05/27/2026
Our are for celebrating our local ! This week we commemorate a 1999 Women of Aspenland inductee: Margaret Ann Morrison Lucas. The Wetaskiwin District Heritage Museum Centre recognizes the lives and accomplishments of local women like Margaret through the annual Women of Aspenland project. Please contact the museum for more details, or if you know who should be the next Woman of Aspenland.
Born August 29, 1860, Margaret came to Canada with her parents, Noble and Jane Morrison from Trillick, Ireland in 1875. She married Francis Arnold Lucas, in 1883, a year before moving to Alberta. Margaret was to serve as a farming instructor at a nearby industrial school. However, in the unrest of the 1885 Riel Rebellion Margaret had to remain in Fort Edmonton for her safety. After 2 months away, she returned to find 22 soldiers and Fort Ethier erected in her front yard. For the following few months, she would be involved in preparing all their meals.
The farm was also the site of the RCMP station, and stopping station for the stagecoach which stopped once a week during its run between Calgary and Edmonton, Passengers were fed and remained overnight. If a clergyman was present, they would stay in the house. Other passengers were put up in the barn. This continued until the railway was completed in 1891. Margaret and Frank had nine children, who grew up speaking both English and Cree. Margaret was quick with a shotgun or revolver, drawing them against any predator wishing to take one of her fowl. She was known for her wonderful hospitality by those who frequented the farm. This included stagecoach passengers, NWMP, settlers, missionaries, and many others.
Entertainment on the farm entailed parties, dances, rodeos and swimming or skating on the creek. Some of the prominent visitors to the farm were Rev. John McDougall, Father Lacombe, Rev. Glass and Major Griesbach of the “K” Division of the NWMP.
In 1915, Margaret and her daughter Maude became founding members of the Wetaskiwin Women’s Institute, with Margaret later serving on the board.
Margaret passed away on October 20, 1922.
