Al and Dora Peters settled in Canmore in April of 1948 with their two children, Caroline and Rodney. Another daughter was born in June, 1952. Al had worked as a power lineman for companies in Saskatchewan, British Columbia and other areas of Alberta before starting his job with Calgary Power as district manager. He remained working for the company, in that capacity, for thirty-two years.
Al purchased property along Railway Avenue and started building a home. While construction was underway, the family lived in Straw’s Cabins and later in Thorpe’s Cabins, the present site of The Drake. Rodney recalls waking up on Christmas morning with the bed blankets frozen to the walls!
The children enjoyed many adventures throughout the years. Daily, while going to school, Caroline and Rodney walked beside a herd of elk that grazed in the Canmore Elementary School yard. Chipmunks, living in the back yard, were a constant amusement and they tried in vain to tame them. Tidbits of food were offered to the scurrying animals to lure them closer and, on one occasion, causing a bit of excitement, a young kit bit into Rodney’s finger and held on. Bears roamed through their back yard. Dora, hearing her toddler daughter, Jackie, calling for the teddy bear, went running and hollering out the door, armed with a kitchen broom and scared off a big black sow.
Al looked after what is now Kananaskis Country. In the winter, he patrolled the powerlines on snowshoes, often camping overnight in line cabins along the way. On one overnight trip, he took an employee with him. The fellow woke up in the middle of the night and saw two bright eyes staring at him in the dark from across the room. He pulled out the shotgun they had with them. Aiming at what he thought were the eyes of a pack rat, he fired and blew the telephone off the wall! The eyes had been the moonlight reflecting off the telephone bells. During the summer, Al travelled in a jeep provided by the company. While patrolling the lines, he often took along a crew member, or son Rodney, and a trusty Golden Lab, Rex. Rex liked to stand on the back bumper of the jeep and, more than once, almost lost his footing. He would also stay in the jeep and look after things while Al was on a trouble call or just checking a service for a concerned resident.
Al was a well-known and well-liked member of the community, often called on in the middle of the night for a repair or to aid a customer. He rarely missed a Sunday at Ralph Connor Memorial United Church. He gave to all of the local charities, did numerous exhibitions and talked to students about various aspects of the power industry. He often had electrical students working for him during the summer and helped many a young man further a career with the company.
Al and Dora sold their property along Railway Avenue and Policeman’s Creek in 1978, moving into the home where Dora still resides. Al retired in January of 1980 with the intention of enjoying the valley he loved for many years to come. Unfortunately, his health quickly deteriorated and he died a short six months after his retirement.
In the early years, Dora volunteered as Al’s secretary, answering the telephone, taking trouble calls and getting messages to her husband. Al also maintained the power lines at the Morley Reserve and Dora often entertained many an Aboriginal until her husband got home. Through the years, Dora also donated countless hours to the United Church Women’s, preparing monthly international dinners. Dora opened her home to provide art and ceramic lessons, quilting, and numerous craft classes. She taught oil painting at the Banff Centre and the United Church Hall. She was a Brownie, Girl Guide and Scout leader for the years her children were involved. She has also decorated numerous wedding cakes for family and friends. She continues to help friends by chauffeuring them to Calgary on shopping and medical trips and still offers quilting classes at the Seniors Lodge and in her home.
Caroline June married Walter Minto Hendy of Creston, B.C. They have lived in several places in British Columbia, retiring on Vancouver Island at Qualicum Beach. Caroline, a manager of operator services, and Wally, a publicity improvement manager, both worked for BC Tel. They have two children, Laurie Dawn and Michael Walter. Laurie married Roger Rettan and has two sons, Spencer and Benjamin. They reside in Calgary, AB, where Laurie teaches elementary school. Michael lives in New Westminster and works for BC Tel.
Rodney William married Sharron Louise Doering of Canmore. They lived at Vermilion, AB, for eighteen years and raised their two children, Sean Coady and Sharney Leanne. Rodney was a property manager for the Alberta Government, as well as continuing work as a journeyman electrician. Sharron worked for Lakeland College. They moved back to Canmore in 1997. Rod works for BayMag and Sharron works for a lawyer in Banff. Sean married Nancy Tyson of Cranbrook in September, 1995, and they live in Calgary where Sean works as a project programmer for a major jewelry manufacturer and Nancy works in floor covering sales. Sharney works part-time as a “Jock” for a Canmore radio station and has just graduated in broadcasting from Mount Royal College.
Jacquelyn Gayle married Myron Evan Zajic of Edgerton, Alberta. They live on and work the family farm. Jackie is a documentation supervisor at the Lloydminster Credit Union. They had three children. Myles lives and works in Calgary. He is an insurance adjuster. Ryan and his wife Cathy live on the family farm. Ryan is a mechanic and Cathy is a dental assistant, both working in Wainwright. Damon lives and works in Wainwright. He is currently going to Lakeland College to become a partsman.
Al Peters and Ralph Walkden with jeep
In Canmore Seniors at the Summit, ed. Canmore Seniors Association, 2000, p. 220-221.
