Peace River Genealogy Society presentation: Liliane Maisonneuve Lavoie

The Peace River & District Genealogy Society will be hosting Lilian Maisonneuve Lavoie tonight, Thursday, April 21st at 7 pm to talk about her experiences researching her French Canadian and Métis roots. Liliane will be speaking at the the Peace River Library's temporary location (the Industrial Arts building next to Peace River High School) and will be of great interest to anyone who is looking for help in or is doing their own research into French Canadian and Métis backgrounds.

We hope to see you there!

Aboriginal Pioneers of the Peace - Louise Auger George

The "Aboriginal Pioneers of the Peace" is a feature written by Beth Wilkins, Curatorial Assistant and Researcher, in conjunction with the Museum's Treaty 8 Exhibit on display until the end of August. The articles have also been published on the Community Page of the Peace River Record-Gazette.

Louise (Auger) George

Louise (Auger) George: Photo cutline: (l-r) Amy Eaton, Louise George (the first Mrs. H. A. George). The child is Alice George. From Peace River Remembers

Louise (Auger) George was born December 1883 at Wapiskow Mission—Claim No. 513. Scrip Certificate No. 1078A. Louise’s parents were: Father Michel Auger (Metis) and her mother Mary Anne Chekastaye (Metis)

She married Herbert Alfred (H.A.) George, September 1898 at Wapiskow Mission.

Louise was 15 – her husband 18. He was a Christian teacher at the Indian residential school for two years prior to his employ as an accountant with the Hudson’s Bay Company.

The couple and their two children, Max and Bert, moved to Peace River when H.A. became the manager of the Hudson’s Bay post -- among the first residents of the community. He is said to have told a friend that when he and his family left Wapiskow (Wabasca) with all their earthly possessions loaded on a light set of sleighs pulled by a team of cayuses”, he had the worldly sum of $400 in his pocket.

Later, the George’s had four more children, among them Louisa Irene George for whom Peace River’s first hospital was named.

The headstone bearing her name and year of death, 1915, and the names of two of the George children – Maxwell Sandfield, age 10, June 1910, and Louisa Irene, age two years, September 1910, now resides on the grounds of the Peace River Museum, Archives and Mackenzie Centre.

The George children were the first known burials in the Anglican cemetery on the ledge overlooking what is now the Bishop’s Lodge.

Source: Peace River Remembers; collectionscanada.gc.ca; Record-Gazette

Aboriginal Pioneers of the Peace - Nancy Brick

The "Aboriginal Pioneers of the Peace" is a feature written by Beth Wilkins, Curatorial Assistant and Researcher, in conjunction with the Museum's Treaty 8 Exhibit on display until the end of August. The articles have also been published on the Community Page of the Peace River Record-Gazette.

Nancy (Gray) Brick

The Brick Family (l-r) Standing - Emma and Allie; Seated: Nancy with, probably, Robert (PRMA - AR89.36.024)

Nancy Gray, a Métis woman, was the daughter of a Red River Hudson’s Bay employee. In 1895, she married Thomas Allen (Allie) Brick, first Peace River Member of Provincial Parliament (now Minister of the Legislative Assembly).

While Allie was establishing a commercially viable farm along the Shaftesbury Trail, and representing a constituency one third the size of the province of Alberta, a staunch supporter of his efforts became, herself, widely known in the Peace River district.


She acted as a hostess to many travellers who stopped at the Brick farm in their quest for land and trade.


Jean Cameron Kelley wrote in Peace River Remembers, about a wonderful New Year’s meal she and other guests enjoyed at the Brick’s home. “There was stuffed turkey with vegetables and cranberry sauce and a real English pudding” – a testament to Nancy’s culinary and hospitable flair.


The Bricks had nine children – three lived to adulthood – Earnest, Fred and Emma.
A heart attack during preparations for anesthetic prior to dental work was the cause of Nancy’s death in 1923, leaving Allie a widower.



