The United Community Fund of Greater Edmonton began in 1941 as the Community Chest of Greater Edmonton, out of a need to centralize funds for the various social agencies in the city. In 1953 the Community Chest merged with the The Edmonton Council of Community Services (currently Edmonton Social Planning Council) as a way to coordinate both the funding and planning of various social welfare activities. In 1960 the Chest was renamed the United Community Fund of Greater Edmonton and separated from the Council. Another name change happened in 1973 to United Way of Greater Edmonton. Currently known as the United Way of the Alberta Capital Region, they are working to deliver services and programs to address a range of needs of those living in poverty.
In 1931 ten women from Edmonton gathered together to form a social club called The Merryettes. The club held dances and social events with the proceeds going to Christmas hampers and families in need. In the same year they created a service objective and renamed themselves the Lady Aberdeen League, after the wife of Canada's Governor-General from 1893 to 1897. The League began as an auxiliary group to the Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) with the members of the League providing hospital supplies, such as surgical dressings, bandages and knit baby garments. They also undertook projects to raise money for items such as cars and office equipment for the nurses to use.
In 1938 the League began selling programs for events as a way to generate funds, this would turn into a main source of revenue in the years to come. During the Second World War, the league expanded its role to provide support to various war related activities in addition to supporting the VON. In 1942 the VON joined the Community Chest of Greater Edmonton (United Way) in order to gain a more stable source of funds and terminated their relationship with the League. This led the League to turn its full attention to war work, and in 1945 they established a library for veterans in the Colonel Mewburn Pavilion of the University of Alberta Hospital. Through the league's fund-raising efforts, they built the library to well over 600 books and with a circulation of over 6000 per year. The league also volunteered considerable time in the library and guaranteed the salary of a full-time librarian to organize the books and manage circulation. Though the hospital library was the main focus of their fund-raising activities, whatever extra money the league had went to other local charities and relief organizations.
The 1960s were a transitional period for the league: first, they relinquished their responsibility for the veteran's library to the federal government, and then the senior members of the league retired from active service leaving the junior members to continue the league's mandate. The "new" Lady Aberdeen League continued fundraising in order to support charities and local relief organizations. During the 1980s and 1990s, however, fundraising was becoming more and more difficult, and the league began to struggle to keep its membership. In 1992, the league lost their main fundraising activity when they were no longer able to sell programmes during Ice Capades and other events at Northlands. In the spring of 1995, the league decided to disband because of low membership and the decline of events. The last official meeting of the Lady Aberdeen League was held on May 1, 1996.
Una MacLean was born on March 11th, 1926 in Sunnybrook, Alberta. After completing high school in Calgary, she joined the Canadian Women’s Army Corps in 1944 and served eighteen months at the National Defense Headquarters in Ottawa. After her service, she studied arts at the University of Manitoba and then relocated to Calgary in 1951 where she worked as Assistant Secretary for the Calgary Chamber of Commerce.
Her political career began in 1952 as Secretary of the Southern Branch of the Alberta Liberal Association. She unsuccessfully contested the Federal election in Calgary North against Doug Harkness and then worked at the Glenbow Foundation as a research historian specializing in Alberta’s political history.
In April 1962, she married Arthur Evans, a prominent Edmonton journalist, and moved to Edmonton. The couple had three children together, two sons and one daughter.
Una McLean Evans served as an Alderman from October 1966 to 1974, being reelected in 1968 and 1971. After her civic terms, she was named as a citizenship judge which she continued for eight years.
Una MacLean Evans died on February 24th, 2015 at the age of 88 and is buried in Beechmount Cemetery in Edmonton, Alberta.
The Edmonton Lawn Bowling Club was one of the first clubs to introduce lawn bowling to the City of Edmonton in 1926. Prior to this, lawn bowling was played on private greens. In 1914, Dr. George Marion’s home on 87 Avenue and 98 Street hosted a green that would be cut and rolled before playing. Later on, George Downe hosted a green at his home on 101 Street and 85 Avenue. In 1926, the greens were moved to the property of the North West Milling Company before later moving to 104 Street and 85 Avenue.
