70 Our Advertisers Appreciate Your Business Better Farming | April 2024 The Peace River story as Canada’s northernmost agricultural region is one of real transformation. One of the leading pioneers of expanding agriculture in this region was Alexander Monkman. Monkman, born as part of the Red River Métis, had dreams of joining the Klondike Gold Rush in 1898. However, he faced significant challenges with the road conditions, which prevented him from reaching the Yukon by horse and cart. Instead, he found his place in the Peace River region of Alberta, where he was hired by the firm of Bredin and Cornwall. Their goal was to establish the first non-Hudson Bay trading post on what was called the “Grande Prairie,” now located in northwestern Alberta, according to Dorthea Calverley and the South Peace Historical Society. By the turn of the 20th century, Alex Monkman had decided to try his hand at farming the area, and he purchased a herd of cattle and ordered wheat, barley, and oat seed that the government was providing for free. Monkman was the first known producer in the Peace River area, and his success inspired others to take to farming the land as well, also on the report of Dorthea Calverley and South Peace Historical Society. By 1910, he established his permanent homestead near Cutbank Lake. Having seen a few years of good yields and recognizing the immense potential of this area, he quickly became an advocate, championing the construction of roads to Grande Prairie. The railroad had already arrived by the mid-1910s, however Monkman and some of the other local farmers recognized a pressing need for roads. Despite the railroad’s ability to ship and sell their grain, the freight rates cancelled any potential profits for farmers. Occasionally, the freight bill even surpassed the proceeds of sales. Monkman had long advocated for the construction of roads, but after being largely overlooked by government officials, he decided to take matters into his own hands. On Oct. 30, 1936, during a farmers’ meeting near Beaverlodge held to discuss this crucial issue, Dorthea Calverley and the South Peace Historical Society claims that Monkman expressed his frustration by shouting, “We worked hard to establish ourselves in this country. We can work hard to find a way out.” The solution Monkman identified would come to be known as Monkman Pass, a route which he had located. Local farmers enthusiastically joined forces as part of the newly-formed Monkman Pass Association. Together, they embarked on the mission of constructing a toll road across the newly discovered Monkman Pass. The funds were raised through community initiatives. Although the project entered its construction phase, it unfortunately sat incomplete due to the outbreak of the Second World War. However, in 1981, a scenic part of the pass became Monkman Provincial Park. By the mid-20th century, thanks to the efforts of Monkman and other pioneers of his kind, the Peace River region became the top choice for over 45 per cent of homestead filings in the Canadian Prairies. And the recognition of this area only grew. There was a large influx of farmers seeking refuge from the Dust Bowl in the newly-established agricultural colonies of Northern Alberta, according to B.K. Acton and C.C. Spence’s publication Study of Pioneer Farming in the Fringe Areas of the Peace River, Alberta, 1942. While Monkman’s dream was never fully realized, his unwavering determination and solidarity of the community left a real mark on the agricultural expansion and overall progress of Northern Alberta and the Peace River region. In 2001, Monkman’s homestead was designated an Alberta provincial historic resource according to Canada Historical Places. BF RURAL ROOTS The Constable family passes a barn-raising crew, Bear Lake, Alta. in 1913. South Peace Regional Archives photo ROADS LESS TRAVELLED Alexander Monkman’s contribution to Northern Alberta’s Agriculture. By Eugenie Officer EUGENIE OFFICER Eugenie grew up on a farm and has a degree in history and agriculture and is working towards an MBA in sustainability. She lives in Assiniboia, Sask.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc0MDI3