Alberta's First Century 1905-2005

By Olga R. Dorish

Alberta’s First Century 1905-2005

Canada became a country a long time ago;
Its many provinces were formed as need for them did grow.
From North West Territories, Alberta was contrived
To form another province in 1905.

What was Alberta like a hundred years ago
When it became a province with settlers who made it grow?
North was being settled while south began to thrive,
That is the way it was around 1905.

Immigrants were enticed by grand offers of ‘free’ land
They cleared their homesteads with axes, the labour done by hand.
Expectations were shattered after they had arrived
For that is the way it was in 1905.

They built themselves a city and named it Edmonton.
With their vision and sacrifice expansion had begun.
They held their faith in Alberta – spirits did revive
That’s the way it was after 1905.

Good times in the twenties and stock crash in twenty nine
Followed by the Great Depression, bankruptcies and breadlines.
Hitler came to power, World War II he did contrive
And that’s the way it was after 1905.

The fifties and on were years of growth and construction,
Leduc oil boom started; wheat fields were in production.
Researchers in science were busy as a bee-hive
That’s how it was decades after 1905.

Alberta realized people were its greatest resource
So immigration became its logical fruitful source.
Doors were opened wide and immigrants flocked to arrive
All throughout the latter years of 1905.

Folks struggled with conditions but were a happy lot.
They got together often; they played games and sang a lot.
The first century’s hardships helped them to contrive
Their way of life after the years of 1905.

Alberta’s Next Century – 2005 and onwards

What will Alberta be like in a hundred years from now?
Will we have snow in winter? Will milk still come from a cow?
Will the human brain continue to explore and thrive
In bringing peace to the world in 2005?
Will our city and valley retain all its glory?
Will you preserve history, tell your children our story?
So that the coming generations be not deprived
Of Alberta’s history before 2005.

With immigrant vision our province is rich today,
Multi-cultures for eternity shall be here to stay.
Legacy of the past century, you should make thrive,
That’s the way is should be after 2005.

The pas hundred years provided a good foundation
They made Alberta a fruitful energetic nation.
The torch is ours, we must make knowledge stay alive
Yes, that’s the way it should be after 2005.

You’ve learnt to be tolerant as though you’re all kin
You judge folk by their actions – not the colour of their skin.
Human kindness and equality you will contrive
That’s my wish for the province after 2005.

The world is in chaos – disease, hunger, hate and wars
But you will overcome these inhuman and wrathful scores.
You’ll keep faith, and trust the human race shall survive.
That’s my hope for Albertans after 2005.

We will keep on building till our days on earth are through,
When life’s work is over we’ll pass the torch on to you.
And may you pass it on so that wisdom stays alive
That’s my wish for the century of 2005.