History of PEI Crafts Council 1965 - 1985 - digital format

 The history of the PEI Crafts Council 1965 - 1985 is available as both full pages in another post as well as in digital format here. 

FROM THE EDITOR  

This booklet is presented as an acknowledgement of the 20^th anniversary of the formation of the Prince Edward Island Crafts Council. The contents reflect a very personal and entirely incomplete review of the Council's early years gleaned from minutes of past meetings, past issues of the Bulletin and brief conversations with some charter members. Obviously, a much larger and detailed a volume would be needed to chronicle the hard work and dedication of all those individuals and agencies who have contributed to the advancement of crafts in this province over the last two decades, The names and activities not mentioned here are by no means to be judged less deserving of appreciation. A walk through The Island Crafts Shop or a visit to the many studios of Council members serves to demonstrate how well the efforts of the early years have borne fruit, The present quantity and quality of crafts speak of years of growth and change - at times slow, at other times dramatic, sometimes painful, sometimes humorous but always exciting.

Our organization is entering its adult years; let us ensure that these will be the most productive years yet, I wish to thank Don and Margaret Stewart, Mary Burnett, Ann Coneen, Cecelia Blatch, Margaret Quinn and Joan Auld for their help in the preparation of this pamphlet.

Yvonne Pigott

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It all started with a craft fair. The very first one was at the instigation of Mrs. Muriel Lister, Provincial Handcraft Director and was held in the foyer the Confederation Centre in November, 1964. Next came the formation of a Craftsmen's Council. The organizational meeting was held on 13 February, 1965 in Room 66, Prince of Wales College. Mr. Donald Stewart was chosen as President, Mrs. Vernon England - Vice-president Kings County, Mrs. Walter Dixon - Vice-president Prince County, Mrs. Mary Burnett, Secretary and Mr. Dan Mullen - Treasurer.  After some discussion as to how the rest of the executive should be composed, it was decided to leave this until the By-taws Committee had drawn up the constitution. A temporary Standards Committee (headed by Mrs. Malcolm Putnam) and a Public Relations Committee were set up at this time. Incredibly, a draft of the By-laws was ready by April and to really make things official the Provincial Government “made us a grant of $ 350.00”. Both the constitution and the cheque were presented at a general meeting in May. In September 1965 plans were underway for our "very own" Christmas Craft Fair in the upper foyer of the Confederation Centre on 19 and 20 November. In spite of a fee of $ 2.00 for individual craftspeople and $5.00 for groups and a charge of 10% of gross sates to defray costs the fair showed a deficit of about $40.00 - but plans to make the next one better though improved booth displays and strict adherence to standards were set in motion. Summer of 1966 saw the Council become involved with Old Home Week and the handcraft exhibition organized by the Women's Institute. P.E.I.C.C.’s role was three-fold: an exhibition, a sales table and craft demonstrations. Like the Constitution and Standards, the Prize List for the Old Home Week exhibition underwent several revisions during the next few years. Council membership increased steadily in this period as did the scope of its activities. Workshops and more workshops were offered to enhance the level of craftsmanship. More craft sales and more exhibitions and greaten .involvement with government agencies and the craft community off island testified to the growth of the organization.

DON AND MARGARET STEWART

I spoke with Don and Margaret Stewart about the early years. Don was a wood worker who studied wood turning with Arthur Pringle at Hunter River. Margaret worked metals having studied aluminum etching in Ontario and jewellery making in silver and copper enamelling on the Island. They had bought their own equipment and operated their studios in their own home in Bunbury. They remember the first three years when Don was President as a time of hard work and a number of frustrations. For example, Don showed me a thick file of correspondence with the Tax Department regarding the topic of manufacturer’s licenses for craftspeople. But as Margaret summed up: the reason for getting involved in craft activities was to promote handcrafts, to make come money and to have fun. “The group got along. Friendships were formed which still, endure”.

 

THE MORE THINGS CHANGE, THE MORE THEY SEEM THE SAME!

"IT WAS DECIDED TO HAVE LOTS OF POSTERS; SOME OF THESE TO BE IN EACH TOWN AND ON FERRIES, TO MAKE ALL POSSIBLE USE OF RADIO, TV AND NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING, IT WAS SUGGESTED IF SPACE PERMITTED WE MIGHT HAVE A HANDCRAFT DEMONSTRATION AT THE FAIR. . ." SEPTEMBER, 1965

"IN DISCUSSING THE ROLE OF THE STANDARDS COMMITTEE IN CONNECTION WITH THE FAIR, MEMBERS WERE IN FAVOUR OF NEXT YEAR ATTACHING A PIECE TO THE APPLICATION FORM ON WHICH PARTICIPANTS WOULD ATTEST THAT THEY HAD READ THE GENERAL STANDARDS AND THOSE PERTAINING TO THEIR OWN CRAFT, AND WOULD UNDERTAKE TO ABIDE BY THEM. . . NOVEMBER, 1965

