Life North of the 54th: Recent Episodes
Garett Brown, Preston Brown
Brothers Garett and Preston Brown bring out the stories and legacy of life in the Peace Country and life north of the 54th parallel.
Rae Ann and Kim Shipley tell their story of moving to the Peace Country and raising their family there. They recount stories of their volunteer work in the region as well as their volunteer contributions throughout China and Africa.
Show Notes
- Introductions and Moving to the Peace Country
- University of Alberta (UofA)
- Proselyting Mission
- Hong Kong
- Cultural Revolution
- Red Deer, AB
- Gentleman Farmer
- Wapiti River
- Latter-Day Saints of the Peace
- Shuswap
- Barrhead, AB
- Billeting: an assignment to provide another individual or family with food and a place to sleep.
- Church Educational System (CES)
- Chetwynd, BC
- Tumbler Ridge, BC
- Bennett Dam
- Rainbow Lake, AB
- Early Days in Grande Prairie
- Hudson’s Bay
- IGA
- Safeway
- Sears Catalogue
- Prairie Mall
- Zellers
- Hillside School
- Afganistan
- Jordan
- Serbia
- Kosovo
- Meeting and Growing Old
- Glenwood, AB
- In the Service of Others
- Service Mission
- Beijing, China
- Kampala, Uganda
- Ethiopia
- Rawanda
- Ginga, Uganda
- Kenya
Email us feedback, ask us questions, or write in a story for us to share at lifenorthofthe54th@gmail.com or PeaceCountryLife.ca/feedback
Betty and Owen Stanford join us to share experiences from their lives and their 55 years of marriage. They share their love of the Fairview, Alberta area as well as some stories from their adventures in England. They also discuss the vicissitudes of their church volunteer service over the decades.
Show Notes
- Introductions
- Fairview, Alberta
- Church Leadership
- Cardston, Alberta
- Road Show
- Fairview College
- CGA
- Fairview, Alberta
- Ponoka, Alberta
- Sherwood Park, Alberta
- High Prairie, Alberta
- Patriarch
- Retirement
- Quilting
- Fairview Museum
- Worsley, Alberta
- Education and Travel
- University of Calgary
- BYU
- Charles Darwin
- Gadfield Elm Chapel
- Isle of Lewis, Scotland
- Watford, UK
- Rail Pass
- Beaver Hat Guys
- IRA
- Stories from Fairview, AB
- Carpentry Program
- Ron Stanford
- Jonathan Ockey
- Kim Houlder
- Ron and Laura Brown
- Rob Blum, More from Rob Blum
- Jim and Pam Brown
- Jessie Meservy
- Emma Lambert
- Mountain View, Alberta
- Muskox
- Final Thoughts
- Beaverlodge, Alberta
- Fort St. John, British Columbia
- Social Dances
- Quarterback
Email us feedback, ask us questions, or write in a story for us to share at lifenorthofthe54th@gmail.com or PeaceCountryLife.ca/feedback
Farouq joins us to discuss his love of science and his journey of becoming an educator. He shares the lessons he has learned from moving to the Peace Country and being in closer contact with people and nature. He also reveals some stories from his career as a high school teacher over the last two decades.
Show Notes
- Introductions
- Peace Wapiti Academy (PWA)
- Edmonton, AB
- University of Alberta (UofA)
- Edmonton Oilers
- Toronto Maple Leafs
- Grande Prairie Regional College (GPRC)
- Fairview College
- Becoming an Educator
- Tutoring
- Learning Styles
- Spirit River, AB
- Working a way to Grande Prairie
- Sturgeon Lake, AB
- Valleyview, AB
- Hillside
- Big Cities and Small Towns
- Portland, OR
- Toronto, ON
- Teaching Stories
- 16: Teaching and Learning, with Kim Houlder
- Glowing Pickles
- Pranks
- Pajama Day
- Peace Country Perspective
- Prof. Sam Lawler and Farming
- Tradesperson
- Reflections on High School
- 12: Rediscovery, with Stephen Makus
- Cohort
Email us feedback, ask us questions, or write in a story for us to share at lifenorthofthe54th@gmail.com or PeaceCountryLife.ca/feedback
James and Andrea Wheat share a variety of stories and laughs as they reminisce about their past and how it weaved through the Peace Country. They also discuss how their families have been brought together again and again for generations.
