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).
Fred McGuinness worked with The Medicine Hat News for 10 years, starting in 1955, when he was hired as an assistant to the paper’s publisher. In 1958, he was promoted to publisher of the newspaper. At the same time McGuinness was also appointed vice-president of Southam Company Limited. Based in Toronto, Southam Company Limited was the parent organization that oversaw the Southam Printing Company (Toronto and Montreal) and the publication of a number of weekly newspapers, including The Ottawa Citizen, The Hamilton Spectator, The Winnipeg Tribune, The Calgary Herald, The Edmonton Journal, The Vancouver Province and The Medicine Hat News. In addition to his administrative duties, while with The Medicine Hat News, McGuinness authored a column titled, “The Lighthouse.” In November of 1965, he resigned as publisher and moved with his family to Winnipeg where he was appointed manager of the New Personnel and Information Division with James Richardson and Sons.
In 1988, McGuinness was hired by The Medicine Hat News to write a 20 article feature about his reminisces of Medicine Hat. McGuinness referred to this collection of stories as “Hat Memoirs.”
Custodial History
Accession 1-2015 contains records created and collected over the course of McGuinness’ career as a newspaper journalist and freelance writer. The Estate of Fred McGuinness donated the materials to the SJ McKee Archives circa 2011. The Archives accessioned the records in 2015.
Scope and Content
The subseries contains records created and collected by Fred McGuinness during his time as a journalist, editor, and freelance writer for The Medicine Hat News. Records include Medicine Hat News clippings from the 1960s, a scrapbook containing clippings of McGuinness’ Lighthouse column (1961-1964) and drafts of McGuinness’ 1988 Medicine Hat memoirs.
Records in the subseries consist of rough drafts, article proofs, newspaper clippings, a scrapbook, and correspondence.
Notes
Readers’ correspondence pertaining to McGuinness’ time in Medicine Hat may be found in Fred McGuinness’ personal papers, subseries McG 1.2 Correspondence
Accruals
Closed
Finding Aid
A file level inventory is available
Storage Location
2015 accessions
Arrangement
Arrangement was artificially created by the Archives. Subseries has been re-arranged according to publication period
Pipestone Co-operative Elevator Association Limited Organizational papers: 1929 - 1967 By-law no. 4, no date Certificate of incorporation, 2 February 1929 Memorandum of Association and general By-laws, 1 February 1929 Minutes of first general meeting of shareholder s, 22 February 1929 Lease -MPEL to Pipestone CEAL, 1 August 1929 Application for share in stock, 18 July 1931 By-law no. 12 and 13, 18 July 1931 Agreement between Pipestone CEAL and MPEL, 1 August 1931 By-law no. 14, 16 November 1931 General By-laws and By-laws 18, 19, and 20, 16 June 1941 General By-laws, 23 October 1941 By-law no. 21, 10 November 1947 Letter re By-law no. 21, 27 August 1948 Agreement between Pipestone CEA and MPE, 1 August 1951 By-law no.23, 5 November 1951 Agreement, 15 December 1966 By-law no. 26, 17 March 1967 Minutes of Executive Board meetings, volume 1, 10 April 1929 - volume 4, 22 September 1969 Minutes of Shareholders Annual meetings, 1930 - 1968 (16 reports) Financial records and statistics Statement of surplus, 1941 - 1955 (12 reports) Final statements, 1930 - 1952 (13 reports) Auditors' reports, 1930 - 1950 (13 reports) Analysis of Operating results, 1951 - 1955 (3 reports)Correspondence, 1929 - 1969 Membership list, 1930 - 1969 Miscellaneous Corporate Name: Rural Municipality of Pipestone.
See fonds level description of RG 4 for history/bio of MPE.
Scope and Content
Sub-series MPE B.4 consists of local association financial statements.The statements are bound in uniform hardcover volumes. The statements is organized chronologically, and alphabetically by local association name within each individual year.
The records for each individual local's fiscal year consists of: 1) letter of certification from the auditors; 2) summary of income and expenses of said local association.
Box contains unbound Manitoba Pool Elevators central office meeting minutes including MPE Board of Directors minutes January 15-16,1985 to July 17,1996.
