In 2026 the number of historical moments seemed more abundant then ever! Remember “time flies when your having fun”!
We haven’t stopped celebrating 620 CKRM 100th anniversary. Our sister station, The Wolf 104.9, celebrated 30 years on the air in August. The Royal Canadian Legion is into its 100th year. The Legion in Regina will hold an anniversary event late in November to recognize what the Legion means to Canada. Canadian Western Agribition is preparing for a 55th Anniversary celebration. Even the Chicago Blackhawks are celebration 100 years of hockey.
While these are just some of the events that we celebrate, I cannot forget about people close to our hearts that we lost. Again, we have reached an age where some of our favourite personalities have passed. Dolly Parton, John Anderson, Chuck Connors, Tim Curry, Catherine O’Hara and many others.
And closer to home we have friends and family that left us with warm memories.
I have often thought, how well did we actually know these people. And what could have we learned if only we asked more questions before they passed. Do people still write notes about their lives and accomplishments, everyday tid-bits that in passing are quiet comical? The Elliott girls did exactly that, they wrote their own memoirs in the form of diaries and photos. And as a generation passes, we long to hear those stories and try to sort through the names and faces. Now we can only ask the questions to cousins and the next generation that may remember.
Recently, our family mourned the passing of Elva McDougall. Many listeners know that Aunt Elva was an important part of the legacy of our family, being my mom, Olive’s younger sister. There was Lavina, Olive and Elva. Each one of these women living to be at least 100. Aunt Lavina passed just short of her 101st birthday, our mom passing three years ago at the age of 103.5 and the youngest of the sisters, Aunt Elva peacefully dying September 22nd, a week short of what would have been mom’s birthday. To say the sisters were close as children would potentially be an understatement. In the decades of them growing up on the farm with their mother and father, Jessie and Austin Elliott, they shared many stories of working with horses, helping their mother with chores, riding in a cutter to school and having a runaway team. They lived close to the Little Arm Creek, a refreshing place for three little girls to play. As families do, the girls grew up and got married setting up their own homes and enjoying travel and family. Olive and Elva stayed geographically close which tightened their relationship through the years. Aunt Lavina had been a resident on the west coast for years, first in Vancouver then moving to Washington and Oregon as well as California. She and Uncle Milton would come back to Saskatchewan and both Olive and Elva’s families would visit the Pacific Northwest. Each of these women and their families carving out a special place in their community, whether it was through church activities, the Legion, 4-H or providing a service such as sewing or teaching.
Reading their stories is inspiring. With no cell phones, nor computers letters were written, to teachers, family & friends. Appointments were made and kept by landline phones. Clippings from papers and magazines included the latest in entertainment and recipes. You didn’t just hop on a plane, most likely you’d take a train or arrange for a ride somewhere with someone of means.
The passing of my Aunt Elva hit me hard. I was driving up to Craik to see her that day, as our cousin Jan had indicated her time was coming. I got there as Jan was leaving the Health Care Facility. Elva was gone. The last of a generation that laughed together often. As families do, there is always one more serious than the other, one more carefree than the other but one thing for sure the love of family continues on. And so it should through to the next generations. When someone is telling you a story about the past, take the time to listen and ask questions, write things down before that is not an option. When the time comes, you won’t regret it.
Olive, Elva and Lavina
Comments