"After two years as your president I feel some satisfaction when considering Council achievements during that time - initiation of the summer crafts festival and the Island Crafts Shop, with very encouraging sales at each, increased sales and better quality at the Christmas Fairs, a Standards Committee which has persevered in helping craftsmen understand and correct weaknesses in their work, input from federal and provincial agencies anxious to help -which should make the future look rosy. Unfortunately this satisfaction has to be tempered with concern caused by the lack of interest and participation of many members. When the late Muriel Lister encouraged us to form a truly provincial craft organization, to press for a handcraft centre and for assistance for beginning craftsmen, and led the way in setting up Christmas and Summer Fairs, she helped us place ourselves in the forefront of Canadian provinces in hand-craft development and opportunities for craftsmen. Expensive workshops with the country's best teachers attended by only two or three members, hundreds of dollars in prize money unused because classes had no entries, opportunities to exhibit one's work passed by, as well as educational experiences such as slide shows - while craftsmen in other provinces are grasping every chance to advance - are indications of an apathy that is dissipating our advantages. My warm thanks to all the craftsmen who conscientiously practised their crafts, participated in the opportunities open to them and obligingly helped with Council activities. "Let's make hay while the sun shines!"......." OCTOBER, 1974

THE ISLAND CRAFTS SHOP

"CRAFTSMEN'S COUNCIL SHOP: THE EXECUTIVE DECIDED 70 RENT A BUILDING ON SYDNEY ST. IN CHARLOTTETOWN, ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE POST OFFICE, IN WHICH TO OPERATE A SHOP FOR MEMBERS FOR THE SUMMER MONTHS AT LEAST, WITH THE HOPE THAT IT WILL BECOME A PERMANENT BUSINESS. AND THAT EVENTUALLY IT WILL ENABLE THE COUNCIL TO BE SELF SUPPORTING, THE SHOP WILL BE RUN ON A CONSIGNMENT BASIS FOR THE FIRST YEAR AT LEAST (PROBABLY AT 25% COMMISSION, WITH THE RECOMMENDATION THAT MEMBERS BE PAID MONTHLY) AND IT 1S ESTIMATED THAT WE MUST SELL AT LEAST $ 3,500.00 OF CRAFTS PER MONTH TO COVER THE COST, SO LET'S ALL GET WORKING TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF THIS IMPORTANT STEP..,.."

FEBRUARY, 1974

 

“It was decided to rent 37 Queen St., Charlottetown for the Craftsmen's Council shop, The importance of Council members supporting this venture with their crafts and their help was strongly emphasized as future could mean a setback of years.

ALL goods will be taken on consignment, 25% commission will be charged, and craftsmen will be paid the end of each month for goods sold, ALL craftsmen in Queen's Co. who can possibly do so will be expected to donate their time for at least one shift each two weeks,

Everything will be checked by the Standards Committee before being put out for sale, Goods will be accepted initially May 21 - 25 and thereafter members will be expected as far as possible to bring their crafts in on a designated day of the week, probably Monday. The Council will be responsible for care of goods while in its possession.

The committee in charge will be accepting applications for the position of manager until April 15. These may be sent to Mrs. Brian Cudmore, 224 Pownal St., Charlottetown . . .”

 March, 1974

"MANAGER OF THE SHOP WILL BE SANDI MYERS, WHO HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND IS PRESENTLY STUDYING AT N.S. COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN. TELEPHONE NUMBER OF THE SHOP IS 892-5152, AND SANDI IS ANXIOUS NOT ONLY TO HELP THE SHOP SUCCEED BUT TO ASSIST CRAFTSMEN IN ANY WAY SHE CAN.

PLANS WERE MADE FOR THE OFFICIAL OPENING, AND IT WAS DECIDED TO HAVE IT FRIDAY, JUNE 7 IF POSSIBLE, BUT THAT THE SHOP WOULD ACTUALLY BE IN OPERATION

BY JUNE 1......."

MAY, 1974

"The Island Crafts Shop is in a state of uproar at present. The new display units arrived and a number of the Queens County people have been putting in a lot of hours assembling these units. They will be very handsome when filled with your crafts. By the way..... THE SHOP NEEDS YOUR CRAFTS......NOW In order to increase efficiency, the system of numbering the stock has been changed. In the past it was ticketed with your membership number. Now it will be numbered in the order in which it arrives at the shop. All existing stock has been so numbered and by the time of the annual meeting, (semi-) you will be able to pick up your stock sheet, or it will be mailed with your next cheque. If there are articles of yours that have been there for a very long time, why not trade them for other articles. The shop also needs VOLUNTEERS, to man it during the summer. PHONE NOW 892-5152"