Show Notes
- Introductory Stories
- Vanderhoof, BC
- Fort St. John, BC
- Dawson Creek, BC
- Charlie Lake, BC
- Charlie Lake Provincial Park
- Beatton Provincial Park
- Algae
- Drumheller, AB
- Garland, UT
- Pallbearer
- Appalachian Mountains
- Rocky Mountains
- Alaska Ridge Mountains
- Chilkoot Pass
- Finding Adulthood
- Kal Tire
- Plumber
- Hercules (1997)
- Tim Hortons
- Becoming Your Own In-law
- Trunk-or-treat
- Hanna, AB
- Missing the Peace Country
- Winter Camping
- Cameron Lake, BC
- Memorable Moments
- Williston Lake, BC
- W.A.C. Bennett Dam
- Fort Nelson, BC
Email us feedback, ask us questions, or write in a story for us to share at lifenorthofthe54th@gmail.com or PeaceCountryLife.ca/feedback
Laurence Hunt emphasizes the positive impact that his brief time in the Peace Country had on his life. From the people to the wildflowers, he shares stories of how living in the Peace Country taught him to be happy. We also very grateful to Laurence for sharing some additional stories and feelings about Jeannie MacKinnon.
Show Notes
- Introductions and Childhood
- Kenora, ON
- Brighton, ON
- Springfield, MO
- Battle of the Bulge
- Mid-century Modern Architecture
- Space Age
- Citroën 2CV
- Moving to Canada
- Conrad Weiser
- Toronto, ON
- Isaac Asimov
- Robert Heinlein
- Moving to the Peace Country
- Corner Brook, Newfoundland
- Kingston, ON
- Grande Prairie, AB
- Crystal Park School
- Fort Vermilion, AB
- Elmworth, AB
- Sexsmith, AB
- Clairmont, AB
- Jeannie MacKinnon and Youth Ministry
- Christ Church Anglican
- Fundraising
- Lilacs
- Harry Balfour School
- Rick Erlendson
- Muskeg (Gumbo)
- The Influence of the Peace Country
- Introvert vs Extrovert
- Prince George, BC
- Olfactory
- Two Lakes, AB
- Kakwa, AB
Email us feedback, ask us questions, or write in a story for us to share at lifenorthofthe54th@gmail.com or PeaceCountryLife.ca/feedback
Jonathan Ockey shares his story and discusses the experiences that shaped his appreciation for the Peace Country. He talks about some of his formative experiences and what led to where he is today. He also explores what it is that connects people to the land.
Show Notes
- North vs South
- Fairview, AB
- Fox Creek, AB
- Young Single Adults (YSA)
- Cardston, AB
- Magrath, AB
- Fairview, Alberta
- 1989 GMC Sonoma
- Northern Alberta railways
- Rycroft, AB
- rivers.alberta.ca
- Continental Divide
- Finding Adulthood
- Home Hardware
- Reynosa, Mexico
- Civil Engineering Technology
- Making a Living
- Autodesk and AutoCAD
- Request for Information (RFI)
- More Dam Work
- 23: W.A.C. Bennett Dam
- Irrigation
- Snowmobile
- Astronomical and Climate Tangent
- Solar irradiance
- UV Index
- Seasonal Depression
- Equinox
- A Sense of Place
- Nostalgia
- Dunvegan, AB
- Castle Mountain Resort, AB
- Waterton, AB
- The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien
Email us feedback, ask us questions, or write in a story for us to share at lifenorthofthe54th@gmail.com or PeaceCountryLife.ca/feedback
William has a passion for the universe, near and far. He talks about the privileges he's had growing up in Fort St. John, BC, from the close community, to the dark skies, to the olympic oval. He shares his gratitude for friends, family, and those who work behind the scenes to provide for others.
