Gerry Beaubier was born in Wainwright, Alberta to Beatty and Babe Beaubier. He completed his high school in Saskatoon, before receiving a BSc in Geography from Brandon University.
Before attending university Gerry served in the army as a special reserve, while working as a night clerk at the Bessbourough Hotel in Saskatoon. His post-graduate career consisted primarily of work for Canada Agriculture, under the PFRA Branch (Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration). Later he would work as an Executive Manager, helping develop forage and range management programs for several post secondary schools, including, Assiniboine Community College, as well as schools in Red Deer, Lethbridge, and Saskatoon.
Gerry Beaubier married Joyce Abercrombie, of Saskatoon. Together they had two sons: Neil and Dean. Neil, an Account Advisor for the Royal Bank, was born in Regina, and currently works in Swift Current. Dean was born in Swift Current, received his PhD in Education and currently lives in Forrest working at Elton Collegiate.
The Beaubiers, who were originally from Ireland, emigrated to the Canadian West, making Gerry part of the fourth generation of his family to call the region home. His great-grandfather, along with his grandfather and great uncle were amongst the first one hundred settlers in Brandon. Together they first built the Beaubier House, a boarding house for early settlers and travellers. After it burnt down they began construction on the Beaubier Hotel, which stood at the corner of 8th Street and Princess Avenue in Brandon until August 17th, 2008. His grandfather, David Wilson Beaubier, continued to build and operate hotels throughout the prairies, including the Empire Hotels (of Brandon and Saskatoon) and The Park (Moose Jaw).
David Wilson Beaubier served as a secretary of the Orange Lodge of Manitoba. As an Orange Lodge Colonel, he worked with other Orange Lodge members, to recruit throughout the prairies for the purpose of World War One. For his efforts , David was promoted to Leftenant Colonel, and later Captain of the 99th Manitoba Rangers. David's sons (Gerry’s father, at University of Manitoba, and uncle at McGill), were both working towards undergraduate degrees when war broke out in 1914, and each would leave school to join their father at Camp Hughes.
Custodial History
Gerry Beaubier collected these photos primarily in the years 2000-2011, largely
from family and friends who knew of his interest in the topic. They were donated to the S.J. Mckee Archives in 2011.
Scope and Content
Collection consists of digital photographs of those who trained for battle in World War I at Camp Hughes and in Brandon, Manitoba. It also includes a digital copy of the cover of the Nominal Roll of Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Men, who departed from Brandon in 1917.
The photos, taken primarily at Camp Hughes, are of a number of battalions, including the 34th, 100th, 108th, 181st and 214th. The photo, PT in England, is a postcard sent home from Beaty Beaubier. The Massey Harris building seen on the right side of, WW1 B parade0001, was used to house troops throughout the war. The man standing alone at the front of the parade in, 181 Parade, is David Wilson Beaubier.
Notes
Information for the biographical and custodial histories was provided by Gerry Beaubier on September 25, 2013. Description by Dustin Lane (October 2013).
Frederick Clayton Courtice was born on Septebmer 7, 1901 in Wawanesa, MB. Raised in Brandon, he attended Alexander, King George, and Central schools, as well as Brandon Collegiate Institute (BCI). He began his career as a bookkeeper in the Merchants Bank in 1916, later becoming an accountant in the Bank of Montreal. He then worked as the office manager for Frank Massin for twenty-one years, before resigning due to his health. Frank then formed a partnership with Clarence Baker as farm dealers for Imperial Oil. He remained with this business until 1954. He served one term (1955-1956) as an alderman on the Brandon City Council, and then became the manager of the Wheat City Arena. Starting in 1957, when the city took over operations of the public transit system, he became the first manager of the Brandon transit department. In retirement, Fred focused on woodwworking, especialy building grandfather clocks. Fred served on the Brandon housing and parking authority, as well as the Brandon University Board of Governers. He was a charter member of the Brandon Kinsmen Club, which was founded in 1925, a member of the Navy League during World War II, and a member of the Masonic Lodge for over sixty years. Fred married Thelma Irene Smith (1903-1976) in 1925 and together they had three children: James, Noel and Norma Elaine. Fred Courtice died on September 3, 1987 in Brandon, MB. He is buried at Brandon Municipal 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 Fred Courtice about his life story and the early days of Brandon. Subjects include: early places, people and busiensses, such as Reesors, Sifton house, Senator Kirkhoffer's home, Billie Muir's store, the construction of the Prince Edward Hotel, Caledonian rink, Trotter Brothers, Massin's, various hotels; the street railway; prohibition; the Brandon Electric Light Company; and more. The interviewer is Terry Penton.
