Family Life in Edmonton in the 1950s, by K.F. Bielby

My family and I came from Port Colborne, Ontario on June 28, 1955. We lived in the "Bel Air Apartment's for fifteen months.


We had two children when we came, a third was born later. It was quite a challenge to be plunked down in a strange city, a strange building among strangers.


But I was determined to get to know my neighbours and my first contacts were with the children. I visited with them on the stairwell and in the laundry room.


First thing I knew the various children were ringing my doorbell and coming to visit.


As we had brought our Westinghouse TV with us. At four thirty when my husband came from work, there would be several children in a semi-circle watching Candy Bar Ranch with Eric Candy.


At five-fifteen I sh___d [unintelligible] them home for their supper but at 7:45 p.m. their parents arrived for an evening of TV and visiting.


This kept on nightly until finally my husband and I decided we had to cut down some of the visits by becoming involved in the Community and Church.


We found the new church we found out about through the Welcome Wagon lady. It was a great nearly forty years we attended there, though the beginning post war years and the post baby boom years when the attendance dwindled. We had some decision conflicts, [unintelligible] became necessary to make compromises. We sold our church and went to Kirk United. We have had many challenges there but are trying to reconcile four congregations into one. There have been conflicts but we hope [unintelligible] if doing things and compromising are helping to win the day.