Edmonton Anniversary Pageant - The Beaver 1920

Created by Tara Jacklin on Wed, 06/05/2024 - 17:00

The 1920 edition of the Beaver described the 250th anniversary of the Hudson's Bay Companies and its relevant celebrations.

"AT EDMONTON—Ideal weather favored the Pageant Celebrations. As one old Indian remarked to a member of the committee, God looked favorably upon the Hudson’s Bay Company and the Indians. Such a coincidence was remarkable, as it rained almost every day up to the time of the Pageant and commenced again the day after.

Never in the history of Edmonton, it is said, had such crowds been witnessed. Long before the procession began to move the streets were blocked with multitudes of spectators from both the city and outside points.

Besides the spectacular review of happenings during the past 250 years, depicted on floats, there were large bands of mounted Indians, ox carts, and prairie schooners, which the Hudson’s Bay Company furnished. The city of Edmonton took a prominent part also. No less than sixty floats representing various organizations in the city lined up at the rear of the parade, making a magnificent spectacle. The procession was estimated to be three miles long.

The Celebration at Edmonton wa confined not only to the big stree parade but an elaborate and very successful Pageant was staged at the Empire theatre for three nights. This took the form of historical happenings which actually have taken place at various periods during the Company’s Incorpora ton. The cast of 40 were obtained from the Edmonton store, while a male chorus of 22 pieces accompanied the various acts and scenes.

Judging by the applause which greeted the performers each night and the very favorable press comments which followed, the Historical Pageant was a tremendous success.

The costumes were made specially for each scene and were authentically correct in every detail. The scenery was also the most elaborate ever seen in Edmonton.

Mr. J. Prest, Advertising Manager H. B. C., Retail, was responsible for the Pageant production and also the stage direction, while the musical direction was in the hands of Mr. Vernon Barford, a leading musician in the city. A brief outline of the synopsis is as follows:"

Timeline

Scene 3 Royal Court Ball

The start of the month May 1670

ROYAL COURT BALL ROOM, 1670
This scene depicts events which happened at the Royal Ball given by King Charles after signing of Charter. The costumes worn are exact reproductions of the originals.

Cast
King Charles...........................Mr. O. M. Kennedy
Prince Rupert.............................Mr. H. P. Stower
Lord Ashley.............................. Mr. C. D.gney
Lord Arlington.........................Mr. R. L. Bateman

Gavotte
Miss Vera Solick Miss Zoe McDonald Miss Regina Gordon Miss Nora Hill
Mr. J. Prest Mr. J. McVicar Mr. B. Whiting Mr. L. Winslow

Heralds
Miss E. Cartier Miss Alice Howe Miss Gladys Wright Miss Doris Knight
Miss D. A. McLeod Miss Jennie Jones Miss Frances Brahman Miss Bessie Ogilvie

Associated Places

No places have been associated with this event

by Tara Jacklin

Scene 2 - First Meeting of the Board of Directors

circa. May 1670

(The original oath which all directors and shareholders were required to swear. )
Prince Rupert ......................Mr. H. P. Stower
John Portman, Esq........................Mr. B. Whiting
Sir John Robinson..........................Mr. J. Roberts
Sir Robert Viner.................... Mr. R. L. Bateman
Sir Peter Colleton.......................... Mr. C. Digney
John Kirke, Esq...........................Mr. C. Douglas
Frances Millington, Esq.............Mr. T. Crockett

Associated Places

No places have been associated with this event

by Tara Jacklin

Scene 1 - Signing of the Charter

2 May 1670

SIGNING OF CHARTER, 1670

Principals
King Charles...........................Mr. O. M. Kennedy
Prince Rupert...............................Mr. H. P. Stower
Bishop........................................ Mr. J. D. McLean

Associated Places

No places have been associated with this event

by Tara Jacklin

Scene 4 - The Landing at James Bay

circa. 1673

Groseilliers (Leader of H.B.Co.) .................Mr .B. Whiting
Captain Gillam (of the Non-Such)..............Mr. W. E. Stroud
Standard-Bearer .........................................Mr. W. J. Fleming
Chief Trader.................................................Mr. P. A. Stone
Cavaliers, Seamen, and Indians.