Notes
History/bio information from the records, and Courtice's obituary. Description by Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
Conservation
Preservation copy made 2021 (R. Hess)
Audio Tracks
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Frederick John Kingsley "Fred" Heeney was born on August 15, 1900 in Danford Lake, Quebec. The family left Quebec in 1906, and moved to Girvin, SK, then relocated to section 23-11-19 in the RM of Elton. Fred farmed section 29-11-19 at Forrest, MB until retiring in 1965.
Isabelle Burton Allan was born on May 11, 1902 on section 7-11-18 in the RM of Elton, north of Brandon, MB. Initially a public school teacher who taught in Kemnay, Oak Lake, Starbuck and in Brandon at David Livingstone School, Isabelle stayed home after her marriage to Fred Heeney on October 21, 1931. The couple had two children: Dennis and Margaret.
Following Fred's retirement, the couple moved to Brandon. Isabelle was active in both community and curch organizations, taking a special interest in the 4-H Club and the Daly House Museum. Isabelle Heeney died on June 2, 1996 in Brandon, MB. Fred Heeney died on January 19, 2003 in Brandon, MB. They are both buried at Brandon Municipal 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 Fred and Isabelle Heeney about their lives, before and after their marriage, as well as early agriculture and the North End of Brandon. The interviewer is Frank Anderson.
Notes
History/bio information from the records and their obituaries. Description by Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
Conservation
Preservation copy made 2021 (R. Hess)
Audio Tracks
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Kenneth Ralph Hanly was born in Clinton, Ontario on July 30, 1932. He obtained his B.A. (Honors in English and Philosophy) from the University of Saskatchewan in 1959, his M.A. in Philosophy from the same institution in 1960, and his Ph.D. in Philosophy with honors from the Unveristy of Oregon in 1967. Hanly was initially appointed to the Philosophy Department at Brandon University in 1963. He retired as of June 30, 1996 and in 1998, the Board of Governors of Brandon University conferred the title of Professor Emeritus on him.
At Brandon University, Hanly was the poetry co-editor of "Pierian Spring" for 1982 and 1983, the editor for that publication for 1984 and 1985, and the editor of "Dollar Poems" from 1983-1987. He also seved as a representative on the University Tenure Committee and the Senate. His research interests included the Canadian left and political radicalism and labour movements in Brandon. During his tenure at Brandon University he was active in the NDP and particularly interested in municipal politics.
Hanly was also a member of the Manitoba Police Commission (1982-1987), the Manitoba Law Reform Commission (1970s), Amnesty International, the Canadian Authors Association, the Manitoba Writer's Guild, the Manitoba Association of Rights and Liberties, and an associate member of the League of Canadian Poets (1984-1986).
As of January 2006, Ken Hanly divides his time between Oakburn, MB and the Phillipines. He can be contacted at northsunm@yahoo.com.
Custodial History
While doing research in 1974, Ken Hanly sent three tapes and a request to William Pritchard to record an oral history of the Socialist Party of Canada. The tapes were recorded in October of 1974. Wiszniowski and Pirozek were interviewed by Hanly himself in the same year. Magnacca was also interviewed by Hanly. Hanly kept these materials from 1974 until 1997 when he decided to donate them to the McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
Fonds includes cassette tapes of a conversation with W. A. (Bill) Pritchard in which he provides an oral history of the Socialist Party of Canada (SPC) and describes his activities as a militant within the party from 1911 to 1927. Pritchard devotes a good deal of time to describing his many experiences as editor of the Western Clarion, the party newspaper, running in various elections, and his tours of B.C. and Alberta on behalf of the party. Pritchard also discusses the ideology of the Socialist Party of Canada and the ideological splits within it that occurred in the 1920s.
Fonds also includes a recording of a conversation with Brandon Communist Frank Wiszniowski dealing with Wisznoiwski's evolvement in various organizations following his arrival in Brandon in 1926. Fonds also includes a taped conversation with former Brandon Mayor Stephen Magnacca concerned with various features of political life in Brandon.