Email us feedback, ask us questions, or write in a story for us to share at lifenorthofthe54th@gmail.com or PeaceCountryLife.ca/feedback
John Strong loves being outdoors and coaching volleyball. He shares how unexpected life can be and how it can be difficult to adapt and navigate. He shares some entertaining stories, hard earned wisdom, and appreciation for how his time in the Peace Country shaped his life.
Show Notes
- Why the Peace Country?
- Wetaskiwin, AB
- Edson, AB
- Exercise Therapist
- The Great Outdoors
- The Fiddle Pass (Cadomin Caves to Miette Hotsprings)
- Bear Scat
- Mount Robson, BC
- Chief Mountain, MT
- Hinton, AB
- Leaving the Peace Country
- Rainbow Lake, AB
- Dunvegan, AB
- Coaching
- Coaching
- Mission
- Beaverlodge, AB
- Leduc, AB
- A New Career Path
- GD (High School Diploma)
- Olds, AB
- Sundre, AB
- Physio
- Tyachacardic
- Tumor
- Half marathon
- A Random Tornado
- Grande Prairie Tornado 2004
- Reflections on a Peace Country Life
- Life and Suffering, Neal A. Maxwell
- Empathy
Email us feedback, ask us questions, or write in a story for us to share at lifenorthofthe54th@gmail.com or PeaceCountryLife.ca/feedback
Garett and Preston discuss the construction and aftermath of the W.A.C. Bennett Dam, one of the world's highest earth fill dams. They discuss the impact the dam has had on the Tsek'ehne of Northern British Columbia.
Show Notes
- The Scattering of Man (2021) on CBC Gem.
- BC Archive Images
- Daniel Sims (2017) PhD Thesis titled 'Dam Bennett: The Impact of the W. A. C. Bennett Dam and Williston Lake Reservoir on the Tsek'ehne of Northern British Columbia.'
- Maggie Poirier (2019) Master's Thesis titled 'They Call it Progress, We Call it Destruction.'
- Cole Harris (2002) book titled 'Making Native Space.'
- Meg Stanley (2010) book titled 'Voices from Two Rivers: Harnessing the Power of the Peace and the Columbia.'
- Wikipedia
- W.A.C. Bennett Dam
- Rocky Mountain Trench
- Williston Lake
- Tsay Keh Dene First Nation
Email us feedback, ask us questions, or write in a story for us to share at lifenorthofthe54th@gmail.com or PeaceCountryLife.ca/feedback
Jordan shares his experiences growing up north of the Peace Country. He talks about life in a small town and the adventures of moving to the big city.
Show Notes
- Introductions
- Fort Nelson, BC
- Northern Rockies Regional Municipality
- Fort St. John, BC
- Muncho Lake
- Liard Hot Springs
- Toad River, BC
- Bass Clarinet
- “Barry” Saxophone
- Trumpet
- Trombone
- Jessie
- CAT Rental
- Boston Pizza
- Prince George, BC
- London, ON
- Fort Simpson, NWT
- Watson Lake, YK
- ATV
- Side-by-side
- Aurora Borealis
- Ice Fishing
- Sturgeon Lake
- Swan Lake
- Finding Adult Life
- Dugout
- Grande Prairie, AB
- Williams Lake, BC
- Donkey Kong Country
- Domino's Pizza
- Save-On-Foods (“Save-On”)
- Wet and Dry Cold
- Perspective and Outlook
- Political Diversity
- Royal Ontario Museum
- Biological Diversity
Email us feedback, ask us questions, or write in a story for us to share at lifenorthofthe54th@gmail.com or PeaceCountryLife.ca/feedback
Alex reminisces about time spent together with friends and family while growing up in Grande Prairie. He talks about his experience growing up in the Peace Country and shares some of the lessons that he's learned along the way.
Email us feedback, ask us questions, or write in a story for us to share at lifenorthofthe54th@gmail.com or PeaceCountryLife.ca/feedback
From the previous conversation with Stephen Makus, Garett and Stephen catch up about life. They discuss how they've changed over the years and what has driven the change. This conversation was recorded in September 2022.
