There was a memorial service in Manning
on Saturday June 3, 2000, for a great pioneer of the Peace
River country. Dr. Mary Percy Jackson passed away May 6,
2000.
In the year of 1929 upon completion of
her internship, while leafing though a British medical journal,
she read over an advertisement:
Feb 23, 1929
Strong energetic medical woman with post
graduate experience in midwifery wanted, for country work
in Western Canada under the Provincial Government of Health.
Apply in first instance to Dr. E. M. Johnstone c/o Fellowship
of Maple Leaf 13, Victoria Street, London SW1.
Dr. Mary applied for and got a response
stating the districts were in Alberta. The areas were very
isolated, without proper roads, without telephones, many
miles from hospitals, and the doctor would have to be able
to care for all types of emergencies without help. Dr. Johnstone
added the ability to ride a saddle horse would be of great
advantage. Dr. Jackson chose to take up the challenge and
after a stint of Public Health work, she headed for the
Battle River Prairie, now known as the Manning and Keg River
area. She traveled by train to Peace River which took about
24 hours. The following day, she sailed on the D.A. Thomas
river boat to Battle River Landing, which took another 10
hours. Upon arrival, they were met by a native man with
a team of horses and a wagon. Her trip to her cabin took
another 11 hours. We can drive that distance today in about
an hour.
Even though she was a pioneer, she was
always amazed and astounded at the courage, commitment and
stamina of land seekers going north. She was tremendously
interested in the mix of people. One day she said, 'I had
breakfast with Norwegians, dinner with Russians and supper
with Germans.'
About two weeks after arriving, she got
her horse and became 'the doctor on horseback'. One week
she traveled over one hundred and fifty miles on horseback
to visit the sick. She treated people with T.B., broken
bones and tooth aches. She delivered babies and nursed the
dying. In the winter it was even more challenging. On one
occasion, a workman with a fractured skull was brought to
her. She traveled with the patient 19 hours in a heated
caboose, pulled by a team of horses to the hospital in Peace
River. When she wasn't traveling by horse and sleigh, she
traveled by dog team.
In 1967, she received the Centennial Medal
of Canada and the Alberta Centennial Award. In 1969, she
was given a Senior Life Membership in the Alberta Medical
Association. In 1975, she was named 'The Woman of the Year
for the Voice of Native Women'. In 1976, she received the
Alberta Achievement Award in recognition of outstanding
service in the community. Later in 1976, she was conferred
an Honourary Doctor of Law Degree and gave the convocation
address at the U of A. In December of 1983, she was awarded
membership in the Alberta Order of Excellence and finally,
the Offices of the Order of Canada, presented by the Governor
General, Ray Hnatyshyn, at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.
People like Dr. Mary Percy Jackson are not too common, but
they aren't extinct either. The pioneers and leaders that
we see today have the same courage, stamina and commitment
to their own causes. Each of us can emulate the late Dr.
Jackson by practicing what she practiced. A commitment to
our life's vocation, a commitment to our family and a commitment
to the place we choose to live. This can't be done with
a negative attitude, nor a defeated state of mind but a
mind and attitude that says, 'I can do it,' because it can
be done and as Franklin D. Roosevelt said during his time
as president of the USA, 'The only fear we have is fear
itself.'
In closing, a poem by an unknown author
about determination.
The Man Who Quits
The man who quits has a brain and hand
As good as the next, but he lacks the sand
That would make him stick with a courage stout
To whatever he tackles and fights it out.
He starts with a rush and a solemn vow
That he'll soon be showing the others how;
Then something strikes his roving eye
And his task is left for the bye and bye.
It's up to each man what becomes of him;
He must find in himself the grit and vim
That brings success; he can get the skill,
If he brings to the task a steadfast will.
No man is beaten till he gives in;
Hard luck can't stand for a cheerful grin;
The man who fails needs a better excuse
Than the quitter's whining 'What's the use?'
For the man who quits lets his chances slip
Just because he's too lazy to keep his grip.
- Anonymous
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