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Authority record
George, Ernest Scudamore
AR-MS-121 · Person · 1893-1962

Ernest Scudamore George was born in Calgary on 10 Feb 1893. His father was a doctor and the family moved to Red Deer in 1907 where George attended school. Ernest George worked for the Northern Crown Bank (later the Royal Bank of Canada) and he was transferred to Edmonton during the World War I. He later worked as a chartered accountant in private practice and for the provincial government as an auditor and the federal government as an excise tax auditor. His federal territory extended from Lacombe AB to the Peace River country of Alberta and British Columbia.

Ernest George was a member of numerous social and historical groups, including the Northern Alberta Pioneers and Old Timers Association and the Historical Society of Alberta, for which he served as Treasurer and contributed articles to its periodical, the Alberta Historical Review.

Ernest married Marie Beatrice Gertrude MacDonald, a widow, in the 1930s.
Ernest S. George died on 16 Aug 1962 and he is buried at the Westlawn Memorial Gardens cemetery in Edmonton.

AR-MS-1211 · Corporate body · 1985 - current

The Council of Canadians of African and Caribbean Heritage (CCACH) was founded in January 1985 as the Council of Black Organizations (CBO). An umbrella organization with membership drawn from organizations that shared a common heritage, the Council’s mandate was to address the need for a united voice in the community to speak on matters that impacted them. Specifically, the organization focussed its efforts on supporting activities that enhance social, economic, and educational aspects of African and Caribbean heritage communities within Canada.

The Council of Black Organizations changed their name to the Council of Canadians of African and Caribbean Heritage in 1996 to better reflect their preference to identify as nationalities and not as racial groupings.

AR-MS-1212 · Corporate body · 1991 - 1999

The Avenue of Nations Business Revitalization Zone was established in November 1991 by Bylaw 9880 and encompassed 107 Avenue from 116 Street to 95 Street, including Little Italy and Chinatown North. The Avenue of Nations Business Association was founded to promote business in the Business Revitalization Zone (BRZ).

The Avenue of Nations Business Association sought to create an economically vibrant commercial area that emphasized its unique multinational flavour drawn from its diverse population of residents. The general membership of the Association was derived from business owners in the area who brought forward issues to the Board of Directors. The Board was composed of elected members of the Association, as well as a member of City Council who acted as a liaison between the two organizations.

The Avenue of Nations held events around the BRZ including parades and barbeques, as well as participated in events held by other organizations that promoted multiculturalism, such as the Edmonton Heritage Festival. The Association also held Green Day events, which sought to clean up the BRZ of litter and other debris in order to beautify the area.

The Avenue of Nations Business Revitalization Zone and the Avenue of Nations Business Association were disestablished on June 17th, 1999 by Bylaw 12051.

Evans, Brian Llewellyn
AR-MS-1213 · Person · 1932 - 2016

Brian Llewellyn Evans was born in 1932 in Taber, Alberta.

Dr. Evans achieved his undergraduate degree at the University of Alberta and his PhD in Chinese and Southeast Asian history at London University. In 1953, Dr. Evans married Margo Burwash. From 1961 to 1999, Dr. Evans taught and conducted research in the University of Alberta’s History Department. He also served as Department Chair in 1968 to 1973 and then as Associate Vice-President International from 1985 to 1994.

The Government of Canada appointed Dr. Evans Cultural Officer and Sinologist-in-residence at the Canadian Embassy in Beijing.

After his retirement, Dr. Evans published two books, Pursuing China: Memoir of a Beaver Liaison Officer (2012) and The Remarkable Chester Ronning: Proud Son of China (2013).

Dr. Evans was awarded the Order of Canada in 2000 for his public service in numerous international delegations and committees, as well as for his authority as a scholar of East Asian studies and Sinologist.

Professor Emeritus Brian Llewellyn Evans died on February 15th, 2016.

Womonspace
AR-MS-1214 · Corporate body · 1981 - 2018

Womonspace was a lesbian social and recreational group founded in Edmonton in 1981. Operating in Edmonton for over 30 years, Womonspace became the city's longest-running lesbian organization. Womonspace was vital to Edmonton’s LGBTQ+ community and organized dances, sporting events, movie nights, concerts, family picnics, and other activities specifically for queer women. Womonspace published a newsletter from 1981 - 2011 covering local and national events important to the LGBTQ+ community. Additionally, they housed a resource library where women could access literature by and about queer women.

Womonspace was established in 1981 after numerous requests were made to Gay Alliance Towards Equality Edmonton (G.A.T.E.) for a women’s-only dance. While G.A.T.E. refused to host a women’s-only dance because of their mandate as a mixed group, they did provide funding to a group of volunteers to host the first women’s-only dance. Subsequent dances were quite profitable, and the women volunteers were able to pay back G.A.T.E. and use the profits to fund their new organization, Womonspace.
Womonspace dances were held at various locations throughout Edmonton, usually in community halls. Womonspace often faced rejection when seeking out venues to hold their dances, and were frequently unable to rent the same space twice once it was clear that Womonspace was a lesbian group. The monthly dances Womonspace hosted were their most popular events, with attendance often reaching 150 - 200 women.

All Womonspace activities were run by a group of dedicated volunteers. The volunteers wrote and distributed the newsletter every month, worked at the dances, and maintained the office space. The first Womonspace office was located in Every Woman’s Place, an old house that had been converted to office space and housed several women’s groups. It was in the office that women could access the resource library, as well as attend drop-in social events.