Show Notes
- Previously On Episode 12
- Drywall
- Construction
- Spray Foam Insulation
- Oil and Gas
- Adulting
- Odd Jobs
- Autobiography
- Oil Rig
- Invert Mud
- Fracking
- Shale
- Salinity
- Nuclear Fusion
- Precious Metals
- Iron
- Both Mind and Body
- Cicadas
- Machinist
- Muscle Atrophy
- Physiotherapy
- Scooter
- Life as a Parent
- Emotional Intelligence
- Frustration
- Joy
- I recommend Atlas of the Heart for learning how to recognize the different emotions we experience.
- Pondering the Possible Future
- Friendship
- Sailboat
- Careers
- Doc Brown (Back to the Future)
- Time Travel
- Parallel Universes
- Primer (Movie)
- Existential Crisis
- Dunning-Kruger Effect
- Expanding Horizons
- Humanities
- STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics)
- Meditations
- Marcus Aurelius
- Meaning of life
- Jargon
Email us feedback, ask us questions, or write in a story for us to share at lifenorthofthe54th@gmail.com
Leisa and Rick Olson lived through a Year of Hell shortly after moving to the Peace Country. They share how they were able to navigate the difficulties together and how both the people and the land of the Peace Country supported them through it.
Show Notes
Rick and Leisa's Work, fusefamilyfocus.com
- Introductions and Early Memories
- Port Alberni, BC
- Vancouver Island
- Moving to the Peace Country
- The best and worst of times
- Sill Plate
- Saskatoon Mountain
- Venison
- Adventures in the North
- Bronco
- Flip-flops
- Crown Land
- First Aid
- Legal Land Description
- Year of Hell
- Coquihalla Highway
- It was about 15km from the Olson's home to Beaverlodge.
- 2008 Financial Crisis
- Leaving the Peace Country
- Ford Explorer
- Coaldale, AB
- Thousand Trails
- F.U.S.E.
- Red Deer, AB
- Glenwood, AB
- Yellowknife, NWT
- Double-wide
- Kijiji
- Some Final Thoughts
- Hinton, AB
- Grande Cache, AB
- Mark Victor Hansen
- Art Linkletter
- Rick and Leisa's Work
Email us feedback, ask us questions, or write in a story for us to share at lifenorthofthe54th@gmail.com
Ron and Laura Brown join us to share their experience of blending their lives together. They discuss some of the details that brought them together along with a family trip to Disneyland. They also reflect on how life has changed over the years and how being empty nesters pulls them away from the Peace Country.
Show Notes
- Courtship and Marriage
- Harry Balfour School
- Calgary Zoo
- Mormon Church
- Leduc, AB
- Water Pump and Radiator
- Plug-in Block Heater
- Leap Years
- Matt Parker, Leap Years
- Reflections on Difficult Times
- Family Reunion
- Visiting Disneyland
- Disneyland
- Road trip
- Fantasmic!
- California Adventure
- Lake Havasu, AZ
- Kalispell, MT
- Building and Moving
- Wood stove
- Chinook Drywall
- ICF
- Gadfield Elm Chapel
- Boneyard
- Bicycle Stack
- Reflections on Moving South
- Cardston County, AB
- Cardston, AB
- Battle of Alberta
- Snowbirds
- Northern Lights
- Quirks and Quarks
- Theory of Relativity
Email us feedback, ask us questions, or write in a story for us to share at lifenorthofthe54th@gmail.com
Ron Stanford takes us through his journey of falling in love with the north and appreciating its offer of a simpler lifestyle. He discusses the north's natural beauty as well as the resilience developed from enduring the unforgiving nature.
