“Feeling forgotten,” I have observed, often occurs among people living in small communities many kilometers from a larger community or city.

Some may say there is probably no historical significance in one of this district’s pioneer settlers being “a painter and decorator by trade,” in the words of his daughter...

When did we first begin to say that fires so essential to human existence needed to be “prevented”? The first reference to “fire prevention” in my quick search of Canadian newspapers...

In her book “The Village Effect,” Susan Pinker illustrates how face-to-face contact can make us healthier and happier. Villages that grow into towns lead to significant improvements...

One of the memorable deaths of early pioneers in this district in 1965 was Mary Theresa Kuich. She passed away at age 82 in Oyen Municipal Hospital January 23.

As the caption on the front page of this newspaper underlines, “without a voice, there is no echo.” A phrase well chosen!

Several more deeply rooted connections to the past drew my interest while surveying news items in 1965. One was about establishing the Alberta Provincial Museum and Archives.

94-year-old Alan Johnson, who subscribes to our paper, stopped by our office last week with this wonderful photo of his Dad’s farming outfit.

The past is not absent, it has presence. This is what Eelco Runia explains in “Moved by the Past: Discontinuity and Historical Mutation” (2014).

In September of 1973, Dr. Dorosz of Regina visited Oyen. The survey conducted the summer before Ed’s arrival...

Veterinarian Ed Dorosz made a big impression in our community. Ed, Sandy and their family moved to town in the early ‘70s. Always a riot when Ed came on a call.

After nearly 60 years of farming, Stan and Robin Krause from Jenner, Alberta, will officially be hanging up their hats at the end of this harvest season.

The Order of the Eastern Star is the largest fraternal organization in the world that allows both men and women to be members.

History plays tricks on all of us and especially our mindfulness and memories. Events in the past, what people said and did, the way they looked and behaved, often seems odd and old-fashioned.

“When is it too soon to write history” is the subject of a recent discussion in “The Economist,” the well-known British news magazine.

One of the more inspiring experiences of our times is the possibility that deaths of our loved ones and friends will be gracefully accompanied by a perceptive…

Check out these young Alsask Girl Guides from 1979. Back row (L-R): Lynette Schaefer, Michelle Ross, Kim Peters, Elena Thomas, Catherine Schaefer, Dawn Dooley.

The significance of town life is much neglected by historians as Donald Wetherell and Irene Kmet note in their book, “Town Life: Main Street and the Evolution of Small Town Alberta…

In his new book, “1964 – The Year the Swinging Sixties Began,” Christopher Sandford writes about various events generating memories for those of us living our early lives…

As some Echo readers may know, I was diagnosed with throat cancer twenty years ago this fall – October 2024. My cancer experience has been notable for several reason…