This animation shows how successive generations of Edmontonians built on the contributions of their ancestors....

DECOTEAU, Alexander : Canada’s first native police officer. 1912 Olympic Track and Field competitor and holder of many provincial track records. GRAYDON, Rosetta : Organized the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and she was Edmonton’s first humane educator.GRIESBACH, Hon. Major General William A. : As a 29-year-old, William Griesbach was the youngest mayor in the country when he served a one-year term in 1907. It's a standard of civic precociousness unmatched since. His political victories included representing Edmonton West as an MP and being appointed a senator. Griesbach Barracks was named after him. OLIVER, Frank : Started the first newspaper in the west (The Bulletin). Led the motion in the legislature that made Edmonton a city and the capital of Alberta. PICARD, Joseph H. : A crusader for French interests and French language, Joseph Picard served on the Board of Trade (precursor to the Chamber of Commerce), first president of the Separate School Board and was elected as an alderman virtually every year for 25 years. RUTHERFORD, Alexander C. : First premier of Alberta as well as the Minister of Education and Provincial Treasurer. Founder of the University of Alberta. TAYLOR, Alex : Founded the first electric light company. Co-founded The Bulletin, Edmonton’s first newspaper. Started the first telephone company. TORY, Henry Marshall : First University of Alberta president. Helped found what would become the National Research Council and the Alberta Council of Scientific and Industrial Research which led to the Alberta Research Council. BERG, Carl : One of Edmonton’s first union organizers whose life was dedicated to improving conditions and pay for railroad workers. In 1919 organized a "general strike" that virtually shut Edmonton down. CASEY, Sister Mary Ann : The Superior at the General Hospital, one of the first two nursing schools in Alberta. She also taught Nursing Arts and the Sciences of Nursing. FERBEY, Dmytro : Opened Edmonton’s first bookstore (Ukrainian Book Store) and promoted Ukrainian culture in Edmonton. HALL, George : Founded the community league movement in Canada and gradually transferred existing industries out of the river valley to preserve it as a green space. JACKSON, Annie May : First official female police constable in the British Empire. Worked to help the lost and homeless young women in Edmonton. MAY, Wilfrid R. "Wop" : Co-founded Canada’s first airline. Inaugurated Canada’s first flying club, "Edmonton and Northern Alberta Aero Club". Founded pre-cursor to the R.C.A.F. Search and Rescue. McCLUNG, Nellie : A member of the Famous Five, who were champions of women’s rights. Pressed for amendment to declare women as persons under law. MISENER, Dr. Geneva : First female professor at the UofA. Joined the Alberta Women’s Association to advance women’s education. Dean of Women at UofA. CLARK, Karl : Devised process to separate oil from oilsand (modified version still in use). First employee of precursor to Alberta Research Council. His discovery is still being felt in Edmonton as the city reaps the benefits from northern megaprojects. COLLIP, James Bertram : Endocrinology co-researcher with Nobel Prize winners Banting and Best who had a crucial role in the discovery of insulin. HUSTLER, George Francis : Community activist and ordained Methodist minister was Principal at Bennett School working tirelessly to help the impoverished residents of Cloverdale. During his 21 years at Bennett School he led 26 school and community sports teams to city championships. MARSHALL, Margaret Alice : Started the precursor to the Food Bank and Christmas Bureau to help the poor. Co-ordinated The Journal’s Sunshine Fund providing Edmontonians with Christmas dinners. Essentially, the Sunshine Santa Claus was the city's first version of Santa's Anonymous and the Christmas Bureau. MURPHY, Emily : A member of the Famous Five, who were champions of women’s rights. Pressed for amendment to declare women as persons under law. First woman police magistrate in the British Empire. Fought for freedom of the press. MUTTART, Merrill : Instrumental in Gladmer Developments, providing