Bahai Library Online

Chronology of the Bahá'í Faith in Canada

World Canada
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Date 195-, descending sort earliest first

date event tags firsts
1959 (late or early 1960)
195-
Amy Putnam, a pioneer to Ohsweken on the Six Nations, reported that the first Native believer had declared. [UC107] iiiii
  • It was reported in the Canadian Bahá'í News that Amy Putnam from Hamilton had moved on to the Reserve by April, 1958. [CBN No 99 April 1958 p8]
  • Amy Putnam; Native Teaching; Six Nations Reserve, ON first believer on the the Six Nations
    1959 13 Oct
    195-
    Clifford and Catherine Huxtable arrived in the Gulf Islands and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh (albeit in 1957 see LNW93). [BW13:457]
  • The Gulf Islands were not on the Guardians original list of pioneering goals but in January 1956, after several years of futile efforts to fill the goal of the Anticosti Island the Guardian gat the Canadian National Assembly permission to choose another goal. Mary Zabolotny did manage to fill the Anticosti goal but the Gulf Island goal remained.
  • They arrived with personal care worker Bernice Boulding who became a Bahá'í the following year, the first in the Gulf Islands. The first local assembly was formed on the 21st of April, 1964. The couple pioneered to St Helena arriving on the 9th of April, 1964. [KoB273-276]
  • Clifford Huxtable; Catherine Huxtable; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Local Spiritual Assembly, formation; Salt Spring Island, BC
    1959 Oct
    195-
    In the October 1959 edition of the Canadian Bahá'í News it was announced that request from the National Spiritual Assembly to the province of Saskatchewan for authorization for Bahá'í Assemblies to solemnize marriages in the province was accepted. [CBN No 117 October 1959 p2] Marriage; Saskatchewan, Canada
    1959 Sep
    195-
    Carol and David Bowie pioneered to Ear Falls, Ontario and had to relinquish membership on the National Promulgation Committee. The new membership was: Fred Graham, Douglas Martin, Jeannie Seddon, Donald Dainty and Gail Burland (secretary). [CBN No 127 August 1960 p70] iiiii Carol Bowie; David Bowie; Fred Graham; Douglas Martin; Jeannie Seddon; Don Dainty; Gail Burland; Proclamation I; Promulgation Campaign; Ear Falls, ON
    1959 Sep
    195-
    Sally Jackson became the first Tlingit Bahá'í at the second annual Yukon Bahá'í Summer School at Jackson Lake. Sally Jackson was from Teslin. [Bahá'í News Apr 1960 p9; CBN No 122 March 1960 p6] Sally Jackson; Tlingit; Tesllin, YT; Jackson Lake, YT the first Tlingit Bahá'í; first Native person in the Yukon to become a Baha'i
    1959 (Late summer)
    195-
    Douglas and Elizabeth Martin travelled to the Maritimes to introduce the Promulgation Campaign. The Bahá'ís of Halifax, Charlottetown and Saint John participated in the project and over 2,000 letters were sent out from these three centres during the first week of September. Winston Evans, from Nashville, once again participated as a speaker at the meetings. [CBN No 117 October 1959 p4; UC96] Proclamation I; Promulgation Campaign; Douglas Martin; Elizabeth Martin; Halifax, NS; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; Saint John, NB
    1959 20 Jun
    195-
    The passing of Ernest Vernon Harrison (b. 22 November, 1880 in Bengal, India) in Charlottetown.
  • He had immigrated to Montreal by way of Nigeria and the Sudan where he had worked on railway projects. He arrived with his wife Amy and their two children, a boy and a girl.
  • He associated with the Bahá'í community for a number of years from 1916 but did not make a commitment. In 1921 while on his way to California, he stopped briefly in Wilmette and met with so much loving kindness that he could not sleep. That summer he wrote to 'Abdu'l-Bahá and received a Tablet from Him dated the 16th of August 1921. In five years time he accepted the Faith and became active.
  • In December, 1925 he delivered an address in the same church as 'Abdu'l-Bahá had spoken in 1912. [BN No 10 February 1926 p8]
  • Ernest Harrison; In Memoriam; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
    1959 24 - 26 Apr
    195-
    The National Convention was held at the Westbury Hotel in Toronto. Those elected were: Lloyd Gardner, Rowland Estall, Hart Bowsfield, Winnifred Harvey, Audrey Westheuser, Harold Moscrop, (tres.) Peggy Ross, (sec'y) and Allan Raynor.
