Robert (Bob) Troy Blair was born on March 11, 1930 in Brandon, MB. His first six years were spent in Alexander, MB, where his father and uncle operated a grocery store. In 1936, his family moved to Souris, MB, where his father ran a grocery store. Blair received his primary and high school education, with the exception of Grade 12, in Souris.
Blair remembers his school years in Souris as mainly happy years. He was involved with both piano and organ music lessons. he was never interested in physical sports with the exception of golf. World War II broke out in September of 1939. Souris became the site of #17 SFTS and home base for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Many of the service men came from England, Australia and New Zealand. Blair's mother always entertained at least two for dinner every Sunday. Rationing of sugar, tea and coffee, butter and meat became a way of life. Blair had the job every Saturday of pasting the ration coupons into booklets. It was also when he was in Grade 6, that Blair realized he was more attracted to boys than to girls. Perhaps it was because so many attractive airmen surrounded him!
In November of 1947, the Blair family relocated to Alexander where Bob Blair finished his Grade 11. This was not a good year due to bullying. In September of 1948, Blair moved to Winnipeg to attend United College for his Grade 12. Upon completion of Grade 12, Blair remained in Winnipeg until June 1950. he worked at a number of businesses - Gestetner, Eaton's Mail Order shoe department, Maple Leaf Milling, and the drug store in the Medical Arts Building. In September 1950, he entered Brandon College. Blair was very active in extra-curricular affairs while at Brandon College; particularly drama. Following his B.A. he enrolled in the Education Faculty, having decided to become a teacher.
Blair's teaching career spanned 34 years. All but one year was spent in the Brandon School Division. On his first day of teaching in the Division he met the man with whom he would spend the next 46 years. He was primarily a teacher of English and Music. A highlight of his career was exchange teaching in Sacramento, California in 1961. Orientation for exchange took place in August in Washington, D.C., where Blair had the opportunity to meet President J.F. Kennedy. He vividly recals the morning that JFK was assassinated on November 22, 1963. In September 1965, Blair assumed the principalship of Park School and in September of 1969, the same position at George Fitton School where re remained until his retirement in 1989. He was a member of the Brandon Picnipals' Association, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, and servedas President of the Brandon Teachers' Association. Among his major accomplishments during his time as principal were the introduction of a centralized school library in both Park and George Fitton Schools and the integration of special needs students into regular classroom situations wherever possible. He was made a Life Member of the Manitoba Teachers' Society (Brandon) in June 1990. Following his retirement Blair worked as a Library Automation Consultant (1989-1993).
Blair also had numerous community involvements during his time in Brandon. he was active in the Brandon Little Theatre (Best Actor Award, Manitoba Drama Festival for One Act Plays in 1963), the Brandon Festival of the Arts, the Eckhardt-Gramatte National Music Competition, and Arm Industries to name a few.
Following the death of his partner in 2001, Blair moved to Saskatoon to live with a younger gay couple. He has been active in volunteerism: as an Ambassador for the Saskatoon Airport Authority, assistant with the Saskatoon Health Region's Immunization Clinics, information clerk for the Festival of Trees, data entry clerk for the Saskatoon Music Festival, on the Board of the Saskatoon Jazz Society, and Hospitality Coordinator for the Saskatoon Jazz Festival.
As of October 2013, Bob Blair continues to live in Saskatoon, SK.
Custodial History
Records were in Blair's possession until he donated them to the Mckee Archives on Homecoming weekend October 2013.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of two scrapbooks containing 145 photographs and ephemera (play and graduation programs, tickets, pins, newspaper clippings) documenting Bob Blair's days at Brandon College. Social events and extra-curricular activities are heavily featured in the two scrapbooks. Also included are graduation portraits for the Classes of 1951, 1952 and 1953. Of the 145 photographs all are black and white except for two photos of the Class of '53 reconvocation (May 1993), and one from the Class of '53 reunion (2003).
Composite portrait of the Wheat City Business College class, 1920. F.A. Wood, Principal, Instructors: Mr. D.S. Forsyth; Miss. J. H. Snider; Miss. M.D. Cowan; Miss. I.E. McKewer.
