One thing I love about blogging and my website is the emails I get from complete strangers. Sometimes it is just note saying they enjoyed my latest blog, but it can also be about a blog that is several years old. I particularly enjoy when a reader shares with me with a personal story about a family member or friend who lived in a place I have blogged about. For example, I have received dozens of emails over the past decade from family members who have memories of Meeting Creek a ghost town in central Alberta I wrote in 2013.

Recently, I received an email asking if I’d like a copy of the Class of 1968 – 69 yearbook from Calgary’s King Edward School. I said “Yes” and soon it arrived in the mail. 1968 was an important year for the school as its new “wing” opened. Turns out it was not a yearbook, but a charming portrait of one of Calgary’s heritage schools.

It was a captivating read, but first a bit of background information:

King Edward School History

The Kind Edward school is one of several grand sandstone schools built in Calgary in the early 20th century. And yes, many of them are still operating as schools now 100 years later. However, the Kind Edward school is not one of them. The building has been converted into an arts centre - with studios, office, exhibition and small theatre space. The school yard has been converted into luxury condos on one side and luxury retirement home on the other. There is also an outdoor event space that is used for a community farmers’ market in the summer.

Highlights

The publication’s “gold” colour cover with the bold title “Long Live the King” in an “Old English” font, along with a drawing of the school’s entrance including the date 1912, immediately creates a sense that this is an old and valuable document.

We quickly learn the publication was a project of the Grade IX (yes, they still used Roman Numerals) Creative Writing Class.

At first I was puzzled by a black and white photograph of a Wesley F. Irwin (well-known Calgary artist) painting “Spring In The Foothills.” Turns out Irwin was the school’s Vice-Principal and art teacher.

The table of content’s curious titles compelled me to keep reading:

The Second Tea
From the Hall of Old King Edward to Mewata Stadium
The Legend of the Mountain
Contract of Contradiction?

The Second Tea

The Second Tea happened at 7:30 pm on Tuesday, January 21st, 1969, in the gym and was attended by 40 former teachers and students who shared information on the school’s early history – forming the basis of the book. It was also attended by Mrs. Linda Curtis and her husband from the Albertan (Calgary newspaper) and two writers from the paper. I immediately thought this was the same Linda Curtis who reached out me and sent me the book. But it wasn’t.

After reading more, it turns out “teas” were very popular at the school in the middle of the 20th century and were often associated with fundraising and other activities.

William Aberhart Connection

As one might expect, there is a page with photos of each of the school’s principals - a grinning William Aberhart (1913 to1915) being the most notable. Aberhart known as “Bible Bill” for his radio sermons about the Bible. He went on to become the 7thPremier of Alberta (1935 to 1943) and there is a Calgary high school named after him.

In the section titled “Principals,” each of the principals share some “life lessons.” Aberhart’s lesson come from sharing what he learned from an encounter between a steamship crossing the Atlantic and a “piratical German submarine.” Throughout the yearbook there are lingering sentiments about the two world wars that shaped everyone’s perspective on the world in the middle of the 20th century.

Comments from other Principals

I loved the message from Principal T.A. Florendine - “Teachers have a difficult job. They are working with animated objects. Each object, the pupil, being different from every other. I consider teaching is the most important and demanding work ever undertaken by any member of the human race.”

Principal Stanley contributed, “The state gives free education to the pupils of South Calgary, that they may better serve the state. It is purely a business proposition. The state expects a return from the pupils of South Calgary and has a right to expect such a return. The recipient of a free education who uses his education for narrow and purely selfish ends betrays a trust. The individual who is able to do so and does not return to his fellows an equivalent for what he takes at their hand is dishonest. By reason of the education these pupils are receiving, they should make the community in which they may lie a better place to live in. it should be a safer place in which to live, a place of higher ideals and purer social life.”

K.B. Meikelejohn shared, “What an exciting prospect for those who will participate in the changes of the next fifty years! We suggest that they embrace the “strenuous life” - absorption in ease invites impending decay. Indolence is a distressing stat which masks a cheated destiny. Happiness is an individual thing composed of interests, work, friendships, health and the pursuit of a worthy ideal. All who desire it may attain it. Claim it for yourself.”

