of all but encourages and supports Bowness and its people with their
ages—infants to children to adults—are respectfully spread programs and philosophy.
about, reading their notes or waiting for loved ones to finish
their classes. Since the rooms are soundproofed you can Bowness has been in such a need of a place like this and it
“ALEX, I’LL TAKE GARDEN VEGETABLES FOR $1000 PLEASE” only hear a distant hum of students playing music in the could not have come at a better time. Colleen sits on a bench
background. and says “this is us.”
What are the 10 most popular home-grown vegetables in Butter makers with less well-fed bovines coloured their butter by
Canada and the US? According to a recent survey, gardeners adding carrot juice to the churn. I was greeted by the owners Colleen and Darryl Lindenbach.
are planting in order of popularity – tomatoes, peppers,
cucumbers, onions, beans, lettuce, carrots, sweet corn, radishes My perennial flower beds contain lilies, but I was unaware Darryl showed me the
and cabbage. The tomato is the runaway leader of this group until recently that so does my vegetable garden. The onion, rooms and instruments. He
with over 85 per cent of home gardeners cultivating 500 botanically speaking, belongs to the lily family – so does spoke of his fascinating
varieties of this fruit. Yes, it’s a fruit. But the “King of Fresh asparagus and for that matter, distantly, bananas. During the history in the Alberta
Produce”, and many of his edible cousins, was not always held Civil War, Union army doctors routinely used onion juice to arts. Darryl was quite the
in such high esteem. clean gunshot wounds. There is no record of how many soldiers prominent figure in the
survived this treatment. The onion’s close relative, chives, has Alberta art scene the past
In the early 1800s, Americans did not eat tomatoes as they been cultivated for over 5,000 years, but has never been 25 years. From being
were considered poisonous. The Pilgrims, in fact, considered valued for its medicinal qualities like onions and garlic. Instead, the Executive Director of
the growing of tomatoes an abomination equivalent to chives brought a whole new meaning to home decoration. the Alberta Ballet and the
dancing, card playing and theatre-going. Those caught with American Colonists hung bunches of chives throughout their Edmonton Fringe Festival, these only touch upon Darryl’s long
the fruit in their possession were displayed in the public square. homes to drive away disease and evil influences as the herb list of experience with the Western Canada art community.
Remember that when you are putting up your tomato cages. was thought to have magical powers.
Fortunately for us, tomatoes have won over the taste buds of Colleen started as a public school educator and grew her
the North American consumer who now eats, on average, 13 Most people I know like small, bite-sized radishes. In Greek music company from teaching at home to hundreds of students You’ll be sure to see M&P around our neighbourhood in
pounds of tomatoes a year plus an additional 20 pounds a and Roman times, the radish was viewed very differently. It in just a few years. a variety of upcoming events this summer, including online
year in the form of ketchup, salsa and BBQ sauce. The biggest was grown as a winter storage crop and often weighed 50 to theatres shows and summer camps!
tomato on record was grown by Oklahoma farmer Gordon 100 lbs. The chefs of the day served these monsters cooked About 10 years ago, Colleen took the steps to fully open Music
Graham and weighed in at 7 pounds 12 ounces. I am guessing or raw and often seasoned with honey and vinegar. By the & Play and committed her passion to teaching ever since. Though their group programs only just started up again in
that Oklahoma does not get frost during the first week of 17th century the radish had climbed from culinary staple to It wasn’t long before Darryl joined forces to help grow the early spring, classes are filling up fast online and offline.
August! pharmaceutical wonder. Radishes were used as an antidote company and work towards a dream of building community
for poisoning, a cure for snake bites and to remove freckles. through passion, music and arts. They moved from Aspen M&P is located at 6919 32 Ave. N.W. You can meet their
Ever referred to someone as being “cool as a cucumber”? When mashed and mixed with honey and dried sheep’s blood, Landing into their new in their new Bowness location last year wonderful team on their website, and follow them on their
Then they are very cool indeed. The inside of a cucumber on the resulting paste was reported to cure baldness. Look out and when they found it they said, “Bowness feels like home.” social media accounts for the latest updates!
the vine can be as much as 20 degrees cooler that the outside Rogaine™!
