Citizen Bob Shepherd

Bob Shepherd (right) applauds the work of average citizens at Canada Day 2010. Then MP Bev Oda, MPP John O’Toole and I, look on.

One of his three daughters stood at the memorial to Bob Shepherd last Saturday. As many did that afternoon, Lynda Sauder fought back the emotions of losing her father to cancer on Oct. 23. She remembered growing up in a loving household, one that shared a passion for running, camping and plenty of debate around the dinner table.

“There’s a book in my father’s story,” she said. “And we’ve already started writing it.” (more…)

Tools of a bygone era

Dominion Land Survey working at the turn of the 19th Century in Alberta.
Dominion Land Survey working at the turn of the 19th century in Alberta.

A surveyor friend of mine stopped by on the weekend. Actually, Reid Wilson asked if he could poke around the corner of my front yard last Saturday. I obliged, but wondered what it was all about. He said he was doing a quick unofficial survey looking for property lines, but he needed to find a key marker.

“Any idea where the corner survey stake is?” he asked me.

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