May/June, 1977

"WE ARE STILL PLANNING TO OPEN OUR NEW SHOP ON SEPTEMBER 29, 1980. THE ACTUAL MOVE WILL TAKE PLACE ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1980. SOME MEMBERS OF THE SHOP COMMITTEE WILL BE AT 146 RICHMOND STREET (LOCATION OF NEW SHOP) ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 AND FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1980 FROM 1:00 p.m. to 500 p.m. TO RECEIVE NEW STOCK, WE HAVE MADE PROVISIONS IN THE BUDGET FOR A MEDIA PROMOTION - A REAL ADVERTISING BLAST, IN NEWSPAPERS AND ON RADIO. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FAIR COMMITTEE WE ARE PLANNING TELEVISION ADVERTISEMENT - BOTH FROM THE TIME OF THE FAIR AND UP TO CHRISTMAS, THEREFORE, PLEASE MAKE SURE THE NEW SHOP IS WELL SUPPLIED AND PLEASE CHECK WEEKLY, EVEN BY JUST PHONING, TO KEEP THE STOCK AT THE POINT WHERE OUR CLAIM OF "AN ISLAND SHOWCASE FOR CRAFTSMEN" IN OUR ADVERTISING WILL NOT BE MISLEADING IV SEPTEMBER, 1980

The Island Crafts Shop moved to its new location at 146 Richmond Street and was officially opened by Honourable Barry Clark on October 6, 1980......"

April/May 1981  

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Exhibitions Markets & Conferences

"Be sure to come to the Centennial Craft Exhibition opening at the Confederation Centre Art Gallery May 8th at 8 p.m. All Craftsmen's Council members are invited to come -- and bring your wife or husband too -- to see the crafts, to meet Paul Bennett, Executive Director of the Canadian Guild of Crafts (Ontario branch) and to have fun, because this is our centennial party. Craftsmen's Council is providing sandwiches and coffee and there will be a cash bar. Your help in making sure principals and teachers in your area know about the exhibition, and encouraging them to take their students, will be much appreciated. When the Art Gallery is notified ahead of time that a school group is coming, a docent will be on hand to make the visit more enjoyable and informative. There is no admission charge for this exhibition. Congratulations to the following craftsmen whose work was selected for the Centennial Exhibition: Mrs. Milton MacDonald, Montague; Jean Shumate, Murray River; Sandra Hodge, Cardigan. Anne Rankin, Eileen Praught, Patricia Johnston, Glen Dunning, Freda Condon, Ruth Sommers, Linda Friars, Sandi Myers, Hilda Woolnough, Donald Stewart and Annette Galloway, Charlottetown; Earl MacDonald, Brackley Beach; Jame Germaine, Kelly's Cross, Dorothy Elliott and Helen Smallman, O'Leary; Arthur J.B. Arsenault and Jacques Arsenault, Abram's Village; Marjorie Champion, Travellers' Rest. Only 60 entries were submitted, a big disappointment to your committee, headed by Elspeth Putnam, Anne Coneen and Mary Burnett, who worked hard to promote the event, with the generous assistance of many other Council members. Fourth member of the coordinating committee is Beth Cudmore, who is working to make the opening night enjoyable for everyone attending 

April, 1973

"C.C.C. [Canadian Crafts Council] ANNUAL MEETING. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA INCLUDE, AT CAVENDISH --CLAM DIGGING, CORN BOIL AND TOASTING MARSHMALLOWS. WALL HANGS ARE STILL NEEDED FOR THE HOTEL. TICKETS FOR THE QUILT AND RUG RAFFLE TO BE DRAWN AT THE CONVENTION WILL BE ON SALE AT THE SUMMER CRAFT SALE......." July, 1977

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"CANADIAN SAMPLER. THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRY, TRADE AND COMMERCE INVITED CRAFTSMEN FROM EASTERN CANADA TO PARTICIPATE IN A TRADE SHOW AT THE CANADIAN CONSULATE GENERAL IN NEW YORK ON NOVEMBER 17 - 21, 1980. OVER 100 CRAFTSMEN'S SAMPLES FROM ONTARIO, QUEBEC, NOVA SCOTIA, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND AND NEWFOUNDLAND WERE SHOWN TO AGENTS AND REPRESENTATIVES IN NEW YORK. A SIMILAR SHOW WAS HELD AT THE CANADIAN CONSULATE GENERAL IN BOSTON ON JANUARY 19 - 23, 1981 If MAY, 1981 "The Christmas Fair will be held November 18, 19 and 20th. 10 ft. booth space will cost $ 140.00 and there will be no commission. The Council will try to accommodate people wishing to share a booth. Admission $ 1.00 per day for customers.  Deadline for booths is October 15, 1982. Ask Wendy if she is interested in working on a poster. I. Scott will call J. Condon to check on the cost of parking. Door prizes will be purchased from the Island Crafts Shop..." October, 1982

AND THEN THERE WAS 

Even a brief glimpse at the early years of the Council such as this prompts us to continue with “and then there was . . . .” and the list of the various exhibitions, fairs, conferences, reports and meetings could go on and on . . . .  the Annual Handcraft Awards and Exhibition, the different provincial shows staged at the Confederation Centre, the many one person and group exhibitions by Council members at the School of Visual Arts, Atlantic Visions Atlantique, Production Pieces,  The Piggery...... The Atlantic Crafts Trade Show ......The Christmas Craft Fair . . . The C.C.C. Annual Meeting in 1977, The First National Canadian Crafts Council Conference in 1982.......and who can forget all those surveys and briefs presented to the various levels of government.......The Hebert-Applebaum Commission and mention must be made of the support of the Handcraft Division through grants and programmes to the Council and individual craftspeople and all those hours, years of volunteer time  . . . busy twenty years indeed! 