Show Notes
- Background and Audiology
- Fairview, AB
- Fairview College
- Red Deer, AB
- Harley Davidson
- FHS
- Abbotsford, BC
- Lethbridge, AB
- Audiology
- Everett, WA
- Earplugs
- Hearing Aid
- BYU
- Working in the North
- Quads
- Assests
- Corporate Culture
- Warrenty
- Living in the North
- High Level, AB
- Peace River, AB
- Manning, AB
- Beverlodge, AB
- Dawson Creek, BC
- Valleyview, AB
- Grande Cache, AB
- Dunvegan, AB
- Elk
- Moose
- Bobcat
- Logs may swing into your lane
- Northern Lights
- Aurora Borealis
- Twilight
- Bezanson, AB
- Solalr Cycle
- Solar Cycle and Aurora
- Summer Solstice
- Reflections on Moving South
- Resilience
- Grit
- Seasonal Depression
- Great Boreal Forest
- Califronia Redwoods
- Appreciation
Email us feedback, ask us questions, or write in a story for us to share at lifenorthofthe54th@gmail.com
Kim Houlder recently retired as the chemistry teacher at Peace Wapiti Academy, having taught there since the school opened in 2001. With many years of experience and even more stories, Kim shares some laughs and insights into life as a teacher and what it means to be part of a community in the Peace Country.
Show Notes
- Background
- Peace Wapiti Academy
- Grimshaw, AB
- Grimshaw High
- Kleskun Hills
- Becoming a Teacher
- PCAT
- UofA
- GPRC
- UofL
- Fox Creek, AB
- Holy Family School
- ATA
- Up to no good
- HVAC
- Home canning
- Silk screen printing
- Heat gun
- TI84 Programming
- Mischief Managed
- Luminol
- Call of the void
- The COMP
- ATCO
- Drumheller, AB
- Smart Board
- Reflections on Teaching
- Alberta Learning
- Dolly the Sheep
- CRISPR
- Spina bifida
- Erwin Schrödinger
- What is Life?
- Mars Sample Return
Email us feedback, ask us questions, or write in a story for us to share at lifenorthofthe54th@gmail.com
David Woodruff embraces opportunities for self-reflection and personal development. He shares the winding path of his experiences that brought him to better understand why he calls the North home.
Show Notes
- Background
- Pincher Creek
- Cross-country skiing
- Axis and Allies
- O'Brien Park
- Explore - Second Language Program
- Bear Creek Trails
- Biking Across Canada
- Personal and Professional Development
- Victoria, BC
- San Diego, CA
- Rome wasn't built in a day
- Boyle Street
- Nonprofit
- Nashville, TN
- Room in the Inn
- Austin, TX
- Finding Community
- Identity
- Privilege
- Community
- Pillars of Identity
- Some Stories
- Winter Tires
- South Common
- Emotion and Memory
- Fugitive (game)
- Renamed Sledding Hill
- Northern lights
- Sun dogs
- Light pillars
- Little Bear
- YTV
Email us feedback, ask us questions, or write in a story for us to share at lifenorthofthe54th@gmail.com
Arlin Fehr shares his experiences and feelings about growing up on a farm north of Fort St. John. He exchanges stories related to driving and weather along with some of his feelings surrounding building community with others.
Show Notes
- Links to Arlin's work
- Ravania Entertainment
- Kobo.com
- Amazon.ca
- Growing up on a farm
- Quarter section
- Churning butter
- Getting a driver's license in BC
- Fort St. John, BC
- Community Forest
- Cross-country skiing
- Peace Canyon Dam
- WAC Bennet Dam
- Hudson's Hope
- Stories around Fort St. John
- 1987 Chrysler New Yorker
- Auction
- Capture the flag
- Wolf and Coyote Howling
- Collie
- Bobcat
- Weather and Driving
- Thunderstorms
- Generator
- Outhouse
- Moose
- Chinook
- Snow Day (film)
- Jacks
- Building Community
- Dungeons and Dragons
Email us feedback, ask us questions, or write in a story for us to share at lifenorthofthe54th@gmail.com
Garett and Preston dicuss the remarkable life of Dr. Mary Percy Jackson, the only doctor to much of the Peace Country during the first half of the 20th century. Her stories are recorded in the letters she wrote to her family in England and the biography written of her life.
Show Notes
- Sources
- wikipedia.org
- alberta.ca
- drmaryjackson.com
- albertadoctors.org
- goodreads.com
Email us feedback, ask us questions, or write in a story for us to share at lifenorthofthe54th@gmail.com
Stephen Makus digs deep and shares the evolution of his feelings for the Peace Country. He talks about how the complexities and complications of life have helped him to rediscover the beauty of the Peace region and how his path to self-understanding lead through surprisingly similar spaces.
