Looking back - 1975: Lack of support leads to cancellation of Santa Claus parade
- Details
- Published on Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Photo courtesy of Cecil Pittman archives. St. James Anglican Church Neepawa; Five lots were purchased on the corner of Main St. and Mountain Ave. on May 13, 1897 for the cost of $222.10 and construction began.
By Cecil Pittman
The Neepawa Press
Week of October 21, 2015
80 years ago, Friday October 18, 1935:
There is a movement on foot to have certain sections northeast from Neepawa set off as a big game sanctuary. Langford has taken the initiative and we are assured that support would be given by Rosedale and Lansdowne. During the last few years, the small herd of jumping deer roaming the wooded sections north and east of town has increased to almost 20 or 25 animals and it will be the endeavor of our councilors to prevent the ruthless destruction of these pretty animals by conscienceless sports.
70 years ago, Thursday October 18, 1945:
Extension of the hydro line to Arden, Bethany, Clanwilliam, Erikson and some farms is already underway. The lines to villages will bring closer the possibilities of rural electrification.
Preparatory work is being carried out from the Arden extension at present, men being employed scrubbing brush along the route. The line will run east of the radio range station just north of Neepawa. Digging is already underway for the Bethany-Clanwilliam-Erickson extension. This work is part of the planned extension to rural areas, many of which signed up for service just before the outbreak of war.
60 years ago, Thursday October 20, 1955:
Norma McCracken and Joan Trembath will make the air-trip to Chicago as queens of Neepawa Lion’s Country Fair. A relatively large crowd waited in the local sports arena well past midnight Monday to hear the announcement of the winning candidates and watch the crowning ceremony. Lion’s Club president C. (Bud) Hanson did the honors in placing the glittering crowns on the heads of Miss McCracken and Miss Trembath who were seated on the thrones erected on the platform. Joan Trembath was the town queen and Norma McCracken was the country queen.
50 years ago, Friday October 15, 1965:
Eden - Trevor Bay, a member of the 1965 Eden graduating class, received the outstanding student award, an engraved plaque, at the graduation exercises October 8. Division board chairman J. M. Young made the presentation.
During his four years at Eden Collegiate, Trevor maintained an outstanding student record. As well as having one of the highest scholastic records, he was vice president of the student council in grade 11, an active curler in grade 9-12 and a member of the football squad in grade 11 and 12. He was chosen to represent Eden at the U.N. seminar in 1964.
40 years ago, Thursday October 16, 1975:
There will be no Santa Claus parade in Neepawa this year according to one Neepawa and District Chamber of Commerce spokesman, who cited lack of support from the general chamber membership as the major contributing cause of the parade’s cancellation.
The lack of support has led to a number of refusals from executive members to accept responsibility for handling and coordinating the affair, said the spokesman.
30 years ago, Thursday October 17, 1985:
A three-year battle for trucking rights in the area has come to an end, with Gardewine North Limited the victor.
The Manitoba Motor Transit board last week ruled in favor of the Winnipeg trucking giant, stating it had not abandoned service to the communities of Minnedosa and Gladstone from March 1 to June 19, 1984. The decision ends the battle between Gardewine and the two rural firms, Gladstone Transfer Limited and Delmage Transfer of Minnedosa.
The battle started in 1982 when another rural firm, Hares Cartage of Neepawa, called for a review of Gardewine’s license to haul freight into Neepawa.
20 years ago, Monday October 17, 1995:
A hunter from Fort McMurray, Alberta was accidentally shot in a field northwest of Gladstone around 9:30 am last Friday.
Gladstone RCMP said the man and his hunting companion were crawling along the ground, trying to get closer to a flock of geese when the second hunter’s gun discharged. The first hunter suffered several pellet wounds to one arm. He was treated at Neepawa hospital, and released the next day. Police say they don’t know how the gun discharged, since the safety mechanism was on at the time. No charges were laid, and no names were released.
10 years ago, Monday October 17, 2005:
With only six members left, the Kelwood Legion Ladies Auxiliary will disband at the end of the year.
“It is sad”, said Thelma Burton, a member since 1958. “It’s hard to let it go, but we didn’t feel we had much choice.” Burton said with most of the membership in their 80s - “I’m by far the youngest at 71”- traditional fundraisers, such as catering had to be phased out.
“We haven’t catered for three or four years,” she said. “You are very limited to what you can do [with six members]. The work always falls on the same people.”
It used to be different. The Kelwood Auxiliary started as a Great War Veteran’s Auxiliary, sending packages to troops overseas in WWI. The War Veterans Auxiliary dissolved in 1934. Ten years later the Kelwood Legion Ladies Auxiliary branch No. 50 was formed.