  • For a list of delegates to the 12th National Convention see [CBN No 110 March 1959 p2].
  • For the message from the Hands to the Convention see [CBN No 113 June 1959 p1-6].
  • National Spiritual Assembly, election of; National Convention; Lloyd Gardner; Rowland Estall; Hart Bowsfield; Winnifred Harvey; Audrey Westheuser; Harold Moscrop; Peggy Ross; Allan Raynor; Toronto, ON
    1959 Ridván
    195-
    The first Spiritual Assembly of the Bahà'ís of Niagara Falls was formed by joint declaration. The members were: Carol and David Bowie, Charlie and Florence Grindlay, Ben and Mary Koltermann, Amy Puntnam Joy Carter and Vi Dutoff.
  • The first Bahá'í in Niagara Falls was Charlie Grindlay.
  • The first native Niagara Falls resident to become a Bahá'í was Carol Bowie.
  • Carol Bowie; David Bowie; Charles Grindlay; Florence Grindlay; Ben Koltermann; Mary Koltermann; Amy Putnam; Joy Carter; Vi Dutoff The first Bahá'í in Niagara Falls was Charlie Grindlay. ; The first native Niagara Falls resident to become a Bahá'í was Carol Bowie.
    1959 (Ridván)
    195-
    The formation of the first Local Spiritual Assembly in the Yukon in Whitehorse. [CBN No 113 June 1959 p10]
  • For a photo see CBN No 117 October 1959 p1. Those elected were: Lorne Murphy, Mrs Georgie Hughes, Jerry Brda, Joan Anderson, Erna Henckel, Margaret Brda, Ted Anderson, Ruth Cunliffe, and Glen Hughes.
  • At the Jackson Lake Summer School it was resolved to double their numbers by the 3rd annual summer school to be held in September 1960. New Tlingit Bahá'í Sally Jackson proposed that every Bahá'í in the Yukon recite three special prayers each day, the The Tablet of Ahmad the Long Obligatory Prayer and the prayer for Canada. By the time of the summer school they had enrolled eleven new believers and four days later, the twelfth new member, Joseph Smith, the first Tutchone Bahá'í also enrolled. [Native Conversion, Native Identity: An Oral History of the Bahá'í Faith among First Nations People in the Southern Central Yukon Territory, Canada by Carolyn Patterson Sawin p91-92]
  • In January 1961 a travel teacher from Alaska, newly declared believer Tlingit Jim Walton, himself a fluent Tlingit speaker was able to introduce a number of First Nations people to the Faith. By the 21st of the month there were 36 new believers for a total of 55 in at least eight localities, Whitehorse, Camp Takhini, Carcross, Marsh Lake, Teslin, Aishihik, Carmacks and Whitehorse Flats, a Native village near Whitehorse. [ibid p94]
  • Local Spiritual Assembly, formation; Lorne Murphy; Georgie Hughes; Jerry Brda; Joan Anderson; Erna Henckel; Margaret Brda; Ted Anderson; Ruth Cunliffe; Glen Hughes; Whitehorse, YT first Local Spiritual Assembly in the Yukon; the first Tutchone Bahá'í
    1959 Mar
    195-
    It was announced in the Canadian Bahá'í News in the March, 1959 issue that the criteria for testing for the Religion and Life Badge for the Canadian Girl Guides and the Boy Scout Association had been established. [CBN No 110 March 1959 p3-4] Religion and Life Badge
    1959 20 Mar
    195-
    The passing of Jean Graham (b. 1916) in Burlington. She was buried in White Chapel Gardens in Ancaster, Ontario. She and her husband Fred were registered as Bahá'ís on January 5th, 1952. [UC86-92; CBN No 112 May 1959 p4]