Show Notes
- Some Early Memories
- La Glace, AB
- Softball
- Fastball
- Track and Field
- Bicycle Adventures
- Muskoseepi Park
- Scrap Bicycles
- Accidental Tech Tangent
- Overclocking
- Raspberry Pi
- Arduino
- PCB
- SMT Components
- High-performance computing
- Scientific Computing
- Retrocomputing
- Fast inverse square root
- Technical debt
- Growing into Adulthood
- Drywall
- Reno
- Spray insulation
- Machining
- Bezanson, AB
- Peace Country Beauty
- Banff National Park
- Waterton National Park
- Dawson Creek, BC
Email us feedback, ask us questions, or write in a story for us to share at lifenorthofthe54th@gmail.com
Jeannie MacKinnon recounts how she met her current husband Jim along with some of the wild adventures they’ve shared together. She shares some of the experiences they’ve had exploring the Peace Country and the world together.
Show Notes
- Meeting Jim
- Plenty of Fish
- Joey’s
- Cornwall
- Scotland
- Pipestone Creek
- Centenarian birthday wishes from the Queen
- Some Additional Stories
- Kleskun Hills
- Hommy Campground
- Curved Kiskatinaw Bridge (57.9 metres; 190 ft long)
Email us feedback, ask us questions, or write in a story for us to share at lifenorthofthe54th@gmail.com
Garett and Preston meander through some of their earliest memories about growing up in the Peace Country. They talk about some of the memories that left lasting impressions, question their reality, and discuss the roll that emotions play in their longevity.
Show Notes
- Some Early Memories
- Lethbridge, Alberta
- Outhouse
- Wonowon, BC
- Magnetic Fishing Game
- Childish Exploits
- Super Nintendo
- Tetris and Dr. Mario
- Fort St. John
- Road Trip
- True Grit (1969)
- Prince George, BC
- Donkey Kong Country
- Glacier National Park
- Going-to-the-Sun Road
- Some Final Thoughts
- Internal Monologue
- Three-legged Race
- Emotional Memories
- Lunchables
- Northern Living Allowance
Email us feedback, ask us questions, or write in a story for us to share at lifenorthofthe54th@gmail.com
Laura Brown provides insight into growing up in Peace Country and the journey through the formative years of her life. She shares some stories of her mischievous behaviour and some of the more inspiring experiences of her youth.
Show Notes
- Some Early Memories
- GPCHS
- Parkside
- Harry Balfour
- Montrose
- Handedness
- Boa Constrictor
- Managing High School
- Slide-tape
- Okanagan, BC
- Kelowna, BC
- Jasper National Park
- VIA Rail
- Pembroke, ON
- Bedtime Stories
- Job’s Daughters
- Miss Grande Prairie
- Fleeing the Nest
- Grande Prairie Regional College
- Lethbridge, AB
- Calgary, AB
- Candy Stripers
- Anglicanism
- St. John’s, NL
- Adulting
- Coalhurst, AB
- Bankruptcy
- Paul Harvey
Email us feedback, ask us questions, or write in a story for us to share at lifenorthofthe54th@gmail.com
Emma Lambert describes the can-do attitude the permeates the Peace Country. She shares stories from her childhood growing up in small communities and isolated homesteads. She also provides some words of wisdom and a number of good laughs.
Show Notes
- Some Early Memories
- Cleardale, AB
- Worsley, AB
- Kris Kristofferson
- Johnny Cash
- The Outlaws
- Merle Haggard
- Menno-Simons
- The Hobbit
- Wonowon
- Charlie Lake
- Quad
- Jack
- The Best Valley in the North
- Diefenbaker
- North Peace Secondary School
- Montney, BC
- Jackknifing
- Fort Nelson
- Humpty’s
- The Keg
- Farming is Life
- Bryan Adams
- Pinochle
- Canasta
- Rummy
- Poker
- Ric’s Grill (Archive)
- Angus Cows
- Mozzarella
- A Can-do Attitude
- Alaska Highway
- Draft Dodgers
- Potluck
- Apple Bobbing
Email us feedback, ask us questions, or write in a story for us to share at lifenorthofthe54th@gmail.com
Rob Blum relays the words of people throughout the Peace Country who have piqued his interest in gold. He shares his interest in understanding the geology and glacialogy of the Peace and how it influences the people. Rob also tells few other stories about his experiences and the history of the Peace Country.