Photograph shows BU president Dennis Anderson placing honorary doctorate hood on Fred McGuinness while BU chancellor Martin Kavanagh speaks at podium. Gallagher McGuinness (top left) is part of platform party on the stage at the Centennial Auditorium.
Photograph shows Fred McGuinness (centre) posing with his honorary doctorate. BU president Dennis Anderson and BU chancellor Martin Kavanagh stand to his left and right, respectively.
Portrait of the Brandon University Bocats men's hockey team. Front Row (L to R): Bill McLeod, Bob Walburg (Ass’t Coach), Garth Johnson, Mark Arnett (Head Coach), Randy Cameron, Mike Cooper (Ass’t Coach), Kevin Mantell, Doug Roach. Middle Row (L to R): Dave Riley, Trevor Thomas, Troy Leslie, Terry Kowalchuk, Jim West, Dean Sexsmith, Pat Penner, Dave Whistle, Dave Schettler, Shawn Brandt, Blaine Sautner, Tony Franklin, Kelly Anderson, Tyler Rathgaber. Back Row (L to R): Myles Hubbard, Glen Haney, Jeff Trapp, Darren Schwartz, Pat Malone, Troy Sambrook, Dave Lewis, Maury Jackson, Richard Oswald. Missing: Dave Simard (Trainer), Konrad Plante (Trainer).
Portrait of the Brandon University Bocats men's hockey team. Front Row (L to R): Mike Thomas, Bob Walberg (Assistant Coach), Dave Lewis, Mark Arnett (Head Coach), Mike Cooper (Assistant Coach), Garth Johnson, Jay Anderson (Assistant Coach), Doug Roach, Guy Basaraba. Middle Row (L to R): Jim Bazillion (Trainer), Dennis Young, Tony Franklin, Pat Malone, Marvin Magwood, Pat Penner, Gord Ransom, Dave Whistle, Dave Schettler, Glen Johnson, Kelly Anderson, Garnet Kinney, Joe Gagliardi (Trainer). Back Row (L to R): Gary Gaudet, Myles Hubbard, Blaine Sautner, Rob Nutley, Troy Leslie, Chris Braun, Dale Lewis, Garred Baines, Richard Oswald, Cory Miner, Shawn Brandt, Bruce McCallum.
Portrait of the Brandon University Bocats men's hockey team. Back Row (L to R): Perry Fafard, Rob Nutley, Bruce McCallum, Todd Howarth, Guy Williams, Curtis Grieve, Reg Spence, Ted Fleury, Dan Brooks, Blaine Sautner. Middle Row (L to R): Dave O’Neill (Manager), Tony Franklin, Doug Stromback, Trent Thibert, Gord Ransom, Brad Traves, Dwayne Brook, Dave Schettler, Richard Kidd, Kelly Anderson, Mike Thomas. Front Row (L to R): Wayne Labrie, Gary Gaudet, Jay Anderson (Ass’t Coach), Garth Johnson, Mark Arnett (Head Coach), Mike Cooper (Ass’t Coach), Richard Oswald, Bob Walberg (Ass’t Coach), Tom Dennis.
Portrait of the Brandon University Bocats men's hockey team. Front Row (L to R): Ryan Tempol, Richard Kidd, Darren Duncalfe, Guy Williams, Dean Rowland, Al Patterson, Colin Ryder. Middle Row (L to R): Trevor Ross, Tom Skinner, Tony Franklin, Jay Dobrescu, Kent Kinaschuk, Marty Zdan, Chris Wielgosh, Graham Shindle, Jeff Schachterle, Mickey McGuire, Dennis Pinfold, Bryan Webber, Scott Coates, Wayne Robertson. Back Row (L to R): Jamie Berry, Craig Anderson, Tyler Boucher, Adrian Beaudin, Peter Jas, Chad Michalchuk, Scott Hlady, Mike Lehmann, Derek Robertson, Maria Sirdar.
