Catherine Elizabeth "Kay" Dennis was born on November 26, 1916 at Brandon, MB. She attended school in Brandon and received her Psychiatric Nursing degree at the Brandon Mental Health Centre (BMHC) in 1938. Kay worked at the BMHC for 42 years. Her hobbies included natural history, bird-watching and summers at at Clear Lake. She never married. Catherine Dennis died on December 16, 2003 in Brandon, MB. She is buried at Brandon Municipal Cemetery.
Evelyn MacKenzie was born on September 29, 1905 at Craggie Inn, Daviot, County of Inverness, Scotland. She came to Canada with her parents in 1909, first to Winnipeg and then to Balmoral in 1911. Evelyn came to Brandon in 1924 or 1925 to take her nurses training at the Brandon Mental Hospital, graduating with a diploma in Psychiatric Nursing in 1927. From 1927-1942, she worked on BMHC wards, before being promoted to Acting Superintendent of Nurses. Evelyn enlisted in the Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service (WRENS) during the Second World War, and was stationed at Halifax. Following the war, she returned to the BMHC where she was Assistant Superintendent of Nurses until her retirment in 1970. Evelyn enjoyed golfing, curling and bowling, was a member of the Brandon Golf and Country Club, an honorary charter member of the Brandon Quota Club, a member of Ex-WRENS Association (Chippawa Division) and a member of First Presbyterian Church. Evelyn never married. Evelyn MacKenzie died on April 19, 1993 in Brandon, MB. She is buried at Stonewall Cemetery.
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 Catherin Dennis and Evelyn McKenzie about the Brandon Hospital for Mental Diseases, and their experiences as students and nurses there. The interviewer is A. Lloyd Henderson.
Notes
History/bio information from the records, Dennis' obituary and MacKenzie's obituary. Description by Christy Henry.
Access Restriction
Consult University Archivist for access
Language Note
English
Conservation
Preservation copy made 2021 (R. Hess)
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Ada Hope Wells (nee Whitmore) was born on September 10, 1900 in Leiscester, England. She came to Edrans, MB with her family in 1905. As a young girl she worked as a hired girl and nursemaid for a number of families in the Wellwood district. On June 15, 1918, Ada married John James Wells (1885-1968), a farmer. Together the couple had ten children: Winona, Dawn, Andrew, James, John, Charles, Beth, Alex, Fancis and Joan. Ada and John farmed at Wellwood until 1956, when they retired to the village and their son Alex took over the farm. Ada moved to Neepawa in 1982. Ada was a very talented seamstress and baker, and active in the church, Zion Presbyterian in Wellwood and Knox in Neepawa. She was also involved in the community as a member of the WMS and as a girls' group leader. She was often called upon to assist with sick children and helped deliver a number of babies in the district. During World War II she spent hours preparing and wrapping parcels for soldiers overseas. Ada Wells died on May 9, 1997 in Neepawa, MB. She is buried at Wellwood Cemetery.
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 Ada Wells about pioneer days and early homemaking. Interviewer is Isla Kennedy.
Notes
History/bio information from the records and Wells' obituary. Description by Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
Audio Tracks
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James Gilmour was born on December 4, 1910 at Griswold, MB. In 1936, he moved with his family to the Forrest District where he worked on the McPhail farm. In 1938, he went to Norway House where he and his twin brother Wesley were on the staff at the Residential School.
Isabel Marjory Forsyth was born on January 25, 1917 in the farm home south of Pipestone, MB. After graduating from high school, Isabel attended the Women's Institute Course in Deloraine for dressmaking and cooking, where she learned skills she used for the rest of her life. In 1939, Isabel travelled to Norway House with a group of teachers, and that is where she met Jim Gilmour.
Jim joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1942, and on November 7 of the same year he and Isabel were married. Following the marriage, the couple were stationed in Lethbridge, AB and then Mossbank, SK where Jim was a flight instructor. At the end of the war, the Gilmours moved to Pipestone where Jim was manager of the Co-op store. In 1948, they moved to join Jim's brother Hughie on the farm in the Forrest district. During his farming years, Jim was active in Forrest United Church, the rink board, the Pool Elevator board and the School board. He loved to garden, curl and visit. Isabel enjoyed cooking, canning, gardening and entertaining. She was involved in community activities including the United Church and as a 4-H leader for 17 years, and enjoyed curling and baseball. She also sketched and painted.
Jim and Isabel moved to Brandon in 1982, where they enjoyed bowling, bridge playing and square dancing. Isabel was also associated with "The Writer's Circle." In 2000, the couple moved to Virden to the Evergreen Place to be closer to family. Jim spent the last year of his life in the Sherwood Home in Virden.
Together the Gilmours had three daughters: Carol Anne, Joan and Lynne. James Gilmour died on March 20, 2003 in Virden, MB. Isabel Gilmour died on September 5, 2007 in Virden, MB. They are both buried at Rosewood Memorial Gardens.
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 James and Isabel Gilmour about early agriculture in Manitoba and life at Griswold. Interviewer is Frank Anderson.
Notes
History/bio information from the records and the obituaries for James and Isabel Gilmour. Description by Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
Audio Tracks
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