by The History Wrangler, Your Neighbor Down at the Historic Bow Valley Ranche
Howdy, I’m known as ‘The History Wrangler’ and I serve as the Historian and Director of Education at the Bow Valley Ranche Learning Centre. The fine folks at The Bow Valley Ranche Historical Society and I are delighted to introduce a monthly article in your magazine that will feature interesting historical people from southern Alberta. We hope that you enjoy it.
Historic Southern Alberta Cowboy/Rancher
John Glenn, the first of the “Three Distinguished Ranchers” from the Historic Bow Valley Ranche, arrived at the ranch where the Fish Creek meets the Bow River in 1873 with his wonderful newlywed Métis wife Adelaide Belcourt, (see below) and their mule. John is known for many things, including growing hay for the horses at Fort Calgary, building the stone fireplaces at Fort Calgary, setting up the first irrigation system in Alberta, and buying the first lot in downtown Calgary. They sold the ranch to the government for $350 plus a cow and a calf.
Historic Southern Alberta Indigenous Chief
Chief David Crowchild, whom Crowchild Trail is named after, was born on the Tsuut’ina Nation in 1899. At 48 years old, he became the head Chief of his nation and led his people for five years. The Chief was known for many things, including racing Chuckwagons at The Calgary Stampede for more than 20 years. He also fought to have Old Age Assistance extended to senior indigenous people. At the opening of the Crowchild Trail on September 6, 1968, he shared “May all those who use the Crowchild Trail travel both ways in safety and with dignity and in friendship for all”.
Historic Southern Alberta Woman
Adelaide Belcourt was the Métis wife of John Glenn, the first documented European rancher in the Calgary area. They were married on September 1, 1873, in St. Anne, northern Alberta and settled on a ranch where the Elbow and Bow Rivers converge. Adelaide had six kids, ran a boarding house with her husband for travellers, and was a midwife, known as “The Grandmother of Midnapore”. She helped deliver countless babies, including babies belonging to Lady Belle Lougheed, wife of Sir James Lougheed, one of Alberta’s most prominent citizens.
Historic Southern Alberta Celebrity
Roberta Joan Mitchell, whom the world knows as Joni Mitchell, is a famous Canadian singer born to a Scottish mother in the southern Alberta town named after a Scottish colonel, Fort Macleod on November 7, 1943. Joni attended SAIT in Calgary, and during her illustrious music career, she has won 9 Grammy Awards, 3 Junos, as well as being inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1981. She has received the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award and awarded the Companion of the Order of Canada. Finally, Rolling Stone Magazine has called her “One of the top 10 greatest song writers of all time”.
