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| Briarlea North Cemetery gate, looking east, 4 July 2021. |
The following is an excerpt regarding one of the Briarlea district cemeteries, Briarlea North, from Footprints of Our Pioneers, a locally compiled history book:
Briarlea North Cemetery (excepts from committee minutes)
The Briarlea Cemetery is located on one acre of land NE corner of SE ¼ 21-50-1-W3 (on Jack Cooney's land).
The United Farmers Local Lodge in Briarlea appointed a Committee comprised of F. S. Anderson, H. Campbell, C. W. Dalton, J. Olson and John MacKay to try and formulate a plan whereby a Cemetery Organization or Company can be formed. First meeting – May 12th, 1939 at home of F. S. Anderson. Motions passed to have C.W. Dalton, Secretary and John MacKay, Chairman.
The committee went on record in favor of establishing a Cemetery in Briarlea – they were to canvas district for signatures to by shares at $5.00 each with a down payment of $2.00. Moved by H. Campbell, seconded by John MacKay that the minutes of this meeting to be kept permanently.
June 7th, 1939. Moved by H. Campbell, seconded by W. B. Grahame that the meeting form a Cemetery Company under Cemetery Act. Carried.
June 21st, 1939. A motion was carried that $150.00 be the capital of the Cemetery Co. at $5.00 per share.
April 5th, 1940. The following three directors F. S. Anderson, M. Fawcett and John MacKay were elected.
April 20th, 1940. At the meeting at the home of the Secretary, the committee were advised that Mr. J. Cooney would sell one acre SE 21-50-1-W3 for $30.00. It was decided to ask Mr. H. J. Fraser, lawyer and M.L.A. For Prince Albert to handle this business.
At ensuing meetings, minutes show land was seeded to crested wheat grass, tamarack posts were set 10 feet part with a three strand fence, also a 12 foot entrance gate was erected. Mighty Maple trees were obtained and planted. A name plate (Briarlea Cemetery) painted on plate glass by M. Fawcett and mounted on framework was erected.
Official Title Deeds to plots were obtained and issued to paid up shareholders.
Albert Couldwell, Selkirk Bannerman, and John MacKay promised to donate a load of gravel each to erect four corner posts and two gate posts of stone and concrete. John Olson donated a bag of cement. Donations were received by Shnay & Tadman, P.A., T. Eaton Ltd., and Mr. and Mrs. M. Fawcett.
Names mentioned in the minutes are F.S. And Stuart Anderson, Selkirk and Mrs. Bannerman, H. Campbell, C. W. Dalton, Tom Ford, W. A. J. Beaven, Albert Couldwell, Chlorus Harris, W. B. Grahame, John Olson, Martin and Mrs. Fawcett, W. A. and Mrs. McDougall, C. Nickolaisen, Fred Roberts, W. Pickering, Tom Surtees, John MacKay and Ian MacKay.
When we read from the Balance Sheet May 31st, 1941 that donations were $22.37 and shares $65.70 making a total of $88.07, we realize how desperately hard the times were. We owe a debt of gratitude to our parents and those who have gone before us who have started with practically nothing a brought a cemetery into reality in the district.
The following people are buried in the Briarlea (North) Cemetery.
Records of Birth and Death
Bannerman, John James 1903–1940
Sainsbury, William 1880–1941
Beaton, Duncan 1859–1942
Surtees, Thomas 1865–1944
Surtees, Charlotte 1870–1951
Beaton, Ada 1891–1953
Anderson, Frank 1881–1967
Anderson, Jessie 1885–1987
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| Briarlea North Cemetery grounds, looking southeast, 4 July 2021. |
Source: "Briarlea North Cemetery." Footprints of Our Pioneers: Briarlea, Crutwell, Holbein, Nisbet, Rozilee, Wild Rose. Shellbrook: Wild Rose and Area History Book Committee, 1990. p. 28-29. Print.