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KEY TO PHOTOS

1. Margaret Stewart, Olive Livingstone

 2. Carol Downe

3. ?, Barry Jeeves, Joan Auld

4. Elspeth Putnam, Sadie Roberts

5. Margaret Quinn

6. P.E.I. Booth Gift Show 1972

7. ?, ?, ?, Margaret Quinn 8. Margaret Quinn, Ann Morrison, Ron Arvidson

9. Henry Purdy

10. Sandi Mahon

11. Mary Burnett

12. Herb Leavitt

13. A.B. White, David Loewy

14. Joanne Scantlebury, Ian Scott, David Loewy, Barbara E. Henry, Elizabeth Sears

History of PEI Crafts Council - 1965-1985

 To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the PEI Crafts Council (originally the PEI Craftsmen's Council), a special booklet was published in 1985. The entire booklet is copied below.

History of Marathon Running on PEI

 While the PEI Marathon had provided a continuing venue for runners in recent decades as one of the top five qualifying races in Canada for the fabled Boston Marathon, the history of organized running goes back many years on the Island. 

The PEI Roadrunners have compiled a history of their early efforts in establishing marathoning on the Island starting in 1979 and continuing into the 1980s as well as documenting some outstanding runners historically in the Maritimes and on PEI.

In PEI, Michael Thomas established himself as one of Canada’s best distance runners prior to WWI - in 1911 he finished 26th at Boston.

Following in the footsteps of Michael Thomas, another Island Mi’kmaq runner, John Paul, established himself as a premier distance runner in the 1930s. His record included a 13th place finish in the 1936 Boston Marathon. Like Thomas, Paul has been inducted into the PEI Sports Hall of Fame.

The full article is here.

As well the club maintains a full history of running and club activities as well as scans of many news clippings.

Rev. Thomas Henry Bussell Somers (1907 - 1965)

 This material has been copied from a brochure called Service of Dedication The Rev T. H. B. Somers Memorial Chapel  January 21, 1968 – the original is located at the Kirk of Saint James, Charlottetown, PEI

REVEREND T. H. B. SOMERS, M.A., S.T.M., D.D. 1907 - 1965
photo - the Kirk of Saint James

THE REVEREND T. H. B. SOMERS, M.A., S.T.M., D.D. 1907 - 1965

Thomas Henry Bussell Somers was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, was educated in its public school system and University, attaining the degree of Master of Arts, after which he pursued the Theological course in Knox College, graduating with a surpassing record in 1939. Upon graduation he was awarded the Travelling Scholarship, which took him to Union Theological Seminary, where the degree of Master of Sacred Theology was conferred upon him in 1941. Ordained in Vancouver on May 4, 1939, Mr. Somers served in the Presbytery of Westminister for one year before proceeding to Union Seminary. Then in 1941 he took up his ministry in the Kirk of St. James in Charlottetown, a ministry that was to last for almost twenty-four years. During this time his gifts as a scholar, preacher and pastor were recognized not only by the congregation and community he served, but throughout this Province and the National Church. He was Moderator of the Presbytery of P. E. I. in 1945 and of the Synod of the Maritime Provinces in 1947. He also served as Presbytery Clerk since. 1945. But above and beyond all these, his great service to the Church was his contribution to the New Book of Common Order, which appeared for use in 1964. For eight years he laboured diligently with other outstanding men of the Church, and from his depth of historical and liturgical understanding made a contribution of unsurpassed worth to the Book. Many of its best pages come from his hand, and when used by us in worship, his intellect and faith will continue to minister to Christ's people. Mr. Somers was deeply involved in groups and activities which ranged far beyond the boundaries of this denomination. He was a Chaplain in the R.C.A.F., President of the P.E.I. District of the Canadian Bible Society, and honorary life governor of the British and Foreign Bible Society, a Director of the Charlotte-town Rotary Club, the Protestant Family Service Bureau, the P.E.I. United Appeal, the Provincial Rehabilitation Council, and the P.E.I. Tuberculosis League.

In April 1965, when presenting his name to the Principal of Knox College as a candidate for the degree of Doctor of Divinity (Honours Causa), Professor David Hay said: "It is a matter of pride and joy to this College that in Mr. Somers we have had an alumnus in whose person the Presbyterian Church in Canada has received an enhanced repute throughout the Maritime Provinces and beyond, and still more that in him a gifted personality has been offered to the service of the Cross."

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here to honour the memory of one who served this congregation as its pastor with faithful diligence, together with many others whose lives have enriched the ministry of Christ in this place. Having served the Church Visible, they now serve the Church Invisible, and we who are left to carry on their purposes here, honour their memory and give thanks for the privilege of having known them. In erecting this, the Dr. T. H. B. Somers Memorial Chapel, it is our intention to perpetuate their memory, and at the same time, in their name, further the beauty of this sanctuary and add to the facilities for its ministration.

