pg 144 More Big Hill Country 2009
It’s 1961 and my story has just begun,
We tried for a community for everyone.
It took a full year with lots of hard work,
And it really paid off without a quirk.
The Beaupre Creek School was converted henceforth ,
It’s 1962 and we’re registered up North.
Prior to this, so I am told,
Grand Valley School and Beaupre were old.
They had served their purpose , so it seems,
So off to Cochrane went kids and their dreams.
A higher education these days is a must,
Then off to SAIT in a cloud of dust.
It cost 650 bucks to register the Title,
By 1966 the land/school buy was final.
It took all those years of paperwork,
Dealing with protocol and many a jerk.
But it all paid off, I’m glad to say,
And every dog doth have his day.
Now 35 years have come and gone,
With it, tradition, dances and many a song.
So many people each doing their bit,
Trying to make Beaupre a great big hit.
There were Eymas, Brooks, and Edges there,
Serving on the Board and doing their share.
If by chance I miss someone out,
Don’t get upset or even shout.
To be given the honour of this great task,
Is almost more than I can ask.
If I miss out one or seven,
You can bet you ’11 get yours in heaven.
Courvilles, Jamiesons, Macullo, Wasson and Wills,
Beatons, Simpsons, and the Ullerys from Wildcat Hills,
Richards, Dawsons, McKendricks and McCoys,
Beggs, Hansens, McDonalds and Uncle Roy,
Greenways, Butters, Bryant, Bowlen and Hess,
Poynters, Wirsigs, Johnsons, and Auntie Bess.
Colemans, Watts, LePatourel, McLenahans and Guy,
McLean, McNabb, McGillis, MacGregor, MacMillan and Vi,
Dutchik, Chapman, Stehr, Anderson, and Ebba K.,
And all the others who passed this way.
When Louis Beaupre was alive,
He never thought a community would thrive.
MacLeod, Metcalfe, Norman, Braisher, and Pepper,
Shapter, Tidball, who could do better?
Yoshimura, Hammond, Robertson, and Kendall ,
We all go by a different handle.
But the end result is always the same,
Bringing to Beaupre pride and fame.
We have dances, cards and the Beaupre Band
Playschool and the art club trying their hand.
Cubs and Scouts and Bible School,
All living up to the Golden Rule
Horseshoes, baseball and a fire pit ,
And every August the gymkhana is a hit.
My story has now come to a hollow,
Some have gone and the rest will fo1low.
What’s gone on in between Has been a life-long dream.
We’ve all loved Beaupre with veneration,
And now it’s all up to the next generation
The Beaupre community has always been a beehive of activity and not to mention the playschool with Miss Wendy would be remiss. At the Annual General Meeting, October 19, 2001, accolades were on the evening’s agenda, and Linda Thomas (who became president at this meeting) delivered the following tribute: “As everyone knows, we often take this opportunity to present a plaque to a member who has contributed to our community. This year we ‘d like to show our appreciation to someone who has had a huge influence on our community and beyond. She has been quietly going about her business for so long, and is so well loved by the younger members of our community that, she has earned the permanent title of “Miss Wendy.” Wendy Butters’ playschool has such a good reputation that people bring their kids out here from Cochrane. I can personally attest to the fact that the kids love Miss Wendy’s school and sometimes they even get to play her guitar. She ‘s been teaching our children for 25 years and it’s time to let her know how much we appreciate it. So, on behalf of the executive and all the members of Beaupre, this plaque extols a big thank you to Miss Wendy.”
Shockingly, just a few days after the Annual General Meeting, our gathering place burnt down on Halloween night, October 31 , 2001 , and devastated our community. We lost valuable treasures including the 100-year-old piano and precious artworks by local artists. Sadly, Beaupre’s mascot, the old brass school bell used as a dinner bell or to get people’s attention at meetings, was somewhere in the ashes. However, that cloud had a silver lining as Ben Cornforth , Cornforth Excavating , who kindly hauled away the debris, sifted through the ruins and found it. Frank Brooks restored it and the bell is back in business at Beaupre.
Beaupre President Maureen Wills, who delivered the welcoming address, conveyed sincere thanks to fellow directors and to all those who helped with planning and designing the new hall. She extended a big thank you to those who donated artifacts for the decor, artworks, and funds – relating that cash donations were being sent in before we’d even asked for help. She extended a special thank you to MLA Janis Tarchuk for her attention to detail and caring attitude respecting youth and adults in our community. “When the old hall burnt down, along with it went the artifacts, but we still have old memories, and, now, it’s up to the younger generation to make new memories with beautiful people and a beautiful view.”
Beaupre Community Association Presidents
Norman Edge, 1962-63
Pierre Eyma, 1963-68
Donald Edge, 1968-70
Bruce Boothby, 1970- 71
Charlie MacDonald, 1971-73;1974-76;1980-82
Lloyd Greenway, 1973-74; 1977-80
Dennis Courville, 1976-77
Frank Brooks, 1982-83
Larry Beaton, 1983-84
Monte Butters, 1984-85
Maureen Wills, 1985-90; 1996-2001; 2002-04
Erik Butters, 1990-92
Bruce Kendall, 1992-96
Linda Thomas, 2001-02
Mary Lou Brooks, 2004-Present
Our new hall, with a wonderful mountain view, is serving the community well; it’s busier than ever, thanks to a good Board of Directors and an ambitious social committee. The usual card parties, meetings, seminars, musical concerts, annual family barbecue, art club activities, cancer fundraising, garage sales, spring tea, Christmas craft sale, weddings, playschool, children’s Christmas concerts, New Year’s parties, educational courses, birthdays, cowboy soiree dances, and various other types of social events are in full swing.
Speaking of dances, I always remember the story Jack Poynter used to tell on his wife, Tootie. In the early days, after arriving home one snowy winter night from an enjoyable dance at Beaupre, Tootie was removing her boots and a mouse jumped out and scampered across the kitchen floor. With a yell, she said, “That mouse was in my boot!” Jack’s reply, “Yeah, and he’s still alive – but he is pretty well gassed!”