The club participated in lawn bowling tournaments and competitions at the municipal, provincial, and national levels. On several occasions, the club also hosted international teams. The club hosted a team of South African lawn bowlers in 1937 and a team of British lawn bowlers in 1954.
Though the Edmonton Lawn Bowling Club enjoyed popularity for a number of decades, it struggled to generate and maintain membership throughout the 1960s and early 1970s. In the fall of 1971, the decision was made to close down the club. All operations ceased by April 20, 1972.
The Canadian Welfare Council began as the Canadian Council on Child and Family Welfare and the Canadian Council on Child Welfare, which were founded by Charlotte Whitton in 1920. In 1935 the Canadian Welfare Council evolved from these organizations. The Council is an independent non-profit national organization aimed to assist Canada’s social programs. The Council is membership-based, consisting of government departments, organizations, corporations and individuals. The Council receives its funding through various avenues such as research contracts, publication sales, donations and memberships. In 1943 the Edmonton Council for Social Agencies Child Welfare division worked with the Canada Welfare Council to produce the Whitton Study. In 1971 the Council changed its name to the Canadian Council on Social Development. Throughout its history the focus of the Council shifted from welfare to social development. The Council played a role in the development of Canada's social programs, child welfare, unemployment insurance, poverty welfare, medicare and old age security. As of 2022, the Council is focused on the issues of women and Indigenous and Metis people.
The Alberta Rugby Union (ARU) formed in 1960 and is the provincial administrative body for rugby in Alberta. Rugby had been played in Alberta since the 1880's and revitalized in the 1950's by immigrants to Alberta who formed clubs in Calgary and Edmonton which would compete against each other. In 1961 the presidents of the Edmonton Rugby Union and the Calgary Rugby Union became members of the ARU. The ARU aims to promote Alberta based clubs internationally and became a registered society in 1970.
The Edmonton Rugby Union (ERU) is a society and administrative body for rugby teams located in the city of Edmonton and Northern Alberta which was first organized in 1960. The ERU participates in fundraising, works to actively promote the game of rugby to all age groups, and develops and coordinates matches and programs for its members. The ERU is governed by an Executive Board, which in the year following its organization, the President became a member of the Alberta Rugby Union (ARU). At the January 1971 Annual General Meeting, the ERU voted to buy the 33 acre site and build a clubhouse and pitches at what would become Ellerslie Rugby Park, located on Ellerslie Road in Edmonton. Ellerslie Rugby Park was completed in 1975 and was the first regulation sized field in northern Alberta. On April 8, 1981 the Union announced plans for a $2.5M project to improve the pitches and build a new clubhouse. There were 1,500 players and 1000 social members in the ERU by February 25, 1982 when the new 10,000 sq. ft. facility, called "The Club" was officially opened by Mayor Cec Purves and ERU President Dr. Ieuan Evans. Rugby season runs from May to September and the ERU has both men's and women's teams. Every May the season is initiated with the Annual Edmonton Rugbyfest, Canada's largest rugby tournament. There are 14 member clubs that make use of Ellerslie Rugby Park. In 1986 the ERU was faced with overwhelming debt loads but was saved from bankruptcy by a grant from Community Recreation and Culture (CRC) presented by Attorney General Neil Crawford in May 1986. In 2011 the ERU sold four acres of land at Ellerslie Rugby Park to help with renovations. In September 2022, after years of financial losses, Ellerslie Rugby Park announced that it would be closing. The final match at the park was held October 2022. The ERU continues to operate as a membership based society which promotes the game of rugby.