May all who come into this Chapel therefore, recall with gratitude the lives of those in whose memory it is erected. May they know that they [are] in the presence of men and women of deep spiritual insight and loyal faith, who serve Almighty God in their generation with glad devotion. And may all who enter herein give to him who is King and Head of the Church the praise which is most proper to His name.

* * *

The Dr. T. H. B. Somers Memorial Chapel is erected by the Congregation in loving memory of a faithful and devoted Minister, and as a repository for tributes to other men and women who have worshipped here. The Book of Remembrance is inscribed with these names, together with the names of those who donated the memorial gifts. From this time forward all memorials will be recorded in like manner, wherever the gift may be located in the sanctuary.

We bid a warm and cordial welcome to the Reverend Gordon Taylor who is sharing in the Service of Dedication this morning. No stranger to our Congregation, Mr. Taylor ministered here for some months during the illness of the late Dr. Somers, and in that time endeared himself to our people. We are grateful to him for making the trip to be with us at this time, and for his ministry of preaching. 

Philip James (1800 -1851) missionary on Prince Edward Island -- his description of conditions in 1835

Although the names of Rev. Francis Metherall and Rev. Richard Cotton are better known for their early role as missionaries on PEI, this biography of Philip James describes life while he also served on Prince Edward Island, which was concurrent with Metherall and before Cotton arrived. The full biography is in the Dictionary of Canadian Biography, from which this description of conditions is taken.

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His [Philip James] arrival, on 29 July 1834, allowed Metherall to expand the Bible Christian mission westward from its first outposts north and east of Charlottetown. James, assigned to serve the eastern area (including Gallas Point, Rustico Road, and Wheatley River), found that most of the Island’s inhabitants, chiefly Presbyterians and Roman Catholics in affiliation, were almost totally bereft of Christian preaching. In some communities people had only one or two opportunities annually to hear the Gospel preached, and one group he addressed had not been able to hear a sermon for over two years. James worked hard to meet the need, travelling the rough terrain on foot in all seasons. At New Bideford (Bideford), he formed a small class “composed of some of our friends from England,” but regretted that he could be among them only at six-week intervals. He could not visit some preaching points as often as that. Clearly, the mission’s resources were totally inadequate to minister to the Island’s many communities, most of which lacked places of worship. James, who was highly devout, wrote in 1835 that he was frequently “destitute of a room in which to retire for prayer.” Moreover, he felt that the church did not understand the conditions under which its missionaries laboured, in particular the severity of the Canadian winter, the need for warm clothing, the poor housing and isolation of its preachers, the scattered circuits, and the difficulties of transportation. After two years on the Island he wrote: “I should just like to have the Missionary Committee with me for a few days, only a few days, when I am tottering through the snow three or four feet deep, and over the ice, when the water and slush . . . takes me nearly to my knees for six or seven miles together, and then say, whether a horse be necessary.”

One of the drawbacks of sporadic preaching was that its benefits were often lost before the preacher had the opportunity to return. As James described it, “A poor Irish woman told Brother Metherall, that I came among them so seldom, that although they felt under the word when I was there, they ‘got wild again’ before my return.” He was convinced that if the church’s leaders could see the spiritual destitution of some of the areas where he worked, they would exert themselves to the utmost to send the Gospel. A third missionary was just as necessary as the second had been. Help came in 1839 when Richard Cotton arrived to share the load, but James was not to benefit long from the additional assistance. The increased immigration to Upper Canada of people from Devon and Cornwall, where most supporters of the Bible Christian Church resided, meant that experienced missionaries were needed there. Accordingly, in 1841 he departed Prince Edward Island to join other colleagues, including John Hicks Eynon*, his wife, Elizabeth [Dart], and, later, Ann Robins [Vickery], in bringing the Gospel to their followers in Upper Canada.

https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/james_philip_8E.html

Raoul Reymond - Silver Black Foxes on PEI

A native of Geneva, Switzerland, where his father owned a dental supply factory, Raoul Reymond first learned about the ranch-fox industry during a trip to the United States in the winter of 1919-1920. He decided to enter the new industry and came to Canada in January of 1925 intending to buy his foundation stock and returning with it to Europe to start a ranch in the Alps. Instead, Mr. Reymond found Canada and her people to his liking and stayed on to settle on Prince Edward Island, where his ranch started with just 12 pairs, soon became the second largest in Canada. 950 pairs of breeders spent the winter on his ranch during those years, but when times and the pelt market changed, Mr. Reymond, in 1938, reduced the number of foxes kept on his ranch and used the opportunity to make a rigorous selection. Only the very best animals remained on the farm and Mr. Reymond reaped the rewards of his efforts when in 1941 his entries in the P.E.I. fox show were high winners, including the grand champion and 4 championships plus many others. The slate of show winnings for Mr. Reymond's foxes continued to set records for a number of years, both in the silver and platinum classes and when foxes met with less demand in the market, Mr. Reymond diversified, adding mink and some horses to his ranch, winning prizes with those animals as well. It was not until 1948 that Mr. Reymond decided to close out his fox herd entirely, much to the regret of fellow ranchers.

