ANDREW + JENNY CHAKOWSKI
Dad came from Russia by himself and Mom and her family arrived in Edmonton. The two met and were married in Edmonton. Their first son, Stanley, was born there and in 1919, Mom and Dad moved to Canmore where I, Andrew, was born.
Dad worked in the mines for over fifty years. He retired in 1965 and died in 1971. Mom died in 1958. My brother played hockey with the local team. He was janitor at the school and died in 1984.
I played hockey with the Briquetteers and we won three Western Intermediate “A” championships. I then went to Turner Valley from 1937 to 1939 for two years. It was there that I played against the Bentleys. In 1940 to 1941, I played with the Baltimore Orioles for one year and then back to Canmore. I then joined the army and played for Currie Army for two years. While with the Currie Army team, I went to the Chicago Blackhawks and then to Kansas City and we won the championship. It was there that I played against Gordie Howe. I was sold to a farm team in Tulsa where I played for two years and was then sold to the Vancouver Canucks in 1950. I quit pro hockey and Canmore bought my contract and it was here that I finished my career.
My life was fishing in the Spray Lakes and horseback riding. I worked in the mine in 1956 and then became school janitor, retiring at age sixty-five. My retirement consists of fishing and card playing. In 1945, I married Jennie Yanos and we had two sons, Jerry and Stanley, and a daughter, Andrea.
Andrew and Jennie, Jerry and Stanley Chakowski
JENNIE CHAKOWSKI (YANOS)
My grandparents came to Springhill, Nova Scotia, from Germany. My grandfather worked there for a few years and then came to Rosedale. Their son, Frank, worked in Drumheller and it was there that he met his wife, Frances Kubista. They married and started their family – Joe (Peppy), Ernest and Bill. Jennie and Thomas were born in Canmore. I received my education in Canmore. My father, Frank Yanos, was in World War I and served overseas. In World War II, he was a guard at the prison at Ozada. Joe joined the navy in 1940 and served in the North Atlantic. Their ship hit stormy weather and the seas were rocky. Fifteen sailors were drowned, Joe being one of them. In 1945, Andy and I were married (we met at the skating rink) and had three children – Jerry, Stanley and Andrea. We lost Andrea in 1994 to cancer. My dad died in 1956 and Mom in 1966. We have four grandchildren – Sean, Alan, Jody and Kate and all were born in Canmore. All the men in the family had worked in the mines. My brothers were Joe, Ernest, Bill and Tom.
Stanley, Jerry and Andrea Chakowski
Joe and Antonia Kubista
Frances Yanos (Kubista) and Frank Kubista
Ernest Yanos
MARY + JOSEPH CHAKOWSKI
Written by Pat Chakowski
The senior Chakowski were originally from Poland. Joe first worked for the Grand Trunk Railway. Mary first worked in a cafe. They were married in Edmonton. Stosh (Stanley) was born in Edmonton on February 1, 1918. The family moved here in 1919 and Andrew was born here in Canmore.
Andrew married Jenny Yanos. They have two boys, Jerry and Stanley, still living, and a daughter, Andrea, who is now deceased. Stanley was married to Laurinda Flynn. Their boys are Sean and Alan. Andrea’s daughter is Jody.
Stosh and I, Pat, were married in Calgary on August 24, 1942, by Rev. D. McKeen Reid. We lived on Fifth Street, in a new garage behind Chakowski senior’s house. Later this same house was moved to our lot next door. Two children, Colin and Eileen, were our family. Colin married Barb Titchkoski. Their two girls are Paula and Leigh-Ann. Eileen married Ron Forester. Their daughter is Deborah.
Stosh worked in the mine for fifteen years, then became caretaker at the school when medical reasons necessitated his leaving the mine. A favorite pastime was hockey. His teammates were Johnny Hrushka and Steve Krizan. His job was coach. Slim Eklof was the manager. They played for the Big Six. Stosh also played for the farm teams in Omaha, Kansas City and Tulsa. When the war came, that ended that.
Another favorite pastime was fishing, going up to Spray Lakes on horseback. Fish for supper was common. Fishing was one of the many activities that was a family affair with his dad and brother, Andrew. Andrew also played hockey, here and in the States.
My role was housewife and I was able to help my mother-in-law when needed. Common activities were canning, sewing, knitting, crocheting, etc. I helped with Guides, Scouts, church work, whatever needed to be done.
School was fantastic. We, the Flynns, moved here from the Gap. I started in grade nine after missing a year. Dances were held in Smedley’s Hall and it was located above where Betty dePencier used to live. Our orchestra included Marty Dewis on piano, Joe Riva on violin and drums. Whist drives were held in the old “Y”, followed by a dance.
In Canmore Seniors at the Summit, ed. Canmore Seniors Association, 2000, p. 42-44.