Associated Places

James Bay

by Tara Jacklin

Scene 5 - Trading

circa. 1674

Scene V.
FORT CHARLES. 1674
The pomp and ceremony depicted in this scene is exactly as was performed during this period, to impress the Indian tribes when coming to trade.
Governor.............................. .....Mr. J. D. McLean
Chief Trader. ................................Mr. P. A. Stone
Assistant Traders ....................... .............Mr. C. Digney and Mr. B. Whiting

Governor’s Servant............................Mr. J. Prest

Sentry................... ............ ........ Mr. T. Crockett
Interpreter, ........ ...........................Mr. J. Hughes
Piper................. .....................Mr. A. Thompson
Indian Chief........... ....... ......................Mattonabee
Garrison, Drummers, Indians

Associated Places

No places have been associated with this event

by Tara Jacklin

Scene 6

circa. 1796

Scene VI.
FORT EDMONTON. 1796
Chief Factor...................................Mr. P. A. Stone
Interpreter.......... .................. .......Mr. J. Fraser
Sentry....... ......................................Mr. T. Crockett
Chief Trader................................Mr. W. E. Stroud
Traders, Voyageurs, Indian

Associated Places

No places have been associated with this event

by Tara Jacklin

Scene 7

circa. 1850

Scene VII.
FORT EDMONTON. 1850
This scene depicts an event which actually took place in 1850. The Crees were forced to take shelter within the stockades of Fort Edmonton from the Blackfeet, who were constantly warring with this tribe. Conciliation was effected by the H.B.Co. Factor, and peace ensued which was lasting in its effect.
Principals
Chief Factor.......... ................. Mr. H. P. Stower
Interpreter............................................Mr. J. Fraser
Cree Chief.................................................Ermineskin
Blackfeet Chief........................................Half Moon
Traders, Voyageurs, Indians

Associated Places

No places have been associated with this event

by Tara Jacklin

Scene 9

circa. 1855

FORT EDMONTON. 1855 Principals
Factor............................................Mr. H. P. Stower
Indian Chief.............................................Ermineskin
Cree Indian War Dance

Associated Places

No places have been associated with this event

by Tara Jacklin

Scene 8 - Celebrating an Anniversary

2 May 1855

FORT EDMONTON (NIGHT), 1855

May 2nd, celebrating an Anniversary
Principals
Chief Factor ........... ..................Mr. H. P. Stower
Jock McKay..............................Mr. J. D. McLean
Fiddler............................................Mr. J. E. Fraser
Dick Hammond...............................Mr. C. Digney
Dad McKenzie................................ Mr. J. Hughes
Red River Reel
Miss Bella McLean Miss Alice Howe Miss M. Borwick Miss D. McLeod
Mr. C. Douglas Mr. B. Whiting Mr. C. Digney Mr. J. Prest

