In the 1990’s a number of local families and businesses who had established themselves in the early days and continued to make their living within the community were profiled in the High Country News. Don Sanders – age 93 – has recently passed away so it seems timely to reprint the history of this remarkable family who still reside on the home place in West Bragg Creek.
Angus A. MacDonald, a fourth generation Canadian of Scottish descent, was born in 1869 in Nova Scotia. His wife Ada [Watson] was also of fourth generation stock.
This means that their forefathers had settled in the new country in the mid 1700’s probably around the time of the Battle of Quebec on the Plains of Abraham.
In 1905 Mr MacDonald was attracted to Calgary as at that time many beautiful sandstone buildings were being erected and he was a contract plasterer. He moved his family to Calgary and easily found work. He enlisted during W.W.I. and upon returning home continued his trade. One of his outstanding jobs can be seen to his day in the beautiful building occupied by Goodlife Fitness on the corner of 8th Avenue and 1st Street SW. If you cast your gaze upward to the ceiling you will see the fine work of Angus A. MacDonald.
Like so many others his first contact with Bragg Creek was through a fishing trip. He fell in love with the area and decided to file a homestead. In 1921 he entered the NE9-23-5-5 [present location and patented it in 1924].
In May of 1922 he moved his wife, Ada, and the younger four of their 8 children to the homestead to establish residency. He stayed in the city to continue his work, coming out on weekends. The family ran a mixed farming operation which was quite a change for them – all being city raised.
They were quick to find out that their neighbours were friendly and helpful and glad to welcome them. They soon became an integral part of the community which has remained the case.
When Angus moved his family to Bragg Creek in 1922, two children married within the community. Gerald [Shelly] married Maysie Budge, the first school teacher at the newly built Two Pine School. She taught there for five years during which time some of the children completed eight grades. She must have “Rung the bell and let her rip” as the inspector of schools advised her to do upon opening the school.
Margaret was a young lady and was soon courted by the local gentlemen. The successful suitor was Albert Sanders whom she married in 1926. He was introduced to Bragg Creek via the oil industry as his dad worked as a fireman on the Signal Hill wells [Wintergreen]. There was a lot of oil activity in the area at the time but the biggest deterrent to the well drilling operations was the deplorable condition or lack of roads – a meandering dirt road to Calgary and wagon trails after that, much of which was corduroy over muskeg. Hence oil exploration moved to other areas.
After Albert and Margaret were married he continued to work in the oil patch and became a driller with Imperial Oil working the newly discovered fields including Turner Valley. They spent some time living in Turner Valley but came back to live on the place around 1950. While they were away Ernie Bell, a well known horse trainer and rider of jumping horses rented the place. {Bell’s most famous horse, Scotsman jumped remarkable heights – up wards to 8 feet and as Don would tell you is buried on the place}. Albert and Margaret had 3 children of which Don is the youngest He has stayed on the place as has Barbara, the daughter of Don’s older brother Tom.
In the late forties Don affiliated with Freddie Nash to run a riding stable. Nash had been operating on land once occupied by the Bar B Q Steak Pit, but later moved the stable to property owned by Jerry Cooke which is now the Bragg Creek Shopping Centre. They called their outfit “The Corral” with the actual corral being situated on the present post office site. In 1950 Don took over the sole operation of the stable and called it the Bragg Creek Riding Academy. It was a very popular recreation for locals and tourists alike. However, after a few years he moved his operation to the home place as roads were becoming gravelled and dusty, traffic was increasing and places to ride were becoming scarce. He operated from there until 1981. During this time he provided riding for hundreds and hundreds of young campers from Camp Cadicasu as well as running the first riding camps for diabetics and the mentally handicapped [Christine Meikle School]. It is worthy to note that at Camp Cadicasu’s sixtieth Anniversary celebrations[ June 16 ,1990] the Sanders received “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother Award” for their support and generosity towards the camp during many of those sixty years. After closing the riding academy part of his business, he continued ranching operations, raising Appaloosa horses, custom farming and haying.
In 1965 Don married Myra Holgate from Calgary whose family had a summer cabin in the hamlet for many years. They had 2 girls, Pamela and Francis. Pamela has 2 children. Now remember, Angus A MacDonald was a fourth generation Canadian which makes Pamela’s children eighth generation Canadians! Not many of us can claim forefathers to be around in Canada that long.
Just one last tidbit of history that no one else shares with the Sanders Family – three generations have held their wedding dance in the Round Hall:
1926 Albert And Margaret
1964 Don and Myra
1986 Rick and Pam
With all of that connection from the past it was such a privilege and honour along with so many other people to celebrate Don’s life in the Round Hall on July 14, 2024