Womonspace was integral to early Pride events in Edmonton, by assisting in the organization of Pride, hosting events, and holding open houses. However, Womonspace’s general approach was to stay as closeted as possible. Womonspace advertisements did not use the word “lesbian,” instead relying on their logo of two entwined woman symbols to find the lesbian community. Womonspace board members often debated how political and openly lesbian the group could be without jeopardizing the ability of the organization to remain an incorporated society or risking the safety and privacy of their members. Contributors to the newsletter often went by their first names only, and many members recall the general sense of fear of what may happen to them if they were found to be involved in a lesbian organization. On some occasions, women who were more openly lesbian or active in political activism were viewed as a threat to Womonspace’s discreteness, and their membership was revoked.

Although Womonspace was not a political organization, they undoubtedly had an instrumental impact in creating safe social spaces for Edmonton’s lesbians from the 1980s onward. Womonspace provided the opportunity for queer women to connect over shared experiences and be themselves. Womonspace gatherings generated a sense of community that supported women on their own journeys and created a space distinct from the gay male culture that tended to dominate other LGBTQ+ organizations at the time. Womonspace is no longer an active society but continued to host dances and publish its newsletter until the 2010’s. The group remains semi-active on social media and continues to advertise social and recreational events hosted by other organizations in Edmonton’s LGBTQ+ community.

Klondike Coachmen RV Club
AR-MS-1216 · Corporate body · 1966 - 2008

The Klondike Trailer Club was established in 1966 as an organization that focussed on trailering, with members gathering together on weekends at caravan events and rallies. During the winter, members would gather for New Years Eve dinners, bowling, curling, and other social events. The Club used ‘Klondike Mike’ as their mascot, permission for use of which was granted by the City of Edmonton and the Edmonton Exhibition Association.

The Club joined the Alberta Travel Trailer Association in 1966 but withdrew its membership in 1976. In 1988, the Club rejoined the Association, which had changed its name to Camping Club of Alberta. The Klondike Coachmen RV Club was established in 2000 as a result of a merger between the Klondike Trailer Club and the Coachmen Travel Club. As a result of failing membership, the Klondike Coachmen RV Club dissolved in 2008.

Edmonton Stamp Club
AR-MS-1217 · Corporate body · 1912 - current

The Edmonton Stamp Collector's Club, also known as the Edmonton Stamp Club, was established in 1912 by a group of philatelists. The Club is registered as Life Chapter #6 of the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada and Chapter #680 of the American Philatelic Society. With the objective of "the promotion of the benefits of stamp collecting," the Club meets monthly to organize events and speakers regarding stamp collecting on both amateur and professional levels. The Edmonton Stamp Club hosts an annual Spring National Stamp Show with a different theme each year. The Edmonton Stamp Club also publishes a newsletter, "The Bulletin" and produced a 10 part video program called "Uncle Albert's Stamp Collection" which was broadcast in 1982.

Minus One Club of Edmonton
AR-MS-1218 · Corporate body · 1965 - current

The Minus One Club of Edmonton was established in 1965 to provide a setting for people who were widowed, divorced, or separated to socialize and feel comfortable with their relationship status. In addition to dances, the Club also organized various events including camping and retreats for members and their families. The Minus One Club continues to operate, though the Club had opened its membership to include anyone who would like to join over the age of 18, regardless of relationship status.

Clifford E. Lee Foundation
AR-MS-1219 · Corporate body · 1969 - 2003

The Clifford E. Lee Foundation was established in 1969 by Clifford E. Lee and his wife, Lila, in fulfillment of their desire to give back to their community. Funding for the Foundation was derived from the Lee’s personal wealth made in housing development during the real estate boom following World War II. The resources of the Foundation were distributed to a wide variety of philanthropic efforts, including performing arts, social services, wildlife conservation, indigenous services, and international development.

When Clifford E. Lee died in 1972, the Foundation continued under a board of Directors. In 1977, the Foundation purchased 140 acres of marshland southwest of Edmonton and established the Clifford E. Lee Nature Sanctuary. In 1982, an additional 160 acre parcel was purchased and incorporated into the Sanctuary. By 2023, the total size of the Sanctuary was 348 acres due to numerous transfers of title and donations by neighboring landowners.

When the Foundation decided to dissolve in 2003, the Muttart Foundation was chosen to absorb the remaining responsibilities and functions of the Clifford E. Lee Foundation. Seven heritage grants were also made to organizations with which the Foundation had a long granting history. Judith Padua, the last director of the Foundation and the daughter of Clifford and Lila Lee, took a position on the Muttart Foundation board to oversee their new program in Child Development Policy granting, which was funded by one of the final seven heritage grants. When Judith Padua died in 2008, the Muttart Foundation assumed responsibility for the records of the Clifford E. Lee Foundation.

Hutchings, Alfred
AR-MS-122 · Person · 1851-1905

Alfred Hutchings was born in Leeds County, Ontario in 1851 and came west in 1875. He worked for five years as a trader with the indigenous peoples in the area north of Edmonton with his younger brother, Thomas Gifford Hutchings. In 1880 he took up farming, originally in the Bittern Lake area and married Agnes Cram of Carleton Place ON. They returned west in the fall, travelling part of the way from Manitoba in the company of Frank Oliver and his press, and James Ross (hardware company). They spent the first winter in Bittern Lake, but the following year moved north of Edmonton to homestead in the Poplar Lake area. The Hutchings raised dairy cattle as well as farming grains. They raised eight children on the farm, 5 daughters and 3 sons. Alfred Hutchings died in 1905 and Agnes Hutchings moved with her daughters to Edmonton in 1907. The sons remained to farm the land.