The Edmonton Weavers’ Guild (EWG) was founded in November 1953 as a way for those interested in the art of weaving to come together. The founding members included Mary Sandin, Grace Raitt, and Helen Bentley. These women were known for their work with textiles in both the City of Edmonton and the province. During the early 1940s, a group of Edmonton weavers began to meet to share their interest in weaving and to advance their knowledge and further their skills. These weavers turned to Mary Sandin, who had studied weaving in Canada, Scotland, and the United States, and was teaching weaving at Olds College, as their main source of inspiration and knowledge. It was from this initial group of Mary Sandin Weavers that the EWG was formed, when Ms. Sandin recommended that they form a guild and expand its membership. The inaugural meeting of the guild drew 26 interested local weavers. The EWG set out to foster the art of weaving in the city, bring together hand weavers, share knowledge, encourage beginners and collect literature surrounding the art of hand weaving.
Throughout its existence the EWG took part in contests and exhibitions, held sales and workshops, and promoted the art of weaving. The EWG has maintained the tradition of weaving and has become a forum for local weavers to meet and exchange knowledge and skills, take part in study groups and annual sales, and make use of their library and equipment rentals. As of 2022 the EWG had 100 members.
Presidents:
Mary Sandin 1954-1956
Helen Bentley 1956-1957
Edith Whidden 1957-1959
Mary Sandin 1959-1960
Cornelia Higgin 1961-1962
Helen Penn 1962-1964
Edith Whidden 1964-1965
Dorthy Gilmour 1965-1967
Wynona Yate 1968-1970
Alice Bailey 1970-1972
Lee Gislason 1972-1974
Marg Berg 1974-1975
Joan Vanterpool 1977
Janice Hood 1977-1978
Cathy Dumpich 1978-1979
Sharon Newman 1980-1981
Betty Moore 1982-1983
Jean Connor 1984-1986
Sandra Kragelj 1995-1996
Karin Jackson 1995-1996
Karen Swiderski 1996-1997
Michaela (Mick) Safruik 1999-2000
Jackie Van Fossen 2004-2006
Linda Wilson 2006-2008
Louise Colonnier 2008-2010
Kathy Buse 2010-2012
Beginning in 1928 as the Canadian National Social and Athletics Association, the Canadian National Recreation Association (CNRA) was an informal way for employees of Canadian National (CN) to gather and socialize. Membership was open to all CN employees and their families. The association sponsored recreational activities such as tennis, lawn bowling, curling, golf, fastball, and hockey, as well as social activities like dancing, ping-pong, cribbage, and card parties. The association was very popular and grew to become an integral part of the CNR in the Edmonton area. Due to the constant popularity of the club, the CNRA incorporated in 1955 so that it could more formally handle the increasing responsibilities of the organization. In 1960, the CNRA and the CN Credit Union cooperated in the construction of a new recreation centre for CNA employees. In order for the CNRA to enter a partnership with the Credit Union they become incorporated under the Societies Act of Alberta. The CNRA contributed $12,000 to the construction of the facility in exchange for a 30 years lease on the operation of the building. Completed in April 1961, the new building allowed the association to sponsor more social and recreational activities during the 1960s and 1970s. The 1980s, however, saw the demise of the CNRA likely due to the changing nature of the railway system in Canada.
The Edmonton Hockey Club was an amateur men's ice hockey club which was first established in 1896. The Club held their first meeting on November 20, 1896. Hockey was among the first sports organized in Edmonton. The Club consisted of two teams one for the elite players called the Thistle, and one for prospects called Stars. The Club held regular meetings and organized games with teams such as the ones from the Strathcona Hockey Club, with which they had a rivalry. By 1907 hockey was sufficiently organized to afford competition against teams from Calgary and further. In 1907 the Club also helped found the Alberta Amateur Hockey Association. In 1908 and 1910 the Edmonton Hockey Club issued two challenges for the Stanley Cup. In 1908 a team of paid professionals, financed by local businessmen, was assembled and lost the two-game series to the Montreal Wanderers. In 1910 a team featuring local players was defeated by the Ottawa Senators. The Club dissolved in 1910, leading to the emergence of the Edmonton Eskimos Hockey Club soon after.