 

- from pg. 127 of Silver Fox Odyssey: The History of the Canadian Silver Fox Industry by Joseph E. Forester and Anne D. Forester

The item below is from the website of Dalvay-by-the-Sea Hotel and tells of the Reymond family's involvement with operating a signature PEI hotel, an operation that would continue to involve their family over three generations.

Dalvay has since been operated as a leased private concession from Parks Canada. In 1959, Mr. and Mrs. Raoul Reymond became operators of Dalvay By-The-Sea. Hailing from Geneva Switzerland, the Reymonds had left Europe arriving in PEI in 1925 to take advantage of the lucrative fox breeding industry. After fox fur went out of fashion they turned their energies to inn keeping in summers and teaching music in winters to many Charlottetown families. The Reymond’s brought a European atmosphere of gentility and personal service to Dalvay that was unique to Prince Edward Island.

Santa's Spectacles

How Santa's old pair of glasses ended up on Prince Edward Island one Christmas Eve is a question that remains a mystery in our family to this day. And while the children remember it well, they still ask about those glasses every Christmas.

It was a snowy night, and big flakes of snow welcomed us on Christmas morning when the children scampered excitedly out of bed to head to their stockings hung by the fireplace. We could all see that Santa left presents for each of the three children.

With housecoats and slippers on, they opened their stockings, happily finding both an orange and apple in the toes, and not a single lump of coal. They knew that an apple or an orange, instead of a lump of coal, was a sign that even Santa knew how good they had been. How lucky they were with both. They found toys and sweet treats in their stockings too. 

Amid their excitement, they looked in the ashes of the fireplace and noticed an odd object. It was brown and rounded and didn't look like either coal or wood. The ashes were cool as I touched it carefully; we realized that it was an old metal case for eyeglasses. Prying the case open, they discovered a pair of old spectacles, round with golden metal rims. "These must be Santa's," the oldest boy exclaimed to his sister and brother, "He must have lost them!" Clearly a pair of round glasses was a most unusual thing to find in the ashes of a fireplace any day, but especially on Christmas. "What should we do with them?" I asked; to which the youngest one replied, "I suppose we could send them back to Santa." And so the case was safely placed on the mantle, with a plan to send them back to Santa.

Later they discovered that one of the lenses was badly cracked. Since they were inside their case, and not being worn when lost, I wondered out loud if they might be an older pair, too broken to wear and long forgotten by Santa in a coat pocket after he got his new pair. And thus the glasses were tucked away in a wee box with a note telling how these old glasses were found by the children amid ashes on Christmas morn. 

Our grandchildren now join the holiday gathering around that old fireplace with equal enthusiasm, and the story of those glasses is a reminder to all looking forward to the arrival of Christmas -- that even amid the ashes -- when one least expects to find anything, there can be welcome surprises at Christmas, and in fact every day.

 

 

Daily News on Prince Edward Island

The story of journalism on Prince Edward Island, includes luminary figures like Edward Whelan who founded the Examiner in 1847. The same paper would become the Island's first daily and perhaps reveals a story of friendly competition between two relatives. Henry Lawson (1829-1897) had served as editor of the Examiner in the 1860s but had moved over to the Patriot. His nephew, William Lawson Cotton (1848-1928), took the Examiner's helm in 1873 and created the Island’s first daily news in 1877 issuing the Examiner daily and renaming his existing weekly paper, the Weekly Examiner.

Henry Lawson, was not outdone and in 1881 converted the Patriot into a daily as well. Nipping at both their heels was the Evening News which by 1884 was a third daily.  While PEI had seen various publications come and go since 1787 thanks to the efforts of the uncle and nephew, Islanders had a variety of daily newspapers to choose from. Their pioneering efforts established daily news for Prince Edward Islanders.

William Lawson Cotton, known to family as Will, had a career of 49 years as editor before stepping aside. Although retired as editor and publisher he continued to write historical articles and a book called Chapters in our Island Story was the result. Will's Examiner merged with the Charlottetown Guardian in 1915 and eventually was absorbed by that paper in 1922. 

William Lawson Cotton (1848-1928)
From the Illustrated Historical Atlas of the Province of Prince Edward Island
 published in 1880 by the J. H. Meacham Company, 

 

His Uncle Henry's paper, the Patriot, would see many name changes long after he had moved to Victoria BC. From Daily Patriot 1881, Island Patriot 1910, Prince Edward Island Patriot, 1920, Charlottetown Patriot, 1923, and Evening Patriot 1924. Eventually it would fold into the same ownership as the Guardian functioned as an afternoon edition but with a strong focus on local content. It was published on a distinctive peach coloured paper which stood out among other papers. It ceased publication on June 9, 1995.

William Lawson Cotton at top left - Henry Lawson at top right
From the Illustrated Historical Atlas of the Province of Prince Edward Island 
published in 1880 by the J. H. Meacham Company, 

Henry Lawson was a parliamentary correspondent reporting from Ottawa during the sittings of the House by travelling to the capital for the duration of each sittings. 

