I, Jean Purcell, came to Canmore in 1948 to answer an ad for a Home Ec. teacher. Prior to this I had taught at Arrowwood, Alberta, located near the community of Gleichen. I had been trained in a two year program at the Faculty of Education in Calgary, University of Alberta. I was in the first class. This was the beginning of the University in Calgary.
My first job in Canmore was junior high, one of two junior high teachers at the Canmore School. Prior to my arrival the staff numbered eight; after my arrival the staff was nine. This was the time of the Spray development starting with the building of the road into the Spray valley. Mannix Construction was responsible for a lot of the infrastructure and paved the way for the hydro development which is in this valley.
The Lawrence Grassi School now occupies the site of the Canmore School as I first knew it. It was a wonderful school in which to teach with great students and supportive parents. Students wishing to further their education were well prepared for post-secondary studies. In most cases they were really encouraged by their parents as well as their teachers.
I married a wonderful local son, Angelo (Spec) Maschio, who spent most of his working years at the Canmore Mines. He was chief surveyor and safety supervisor. Surveyors determined the direction of the underground passages and also measured the amount of coal which was mined during a certain period of time.
I took a hiatus of about six years. From 1955 to 1962 I was a stay-at-home mom for most of the time. During that time we had four children: Phyllis, Margaret, Patrick and Kathleen. They are all graduates of the Canmore High School. Phyllis now lives in Ontario. She is married to Burn Chapman and they have a daughter, Christine. Margie and her husband, Dan Smith, live in Barrhead, Alberta with their children Angie, David and Michael. Patrick is married to Debbie Bader. They live in Red Deer with their children, Bryce and Lauren. Kathy and her husband, Clare Rose, reside in Medicine Hat.
Spec was a terrific community person. He was involved in his church, in sports, instrumental in having artificial ice put into the old arena, spearheaded the volunteer group that installed the new ice. When the local Catholic church was built in 1960, he was co-chairman of the building committee. The church was built in exactly six months entirely by volunteer labor. Spec also belonged to the Kiwanis Club and the Legion. He also had a war career, having spent a year in the navy and about two years in the army and that included overseas service.
I resumed my teaching career in 1962, continuing until my retirement in 1989. During that time I completed my degree by going to summer school and evening credit classes until 1973 when I received my B.Ed. My majors were Home Economics and Social Studies. Through the years we raised four children, we were involved in community and church activities and also looked after aged parents in Calgary and Canmore.
Spec retired about 1985. I continued to complete thirty-five years of service which I thoroughly enjoyed. In our retirement we spent time visiting our children and seeing a lot of Alberta. When Spec’s health began to fail, we travelled less and less. He died suddenly in November, 1993.
In recent years I have done some travelling and I especially enjoy travelling in Canada as I have cousins from coast to coast. It is always a joy, however, to return to Canmore. I continue to live in this community where I appreciate my spectacular view of the Rocky Mountains by the “mighty” Bow.
Angelo (Spec) and Jean Maschio 1993
Angelo (Spec) and Jean’s family 1993
In Canmore Seniors at the Summit, ed. Canmore Seniors Association, 2000, p.177-178.