  • Just prior to her passing Jean wrote an impassioned appeal to the Canadian Bahá'í community to do what you can in service of the Faith while you are yet able. Six months before her passing she was apparently healthy and active and then she received her diagnosis of cancer. [CBN No 110 March 1959 p3]
  • Jean Graham; In Memoriam; Burlington, ON
    1959 Mar
    195-
    Fred Graham was asked to preside over a name-giving ceremony for Michelle Jamál Bowie, daughter of Carol and David Bowie of Niagara Falls who had been born in December, 1958. [UC88]

    Mrs Audrey Rayne presided at the name-giving ceremony for the two children of Mr and Mrs K Ross in Halifax. [CBN No 110 March 1959 p3]

    Naming ceremony; Fred Graham; Carol Bowie; David Bowie; Michelle Bowie; Audrey Rayne; K Ross; Niagara Falls, ON; Halifax, NS
    1959 The 1950's
    195-
    The largest year-round Inuit community in Canada was in Hamilton at the Mountain Sanatorium where 332 Inuit patients were being treated. There were 1,578 Inuit being treated in Canadian hospitals in 1953. One-third of the Inuit population of the 1950s was infected with TB and approximately one out of every seven Inuit was in a southern sanatorium.[Contributed by Leslie Cole] Inuit; Tuberculosis; Mountain Sanatorium, Canada; Hamilton, ON
    1959 (In the year)
    195-
    Hand of the Cause John Robarts visited the Piikani First Nation (Peigan Reserve). [The Distance Traversed a presentation by Bev Knowlton and Joan Young 2022] John Robarts; Piikani First Nation, AB
    1958 16 Dec
    195-
    The government of British Columbia issued the first certificate of Registration under the Marriage Act which certified that the Chairman of the Local Spiritual Assembly was legally authorized to solemnize marriage. [CBN No 109 February 1959 p4] Weddings; Recognition (legal); Victoria, BC
    1958 9 Nov
    195-
    A Promulgation follow-up conference was held in Dundas with approximately 40 Bahá'ís in attendance. A campaign was planned to keep the promulgation issue alive in the area. [CBN No 108 January 1959 p5; UC84] Proclamation I; Promulgation Campaign; Dundas, ON
    1958 Oct
    195-
    The first Spiritual Assembly was formed in Dundas, Ontario. [UC83] Local Spiritual Assembly, formation; Dundas, ON
    1958 Oct
    195-
    Based on previous experience of a proclamation to Christian clergy in Hamilton and consultation with Winston Evans at the Summer School, the Promulgation Committee launched a proclamation directed to both clerics and the layman. Packages were sent to Christians in Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, Saltfleet, Burlington, Dundas, Campbellville, Ancaster, Georgetown, London, St. Thomas, Ingersoll and Forest. The pamphlet "The Reality of the Return of Christ" was included in all packages with the Catholic priests receiving a copy of the tablet that Bahá'u'lláh addressed to Pope Pius IX and the Protestant clergy were sent the pamphlet "The Lord of the New Age". About 1,400 to 1,500 were sent. Advertisements were placed in the local newspapers announcing that the clergy had received this material and that a speaker would be coming soon to speak about the theme, "Christ and Bahá'u'lláh". The only negative reaction reported was from the town of Forest where the Faith was denounced from the pulpit. [CBN No 107 December 1958 p2; UC80-81]
  • Note that Shoghi Effendi had encouraged such a proclamation in the British community. UD379 refers.