History Synopsis

The following section explain some of the details of the construction:

“After March 18, when the tender of Messers. Doyle, Thomas and Christiansen was accepted ($172,000), building progressed rapidly. The sandstone came from the Seventeenth Avenue Quarry. Native sandstone was also used for Connaught, Colonel Walker and Hillhurst and many other schools. By December 17th, the building was up to the second floor slab and work was proceeding on the stone wall above. The school opened November 1, 1913. Mr. Florendine led the parade from Mount Royal and Miss Foster brought the young children from the cottage school. In 1913, Mr. Aberhart asked for heating facilities (a stove) in one of the staff rooms. In 1914 the sidewalks were cast at a cost of $600 – charged to King Edward.” (Note: I assume they were charged to the school - not the actual King!)

Other history tidbits include how during the first world war the armed forces occupied the top floor and in 1940 the school was temporarily granted to the Provincial Government for a “Normal School” for teacher training because the R.C.A.F. had taken over the existing “Normal School.”

We learn in 1956 the first addition to the school was completed - adding a new gymnasium, shop, home economics room, auxiliary gym and locker rooms. And, how an asphalt playground has taken the place of “wild prairie” as well as the development of a “victory garden” during the war.

King Edward was more than just a school in its early days. It also served as a community hall for dances, bridge and cribbage games and gathering place for young members of the South Calgary Church who wished to put on plays.

Another fun fact is that the school had a museum on the third floor in 1967. Artifacts were contributed by students and community members – butter churn, stone chisels, old lighting fixtures from the school.

One paragraph makes mention of the fact there were almost no married women teachers in the 20s, 30s and even 40s “as it was custom for women to stay at home and be with their families. Mr. Aberhart, himself is remembered in his broadcasts over C.F.C.N. (Voice of the Prairies) as taking a dim view of married women working outside the home.”

Densification Comment

“Once the most westerly structures in Calgary, King Edward is now one of Calgary’s most central areas. From 1922 to 1935 the average block consisted of 5 houses, which meant relative open spaces. Now, with as many as fifteen houses per block, it resembles a downtown area. However, River Park along Fourteen-a Street adds an exhilarating change of scenery.”

Note: This comment about the densification of the neighbourhood is interesting in context of how “blanket rezoning” is such a hot topic in Calgary today. And ironically, the streets and avenues around King Edward School are experiencing some of the most intense densification of any Calgary inner-city neighbourhood.

Sports Fun

There is a lot of information on interscholastic sports and after school activities. The story I found most interesting was about cadet training. “Every Wednesday Captain A.H. Ferguson (who also has a school named after him) would come to the school and drill both the senior and junior cadets on military exercises instead of physical education. In the summer, a cadet camp was organized at Morely Flats. There they would practise drill and have wrestling matches with the Indians. They would also have a special Indian Day where sport and games would be played between the Indians and Cadets.”

I loved the quip about baseball and how when someone hit a “two bagger,” it was an amazing feat. I immediately wondered why? I kept reading and learned the kids bounced the baseballs on the pavement on the way to school so they were soft and lop-sided. Too funny!

“After Four”

There is are five pages on after school activities, from Literary Society to Oratory and Elocution, from Students’ Council to Badminton Club, from Camera Club to Library and Games Club, from Press Club to Drama Club, from Glee Club to Handicraft Club and from School Orchestra to Fashion Shows.

Speaking of fashions; there is a section on changes in school fashion over the past 58 years.

“Trial By Fire”

This section looks at the impact of WWI, the Depression and WWII on schools. I enjoyed the paragraph “It was easy to remain slim in those days – sugar and butter were rationed (as well as coffee and tea). It was impossible to get enough sugar for a cake. Made me wonder what students will say 50 years from now about their COVID experience and rationing toilet paper.

Last Word

The book is full of photos of principals, teachers and student activities that make for fun trip down memory lane even if you didn’t go to the school or live in Calgary at the time.

I will leave you with “Legend of the Mountain” for those of you who live in Calgary:
“I have always enjoyed the views from the upper floors of the King Edward School as it sits on a high spot in the community of South Calgary with spectacular views of the downtown skyline. But I didn’t realize that if you look from the top floor windows “as far right as possible, can be found a peak shaped like a Pyramid….then in Southward direction, a broad ridge followed by another peak with a dark horizontal band near the top. This with the leading edge of the mountain, give the form of a Cross. Legend has it that the Holy Cross Hospital derived its name from the peak.”

Calgary: Long Live The King