air on a warm day. This knowledge may have led the ancient I learned that M&P combines the traditional way of teaching Bowness Community Association Members get 10% discount *
Egyptians to invent what they referred to as “cucumber water”. Finally, something we may wish to take up with City Council. music, with new and revolutionary styles of group programs *Music And Play - No Registration Fee on all Per-Term Music and
A hole was cut in the end of a ripe cucumber, a stick inserted, In the late 19th century, some towns in England had laws that make learning music more relatable to everyone. Theatre Arts Classes (ages 0-18), or No Registration Fee & 10% Off
and the pulp stirred and broken up. The hole was then plugged that reduced a person’s taxes if flowers and shrubbery were Private Music Lessons (ages 6+, minimum four-month enrollment).”
and the cucumber buried in the ground for a few days. When planted in the yard to beautify it. If the person next door did They have programs for all ages and abilities. Colleen and
the fruit was unearthed the inside pulp was transformed into a not do the same, his taxes were raised! Darryl truly believe in “growing through music”. They spoke of Melba is a local Bownesian with a penchant for
fermented drink. Gives the phrase “a tall cool one” a whole - Beverley Sheridan how, through the pandemic, their online, live programs were
writing and creating connections in the community.
new meaning. said by many to be the highlight of their weeks.
I’m Beverley - I am a member of the Bowness She is also the local soap maker behind Bowness
Planting several rows of carrots this year? You obviously have Garden Club. We are a group of new To be able to interact with other humans and work on music Soapworks. You can be sure to find her with her
a good sense of fashion. When carrots first arrived in England, to experienced gardeners who just love and create music has been therapeutic for their students. I two little ones always nearby on her foraging and
women used the tops to decorate their hair and later their growing plants. If you are interested in was impressed to learn that their students are encouraged to outdoor adventures. Next time you see her around make sure
hats. The roots were discarded. It was not until the 1600s that becoming a member of our garden club, or would just write and create their own music versus just learning by rote you say “hi,” and introduce yourself!
carrots were eaten as food. It was claimed that cows fed Dutch like more information, please contact Anne Campbell at memory.
carrots yielded the richest milk and the most yellow butter. annecampbell2@shaw.ca or 403-288-3295. Follow @Melba_Seto & @BownessSoapworks to stay in the loop!
8 I MAY/JUNE 2021I THE BOWEST’NER THE BOWEST’NER I MAY/JUNE 2021I 9
News Past
Co�r�e�y o� t�e Bo�n�s� Hi�t�r�c�l So�i�t�
from the
b�w�e�s�i�t�r�c�l�o�i�t�.c�m
News Past from the
Pioneer Aviation in Bowness In 1920 the McCall Aerodrome hangar was enlarged and mountain passes. With her papers on the day they were printed! The flight departed
a door built on the front so that it could house three more load, the Jenny has a ceiling of for Vancouver on October 13 at 11:55 A.M. flown by Flt. Lt.
As noted in our last article, Webber Aero Service ceased airplanes. These were Canadian built JN-4 Can models, two 7,000 feet (2130m) and so was Thompson.
operations in Bowness following a plane crash in May of of which were assembled and the other kept for a spare. As forced to steer through mountain
1919. of July 1920, McCall Aero Corporation Ltd. was advertising passes. He reached Lethbridge at
flying services with its “fleet of modern aeroplanes at our 6:22 pm and found almost the
Hoy flying, 1919.
The Bowness Flying Field did not remain idle for long as well located aerodrome located at Bowness”. Rates were entire population waiting for him.
in mid-August 1919, Captain Fred McCall established the advertised as $30.00 for the “Sundown air trail” and Hoy then flew on to Calgary and
McCall Aero Corporation Ltd. and took over the Bowness $10.00 for the “Observation flights”. The Sundown air trail landed at the Bowness Flying Field at 8:53 pm guided in by
Flying Field and the hangar erected by George Webber. was described as a “thirty mile trip over foothills and prairie rockets and flares set off by members of the Calgary Aero
He purchased a Curtiss JN-4 airplane affording a never-to-be forgotten view of the Rockies”. Club and the headlights of hundreds of cars belonging to
Stinson Detroiter.
which had been used by Captain some of the 5,000 spectators gathered to greet him. This
W.R. (Wop) May on the fair circuit. By the end of the season the American JN-4 was the only flight was a promotion by the Aerial League of Canada with In April of 1928 Capt. McCall brought in a Stinson Detroiter
This plane was brought to Bowness, plane that had not crashed. No one was hurt in any of the stipulation that the flight be completed in 18 hours. The Biplane which operated under Purple Label Airline Limited
assembled here and test flown on the crashes but the financial loss of two planes almost put total elapsed time for the trip was 16 hours and 24 minutes and was available for regular commercial air service and
August 26, 1919. With Captain May, McCall out of business. As well, the number of passengers with an actual flying time of 12 hours and 24 minutes. The pleasure flights. In June Great Western Airways Ltd. took
another wartime flying ace, and wanting to fly was diminishing. plane also carried probably the first commercial package over Purple Label Airline for the charter business. Purple
Lieutenant Donnelly as additional delivered by air to Calgary – a shipment of men’s sweaters Label was the last commercial flying company to use the
pilots, McCall’s machines (Curtiss In 1921 McCall either sold or leased the remaining JN-4D destined for the Diamond Clothing Company. Bowness field.