Associated Places

No places have been associated with this event

by Tara Jacklin

Scene 3 Royal Court Ball

Scene 2 - First Meeting of the Board of Directors

Scene 1 - Signing of the Charter

Scene 4 - The Landing at James Bay

Scene 5 - Trading

Scene 6

Scene 7

Scene 9

Scene 8 - Celebrating an Anniversary

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TimelineJS

Chronological table

Displaying 1 - 9 of 9

Date	Event	Created by
circa. May 1670	Scene 2 - First Meeting of the Board of Directors (The original oath which all directors and shareholders were required to swear. ) Prince Rupert ......................Mr. H. P. Stower John Portman, Esq........................Mr. B. Whiting Sir John Robinson..........................Mr. J. Roberts Sir Robert Viner.................... Mr. R. L. Bateman Sir Peter Colleton.......................... Mr. C. Digney John Kirke, Esq...........................Mr. C. Douglas Frances Millington, Esq.............Mr. T. Crockett	Tara Jacklin
The start of the month May 1670	Scene 3 Royal Court Ball ROYAL COURT BALL ROOM, 1670 This scene depicts events which happened at the Royal Ball given by King Charles after signing of Charter. The costumes worn are exact reproductions of the originals. Cast King Charles...........................Mr. O. M. Kennedy Prince Rupert.............................Mr. H. P. Stower Lord Ashley.............................. Mr. C. D.gney Lord Arlington.........................Mr. R. L. Bateman Gavotte Miss Vera Solick Miss Zoe McDonald Miss Regina Gordon Miss Nora Hill Mr. J. Prest Mr. J. McVicar Mr. B. Whiting Mr. L. Winslow Heralds Miss E. Cartier Miss Alice Howe Miss Gladys Wright Miss Doris Knight Miss D. A. McLeod Miss Jennie Jones Miss Frances Brahman Miss Bessie Ogilvie	Tara Jacklin
2 May 1670	Scene 1 - Signing of the Charter SIGNING OF CHARTER, 1670 Principals King Charles...........................Mr. O. M. Kennedy Prince Rupert...............................Mr. H. P. Stower Bishop........................................ Mr. J. D. McLean	Tara Jacklin
circa. 1673	Scene 4 - The Landing at James Bay Groseilliers (Leader of H.B.Co.) .................Mr .B. Whiting Captain Gillam (of the Non-Such)..............Mr. W. E. Stroud Standard-Bearer .........................................Mr. W. J. Fleming Chief Trader.................................................Mr. P. A. Stone Cavaliers, Seamen, and Indians.	Tara Jacklin	James Bay
circa. 1674	Scene 5 - Trading Scene V. FORT CHARLES. 1674 The pomp and ceremony depicted in this scene is exactly as was performed during this period, to impress the Indian tribes when coming to trade. Governor.............................. .....Mr. J. D. McLean Chief Trader. ................................Mr. P. A. Stone Assistant Traders ....................... .............Mr. C. Digney and Mr. B. Whiting Governor’s Servant............................Mr. J. Prest Sentry................... ............ ........ Mr. T. Crockett Interpreter, ........ ...........................Mr. J. Hughes Piper................. .....................Mr. A. Thompson Indian Chief........... ....... ......................Mattonabee Garrison, Drummers, Indians	Tara Jacklin
circa. 1796	Scene 6 Scene VI. FORT EDMONTON. 1796 Chief Factor...................................Mr. P. A. Stone Interpreter.......... .................. .......Mr. J. Fraser Sentry....... ......................................Mr. T. Crockett Chief Trader................................Mr. W. E. Stroud Traders, Voyageurs, Indian	Tara Jacklin
circa. 1850	Scene 7 Scene VII. FORT EDMONTON. 1850 This scene depicts an event which actually took place in 1850. The Crees were forced to take shelter within the stockades of Fort Edmonton from the Blackfeet, who were constantly warring with this tribe. Conciliation was effected by the H.B.Co. Factor, and peace ensued which was lasting in its effect. Principals Chief Factor.......... ................. Mr. H. P. Stower Interpreter............................................Mr. J. Fraser Cree Chief.................................................Ermineskin Blackfeet Chief........................................Half Moon Traders, Voyageurs, Indians	Tara Jacklin
circa. 1855	Scene 9 FORT EDMONTON. 1855 Principals Factor............................................Mr. H. P. Stower Indian Chief.............................................Ermineskin Cree Indian War Dance	Tara Jacklin
2 May 1855	Scene 8 - Celebrating an Anniversary FORT EDMONTON (NIGHT), 1855 May 2nd, celebrating an Anniversary Principals Chief Factor ........... ..................Mr. H. P. Stower Jock McKay..............................Mr. J. D. McLean Fiddler............................................Mr. J. E. Fraser Dick Hammond...............................Mr. C. Digney Dad McKenzie................................ Mr. J. Hughes Red River Reel Miss Bella McLean Miss Alice Howe Miss M. Borwick Miss D. McLeod Mr. C. Douglas Mr. B. Whiting Mr. C. Digney Mr. J. Prest	Tara Jacklin

Log in

Timeline

The start of the month May 1670

Associated Places

circa. May 1670

Associated Places

2 May 1670

Associated Places

circa. 1673

Associated Places

circa. 1674

Associated Places

circa. 1796

Associated Places

circa. 1850

Associated Places

circa. 1855

Associated Places

2 May 1855

Associated Places

Scene 3 Royal Court Ball

Scene 2 - First Meeting of the Board of Directors

Scene 1 - Signing of the Charter

Scene 4 - The Landing at James Bay

Scene 5 - Trading

Scene 6

Scene 7

Scene 9

Scene 8 - Celebrating an Anniversary

Chronological table