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Crowsnest Pass
Herald Serving our communities since 1930
UROC’s Poker Ride United Riders of Crowsnest members came out for the Poker Ride at the Pass Powderkeg Ski Area on July 7. Calgary Cycle, Ascent Cycle and Alpenland provided prizing. UROC photos
Vol. 94 No. 27 July 10, 2024 $1.25
6 - CROWSNEST PASS HERALD - Wednesday, July 10, 2024
Looking Back BY JOHN KINNEAR
Isabel Russell’s Gardens Isabel Russell’s spectacular English garden is, in many ways, a metaphor of her life. As surely as nature blooms and blossoms each spring, Isabel grew a beautiful life garden, seeded with her daughters and grandchildren, important teaching, prolific reading, volunteerism and commitment to community. On June 13th of this year friends and family gathered at the municipal library to recognize her life garden in a lovely profound way. Her abrupt passing stunned those of us who knew her well and, while it took some time to try and absorb this loss; those who were such a part of her life came together with a concept. The event was the initiative of the Book Club she belonged to for years. Judy Cooke and Shirley Blume were the prime drivers in the who, what, where and when planning that went into this important acknowledgement. For Isabel, literature was one of her great loves and this book club was an integral part of her love of the English language. She taught English up until 2008 and is remembered by her students with gratitude as one who could see their strengths and capabilities- often before they could see these attributes in themselves. The club deemed it only fitting that the focus of this commemoration be centred at the principal repository of literature here, the municipal library. An artistic
work was commissioned, designed to capture the essence of Isabel’s growing garden. The unveiling of artist Jan Lloyds’s beautiful stained glass creation that day touched everyone who beheld it. Over 900 individual pieces of glass were meticulously fitted together into this artist’s view of Isabel’s cultivations. It is a richly coloured cornucopia of pieces that depicts going up the staircase from her flower beds to her greenhouse. I went to visit Peter Dunn last week to see first-hand what had inspired Lloyd’s creation and I found Isabel’s garden to be a stunning blend of walls, steps, decorative fences, structures and an array of annual and perennial plant types and colours. It struck me as I walked up the steps to the greenhouse, through giant irises and peonies about to bloom, that the steps were symbolic of her journey in life, her vision of how things should be or could be, always moving upward. Step by step she made her way as a teacher, history advocate, quilter and seamstress (also major passions in her life), gardener, hostess extraordinaire, university senator, editor, and golfer. The list of her stairway into life is long and with each step she proceeded with uncompromising commitment and skill. The monies raised for the artwork were more than enough, so an eye was turned towards what else within the library would speak to who she was. Knowing her love of books and the joy she got sitting and reading them to her children and grandchildren, it was decided to purchase a large cuddler chair. A place for parent and child to sit together in comfort and explore the world of words. With funding still remaining and after once again consulting with Library Manager Diane deLauw, a large IKEA cubed bookshelf was purchased to hold some of the library’s collection. All this was capped off with the purchase of 18 children’s books, from Analog Books in Lethbridge, which were added to the children’s library. Books that perhaps her book club members will choose to read to their children and grandchildren. The stained glass is permanently framed into a window at the library and the cuddler chair is nearby with a rack of children’s books across the way. The legacy of Isabel’s life garden will stand for all as a reminder of one woman’s remarkable journey and a life well lived.
Photos left to right top to bottom - photos cont’d on pg 7 - Jan Lloyd’s tribute to Isabel’s garden - photo John Kinnear - Isabel and Peter’s backyard paradise - photo John Kinnear - Extraordinary quilting skills on display - photo John Kinnear - The cuddler chair at the library - photo John Kinnear - Isabel reading to grandchildren Mia and Jack - photo Peter Dunn
Wednesday, July 10, 2024 - CROWSNEST PASS HERALD - 7
Isabel’s Garden cont’d from page 6 - Isabel’s quilting room photo Peter Dunn - A toast to the memory of Isabel Russell - photo John Kinnear - Isabel would read constantly with a voracious reading appetite - Peter Dunn photo
Robert Edward O’Brien March 26, 1941 - July 4, 2024 It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Bob O’Brien on July 4, 2024. He was 83 years of age. Robert “Bob” Edward O’Brien “OBIE” was born on March 26, 1941 in Charlottetown, PEI. Bob spent his childhood years on the family property in Covehead, PEI where he enjoyed a rural upbringing helping with the family chickens, goats, garden, and the champion race horses his father trained. He also loved working on lobster fishing boats from time to time. He received a guitar as a gift at a young age which began his lifelong love of playing as often as possible. Bob learned his skills from friends and relatives at kitchen parties. He carried on playing with many well-known, accomplished musicians when he moved to Montreal, Toronto, back to the Maritimes and later to Calgary where he played for the Maritime Express band and at any local jam or gathering he could find. In 1996, Bob started coming to the Crowsnest Pass, AB to play at the jams at the Hillcrest Miners Club. He became good friends with the members of the band, and it also led to him meeting his future wife, Sandra when he would go to her mom’s house to jam with friends after the club jam was over. He also played with the Coyote Creek band in and around the area for a few years. After Bob and Sandra married, they purchased the Rangeview Gas Station in Lundbreck, AB which they renamed O’Bies General Mercantile. Bob was in his glory: renovating, managing, and getting to know the locals. After 10 years, they decided to retire from the business and sold it. Bob was a man of many skills. He could fix anything, plumbing, electrical, carpentry, or mechanical. After retiring he restored a 1928 Durant truck, worked on his guitars, recorded a bluegrass song “Reminiscing” with the help of his friend, Roy Warhurst, jammed as much as possible, travelled (his favorite trip was to Nashville in 2019), renovated the house, rode his motorcycle, and helped friends and family with any project going. Bob is survived by his wife, Sandra; his sons, Robert of Barrie, ON and Dale, his wife Shauna and their daughters, Taylor and Katelyn of Lethbridge, AB; his granddaughter Jessie and wife Regan O’Brien; grandson, Wade O’Brien and grandsons Carter and Bentley of Ontario; stepsons, Errol and Patricia Nystrom and their daughter, Jayda; and Behn Nystrom and fiancée Gisele d’Auteuil of Lundbreck, AB; as well as his sisters, Shirley Andrews, and Patsy Myers, and many friends and relatives in PEI. Bob was predeceased by his parents, Charlie and Stella; his son Ed in May of 2023; and his brothers, Noel and Joseph. Memorial Service arrangements will be announced at a later date. Donations in memory of Bob will be gratefully accepted by Dying with Dignity Canada (500 -1835 Yonge Street, Toronto ON M4S 1X8), or the Jack Ady Cancer Center (960 – 19 St. South, Lethbridge AB. T1J 1W5). Condolences may be registered at www.fantinsfuneralchapel.ca. Fantin’s Funeral Chapel entrusted with the arrangements. (403) 562-8555