JN-4 airplanes) were flown that GC-AAH to P.J.A. Fleming and the buyer crashed it in the
season to dozens of southern and first week with fatal results to his passenger, Mr. Alf Mabee. The first Trans-Canada flight, in a De Haviland 9-A Ultimately, the Bowness Flying Field was not the ideal
central Alberta towns and villages. Mr. Mabee sometimes did wing-walking stunts with Capt. originating in Halifax on October 7, 1920, flew into the location for an airfield due to ruts in the field and the
Fred McCall
McCall’s company. McCall Aerodrome at 5:15 A.M. on October 11 piloted sometimes erratic winds. By August 1928 the Bowness Flying
by Flt. Lt. Cudemore. The flight delivered Winnipeg Field had been abandoned.
Capt. McCall subsequently established the McCall-Hanrahan newspapers, the first time Calgarians could read these
Aero Service in 1921 and later Great West Airways, which
also flew out of Bowness. McCall later transferred his
operations to the Stanley Jones Field in Calgary.
There were three other notable events with the Bowness
Flying Field as the setting. house which was moved to the parking Shirley joined the Bowness Seniors
lot. Soon they moved to a house on Centre and volunteered at bazaars,
36 Ave. north west and raised their luncheons and the Casino. She enjoyed
four children there – Vivian, Leonard, the shuffle board, and the tours that
Brian and Vincent and several foster were offered. Shirley and Leo celebrated
children. After a time they moved to their 40th wedding anniversary at the
Captain Fred McCall Starting Test Flight Take-off at a home on Bowcliffe Crescent. The Bowness Seniors Centre.
Bowness Flying Field, August 26, 1919. family belonged to the Our Lady of the
Assumption Catholic Church and took Sadly, Leo passed away in 2008 and
During the next four years, from 1919 to 1923, McCall part in activities there. The children daughter, Vivian, also passed away.
shifted operations from exhibition to commercial flying. attended the Catholic school, Our Lady Shirley now lives in a care residence
Some notable flights originated from Bowness. On of the Assumption both of which are in but keeps in touch with her Bowness
September 4, 1919, McCall flew the 70 or so miles to Bowness. friends. February 14, 2021 was her 84th
Nanton to fly passengers on their Field Day. He dropped
a bundle of newspapers at High River, “the first aerial Shirley and Leo The boys played hockey in Bowness
birthday!
newspaper delivery in southern Alberta” making this part of
the “first commercial flight in southern Alberta”. While at Paquette and Leo coached hockey. He was a well
respected hockey coach and the boys
I’m Marg - I moved
to Bowness as a
Nanton, McCall carried 35 passengers who were initiated enjoyed their time with him. Both Leo and youngster in the mid
“to the wonders of flight and needless to say all enjoyed
being flown by Canada’s fifth Ace of World War I.” Also, in
Fred McCall in a plane. PIONEERS Shirley belonged to the Bowness Lions
and Lionettes and took part in working
1950s and have
1919, Capt. McCall was given the honour of flying Brigadier Captain Ernest C. Hoy, D.F.C. became the first person to
of Bowness with this group. They also belonged to
never left! I attended
General H.F McDonald from the Bowness Flying Field to the Parkway School (as it
fly a Curtiss Jenny JN-4 over the Rockies on a flight from the Montgomery Moose Lodge and in
Calgary Exhibition grounds where he officially opened the Shirley and her parents, William and 2010 Shirley received her 20 year pin. was known then) and Bowness High
Vancouver to Calgary. Capt. Hoy left Vancouver at 4:13
1919 Fair. McCall and W.R. May put on a superb display of A.M. on August 7, 1919 and stopped to refuel at Vernon, Mary Knowler, moved to Bowness She took part in horseshoes, bowling, School. My daughters also attended
flying at the Calgary Exhibition. Grand Forks and Cranbrook, often barely clearing the in 1952 to a house on the property curling, including competitive games Belvedere-Parkway and Bowness High
where the Bowness Hotel is now. Shirley and has won medals – golds, silvers and School and four of my grandchildren
married Leo Paquette and lived in this bronze. attended Bowness High.
