Back in April 1944, news came that the Canadian Women’s Army Corps basic training centre near Vermilion was going to be turned into a Nazi Officers’ Prisoner of War Camp. The training centre was due to close on May 15, and it was believed it would be the perfect location for the prison camp. The Vermilion Centre was owned by the Alberta Government and was previously the Agriculture School before it became the training centre in 1941. The centre was Canada’s first basic traini

Shrimp Benedict is a twist on the weekend breakfast favourite, Eggs Benedict. The hollandaise sauce is always the highlight. It consists of a toasted English muffin covered with cooked shrimp. A poached egg goes on top of the ham and then the masterpiece... the hollandaise sauce that tops it all off. The modern hollandaise is one of the five mother sauces in French cuisine. Like any famous dish there are many variations. My recipe has evolved and developed over time. In my

In the 1970’s, a friend of our family was moving. She stopped at our farm enroute to her destination with all her possessions packed into a station wagon. Tucked in the very back, was a large goose named Charlie. She sadly had to part with him because her new place was in town and apparently came with a strict no-geese-in-the-backyard policy. One of my brothers was absolutely thrilled and instantly they became friends. Charlie loved to chatter as if he had urgent farm busines

Broccoli and cheese sauce is always a hit. You can substitute the broccoli for cauliflower. It is a great side dish and comfort food that pairs well with meatloaf, homemade burgers, pork chops, ham and oven roasted barbeque chicken pieces. Broccoli is a nutrient powerhouse, with a 1/2 cup providing your daily need for vitamins C and K as well as significant amounts of Vitamin A and at least 18 other vitamins and minerals. The benefits of broccoli include: antioxidant abiliti

I have always been captivated by two and three storey houses with a veranda and even as a youngster, dreamt of living in one. There was something enchanting about the stairs that went up to another level, and the world looked different from the panoramic view of the second storey. The ranch house that was originally on our home quarter was one such a house. I was very young but there were special areas of the house that stayed in my memory; the long stairway to the second flo

Neighbours don’t always get along. That is as true today as it was almost 100 years ago in Vermilion. Back on June 17, 1929, two men located near the community got into a large argument over a wire fence. John Zacharuk and Karl Sarak (written as both Karl Sarak and Karol Sawak) disagreed over where the property line was, and where the wire fence should be placed. While these types of disputes can be easily resolved with some talking and a trip to the records office to find ou

Potatoes have been cultivated for thousands of years in Peru, and valued for their healing properties. Potatoes are a good source of many healthful nutrients, including fiber, and copper. Copper is needed for energy and collagen production, iron release, and as an antioxidant to strengthen the immune system. Potatoes are a natural source of lipoic acid, vitamin C and vitamin B6, which are all are necessary fuel (co-factors) for a multitude of enzymatic reactions that are need

At the end of the 1930’s, my Grandpa had a horse they called old “Spot”, and he was as smart as a whip. His horse pen was on the far side of the house closer to the barnyard. Spot was so clever; he could open his gate and come into the yard. Sometimes it would just take a push. Other times, he would lift the gate closer with his muzzle (mouth) and push with his shoulder and enter the yard. Grandma would have freshly laundered clothes pinned on the clothesline once a week. If

For decades, fire was a major danger for many communities, including Vermilion. One spark could ignite a building and leave ashes in its wake. Vermilion has suffered many fires through its history. One of the worst for the community, not in terms of the size of the fire, but because of what it burned down, was the fire that came as a new year dawned. As 1940 began, the world was ramping up towards the most destructive war in human history. In Vermilion, while all that was hap

After retiring, my dad’s brother, Uncle Clayt and his wife, Aunt Doris enjoyed travelling extensively locally and internationally. When exploring Alberta, they would load their camper onto their half-ton truck, turning it into a comfortable home on wheels. I think it seemed so remarkable to us because our family didn’t travel. They never had children so occasionally, one or more of us nieces and nephews would get an invitation to join them on a road trip. The one I remember t