Source: I Remember, Peace River and Adjacent Districts – 1914-1916 (Part 2); Electoral History of the Peace River Country of Alberta – 1905-1993

Aboriginal Pioneers of the Peace - Pat Wesley

The "Aboriginal Pioneers of the Peace" is a feature written by Beth Wilkins, Curatorial Assistant and Researcher, in conjunction with the Museum's Treaty 8 Exhibit on display until the end of August. The articles have also been published on the Community Page of the Peace River Record-Gazette.

Pat Wesley – Peace River Benefactor Lends Name to Creek

PRMA AR89.36.022

One of the Town of Peace River’s pioneers was a man, who lent his name to a creek running from an area northeast of town between Kaufman and Grouard hills and through it to meet with the Peace River behind the Third Mission Heritage Suites.

Although details of Pat Wesley’s life are obscure, it is plain to see the man, who was in the area from at least 1902, indeed, was an important person in the history of the town.


An Evelyn Seeley poem lauds Wesley for whom Pat’s Creek and the district of Wesley Creek in Northern Sunrise County are named.


Wesley was Métis. “He was one of the Métis who took scrip – that is the title to certain land,” writes Muriel Oslie in Peace River Remembers. According to Oslie, he moved onto his land and lived in a cabin near Pat’s Creek. He gave five acres to the Anglican Church, asking only that his body be laid to rest in the shadow of the church to be built on the land he had donated.


In 1910, Wesley contracted smallpox, the disease, which eventually killed him. He was buried, as requested, in what is now the rectory garden.


Three of the five acres Wesley donated were sold. The funds from the sale were used in 1916, for the erection of a house on ground near Wesley’s grave for the Incumbent of St. James Church, Rev. Harold Hesketh.


Current buildings on the property include: rectory, Synod office, St. James Cathedral, and Athabasca Hall.



Sources: Peace River Remembers; Archdiocese of Athabasca; I Remember 1; Record-Gazette; Northern Sunrise County Web site; Place Names of Alberta, Vol. IV; I Remember 2

Aboriginal Pioneers of the Peace - The Flette Family

The "Aboriginal Pioneers of the Peace" is a feature written by Beth Wilkins, Curatorial Assistant and Researcher, in conjunction with the Museum's Treaty 8 Exhibit on display until the end of August. The articles have also been published on the Community Page of the Peace River Record-Gazette.

The Flette Family

PRMA 79.1021.2 Nicholas Flette in his WWI uniform, seated. The other chap is unknown.

Nicholas Flette

Often called Sunny or Nick

Born: December 1896, in Fort Vermilion area, one of William and Charlotte (Smith) Flette’s sons
Died: December 1965, died of a heart attack

Served in First World War – said to have served in Siberia driving a dog team in the line of duty

September 15, 1928, Nicholas married Caroline Margaret Lawrence

Margaret Flette

Margaret Flette in one of her many hats

Born: March 17, 1904, in the Fort Vermilion area, third child of 15 and descendent of pioneers and missionaries – Sheridan and Julia Lawrence. Died: July 31, 2007, 103 years old

Received early education at home – went to a school on Lawrence family ranch, also attended by local children – won Governor General’s Medal for highest marks in grade school – travelled to Winnipeg for further education in 1924 – taught school in Fort Vermilion for two years – had varied careers thereafter.


Following Nick’s death in 1965, Margaret continued to live in their Peace River home, to which they had moved in the late 1950s, having sold their previous house to daughter Hester and husband, Fred Hutton.



Margaret had many talents, one of which was making delicious cinnamon buns – a treat at Chuck’s Place – a popular Peace River restaurant. Even after the closure of the restaurant, she continued, well into her 80s, to bake the treats. She was always busy – taking in boarders and roomers – being active in several organizations and her craft interests.



Margaret was also known for her hats and her walks along Main Street.

The Flettes

Nicholas and Margaret renewed their friendship while both were in Cloverbar, Alberta, near Edmonton. They had five children: Hester, Clifford, Lawrence, Allan and Shirley. Clifford died while serving in the Second World War.

After their marriage, the Flettes homesteaded at Cloverbar before succumbing to the lure of the Peace Country. They farmed in the Stewart District (Weberville Road) for more than 20 years.

Source: Fort Vermilion People In Our Vast Trading North; Margaret Flette’s obituary