Show Notes
- Flowing Veins of Gold
- Tri-S Concrete
- Hudson Bay
- Grimshaw Gravel
- Hydraulic Drilling
- Chert
- Taylor Gold Panning Championship
- Many Islands
- Culvert
- Glaciology and Geology
- Glaciers
- Kleskun Hills
- High Prairie, Alberta
- De Beers
- Rodbuster
- Kimberlite
- Slave Lake, Alberta
- Kinross
- B2Gold
- Some Interest in Gold
- Cariboo Gold Rush
- Gold Rush: Alaska
- Redwillow River
- Whitehorse, Yukon
- La Crete, Alberta
- Seeing Tomorrow
- Lake Meade
- Overton, Nevada
- Picking Cotton
- Pahrump, Nevada
- Ogallala Aquifer
- Reg Isley
- Dementia
- Some Final Stories
- Peace River Steamboats
- Oakum
- Bezanson, Alberta
- Smoky River
- Ross Adam
- Hutterites
- Valleyview, Alberta
- Stergeon Lake, Alberta
- Clairmont, Alberta
- Deacon
Email us feedback, ask us questions, or write in a story for us to share at lifenorthofthe54th@gmail.com
Rob Blum shares accounts of some of the first settlers of the Peace Country as he met them over the years. His stories span the vastness of the prairies and the richness found in the land and its people.
Show Notes
- A Child of the Great Plains
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
- Beverly Hillbillies
- Old Wives Lake, Saskatchewan
- Kleskun Hills, Alberta
- Model T
- Settling the Peace Country
- Grande Prairie, Alberta
- Methonal Plant
- Rio Grande, Alberta
- Chinook
- Fairview, Alberta
- Dunvegan, Alberta
- Spirit River, Alberta
- Falher, Alberta
- Woking, Alberta
- Pouce Coupe, British Columbia
- Second Boar War
- Following the Wealth
- California Gold Rush
- Klondike Gold Rush
- Great Depression
- Dust Bowl
- Swanberg Bros Trucking
- Worsley, Alberta
- Grande Cache, Alberta
- Dixonville, Alberta
- Fort Nelson, British Columbia
- The Flow of Land and Ice
- Monkman Pass
- Wapiti River
- Red Willow River
- Rycroft, Alberta
- Natural Spring
Email us feedback, ask us questions, or write in a story for us to share at lifenorthofthe54th@gmail.com
Ron Brown has some stories to share about growing up with his family just north of Fort St. John. He discusses some of the shenanigans of his youth with his brothers along with a few of his more mature decisions as a newlywed.
Show Notes
- Growing Up
- Moses Lake, Washington
- Fort St. John, British Columbia
- Charlie Lake, British Columbia
- Alaska Highway News
- Primary (Youth)
- Spirit River, Alberta
- Dune Buggy
- One Island Lake
- Young and Careless
- Idaho Falls, Idaho
- Ricks College, BYU-Idaho
- Missionary Service, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Las Cruces, New Mexico
- New Mexico State University
- El Paso, Texas
- Cardston Temple
- Newlyweds
- Lethbridge, Alberta
- Medicine Hat, Alberta
- Wonowon, British Columbia
- Snow Chains
- Grande Prairie, Alberta
- Suburban
- Fairview, Alberta
Email us feedback, ask us questions, or write in a story for us to share at lifenorthofthe54th@gmail.com
Jessie Meservy talks about growing up without many modern amenities. She shares some stories about her father, what it was like growing up on the farm, and how she feels at home in the Peace Country.