This box contains bound volumes of audited financial statements for local MPE associations. The records include the following:
Local Assoctiation Financial Statements 1925-26; 1926-27; 1927-28; 1928-29 A-H; 1928-29 I-W; 1929-30 A-H; 1929-30 I-W; 1930-31 A-H; 1930-31 I-W; 1931-32 A-Ed; 1931-32 El-Md
This box contains bound volumes of audited financial statements for local MPE associations. The records include the following:
Local Association Financial Statements 1931-32 McA-Wo; 1932-33 A-Ed; 1932-33 El-Md; 1932-33 McA-Wo; 1933-34 A-Ed; 1933-34 El-Md; 1933-34 McA-Wo; 1934-35 A-Ed; 1934-35 El-Ma; 1934-35 McA-Wo
This box contains bound volumes of audited financial statements for local MPE associations. The records include the following:
Local Association Financial Statements 1935-36 A-Ed; 1935-36 El-Ma; 1935-36 McA-Wo; 1936-37 A-Ed; 1936-37 El-Ma; 1936-37 McA-Wo; 1937-38 A-Elm; 1937-38 Elp-McC; 1937-38 McT-Woo
This box contains bound volumes of audited financial statements for local MPE associations. The records include the following:
Local Association Financial Statements 1938-39 A-Elm; 1938-39 Elp-McC; 1938-39 McT-Wo; 1939-40 A-Elm; 1939-40 Elp-McC; 1939-40 McT-Woo; 1940-41 A-Ewa; 1940-41 Fai-McC; 1940-41 McT-Woo
This box contains bound volumes of audited financial statements for local MPE associations. The records include the following:
Local Association Financial Statements 1941-42 A-Ewa; 1941-42 Fai-McC; 1941-42 McT-Woo; 1942-43 A-Ewa; 1942-43 Fai-McC; 1942-43 McT-Woo; 1943-44 A-Ewa; 1943-44 Fai-McC; 1943-44 McT-Woo
This box contains bound volumes of audited financial statements for local MPE associations. The records include the following:
Local Association Financial Statements 1944-45 A-Ewa; 1944-45 Fai-McC; 1944-45 McT-Woo; 1945-46 A-Fan; 1945-46 For-Men; 1945-46 Men-Woo; 1946-47 A-Fan; 1946-47 For-Men; 1946-47 Men-Woo
This box contains bound volumes of audited financial statements for local MPE associations. The records include the following:
Local Association Financial Statements 1947-48 A-Fan; 1947-48 For-Men; 1947-48 Men-Woo; 1948-49 A-Fan; 1948-49 For-Men; 1948-49 Men-Woo; 1949-50 A-Fan
This box contains bound volumes of audited financial statements for local MPE associations. The records include the following:
Local Association Financial Statements 1949-50 For-Men; 1949-50 Men-Woo; 1950-51 A-Fan; 1950-51 For-Men; 1950-51 Men-Woo
This box contains bound volumes of audited financial statements for local MPE associations. The records include the following:
Local Association Financial Statements 1952-53 A-Fan; 1952-53 Fis-Men; 1952-53 Mia-Woo; 1953-54 A-Fan; 1953-54 Fis-Men; 1953-54 Mia-Woo; 1954-55 A-Fan; 1954-55 Fis-Men; 1954-55 Mia-Woo
This box contains bound volumes of audited financial statements for local MPE associations. The records include the following:
Local Association Financial Statements 1955-56 A-Dro; 1955-56 Duf-Kat; 1955-56 Kel-Oak; 1955-56 Oak-Woo; 1956-57 A-Fan; 1956-57 Fis-Men; 1956-57 Mia-Woo; 1957-58 A-Fan; 1957-58 Fis-Men; 1957-58 Mia-Woo
This box contains bound volumes of audited financial statements for local MPE associations. The records include the following:
Local Association Financial Statements 1958-59 A-Fan; 1958-59 Fis-Men; 1958-59 Mia-Woo; 1959-60 A-Fre; 1959-60 Gil-Mor; 1959-60 Nap-Woo; 1960-61 A-Fre; 1960-61 Gil-Mor; 1960-61 Nap-Woo
This box contains bound volumes of audited financial statements for local MPE associations. The records include the following:
Local Association Financial Statements 1961-62 A-Fre; 1961-62 Gil-Mor; 1961-62 Nap-Woo; 1962-63 A-Fre; 1962-63 Gil-Mor; 1962-63 Nap-Woo; 1963-64 A-Fre; 1963-64 Gil-Mor; 1963-64 Nap-Woo
This box contains bound volumes of audited financial statements for local MPE associations. The records include the following:
Local Association Financial Statements 1964-65 A-Fre; 1964-65 Gil-Mor; 1964-65 Nap-Woo; 1965-66 A-K; 1965-66 L-W; 1966-67 A-K; 1966-67 L-W; 1967-68 A-K; 1967-68 L-W
This box contains minutes from meeting of MPE district advisory committees. The records include the following:
55. District Advisory Committee 1102 2000-2001
56. District Advisory Committee 1103 2000-2001
57. District Advisory Committee 1104 2000-2001
58. District Advisory Committee 1005 1999-2001
59. District Advisory Committee 1006 2000-2001
60. District Advisory Committee 1007 1999-2001
61. District Advisory Committee 1008 1999-2001
62. District Advisory Committee 1001 1999-2001
63. District Advisory Committee 1002 2000-2001
64. District Advisory Committee 1003 Apr., July 2000
65. District Advisory Committee 1004 1999-2000
66. District Advisory Committee 906 2000-2001
67. District Advisory Committee 907 2000-2001
68. District Advisory Committee 908 2000-2001
69. District Advisory Committee 901 2000-2001
70. District Advisory Committee 902 2000-2001
71. District Advisory Committee 903 April 12 2000
72. District Advisory Committee 904 2000-2001
73. District Advisory Committee 805 1999-2000
74. District Advisory Committee 806 July 7 2000
75. District Advisory Committee 807 July 7 2000
76. District Advisory Committee 801 2000-2001
77. District Advisory Committee 802 2000-2001
78. District Advisory Committee 803 Nov 14 1999
79. District Advisory Committee 804 2000-2001
80. District Advisory Committee 705 March 15 2000
81. District Advisory Committee 708 March 14 2000
82. District Advisory Committee 707 March 15 2000
83. District Advisory Committee 606 (Miscellaneous)