Portrait of the Brandon University Bocats men's hockey team. Front Row (L to R): Colin Ryder, Craig Anderson, Dean Rowland, Chris Wielgosh, Grady Manson, Ryan Tempel. Middle Row (L to R): Tom Skinner (Head Coach), Maria Nickel (Trainer), Ty Davidson, Michael Jelencic, Jeff Schachterle, Ray Guze, Lee Erickson, Ian Lampshire, Derek Henkelman, Bryan Webber (Ass’t Coach), Wayne Robertson (Manager), Trevor Ross (Equipment Manager). Back Row (L to R): Ryan Vermette, Adrian Beaudin, Darren Duncalfe, Peter Jas, Shane Kustra, Scott Hlady, Mike Lehmann.
Portrait of the Brandon University Bocats men's hockey team. Front Row (L to R): Colin Ryder, Jeff Schachterle, Ian Lampshire, Chris Wielgosh, Craig Anderson, Ryan Vermette, Heath Butler. Middle Row (L to R): Rob Stouffer (Trainer), Trevor Ross (Equipment Manager), Tom Skinner (Head Coach), Lewis Kinvig, Craig Malaschuk, Chad Yeomans, Chad Hackywicz, Curtis Menzul, Gregg Zubricki, Ty Davidson, Bryan Webber (Ass’t Coach), Wayne Robertson (Manager), Rob Wasylniuk(Ass’t Coach). Back Row (L to R): Tyson Ramsey, Ryden Marko, Derek Henkelman, Scott Hlady, Chris Kavanaugh, Darren Kirk.
Portrait of the Brandon University Bocats men's hockey team. Front Row (L to R): Colin Ryder, Scott Hlady, Craig Anderson, Chris Wielgosh, David Andrew, Ryden Marko, Curtis Atkinson. Middle Row (L to R): Rob Wasylniuk (Ass’t Coach), Rob Stouffer (Trainer), Tom Skinner (Head Coach), Chad Leslie, Greg Zubricki, Daryl Stockham, Brent Kyle, Curtis Menzul, Trevor Wideman, Craig Malaschuk, Bryan Webber (Ass’t Coach), Trevor Ross (Equipment Manager), Brad Wells (Ass’t Coach). Back Row (L to R): David Caldwell, Mike Baranyk, Scott Ribble, Derek Henkleman, Ryan Vermette, Marlin Murray, Tyson Ramsey.
The Brandon Normal School was an arm of the provincial Department of Education. Manitoba Normal schools were initiated in the early 1880s (1882 for protestant teachers and 1883 for Roman Catholic ones) to meet the demand for teachers in the province's schools. Normal schools were held in Brandon at various locations until the construction of the Brandon Normal School in 1912 under the Roblin government. The Brandon Normal School operated until 1946.
Scope and Content
Portraits of the students and staff of Brandon Normal School's fall term class (1915).
The Brandon Normal School was an arm of the provincial Department of Education. Manitoba Normal schools were initiated in the early 1880s (1882 for protestant teachers and 1883 for Roman Catholic ones) to meet the demand for teachers in the province's schools. Normal schools were held in Brandon at various locations until the construction of the Brandon Normal School in 1912 under the Roblin government. The Brandon Normal School operated until 1946.
Custodial History
Photograph was donated to the McKee Archives by Eleanor Sands in 1999.
Scope and Content
Portraits of the students and staff of Brandon Normal School's second class (1932-1933).
The Brandon Normal School was an arm of the provincial Department of Education. Manitoba Normal schools were initiated in the early 1880s (1882 for protestant teachers and 1883 for Roman Catholic ones) to meet the demand for teachers in the province's schools. Normal schools were held in Brandon at various locations until the construction of the Brandon Normal School in 1912 under the Roblin government. The Brandon Normal School operated until 1946.
Custodial History
Photograph was donated to the McKee Archives by Dorothy Frances Hunter (nee Davidson) in 2007.
Scope and Content
Portraits of the students and staff of Brandon Normal School's second class normal (1924-1925).
Wheat City Business College was established in 1904, when J.W. Beveridge and F.E. Werry resigned from the Commercial Department of Brandon College to establish the Wheat City Business College. It was located originally in the Commercial Building on 10th Street, owned by Hughes and Co. Wheat City Business College continued to operate until the later 1960s.
Custodial History
The photograph as donated to the McKee Archives by alumni of the Wheat City Business College sometime before 1997.
Scope and Content
Portraits of the students and staff of the Wheat City Business College.
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