Henry Lawson 1829-1897

Image from family collection of Daphne & Ian Scott

The best chronology of Prince Edward Island newspapers was compiled by Heather Boylan in 1987 for the Public Archives of Prince Edward Island. Called Checklist and Historical Directory of Prince Edward Island Newspapers 1787-1986 it is a coil bound volume of 211 pages that outlines the history of each publication and names of editors and publishers, as well as locations of microfilm copies or originals. It also provides a year by year listing of papers published in any given year and the present locations for accessing them.

An item published by the Times-Colonist in Victoria BC indicates:

Henry Lawson, Colonist editor -- 1888-1897

Henry Lawson served as editor of the Colonist for eight years, until his death in 1897. Lawson left school at an early age and was largely self-educated. After working as a teacher and school principal, he turned to journalism, and spent 40 years in the field, starting in Prince Edward Island. He worked as editor of the Summerside Progress, then the Charlottetown Patriot. After he bought the Patriot he made himself its Ottawa correspondent when Parliament was in session.

After he sold his newspaper he worked for several others across Canada. he was offered the editor's job at the Colonist in the fall of 1888. Lawson's daughter Maria continued to work at the Colonist after he died. She retired from the paper in 1934 at the age of 82.  

Henry Lawson 1829-1897
Image from family collection of Daphne & Ian Scott

Additional resources:

• Dictionary of Canadian Biography entry on William Lawson Cotton.
• Article Journalists Follow in Fathers' Footsteps regarding Henry Lawson and his daughter Maria Lawson.
• The Guardian: Our History written by Gary MacDougall, a former managing editor at The Guardian.
• About Patriot - Island Newspapers -- UPEI Robertson Library
• Checklist and Historical Directory of Prince Edward Island newspapers 1787-1986 by Heather Boylan

French Television on Prince Edward Island

In viewing the 2022 version of the The Prince Edward Island Acadian Quiz created by the Sister Antoinette DesRoches Historical Committee, I noticed an interesting question

9) Since what year can French television be picked up across the Island?  a) 1960;  b) 1970;  c) 1980.

Answer: 1980

On November 5, 1980, most Islanders were able to watch French television for the first time. On that day, thanks to a retransmitter located in Bonshaw, Radio-Canada put on the air the complete programming of the Moncton station CBAFT. Prior to that date, only people in the western part of the Island could receive the signal from the Moncton transmitter, which had opened in 1958.

In 1981, Radio-Canada created a permanent reporter position on the Island. Yvon Michaud was the first to fill this position. 

- thanks to Georges Arsenault and the Sister Antoinette DesRoches Historical Committee

Robert Harris, Island Artist

 Robert Harris (1849-1919) remains the most famous portrait artist associated with Prince Edward Island. In preparing for a short talk on his life, I decided to post some useful links for others researching his life and work.

The Wikipedia entry is a good starting point, as is the Dictionary of Canadian Biography article.

An article in The Buzz in June 2021 about a major retrospective exhibition at the Confederation Centre Art Gallery is valuable, as is the description of the exhibition on the Centre's site.

Robert Harris, Self-Portrait 1890, watercolour on paper.
Gift of the Robert Harris Trust, 1965, CAGH-205.

A collection of materials including images by the late Robert Tuck, a relative of Robert Harris has been archived on the Way Back Machine (Internet Archives) and while the links are dated it includes helpful information.

An article, Robert Harris and The Fathers of Confederation, published in 1968 and written by Moncrieff Williamson likewise is helpful on covering a crowning achievement in his career.

The authoritative biography remains the book also written by Moncrieff Williamson,  Island Painter: The Life of Robert Harris (1849-1919). It was published by Ragweed Press, 1983 - 158 pages. 

The Bible Christian Church - from Benjamin Bremner, An Island Scrapbook

From Benjamin Bremner, An Island Scrap Book - Historical and Traditional, published by Irwin Printing, Charlottetown: 1932, page 109

The Bible Christian Church in Prince Edward Island, under the pastorate of the Rev. Francis Metherall.  The latter was appointed by the Conference of the Bible Christian Connection of Cornwall, England, as a missionary to this Island in 1831 and set sail for the scene of his labors in 1832, arriving after a voyage of nearly two months in Bedeque, from whence he journeyed to Winslow Road where he began his labors as a missionary.  

Among the people in this vicinity were the well known families of Ayers, Esserys, Bryentons, McCoubreys, Yeos, Pickards, Holmans, Turners, etc. Mr. Metherall labored earnestly and successfully for many years and established connections in almost all sections of the Island except for Charlottetown. He died June 1875 at the age of 84 years having been 53 years in the ministry. The Charlottetown connections were established in January 1857 with Rev Cephas Barker as its first minister.

The large building on Prince Street nearly opposite Trinity United Church was the home of the congregation and was dedicated in August 1858.  

The following were the Charlottetown ministers up to the time of the Union of the four divisions of the Methodist Church: 

• Revs. Cephas Barker -1856,
• John Chappell -1865, 
• George Webber -1870, 
• William S Pascoe -1870,
• John Harris -1870,
• S H Rice -about 1880.  