Sardines are having a moment right now. It seems like Foodies, Chefs and Influencers have suddenly discovered them. I don’t know if you know this or not, but sardines are pretty close to a super food. I have been eating them for decades, especially, if I am feeling a bit run down, I find they have always been a great pick me up. Sardines are a natural source of the essential fatty acids EPA and DHA, found in their Omega 3 fat, which have been shown to be heart healthy by lowe

Mysteries are always fun, and they are even more fun when we can solve them. One of the most famous mysteries in Canadian history is the fate of Henry Hudson. Back in 1611, his crew mutinied in Hudson Bay and left him adrift in a small boat with his son and several sick men. We don’t know what happened to him after that. Then there is the mystery of hockey player Bill Barilko (yes the one from the Tragically Hip song). He scored the winning goal to win the Maple Leafs the Sta

The Battle River Valley that we call home has been host to a few events over the last century. On the river flats south of our place, a rodeo was held. There is an action picture in the “Oxen Tails to Jet Trails” history book labelled “Myers Stampede” dated 1931. Thank God for the invention of photography! Looks to me like they captured the wild horse race in progress and there’s a big crowd! (Just love those 10-gallon cowboy hats). Just east across a coulee on another river

Dawn Hames Columnist Here is as little treasure from the 1970’s that is sure to be a keeper. How about a pie that comes out of the pan like a pie crust, yet, you didn’t have to make pastry. The bottom pastry forms seemingly impossibly its own crust while it bakes. The flour forms a thicken side crust, the coconut floats to the top, with a creamy custard filling in between. It is super easy and fast to mix up in one bowl, and then pour it all into a buttered 9-inch pie plate.

In April 1911, the weather was good in the Vermilion area and seeding had already begun with many expecting it to be one of the best harvest years in the past decade. Many felt at the time that Vermilion deserved to get some recognition from the provincial government for the great crops grown in the area. The recognition many wanted was a demonstration farm. The Vermilion Board of Trade put forward the possibility of having such a farm by sending a delegate to Edmonton to spe

This is a dreamy dessert, perfect for all your spring and summer dining events. I start with making the base, and while that is cooking, I prepare the lemon filling. When both are cooled, then it’s time to whip the cream and assemble. You won’t be disappointed with this light and creamy delight. Creamy Lemon Pavlova Pavlova Base 4 egg whites (room temperature) 3/4 cup sugar 2 teaspoons cornstarch 1 teaspoon white vinegar Cover a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Draw a 9 or

In 1958, Vermilion was booming. The economy was doing great in the town, earning it the title of Town of the Week from the Edmonton Journal for the week of March 10, 1958. There were several aspects of the community that earned it praise at the time. One of the biggest was the opening of the Vermilion Airport 12 years earlier in 1946. The work to get an airport built took 15 years, and was due in no small part from the Vermilion Board of Trade. Then there was Vermilion River

You will need a doughnut pan to make baked cake donuts, instead of fried. Often times we end up with extra over ripe bananas and this is another great recipe to use them up. The verdict is: this is one of my new favorite recipes. Here are a few tips for successful baked donut making. Only fill the tin 2/3 full, because if you do more, the doughnut raises so much that you lose the hole in the center. The other tip to success is, the oven must be preheated, and then left for f

As it is the beginning of another month, it is time to look at what was going on in Vermilion back 100 years ago this month. The month started off on a sad note when it was announced that Henry Stephens, the former mayor of Vermilion, passed away on April 5. He was 62 and a senior member of the firm Stephens Limited. He had been dealing with what was called a severe cold, and had trouble breathing. He was one of the first men to open a business in Vermilion, and he was on the

Easter dinner at my parents when we were young “adults” (if we dared to use that term so loosely!) was always interesting. Mostly because nobody arrived at the same time, and everyone brought a different definition of the word “help.” By the time the coats are piled on the bed someone had already lost a shoe in the entryway, and the house smelled like turkey, ham, and mom’s homemade buns that honestly made people forget their own names for a second. One of my older cousins sh