Ode to a Barn

 

Remembering Mother

Laura Hughenna (Rutley) Bertrand was born on January 9th, 1902 at home in Finch, Ontario. 

She came to Saskatchewan during the "Homestead Fever" times with her family to take up a new life on the prairies. They settled west of Cut Knife in the Dufferin Area. She was educated in a one room school and went on to complete her education in Wilkie and Normal School in Saskatoon, getting her teachers certificate. After a teaching career in a few prairie schools she married Ovide Bertrand and settled on a farm east of Cut Knife, Gallivan. They raised a family of seven children. 

Lorraine, Arthur, Clare, Mary, Evelyn, Lucille, David 

Her memories have been set to print in a book for her descendants to remember. Their genealogy has been up dated reflecting five generations.  

Katari Righthand from the Siksika First Nation with Lexi 

It gives me great pleasure to  share the accomplishments of one of my granddaughters,  Lexi Hilderman. 

Recently she won, the 2021 Calgary Stampede Youth Poster Competition. 

Her artwork featured a young Fancy Dancer with rainbow ribbons flowing from her regalia, inspired by the image of a young woman named Katari Righthand from the Siksika First Nation. 

She said "I was drawn to her story and it became important for me to learn about her culture and to understand how she feels when she's dancing," 

In developing a relationship with Righthand and her family, Lexi learned that she was given the name Nààpiwa otó piim Akikowan (Rainbow Girl) in 2013 following the southern Alberta floods, representing the hope that comes after a storm. 

“I wanted to show her standing strong, looking forward with determination. To me this image is about optimism, and also a representation of youth carrying on their legacy and the legacy of the Calgary Stampede’s celebration of the arts, culture and community.” 

The Calgary Stampede Youth Poster Competition is a unique youth achievement program that provides talented young Albertans with the opportunity to showcase their talent on a world stage. Generously funded by the Brandon Flock Foundation, this program provides one of Canada’s largest art scholarships. As the winning artist for 2021, Lexi has been awarded a $10,000 scholarship and her artwork will now become part of Calgary Stampede history and distributed around the world.

Quotes were taken: from  https://www.calgarystampede.com/poster

Lynne Ann Hilderman's Birthday

 It was a great pleasure and gratitude for the ZOOM visit to celebrate my daughter, Lynne's birthday. We caught up on what everyone is doing. Lynne's family joined in, her husband Kerry, daughters Kaney, Lexi and Nikki. Her brothers, Mark, from Ontario and Leon  and Geni Stephenson, from North Carolina, also joined in.  

Arthur Bertrand's 80th Birthday

A group of family members of the late Ovide and Hughenna Bertrand got together on a ZOOM call to help celebrate Arthur's 80th Birthday. His sibling's Evelyn Pulver,Mission BC,  Lorraine Martin,Osoyoos BC. Lucille Fairley, Baldwinton Sask and David Bertrand, Gallivan Sask. were able to be part of the celebration. Other family participants were from Nova Scotia, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia joined. It was great to be able to get together and catch up on what everyone was doing  and extend our hearth-felt greetings to Arthur.  We all sang Happy Birthday with off-tuned voices. 

 

 

In Memory of Clare Jeanne (Bertrand) McCarthy

It is with heart-felt sorrow the Bertrand Family will miss and remember another sibling of their family. 

Clare Jeanne, passed away in Nanaimo Hospital BC on  Saturday August 15/2020 at 2:30 pm.

With warm thoughts of my second sister, here is my tribute to her memory from my photo albums. I will always remember our conversations over the phone. She never could figure me out with the decisions I made in my life time. She would say to me "Lorraine you are different" 

1956 Gallivan School 

 1939 Bertrand Farm Gallivan SK 

Seated Clare Lorraine Evelyn  Standing Eileen Rutley Mary 

 1945 Evelyn and Clare Farm Yard 

1950 Clare with Lucille, Lorraine, Arthur,  

David in front with Nippy 

In the garden 

1953 Winter house yard 

1953 Evelyn Clare Lorraine 

Lucille 

Ready for Church 

Clare and Evelyn 

After Church 

1958 Wedding Day Lorraine and Del 

1181 James St. North Battleford SK 

Evelyn Lorraine, Clare, Mary 

Mill Bay BC  Moria and Chris' Wedding 

2007 Clare and Lorraine 

Gabriola Island 

2017 Victoria Clare with grandson David and Craig 

15 Year Anniversary

Randal and I celebrated our 15 year Wedding Anniversary at Spirit Ridge Lake Resort, Osoyoos, BC "The Bear, The Fish, The Root and The Berry Restaurant".  It was a beautiful evening with temperatures of 35 C. 

The Syilx People of the Okanagan Nation's approach to food is based on the creation stories of their culture. The four Food Chiefs are central: Skemxist (Black Bear), Ntytykxw (Chinook Salmon), Speetlum (Bitteroot) and Seeys (Saskatoon Berry) are legendary. 

Pacific pan seared Halibut with chestnut / pappardelle pasta / peas / chorizo / spinach / white onion veloute.  

Spruce glazed Wild Pacific Salmon / new potatoes / summer vegetables / lemon dressing.

We remembered all the adventures we are having and projects we  work on. It is a blessing to have a good relationship during these senior years.