Fonds / Collection

Virtue

Description Level

Item

Material Type

graphic material

Fonds Number

027-97

Item Number

95

Accession Number

2016.33

Date

2016 - 2017

Physical Description

Photographic Reproductions

Physical Condition

Very good

History / Biographical

Photographs were taken by Bunny to update her cabin books - descriptions include street addresses, cottage names, and owner information

Name Access

Bunny Virtue

Subject Access

Cabins

Cottages

Geographic Access

5003 - 37 Street, Sylvan Lake

Scope and Content

1950 Directory: 120 - 11th Street East, G.H. Taylor - "Mageka", owned by G.H. Taylor @ 120 - 11 Street East

1965 Directory: "Mageka", owned by Wallace M. Sinclair

Notes

2016 photo

2017 photograph provided by John Law with the following note: Bunny had asked if there was a cottage at 5005 - 37 Street. There isn't, but here is a picture of 5003 - 37 Street. Next door is 5010 - 37 Street that is Enger's and I know you have pictures of that place.

Email 18 October 2017 from Wendy Bodsworth: I was just reading this aloud to my 92 year old mother and we had a shared 'aha' moment that I should have included our family name LEFAIVRE. My parents' names are Francis and Marjorie Lefaivre. My siblings names are (in birth order), myself Wendy, Peter, Susan,Christine and Tim. My mother currently resides at the Chateau Renoir in Calgary. She can be reached at 403-249-2931. My phone number in Ontario is 705-352-1640. Thanks again for your interest in our memories of Sylvan Lake.

Also via email from Wendy Bodsworth: My name is Wendy(nee Lefaivre) Bodsworth. My family (Mom, Dad and 4 siblings) spent 2 weeks every summer in the 1960's-1970's renting Mageka from Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Sinclair. Francis and Marjorie Lefaivre had 5 children in a twelve year span. From eldest to youngest their names are: Wendy, Peter, Susan, Christine and Tim. We were raised in Calgary, Alberta. I tried to fill out your questionnaire but realized that most of the questions were not pertinent to us. We did not own a cottage, we never lived in Sylvan Lake and we were only summer visitors. However, I suppose what was unique about our circumstance is that we rented the same cottage year after year and developed quite a strong friendship with the Sinclair couple whom we simply adored! In lieu of the questionnaire we are submitting a few memories for your archives. Our family loved our two weeks at Mageka cottage and Sylvan Lake!! We were quite a crew to invade such a tiny cottage but we mucked in together and had a grand time. Cooking was kept to a minimum and Mom resorted to a lot of Kraft dinner, canned stews and baked beans which was a real departure from our usual healthy family meals ...and a treat for us kids!! We got a real kick out of using the outhouse and bed pans at night. This was a novelty that my Mother could have done without as she was raised on the farm in southern Alberta and was only too accustomed to outdoor 'plumbing!' However, we children thought it was a real adventure! Our Dad wasn't much of a beach person so he took off fishing most days. However, our Mother loved the beach and she was always a good sport. Every day we packed up a picnic lunch and made the short trek to the beach where we spent the entire day. Favourite memories include eating homemade sugar cookies by the dozen, reading stacks of Alfred Hitchock stories, and spending endless hours making sand castles and playing/swimming in the water! Swimming in the rain was another delight enjoyed on rare occasions, as long as Mom could be convinced there was no lightning! We didn't mind the odd rainy day because that meant that we could also go to the local movie theatre or rollercade, enjoy the novelty of the local laundro-mat and do our 'Christmas shopping' with our babysitting money (in the few stores on main street). I recently inherited a Sylvan Lake treasure that brings back so many fond memories. It is a gorgeous glass platter with gold trim that has special indentations for deviled eggs. I somehow secretly bought it for my parents one summer in Sylvan Lake when I was about 11 years old and hid it in my luggage until we got home, and later under my bed until Christmas day. I had bought it at the Hardware Store in Sylvan Lake. To this day I love it!! I went to my first dances in Sylvan Lake with my younger brother Peter. Goodness knows why we were allowed to venture out on our own in our early teen years but I guess in those days things were different. We felt so grown up!! I remember being allowed to wear a touch of lipstick and feeling so proud that my handsome brother was my 'date' including the year he sported a cast on his arm and didn't miss a beat! This same brother reports that his strongest memories of Sylvan Lake include getting a chance to drive the neighbour's motor boat; visiting the old ice house across the street from Mageka; and learning to golf at the Sylvan Lake golf course-an activity that he enjoys to this day! We also have fond memories of our Sunday visits to the beautiful new Catholic Church in Sylvan Lake, berry picking expeditions and jam making in Mageka's tiny kitchen; as well as our annual family reunion which was hosted at Mageka with relatives coming from as far away as Calgary, Edmonton, Innisfail and Nanton. If Mageka could talk what stories she would have to tell! We all have vivid memories of two significant activities-trampolining and swimming lessons. We loved the trampoline 'park' which was a fabulous energy burner and a great family activity as we bounced from one trampoline to the other without missing a stride! Most of us learned to swim at Sylvan Lake where we took lessons from qualified instructors off the pier near main street. As the eldest, I recall being so excited and so proud of my accomplishments whereas my younger sister Susan remembers being totally terrified! In actual fact, our most terrifying moment occurred the summer that our little brother Tim (about 3 or 4 years old) disappeared on the beach. I had been put 'in charge' of watching Tim as we waded out in the shallow waters with our other siblings when he decided that he wanted to go back to the beach to Mom. I pointed him in the right direction (towards the red umbrella), waved to Mom and then turned around to play with the other kids. Unbeknownst to us, Tim lost sight of the umbrella and got of course. When he lost sight of Mom he must have panicked and started to run as fast as he could along the beach. It wasn't long before we realized that Tim was missing! Naturally, we feared for the worst and we called to people on the beach to help us search the water for a small boy. After a few minutes, we somehow managed to alert the police (not sure how...no cell phones...perhaps a phone station on the beach??? We can't recall...) Although it felt like an eternity, it didn't take the police long to find Tim and return him to us. We were all badly shaken and always had a 'buddy system' in place from that day on. The winters in Alberta can be long and cold but the promise of our vacation at Sylvan Lake was like a light at the end of a dark tunnel. One lucky winter my Dad took me with him on a buying trip to Mexico and I had the luxury of a winter escape and a few days in Acapulco. I was sixteen at the time. I remember returning to Sylvan Lake the next summer and lounging on the beach with my Mother. I looked up and thought how heavenly it was...I simply remarked to my Mom "you know Mom, a beach is a beach, is a beach!!! This is every bit as exotic as Acapulco!" After our recent return visit to Sylvan Lake this month I still believe this to be true. There is something magical about the water, the trees, the wind, the boats and the feeling of relaxation that washes over me when I saunter along the 'beach' (although the high waters this year require one to use one's imagination just a little in terms of a true 'sand between the toes' experience!!). Thanks to you and your staff in the archive office for helping us to relive our childhood by your enthusiastic and generous donation of time and interest in locating our beloved Mageka. You were very kind. And congratulations on the very positive and encouraging developments we saw around town. Sylvan Lake looks better than ever! We appreciate this opportunity to share with you our memories of our favourite holiday spot as kids growing up in Alberta. The Lefaivre Family

Less detail