History of the Parkdale Neighbourhood
Parkdale
League Founded: March 1921
First President: Harry Shaw
Parkdale Community League was formed when a group of citizens met at the local school, “notwithstanding the commanding attraction of the hockey match at the arena and the stormy aspect of the weather.”
The power of positive thinking dominated the meeting with participants predicting that: “As wisdom has from the earliest times been associated with the East, so the residents of the east-end of Edmonton are intent upon living up to this historic attribute.”
Duncan Sister, chairperson of the meeting, explained the purpose of the new community league. He outlined the need for a grasp of civic affairs as a prerequisite of good citizenship; he foretold that Parkdale would add to the work of other existing leagues, which altogether were a “prime factor in broadening the outlook and sweetening the public life of the city.” (1)
EFCL President, H.P. Brown, gave an address on what he felt were the functions of a community league; namely, the promotion of a “sane and true” patriotism and the carrying out of social work – “both samaritanic and hygienic.” (1)
Parkdale established tennis courts in June of 1922. They were opened with a dancing demonstration by Peggy Anderson, accompanied by bagpipes. A social and dance followed at Parkdale School. Mayor Duggan, Frank Scott and W.G. Carpenter of the Public School Board were on hand for the speechmaking.
Social events were a popular pastime at Parkdale during the 1920’s. It is amazing from our time’s perspective, when only a handful of leagues hold variety shows, but Parkdale held such extravaganzas on a monthly if not bi-monthly basis.
In March of 1924, Parkdale put on an evening of entertainment in the Parkdale School assembly hall. The program was arranged by Harry Coles. It included two numbers by Miss Rita Coles “that called for repeated encores.” There were also graceful ballets and highland flings, comic songs such as “You Tell Her I Stutter” and “On the Good Ship Yacki Hicki Doola.” Stand-up comics performed farmyard and instrumental mimicry and everything was wound up with a rousing rendition of “God Save the King.”
And then there was sport! Winter evenings witnessed lively hockey matches at Parkdale rink. The Edmonton Bulletin reported that on one such night in 1924,
excitement ran high at the game played between Eastwood and Parkdale community League hockey teams at the Eastwood rink … The teams in this league have for their goal the coveted ‘Joe Simpson Cup.’ About 250 persons were present to witness the game … With six minutes to go and a score of 4 to 3 the Eastwood team leading, the goalkeeper of that team was divested of several teeth by the puck striking him upon the portion where these assets were situated. (2)
It may have been the same Bulletin reporter who covered an odd hockey game the following winter – ‘the night the lights went out at Norwood.’ “Parkdale took a hotly disputed community league game from Norwood last night,” said the Bulletin,
by the score of 5-4. At the end of the usual sixty minutes the game was tied, each team having scored four markers. Parkdale went back on the ice but their opponents would not. The game was played at Norwood and to make things even more unpleasant for the Parkdale team, the losers turned off all the lights and took off the nets. Referee Tommy Buget faced-off the puck in the dark and then called the game in favour of Parkdale. (3)
The years of WW II took their toll on activities at Parkdale Community League. It was not until 1956 that the organization was re-established. That year, a fund-raising campaign was initiated to finance a new rink complex as the old one had fallen into disrepair. The new complex was built with the help of a grant from the Recreation Commission. It was formally opened by Charles Simmonds of the EFCL in 1958. Three years later, Parkdale again added to its assets at 114 Avenue and 85 Street: this time a 20’ x 40’ $6,000 building.
Parkdale chose the phoenix as its symbol in 1979, after suffering a period of decline throughout the 1970’s. The league hoped to rejuvenate itself, like the legendary phoenix which rose from the ashes in splendor.
The actual rebirth of Parkdale was made possible by an $830,000 Community Service Grant. The grant was applied for in 1980, through the auspices of an advisory committee. The committee was comprised of member of the league executive, the community and district recreation coordinators and an official of the city planning department. Its work involved the commissioning of drawings and the acquisition of monies. It also drafted a recreation survey, desiring to ascertain the community’s preferences.
The $830,000 grant was supplemented by $48,300 from the Patricia Square Community Service Building Fund. This fund was set up by the city in 1975 to compensate north-central leagues for the impact of Commonwealth Stadium development. The fund was supposed to be used for the construction of a large community centre and adventure playground, as outlined in the Clarke Field Development Scheme Bylaw, but the communities concerned had other ideas. They felt the money would be better spent on decentralized projects and after sustained pressure the bylaw was rescinded and the fund was divided up.
Parkdale’s community centre at 11335 85 Street was completed in the spring of 1981 for $487,000. It was christened at an open house that bulged with a crowd of over 300 citizens. The guests enjoyed coffee, juice, popcorn and donuts. Highland dancers were at the scene and ballerinas demonstrated fancy pirouettes. Kermit the Frog and Sylvester the Cat were also on hand, mingling with the children and handing out free balloons.
In the evening, 80 community residents attended a banquet and dance. Some of those sitting at the head table were Parkdale President Ken Feader, Vice-President Vice Davis, City Planner Gordon Wicks, Community Coordinator Gordon Wheeler, Montrose President Ben Daliwoda and Norwood LA Catherine Chichak.
A milestone event occurred at Parkdale in 1986, when amalgamation with neighbouring Cromdale was finalized. Cromdale suffered from a lack of fixed assets for many years before amalgamation. Parkdale had on the other hand, an abundance of facilities, but it lacked the bodies to fill them up. Hence a happy resolution was found in the formation of Parkdale-Cromdale Community League.
PAST PRESIDENTS: Harry Shaw, A.P. Gregory, George Best, Gordon Welsh, E. Burger, Emil Weiss, Peter Zawada, Paul Stepa, Lorne McPhersonW.J. Van Horn, Jack Windsor, Cyril Adams, Nick Demkiw, Jack Roberts, Ms. Pennefold, Mary Nahorniak, Murray Balbar, Rick Pritchard, Bill McMillan, Ken Feader, Bob Duiker, John Burgess, Linda Syrnyk, Joe Siriani.
NOTES
1. Edmonton Journal, March 21, 1921. 2. Edmonton Bulletin, January 5, 1924. 3. Edmonton Bulletin, February 13, 1925.