low cost housing in western Canada during WWII. Co-founded the Muttart Foundation to support charitable causes. SHEPPARD, Ross Stanley : Originator of the concept of composite schools now copied across Canada. Influential in providing gyms and playgrounds in Edmonton schools. Competed in 1924 Olympics in track and still holds the Canadian record for the standing high jump. VASHERESSE, Margaret : Played for the Edmonton Grads between 1926 and 1936. She was the Grads top point scorer with some 2,079 in 164 games. She also set a world record in 1931 by sinking 61 straight free throws in an exhibition. AWID, Ahmed Ali : Part of Muslim pioneer group that built Canada’s first mosque, the Al Rashid, CASSELMAN, Cora Taylor : The first woman to represent Edmonton in the House of Commons. The first IMRIE, John : Publisher of The Edmonton Journal who spearheaded the fight against the Provincial Government for press freedom in Alberta. The Journal won a Pulitzer Prize for its stance. MAH, Bing K. : Had lifetime commitment to the immigrant Edmonton Chinese community. Advocated the need for a Chinatown in downtown Edmonton. MICHAELS, John : Started Mike’s newsstand. Provided musical instruments for disadvantaged youth. Provided reading material for Canadian and American troops during WWII. NEWLOVE, T. Vernon : Founded and directed the Edmonton Schoolboys’ Band, one of the earliest and most successful large school band programs in Canada. PAGE, J. Percy : Founder and coach of the Edmonton Grads women’s basketball team. Educator and Lieutenant Governor of Alberta. PICKLES, Clarence "Cal" : A champion of the underdog who always helped those in distress. Had a 63- year career as an Edmonton men’s clothier. Supported Edmonton athletes by putting them on his payroll until they found work. RICE, Dr. G. Richard : Started Sunwapta Broadcasting and Edmonton’s first radio station, CFRN. ANDERSON, Charles : Railroad worker for 77 years. Founding director of the Edmonton Symphony BLYTH, Alfred : Captured the growth of the city through his camera lens and was one of Alberta’s most acclaimed photographers. DANT, Noel : Edmonton’s first city planner. Established practice of "neighbourhood unit" that is still used today. EATON, Richard S. : Dominated music scene in post-WWII Edmonton for two decades. Founded Richard Eaton Singers. FOX, Tommy : Co-founder of Associated Airways Ltd. One of the "Nervous Nine" who kept the Edmonton Eskimos alive in the early 1950’s. The Fox Farm was donated to the City of Edmonton by Tommy Fox. GOWAN, Elsie Park : Playwright who won three successive Carnegie Awards. Honorary Chief Factor of Fort Edmonton. MENZIES, Dudley : City engineer and alderman who directed the department of public works. SALTER, Frederick M. : Author and scholar of medieval literature. Established the first creative writing course at a Canadian university. SAMIS, Earl : Player and leader in hockey, soccer, baseball, fastball and rugby. THOMPSON, Velva : Fought and won against the School Act that did not permit married women to continue teaching. WILSON, Ethel : Defender of the poor as well as a proponent of independence and opportunity McNEILL, John "Jock" : Built the city’s first landing strip at what eventually became Blatchford Field. Started Twin City Taxi and Edmonton’s first private ambulance service. Helped other Edmonton entrepreneurs start their companies.ANDERSON, Dr. Anne : Wrote and published Cree/English dictionary, 80 books, and publications in Cree. Founder and President of Cree Productions. Initiated Cree classes in schools. BRIGHT, John D. "Johnnie" : Fullback for the Edmonton Eskimos for 11 years including three straight Grey Cup victories in the mid-1950’s. Longtime Edmonton educator. The Johnny Bright Award is awarded to the city’s top students. CASHMAN, Tony : Historical writer. His 723 radio broadcasts on local history were collected as "The Edmonton Story". CHAPPELLE, Margaret : Environmental activist who stopped the development of an expressway through MacKinnon Ravine. A painter who promoted Alberta artists. Ms. Chappelle left a multi-million dollar legacy to the Edmonton Humane Society. HURTIG, Mel : Formed the Council of Canadians. Published the $12 million, three-volume Canadian Encyclopedia and the