The dynamic Nor’ Westers organized a transcontinental canoe transport from Montreal to the Pacific. Here, paddlers negotiate a rapid with a large birch bark canoe.

History: West to the Setting Sun – Part 1

Reprinted from the January 1951
 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

West to the Setting Sun By Philip H. Godsell, F.R.G.S., Lethbridge, Alta. ‘In the halcyon days of fur trade enterprise and exploration Fort St. James was wont to ring the the boisterous mirth of roistering traders when the vigorous, hard-drinking Nor’ Westers gathered within wooden walls and stockades hewn from the forest, alternately holding high […] Read more

History: Submission to the Board of Transport Commissioners on the Subject of Increase in Livestock Freight Rates

Reprinted from the December 1950
 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Submission to the Board of Transport Commissioners on the Subject of Increase in Livestock Freight Rates (Presented at Calgary, Monday, November 20th, 1950, by Western Section, National Council of Canadian Beef Producers and the Western Stock Growers’ Association) ‘In June, 1949, in Calgary it was our privilege to present our views to the Royal Commission […] Read more


History: Railways and irrigation

Extracted from 'Ottawa Letter', in the December 1950
 of Canadian Cattlemen

Railways and irrigation By Senator F.W. Gershaw In return for building a railway through the great lone land the C.P.R. was allowed to select some twenty-five million acres of land that was described as being “fairly fit for settlement.” In 1903, having disposed of most of the land in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, the Company took […] Read more

History: B.C. Police Sign Off

Reprinted from the December 1950
 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

B.C. Police Sign Off By P.W. Luce, Vancouver, B.C. ‘Khaki and Green has turned to Scarlet and Gold. A romantic era in British Columbia has ended. The Provincial Police Force has been absorbed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Of the 500 officers and men who patrolled the 360,000 square miles of the western province, […] Read more


History: Alberta’s 1950 Master Farm Families Named

Reprinted from the November 1950
 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

By Lorne Stout, Calgary, Alta. Three prominent cattlemen were among five Alberta Master Farm Family winners for 1950. And the honours were even between the major beef breeds. Emil Cammaert of Rockyford, winner from southern Alberta, is a Shorthorn breeder; Roy Ballhorn, who took the Central Alberta award, is one of Canada’s most prominent Aberdeen-Angus […] Read more

History: Homestead Highlights

Reprinted from the December 1950
 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Homestead Highlights By Harvey Hanson, Balzac, Alta. ‘The winter of 1911-12 saw gramophones and electric pianos playing Alexander’s Ragtime Band in Spokane, Washington, and patrons of the Orpheum Vaudeville heard semi-stout, well-fed females singing “Oh, You Beautiful Doll.” The Pantages was in full swing too, while farther down town was a burlesque show, mostly for […] Read more


History: Our Rocky Mountain Passes

Reprinted from the December 1950
 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Our Rocky Mountain Passes By Marjorie K. Stiles, Didsbury, Alta. ‘It must have been fifty years after La Verendrye sighted the Rocky Mountains, that vast snow-capped ridge of stone, beckoning to him from the horizon, before the fur traders and explorers were successful in penetrating the wilderness between the prairies and mountains. These men followed […] Read more

A new and larger sales ring was used at this year’s Williams Lake sale.

History: Williams Lake Sale

Reprinted from the November 1950
 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Williams Lake Sale By Richard Andre The old west — the real west — came to the life as hundreds of Cariboo ranchers, their cowboys, buyers and Calf Club youngsters came to Williams Lake to celebrate the 13th annual sale sponsored by the Cariboo Cattlemen’s Association during the week of October 7th to October 13th. […] Read more


History: Trail to Sounding Lake, Pt. 2

Reprinted from the November 1950
 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Trail to Sounding Lake (concluding instalment) By Margaret V. Watt, 748 East 60th Ave., Vancouver, B.C. ‘In the days that followed, our caravan was often the only object on the landscape. After a time, however, homesteaders’ sod shacks with their roof gardens of lambs’ quarters two feet tall, began to appear and as we continued […] Read more

History: Trail to Sounding Lake

Reprinted from the October 1950
 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Trail to Sounding Lake By Margaret V. Watt, 748 East 60th Ave., Vancouver, B.C. ‘”Where in the world is Sounding Lake?” someone was sure to ask. At first it was hard to find. Close scrutiny of the map revealed a small, bright blue splotch about two-thirds of the way up from the International Boundary, close […] Read more