(Mr. Pascoe was considered by the townspeople generally as a prince among preachers.  Of course it is well known that the United Church of Canada was not in existence until many years later.)

The Church building was afterwards disposed of and renamed The Lyceum, being thenceforth used as a theatre or for public entertainment, political meetings, ect, the lower front being turned into a grocery conducted by the late Michael Duffy Sr.

Referring to Mr. Duffy I’m reminded of a rather good story concerning him and the late lamented Rev William Dobson DD.  The latter was for some time pastor for the First Methodist Church, living in the parsonage where the Heartz Memorial Hall now stands.  Between Dr. Dobson and Mr. Duffy a very warm friendship existed and many a merry quip passed between the two, for Methodist Minister and a very devout Roman Catholic.  The story tells how Dr. Dobson stepped into Duffys shop one fine morning and asked “Duffy, can you give me a good Protestant turnip?” The other replied “Faith I can” and going to the cellar soon returned with a very horrible specimen, full of hairs, cleavages, and divisions and placing it in front of his reverence said “There ye are” Dr. Dobson responded with “Duffy you had me that time.”!

GUEST OPINION: Many connections to Holland

As published in The Guardian on June 23, 2020

This clipping from Jan. 26, 1943, shows Princess Julianna of the Netherlands at her Ottawa home with her children. - islandnewspapers.ca - Contributed

Travel restrictions this spring limited overseas activities that would have involved Islanders as part of the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Holland, yet it remains important to recognize the close connections that exists and grows between the Island and Holland. Within agriculture alone, studies show that 53.8 per cent of Prince Edward Island's immigrant farm population in 2006 was from Holland.

Canada and Holland also share a unique royal connection as our respective heads of state have been primarily women for the last century and a half. In Holland, three queens have served in the role for 133 of the last 140 years while Canada has seen two queens serve for 132 of the last 183 years.

During the Second World War, Princess Margriet of the Netherlands, third daughter of Princess (later Queen) Juliana and Prince Bernhard was born in Ottawa cementing a bond with Canadians celebrated annually with tulips. In 1945, the Dutch royal family sent 100,000 tulip bulbs in gratitude for Canadian hospitality in sheltering the future Queen Juliana and her family during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. Out of this grew the Canadian Tulip Festival in Ottawa. Festival founder and photographer Malak Karsh appreciated that royal gesture of thanks, "The gift of tulips brought colour back into a very gray world. We celebrate this gift, the spirit of spring renewal."

P.E.I. also played a war time role as CFCY radio station in Charlottetown was the location Princess Juliana used in 1941 to convey a message of hope to Dutch citizens at home as well as a birthday greeting to her mother in Britain. The recorded message was intended to bolster hope for the Dutch Resistance and those attempting to survive the harsh Nazi occupation. After the message was recorded at CFCY, it was broadcast over shortwave radio while the Dutch government-in-exile, headed by her mother Queen Wilhelmina, was based at Stratton House near Piccadilly in London.

Unlike the Vichy French government which in defeat accepted a policy of collaboration with Hitler, Holland was the third largest oil producer in the world and crucial war resources were at stake. When Prime Minister Dirk Jan de Geer proposed a return to the Netherlands and a similar approach, Queen Wilhelmina realized that collaboration with Nazi Germany would mean the oil-rich Dutch East Indies (Indonesia) would be surrendered to Japan and fuel the Axis war machine. A puppet government she would not accept; as head of state she replaced key members with a cabinet prepared to lead their occupied nation from a distance.

Lt. Col. Keith Rogers was the founder of CFCY and the story of the 1941 royal recording session was told by his daughter, Betty Rogers Large in her award-winning book Out of Thin Air in 1989. Full disclosure – Betty was my mother-in-law and after learning of the story, I sent a copy of her book to the Dutch royal family and received an appreciative response.

Many special tulips have been in bloom across the province thanks to the Liberation 75 organization which exists to generate celebration ideas related to the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Europe. The colourful displays across Canada have been a fitting way to remember the personal sacrifice of more than 7,600 Canadians who died in the Netherlands as well as those in the larger European operations. After a long fall and winter of 1944 leading to the renewal of spring in 1945 tulips have become a symbolic reminder of how Canadians liberated Holland following the “hunger winter” when even tulip bulbs were resorted to as food for residents.

Great respect for Canadians continues today in Holland with various school events; family connections abound both from the 1,886 Dutch women who married Canadian soldiers after the liberation, and also among those families who found a new beginning in Canada through immigration since.

Veseys in York previously honoured the 70th anniversary with 100,000 tulip bulbs given to organizations across Canada for planting. John Barrett of Veseys commented at the time that, "We're sort of hoping to try and keep that memory alive in Canada to the same degree that it's been kept alive in Holland." Hopefully this year will bring more awareness of the connections between Holland and Canada that grew from such difficult circumstances. Kudos to everyone working hard to commemorate this milestone.


Ian Scott is a past executive director of the P.E.I. Museum and Heritage Foundation who lives in Charlottetown.