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).
Postcard is of a combine bailing hay in the north end of Brandon at the junction of First Street and Veterans' Way. The Brandon city skyline is in the background and the orange Pioneer Grain elevator can be seen on the left side of the postcard.
Notes
Writing on the front of the postcard reads: Brandon, The Wheat City. Back of the postcard reads: Brandon the Agricultural and Industrial center for southwestern Manitoba; Photo by Sandy Black; Printed in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada, by Leech Printing Ltd.
Photograph shows the buildings of the superintendant and barns of the Brandon Experimental Farm (now Brandon Rearch Station)
Notes
Part of "Christie's Brandon Series of Six Colored Picture Postcards of Brandon, Manitoba, The Crown Series, Published by Christie's Bookstore, Brandon, Man." [note: missing sixth postcard]. Writing on the front of the photograph reads: Experimental Farm, Brandon. Man.
Photograph shows a junior boys' hockey team in Medicine Hat, Alberta. One of the team members is holding a trophy. Fred McGuinness, Jr. is a member of the team.
Photograph shows a junior boys' hockey team in Medicine Hat, Alberta. One of the team members is holding a trophy. Gallagher McGuinness is a member of the team.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: autographs - Rick Leask, Brian Crandell, Clayton Hirsch, George McKay, Jim Witts, David Frey. Other names listed in two columns include: Doug Furrey, Jim Witts, Leo May, Sig Taylor, Bill Holden, Wayne Wilkins, ?, Risk Leask, Barry Kurtz, Reg Bronat, Blain Hogg, Clayton, Hirsch, Brian Crandell, Ken Briol?, Dave Frey, ?
Photograph shows a junior boys hockey team in a hockey rink. The boys are wearing Maple Leafs jersies. Hanging on the boards behind the team is a pennant that reads: The Rotary Club, Medicine Hat, Alta. Gallagher McGuinness is the goalie.
Photograph shows a group of 10 men, eight whom are wearing sweaters with the letters WCBC appliqued across the chest. The goalie is seated in a wodden chair and wears his goalie pads and skates. The four other players in the front row are also wearing skates and have their hockey sticks.
Notes
Writing on the front of the photograph mat reads: Wheat City Business College Hockey Club, 1912
There is some kind of residue on the left side of the image.
Custodial History
Photograph was transferred to the Archives from the Athletics Department in May 2017.
Scope and Content
Photograph of Brandon University hockey player Gary Kaluzniak holding the GPAC championship plaque aloft on the ice. George Birger is standing to his right.
Item is a portrait of men from the Rivers area who attended a meeting or workshop facilitated by Reg Forbes, Principal of the Agricultural Extension Centre in Brandon, MB. Some of the men in the photo are John Dick, Tommy Seens, Roy Murrey, Reed Spearn and Reg Forbes.
Manitoba Flying Farmers Convention appears to have been a convention for farmers who planted and sprayed their crops using aerial techniques. The Manitoba Flying Farmers were organized in 1956 in Brandon, Manitoba. Organizational meetings were held in a hanger at the Brandon Flying Club. The first Regional 5 Flying Farmers Convention in Manitoba was held 1961. Nearly 200 people attended the first convention from various provinces and states including: Alberta, Saskatchewan, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnisota, Wisconsin, Montana and Colorado. Alberta and Saskatchewan had their own district leaving Manitoba in a district with North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnisota and Wisconsin. This photo was taken at the 11th Annual Manitoba Flying Farmers Convention on the weekend of April 7th, 1967.
Custodial History
See Fonds level description for custodial history
Scope and Content
Image of a woman presenting at the podium from the front table. Two men are sitting on either side of the woman. A sign saying "Manitoba Flying Farmers" is at the base of the table. The image appears to have been taken at the Prince Edward Hotel.
Notes
Hisotry/Bio information taken from Brandon Sun. Description by Jillian Combs.
Manitoba Flying Farmers Convention appears to have been a convention for farmers who planted and sprayed their crops using aerial techniques. The Manitoba Flying Farmers were organized in 1956 in Brandon, Manitoba. Organizational meetings were held in a hanger at the Brandon Flying Club. The first Regional 5 Flying Farmers Convention in Manitoba was held 1961. Nearly 200 people attended the first convention from various provinces and states including: Alberta, Saskatchewan, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnisota, Wisconsin, Montana and Colorado. Alberta and Saskatchewan had their own district leaving Manitoba in a district with North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnisota and Wisconsin. This photo was taken at the 11th Annual Manitoba Flying Farmers Convention on the weekend of April 7th, 1967.
Custodial History
See Fonds level description for custodial history
Scope and Content
Image of the attendants of the convention who are listening to the speaker. The image appears to have been taken in the Prince Edward Hotel.
Notes
Hisotry/Bio information taken from Henderson's Directories. Description by Jillian Combs.