Show Notes
- Fort Nelson, British Columbia
- Dawson City, Yukon
- Liard Hot Springs, British Columbia
- Muncho Lake, British Columbia
- Fairview, Alberta
Email us feedback, ask us questions, or write in a story for us to share at lifenorthofthe54th@gmail.com
Jim and Pam Brown share what brought them to the Peace Country and what keeps them there. Between harsh winters and beautiful summers, the people in the North come together to support each other as they build a life together.
Show Notes
- Moving North
- Missionary Service, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Ricks College, BYU-Idaho
- Moses Lake, Washington
- Seattle, Washington
- Custom Combining
- Massey Ferguson
- Williams Lake, British Columbia
- Prince George, British Columbia
- Dawson Creek, British Columbia
- Charlie Lake, British Columbia
- Hudson's Hope, British Columbia
- Canada adopts the metric system
- Pouce Coupe, British Columbia
- Taylor, British Columbia
- Kiskatinaw Curved Bridge
- Beaver First Nation
- Some Additional Stories
- Vulcanizing Rubber
- Scouts Canada
- Chetwynd, British Columbia
- W.A.C. Bennet Dam
- Site C Dam
- High on Ice
- Snow Golf
- Sled Dog Racing
- Fort Nelson, British Columbia
- Deadhorse, Prudhoe Bay, Alaska
- Northern Lights
- Kinuseo Falls
- Kakwa Falls
Email us feedback, ask us questions, or write in a story for us to share at lifenorthofthe54th@gmail.com
Jeannie MacKinnon Hanlon discusses how life brought her from Eastern Canada to the Peace Country. She shares how God works in mysterious ways to bring individuals and families together. She also talks about her 26 years of experience as a secretary in the office at Harry Balfour School.
Show Notes
- Moving West
- Polio
- Ottawa, Ontario
- Hamilton, Ontario
- Haileybury, Ontario
- Fort-Coulonge, Quebec
- Pembroke, Ontario
- Montreal, Quebec
- Expo 67
- Calgary Stampede
- McCoy Bros Spring and Steering Shop
- Anglican Church
- Kemptville, Ontario
- Thunder Bay, Ontario
- Grande Prairie Regional College (GPRC)
- Office Secretary
- Harry Balfour School
- Typewriter
- Database
- Apple II
- Mac
- IBM PC
- Scotch Mints
- Additional Stories
- Hudson's Hope, British Columbia
- W. A. C. Bennett Dam
- Lake Saskatoon, Alberta
- Red Maple Trees
- Tamarack Trees
Email us feedback, ask us questions, or write in a story for us to share at lifenorthofthe54th@gmail.com
Janie Myers shares her story about moving from Idaho to the Peace Country to make a new life homesteading. She talks about some of the challenges and difficulties that accompany working and raising a family without many modern amenities.
Show Notes
- Moving North
- Dietrich, Idaho
- W. A. C. Bennett Dam
- Peace River, Alberta
- Dillon, Montana
- Missouri River
- White-Slave Traffic Act
- Sweetgrass Crossing
- Great Falls, Montana
- Lethbridge, Alberta
- Traffic Circle
- Edmonton, Alberta
- Whitecourt, Alberta
- Grande Prairie, Alberta
- Dawson Creek, British Columbia
- Settling In
- A Section of Land
- Kiskatinaw River. The Tower Lake region is where it connects to the Peace River.
- Massey Tractors
- Fort St. John, British Columbia
- Tire shop on the corner of main street Fort St. John and the Alaska Highway.
- Missionary Service, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Cleardale, Alberta
- Rolla, British Columbia
- Homesteading
- Cattle Drive
- Wonowon, British Columbia
- Hitchhiking
- Oil Rig
- Roughneck
- 2021 Western North America Heat Wave
- Aurora (Northern Lights)
- Taylor, British Columbia
- Galvanization
Email us feedback, ask us questions, or write in a story for us to share at lifenorthofthe54th@gmail.com
Lives with stories, stories with life. Brothers Garett and Preston Brown bring out the stories and legacy of life in the Peace Country and life north of the 54th parallel.
Show Notes
Give us feedback, ask us questions, or write in a story for us to share at lifenorthofthe54th@gmail.com