Edward Turner was born 1913 in England. Sponsored by the Hudson's Bay Company, he immigrated to Canada in 1931. That fall he was sent by the unemployment agency to Riding Mountain National Park to clear scrub. For a number of years Ed worked on farms during harvest, did chores for the Ramgren family in winter, and cut ice at Otter Lake. He also learned how to shoot and snare rabbits, which he sold to fox farm owners. In 1937, Ed purchased 120 acres adjoining the Scandinavia Church, cutting and selling wood to pay for the land. Ed married Lorna Mary Tiller (1921-2003) on January 30, 1942, and together they had two children: James and Dianne. In October 1942, Ed joined the Canadian Army, serving for two years before receiving a medical discharge. Following the Second World War, Ed and Lorna sold the farm, purchasing and operating a general store in the Onanole district until 1956. For the next sixteen years they owned and operated the Outdoor Roller Rink at Clear Lake. In 1962, Ed became the manager of the Erickson Credit Union, and the couple built a home in Erickson. Ed was elected mayor of Erickson in 1968, a position he held for eight years. When they sold the roller rink in 1972, the Turners bought the Clearl Lake bowling alley, which they operated until 1979. The couple retired to Onanole, where they were members of the United Church and Ed continued to do some work in real estate. Edward Turner died in 1994. He is buried at Scandinavian Cemetery.
Arthur Koping was born December 7, 1905 on section 15-17-17 in the RM of Clanwilliam. After his father died, Arthur, his brother John and his mother returned to Finland. When Arthur returned to Clanwilliam in 1926, he could not speak English. After a year with his Koping grandparents, Art went to New York where he did construction work and learned carpentry skills. Art returned to Manitoba in 1930, working at whatever jobs were availavle, carpentry, painting, paper hanging etc. At Riding Mountain National Park, he did road work, as well as carpentry, including helping build relief camps, the Superintendants house and the golf course clubhouse. In 1934, he built a house and married Lillie Marie Sundmark (1902-1970). The couple's only child died shortly after he was born. Art was asked to buy the family homstead in 1943, although the Kopings continued to live there. During World War II, Art began working for Harper Construction Company building homes for grain buyers in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. As his job required him being away for long periods, Art built a house for Lillie in Erickson in 1948. Following Lillie's death, Art married Mary Booth (1910-2006) in 1973. Arthur Koping died in 1988. He is buried in Finland.
Custodial History
As part of the Westman Oral History Collection, this collection was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1998. The original tapes from the Westman Oral History project were deposited in the Brandon Public Library. Copies of these originals were made by Margaret Pollex of the Brandon University Language Lab at the request of Eileen McFadden, University Archivist in the early 1990s. These copies compose the collection held in the McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
Item is an audiocassette tape containing an interview with Edward Turner and Arthur Koping about their early years in Canada and life as a Canadian-born immigrant. Interviewer is Mary Booth-Koping.
Notes
History/bio information taken from the records and the Clanwilliam-Erickson local history "Forest to Field." Description by Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
Audio Tracks
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File consists of correspondence, memos, a submission to the Standing Committee on Broadcasting, Films and Assistance to the Arts presented by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (1968), research material on FM stations, an equipment proposal, FM Radio Committee minutes and newsclippings.
Storage Location
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
Series 8: Library Services
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