10 I MAY/JUNE 2021I THE BOWEST’NER THE BOWEST’NER I MAY/JUNE 2021I 11
BUSINESS DIRECTORY This is a paid advertisement by Calgary’s Future
PLEASE TELL ADVERTISERS YOU FOUND THEM IN THE BOWEST’NER
r
Membe t
Discoun
( (
12 I MAY/JUNE 2021I THE BOWEST’NER THE BOWEST’NER I MAY/JUNE 2021I 13
THE LANDS WE WALK UPON BCA DIRECTORY
Oki, Amba’wastitch, Danit’ada, Tân’si, Hello! ranging from buffalo jumps to camp sites. There is also a Big Bowness Community Association Our office is closed until further notice but www.mybowness.com
Rock (glacial erratics) located on Medicine Hill; there is an 7904 43 Avenue NW available by phone 403-288-8300 General Inquiries:
The Bow Valley, and the community of Bowness, is located entire trail of glacial erratic’s scattered across Alberta. These Calgary, AB T3B 4P9 (leave a message and someone will iheartbowness@mybowness.com
in Treaty 7 territory. Treaty 7, a document that was signed erratics are connected to a larger Blackfoot story about the return your call).
in 1877, covers the traditional homelands of the Nitsitapii/ trickster figure, Náapi and the Big Rock located in Okotoks
Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksiká, Káinai, Piikáni), Îyârhe (óohkotok). Bowmont Park, on the north side of the Bow
Nakoda (Chiniki, Bearspaw, Wesley), Tsuut’ina and the Métis River from Bowness, is also home to 13 known archaeological
Nation, Region 3. sites that have uncovered artifacts like projectile points and
STAFF CONTACT NAME EMAIL
seasonal-use camp locations.
The City of Calgary initially began at the place where the Executive Director Michelle Dice mdice@mybowness.com
Bow and Elbow rivers meet. In the Blackfoot language, the Becoming familiar with the land and its histories is a crucial
Office Manager & Rentals Molly MacRae rentals@mybowness.com
confluence is called Mohkínsstsis (or ‘Elbow’); Wîchîspa in the aspect of learning how to be good stewards and caretakers of
Siouan Îyârhe Nakoda language; Guts’ists’i in the Athabaskan the places that we call home. Bowness is a unique community, Community Engagement Coordinator Laddie Miller events@mybowness.com
language of the Tsuut’ina people; and the nêhiyawêwin (Cree) located in a river valley that has given homes to humans, plants Bowest’ner Newsletter & Jessica Clark editor@mybowness.com
term is otôskwanihk. This is a sacred place where people have and animals for thousands of years. I encourage you, the next
Communications Coordinator
gathered since time immemorial; a place where the beavers time that you are out walking in beautiful Bowness, to spend
swim; a place where both the waters and stories collide with some time thinking about the lands that you are on and the Planning and Development Sydney Empson planning@mybowness.com
each other. deep, storied histories that exist here. Coordinator
- Nancy Kimberley Phillips Accounting Deb Hall accounting@mybowness.com
In proximity to Bowness, there are a number of well-known
Arena Office
locations that hold connection to the Indigenous histories of References
these lands. The knowledge of these places is held in multiple City of Calgary. N.d. Uncovering Human History: Archaeology Facility Manager Kale Daniels kdaniels@mybowness.com
ways; through story, archaeology, community knowledge, and and Calgary Parks.
