Bradwardine book donates interest
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, February 10, 2016
By Jessie Bell
Submitted article
It’s been 13 years since Bradwardine’s 360-page history book was published. Bradwardine and District — A Century and More records history of the area and its people from 1880-2003. Of the 500 initial book order, sales are still being made for the remaining unsold 20 copies. (If you would like one, please phone 204-328-7176.)
Money from the book sales is held in Westoba Credit Union with interest on that account allocated toward scholarship presentations to Rivers Collegiate Institute students who plan to enter college or university for their secondary education, with preference given to ones who live in the former Ward 4, RM of Daly district, which encompassed Bradwardine/Tarbolton area. To ensure the applicant continues their academic role, scholarships are paid out in the second semester. Scholarship recipients during the last 10 years have been Katie Gilbert, Alleah Wolfe, Cara Wedderburn, Taryn Dyer/Deanna Wolfe (tied), Laura Gillingham, Alexis Gillingham, Sydney Sprenger, Kahli Wedderburn. Rivers school band received the scholarship money in 2006 and 2015 on condition the funds be used to purchase instruments.
Bradwardine district resident Clair English was prompted by a former resident, Dilys Collier (nee Pearce) to put his collection of local history into a book. Clair agreed and a six-member committee was soon formed. By the time the book was published, Clair had contributed thousands of hours as committee chairman. He has since made the scholarship presentations each year, and keeps a check on the biannual financial statements.
In retrospect, he recalls those who also contributed countless hours towards the book, namely Barrie Cochrane who had composed previous histories of Tarbolton area. That information became part of the Bradwardine book. Jessie Bell (nee Veitch) also spent countless hours towards comprising family histories. Keith Maitland of Calgary and formerly of Bradwardine, participated in all phases of the book, locating former families for histories and book sales. He contributed a valuable timeline for Manitoba and Bradwardine; his guidance was beneficial in using the interest on book profits for student scholarships. Elaine Steski of Winnipeg, another former village resident, accepted many books for sale, thus saving hundreds of dollars in delivery charges. Some pioneer happenings were contributed by Jim Wood, Ed Seater and the late Lil Gerrard (nee Dyer). Earl Gerrard was the initial treasurer, who still assists Clair with accounting. Peggy MacKay of Rivers (at the time) was engaged as computer typesetter.
In the books is an explanation of how Bradwardine received its name: from that of a character in Scott’s novel Waverly. It’s also a famous English name, Thomas Bradwardine (1290-1349), confessor to King Edward III and later Archbishop of Canterbury.