five-volume Junior Encyclopedia of Canada. LEMIEUX, Raymond : The first to synthesize sugar, a medical breakthrough that paved the way for new antibiotics and improved treatments for leukemia and hemophilia. MACTAGGART, Sandy : Philanthropist who together with Jean de la Bruyere founded Maclab Enterprises, an international housing and hotel chain. Mr. Mactaggart was instrumental in the creation of the Edmonton Art Gallery, the Citadel Theatre, and among other education contributions, he donated a 100-acre natural sanctuary to the University of Alberta. ROPER, Elmer : House Leader of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, forerunner of the NDP. 13 year member of the legislature, 2-term mayor and trade unionist. His work provincially in the oilpatch led to today’s royalty system of provincial revenue. SINGER, Henry : Philanthropist. Renowned businessman and clothier. One of the founders of Edmonton Klondike Days. Part of rejuvenation effort of the Edmonton Eskimos. SPINELLI, Frank : Started the first driving school and multicultural radio program in Edmonton. Instrumental in building Santa Maria Goretti Church and Italian Cultural Centre. STINSON, Shirley : The first nurse west of Winnipeg to hold a doctorate. First nurse in Canada to receive a joint appointment in both nursing and health sciences. Made nursing a legitimate field of academic research. WINSPEAR, Dr. Francis : Founder and philanthropist of the Edmonton Symphony and Edmonton Opera. Donated $6 million to establish the Winspear Centre. HOGLE, Bruce : News Director of CFRN Television. Established Wednesday’s Child. Launched Alcohol and Drug Abuse Public Awareness Campaign. HUNTER, "Wild" Bill : One of the founders of the Western Hockey League and the World Hockey Association. The man behind the Oilers’ ascent into the NHL. BOWKER, Hon. Marjorie : Author on Canadian/U.S. Free Trade Agreement. First female family court judge in Alberta. Instrumental in court-centred marriage conciliation model. BANKS, Tommy : Member of the Canadian Senate. Jazz legend. Pianist. Musical director. Former host of a musical variety show for CBC. CALLAGHAN, Dr. John : Performed Canada’s first open-heart surgery and built the University of Alberta into a centre of excellence for cardiac surgery. In the 1950’s helped develop the first pacemaker.DESROCHERS, Louis : Director of Edmonton’s French language radio station CHFA. Executive of L’Association Canadienne-Francaise de l’Alberta. Chancellor of University of Alberta in 1970. HANNA, Jessica : One of the founders of the Women’s Emergency Shelter and WIN House. HEWES, Elizabeth (Bette) : Advocate for the mentally ill. City Councillor. First woman appointed Chair, CN Rail. Co-founder of Urban Reform Group of Edmonton (URGE). MARGETTS, Jenny Shirt : Established the Awasis Kindergarten, the first Canadian Native kindergarten within a public school system. Worked for post-secondary access for natives. SHOCTOR, Joseph H. : Founded the Citadel Theatre. Involved in the rejuvenation of the Edmonton Eskimos. Founder of the Downtown Development Corporation. STEWART, Winnifred : Founded the Winnifred Stewart Association, a school for children with disabilities, the first of its kind in Canada.AKABUTU, Dr. John J. : Pre-eminent hemophiliac specialist. Founded Department of Pediatrics at the Cross Cancer Institute and Canada’s first repository for stem cells. ALLARD, Dr. Charles A. : Surgeon. Obtained charter for what is now the Canadian Western Bank. Built Chateau Lacombe Hotel. Financed CHQT radio. Founded ITV television. One of the original owners of the Oilers. CARSE, Dr. Ruth : Dancer and founder of the Alberta Ballet Company. HAYS, Dr. Helen : Palliative care specialist. One of North America’s foremost experts on the treatment of the terminally ill. LaROSE, Helen : Archivist who established the City Archives, which has a nation-wide reputation as one of the finest municipal archives in the country. McPHERSON, Dr. Gary : Promoted the rights of, and opportunities for, disabled persons. Appointed chairman of the Premier’s Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities. ORRELL, John Overton : U of A professor, playwright, poet, and designer. Discovered the original layout