land-use surveys to name a few. The Bow Valley has a long CITY OF CALGARY calgary.ca
history of occupation and use; providing an abundance of I’m Nancy (she/her)- she is an adventurous homebody with COMMUNITY DIRECTORY
Municipal services 3-1-1
plant and animal life, shelter, water, and all other provisions
needed to sustain community. While walking along the
a prairie-coastal loving heart. She is a Queer Settler Woman
from Treaty 7 (the homelands of the Niitsitapi, Îyârhe Nakoda, JOIN US! BOWNESS CLUBS & SERVICES Non-emergency social services 2-1-1
Bow Ridge Little League Baseball.......................... bowridgebaseball.com
river in Bowness, one can easily locate saskatoon berries, Tsuut’ina, and the Métis Nation, Region 3). She is nearing
Bow River Bruins........................................................ bowriverhockey.ca
chokecherry, cottonwood, willow, wild rose, bearberry, and the completion of her master’s degree in anthropology Bowmont Serniors Assistance Association.......................... 403-286-1811
many other culturally (and medicinally) significant plants. at the University of British Columbia, located on unceded Bowmont Youth Justice Committee..................................... 403-288-6922
Animals like deer, beavers, eagles, and moose also thrive Lands. She is Bowness Community Association/................................... mybowness.com
along the river valley and can be spotted in Bowness. a passionate environmental and museum educator, scholar, Bowness Community Centre & Arena............................ 403-288-8300
Bowness Historical Society................................................ 403-288-1737
writer, crafter, and student. In her free time, she enjoys
Bowness Lions Club.......................................................... 403-286-1648
Medicine Hill (Aisskapooma, formally known as the Paskapoo tending to her plants, reading, going for walks along the river, Bowness Responsible Flood Mitigation Society .................. bownessrfm.ca
Slopes) is one of the most well-known archaeological sites in and spending time with loved ones. Bowness Seniorsʼ Centre................................................... 403-286-4488
Calgary. There are over 30 known usage sites along the hill, Bowness Soccer Club................................................ bownesssoccer.com
BowWest Community Resource Centre............................... 403-216-5348
Boys and Girls Club of Calgary, Bowness:
Become a BCA MEMBER! Club Programs............................................................ 403-571-0517
Ready, Set, Go! Preschool........................................... 403-999-5827
Home-Start................................................................. 403-571-0516
Not a member yet or need to renew? It’s easy. YEAR (Youth-centred Engagement, Action & Respect).... 403-669-5533
BOW NESSIE A LITTLE NESSIE HISTORY... Go online at www.mybowness.com. CARYA (formerly Calgary Family Services)....................... 403-269-9888
Northwest & Central Outreach for Older Adults............ 403-286-1811
Calgary Northwest Basketball.................................................... cnwb.ca
Beneath the surface of the Bow The BowNessie project uncovers the overlooked history of a Memberships are $5 for seniors, $10 for Calgary Police Services, District 2 Zone 4, Cst. D. Down ........ 403-428-6241
One’s imagination starts to flow legend in the Bowness lagoon. On July 30, 1942 the Calgary
individuals, $20 for a family, $30 for an pol3847@calgarypoliceservice.ca
Wandering creatures come alive Herald published a descriptive article telling the story about Calgary Public Library, Bowness Branch............................ 403-221-2022
the capture of a mythical Okanagan creature (identified as a associate or a business. City of Calgary, Calgary Neighbourhoods........................ 403-476-7221
New to the river a set of eyes lingcod). The article gained popularity throughout the province Distress Centre/24-hour Crisis Line.................................... 403-266-1605
Family Pride Parent Link Centre......................................... 403-288-1446
Everyone jumps, the ling thing hides and details of the capture were written in surprising and gory Renew or purchase your BCA membership to be Girl Guides District Commissioner...................................... 403-710-5775
Splashing the water in July detail from the perspective of the parks superintendent, John Miskanaw ah................................................................... 403-247-5003
McDonald. At the time, Bowness was still known as the Village
entered to win a $20 gift card from a local Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 238 Bowness.................... 403-247-1234
Sparks of interest fill the sky of Bowness as it did not amalgamate into Calgary until 1964. Bowness business. Scouts, 169 Bowmont....................................................... 403-829-9956
People, reporters with recorders While it is hard to see now, Bowness Park is actually an island United Way of Calgary & Area:
Bowness Montgomery Neighbourhood Collaborative.... 403-875-1278
All pack the park to chat and dine in the river and the creature was thought to have gained Or, get in touch at (403) 288-8300 or West Valley Softball............................................. westvalleysoftball.com
access to the lagoon through the inflow pipe streaming in.
River’s quiet once again iheartbowness@mybowness.com.
ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES
Kids crash the silence and legends begin
- Brad Hays Mention of this story resurfaced at a Bowness Neighbour www.mybowness.com Calgary Board of Education Trustee Joy Bowen-Eyre......... 403-294-8487
Calgary Catholic School District Trustee Serafino Scarpino.. 403-500-2550
Day gathering and soon afterwards, the mural project was facebook.com/mybowness Councillor Ward Sutherland, Ward 1................................ 403-268-2430
underway. @mybowness MLA Demetrios Nicolaides, Calgary-Bow.......................... 403-216-5400
MP Ron Lipert, Calgary Signal Hill................................... 403-292-6666
14 I MAY/JUNE 2021I THE BOWEST’NER THE BOWEST’NER I MAY/JUNE 2021I 15
16 I MAY/JUNE 2021I THE BOWEST’NER
You can also read