of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. STEADWARD, Dr. Robert D. : Founder and honorary president of the Steadward Centre at the UofA, a multi-disability fitness, research and lifestyle facility. Instrumental in the creation of the para-lympic games. STOLLERY, Robert : Philanthropist who, with his wife Shirley, volunteered with and contributed millions to charities and institutions. Provided significant funding for Stollery Children’s Health Centre.STREMBITSKY, Michael A. : Initiated school-based budgeting and management, the first of its kind in a large North American school division. WRIGHT, Gerry : Founder of the Old Strathcona Foundation and the Society to Protect Architectural Resources in Edmonton (SPARE). ARMOUR, Dr. Margaret-Ann : Founding member of the University of Alberta’s Women in Scholarship, Engineering, Science and Technology (WISEST) program. GARBER-CONRAD, Rev. Martin : Author. Instrumental in Edmonton’s school lunch program and Kids in the Hall Bistro. Executive Director of Edmonton City Centre Church Corporation. GARDNER, Zoie : From the age of 19 she took more than 100 children into her home, from newborns to teens, orphaned or unwanted. Named to the Order of Canada in 1998. GHERMEZIAN, Jacob : Envisioned and developed West Edmonton Mall. Active in Edmonton’s Jewish community and in founding orthodox schools and synagogues worldwide including the Edmonton Menorah Academy. GRETZKY, Wayne : Member of the Edmonton Oilers during their Stanley Cup wins in 1984, 1985, 1987 and 1988. Made the rest of the world aware of Edmonton. Continues to support Edmonton’s children’s charities. HAGEN, Darrin : Playwright, performer and writer. Gender activist for the gay community. HUNG, Kim : Established the Chinese Library at the UofA. Began the Chinese bilingual program within public schools. Established the Edmonton Chinatown Multicultural Centre. KAASA, Walter : Actor and dramatist after whom a theatre was named in the Jubilee Auditorium. MEEK, Lucienne : An advocate for homeless people, Lucienne was the "Mother Theresa of Boyle Street". NGUYEN, Thanh Quy : Counselor and educator of immigrants and refugees. Founder of Vietnam Time magazine and Vietnamese Canadian Friendship Society. PAISLEY, Brian : Founder of the Fringe festival. REIMER, Jan : First female mayor of Edmonton. Her vision made Edmonton a world leader in environmental conservation and recycling. She is currently the provincial co-ordinator for the Alberta Council of Womens’ Shelters. CARDINAL, Phyllis : Author and educator. Co-founder of the Amiskwaciy Academy, a modern high school that delivers courses within an atmosphere that promotes first nations cultures. DUB, Gene : Prominent architect. Designed Edmonton’s City Hall. Advocate for the preservation of historical buildings. HUGHES, Monica : First Canadian science fiction writer for children. Winner of two Governor General’s medals. IRWIN, Rev. William : Tireless community worker who started Catholic social services more than 40 years ago. An officer of the Order of Canada. McLELLAN, Hon. A. Anne : Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, University of Alberta Law professor. Advocated for changes to the taxation regime affecting oilsands development in Alberta. RAMSANKAR, Dr. Stephen : Former school principal developed programs for disadvantaged students. Established a breakfast and hot lunch program for students. SCHINDLER, David : Renowned environmentalist who showed the damage acid rain and detergents could have on lakes and their ecosystems. SHAPIRO, Dr. James : Together with Drs. Lakey, Ryan, Rajotte, Kneteman and Korbutt developed and tested a protocol for the Islet Transplant Program now known as the "Edmonton Protocol". WOITAS, Sandra : Educator and former school principal who worked to establish "Partners for Kids", a multifaceted approach to literacy. contact the map artist hereContact the map artist here...another interesting mapping project by the same information cartographer...Sketch of a second map highlighting Edmonton's attributes...This map provides a TimeLine visualization of the people who contributed each decade...Click on any name for more information about this person...

Great Map of Edmontonians of the Century

Click HERE to see the Mapping Project Page