  • Proclamation I; Promulgation Campaign; Niagara Falls, ON; St. Catharines, ON; Saltfleet, ON; Burlington, ON; Dundas, ON; Campbellville, ON; Ancaster, ON; Georgetown, ON; London, ON; St. Thomas, ON; Ingersoll, ON; Forest, ON
    1958 Sep
    195-
    The first Yukon Bahá'í Summer School was held at Jackson Lake, YT and was attended by a "handful" of people. The property had only one small cabin. In 1961 the conference attracted over 70 people from the Yukon, Alaska, British Columbia and Washington State. By 1964 the number of participants had increase to 100 and in 1967 to 135 with an average class attendance of 25 for the adult classes. [Native Conversion, Native Identity: An Oral History of the Bahá'í Faith among First Nations People in the Southern Central Yukon Territory, Canada by Carolyn Patterson Sawin p95] Summer schools; Jackson Lake, YT
    1958 (In the year)
    195-
    Ken and Mary (Zabolotny) McCulloch (married Aug 1958) moved to Baker Lake where they lived for over 20 years with their daughter Laura. While there they established Bahá'í House, promoted translation of Bahá'í materials into Inuktitut, and, above all, conveyed the spirit and principles of the Faith to their neighbours with tireless devotion. (CBN No109 Feb 1959 p4)
  • Mary died 1996 and Ken in Dec 2020. [Contributed by Leslie Cole]
  • Pioneers; Mary McCulloch; Ken McCulloch; Bahá'í House; Inuit language; Baker Lake, NU
    1958 Sep
    195-
    Promulgation Conferences were held in St. Catharines and London to initiate the programs being carried out by the Promulgation Committee in Niagara and Western Ontario. [CBN No 106 November 1958 p3] Proclamation I; Promulgation Campaign; St. Catharines, ON; London, ON; Niagara Falls, ON
    1958 2 - 9 Aug
    195-
    The Ontario Summer School Committee presented three courses at the YMCA Camp Kitchikewana at Geneva Park on Lake Couchiching. Audrey Westheuser presented "Sources of Hidden Power", Beatrice Ashton, "The World Crusade" and Winston Evans, a Bahá'í from Nashville, Tennessee, contributed, "Bahá'í Faith in a Christian World". He suggested that in teaching Christians that they not be considered as a homogeneous group but rather they should be approached with an appreciation of the tenants of eacch particular group. [CBN No 105 October 1958 p5, UC79]
  • Winston Evans extended his teaching trip throughout Western Ontario to consult with the Promulgation Committee. Two new pamphlets were designed, "The Reality of the Return of Christ" and "Letters to Christians". He spoke at public meetings in Toronto , London, Ajax, Georgetown, Dundas, Forest and other communities. [CBN No 105 October 1958 p3; UC80]
  • Proclamation I; Summer schools; Audrey Westheuser; Beatrice Ashton; Winston Evans; Promulgation Campaign; Geneva Park, ON
    1958 29 Apr - 1 May
    195-
    The National Convention was held at the Westbury Hotel, 475 Yonge Street in Toronto. Those elected to the National Assembly were: Hart Bowesfield, Peggy Ross, (sec'y), Winnifred Harvey, Audrey Westheuser, Allan Raynor, Lloyd Gardner, Rowland Estall, Fred Graham, and Harold Moscrop (tres). [CBN No 99 115 April, 1958 p1; CBN No 101 June 1958 p3]
  • See [CBN No 101 June 1958, Special Insert] for the Message from the Hands of the Faith in the Holy Land to the National Convention.
  • National Convention; Hart Bowsfield; Peggy Ross; Winnifred Harvey; Audrey Westheuser; Allan Raynor; Lloyd Gardner; Rowland Estall; Fred Graham; Harold Moscrop; National Spiritual Assembly, election of; Toronto, ON
    1958 26 Apr
    195-
    Hand of the Cause John Robarts dedicated the site of the first Mashriqu'l-Adhkar in Canada. In doing so he paid tribute to Hand of the Cause Siegfried Schopflocher. Among his many services to the Cause he left funds to purchase this property. He had been named "The Chief Temple Builder" by the Guardian because of his devotion to the completing of the Mother Temple of the West. [CBN No 101 June, 1958 p1-2]
  • The site was located in North York Township on Cummer Avenue, east of Bayview. This property was later sold for nine times the purchase price in order to buy the large property on Leslie Street in Thornhill in 1968. [UC78]
  • For a photo of those attending this event see [CBN No 107 December 1958 p3]
  • * Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); John Robarts; Siegfried Schopflocher; North York, ON
    1958 Apr
    195-
    The Canadian Bahá'í News reported that as of this date 10 Local Assemblies had been incorporated in Canada. They were: Edmonton, Hamilton, Montreal, Ottawa, Scarborough, Toronto, North York Vancouver Vernon, and Winnipeg. [CBN No 99 April 1958 p3] Local Spiritual Assembly, incorporation; Edmonton, AB; Hamilton, ON; Montreal, QC; Ottawa, ON; Scarborough, ON; Toronto, ON; North York, ON; Vancouver, BC; Vernon, BC; Winnipeg, MB
    1958 Mar
    195-
    Allan Prairie Chicken (Otakkoyiisaapo'p) was the first Backfoot to declare his faith on the Pikuni First Nations (Peigan Reserve) in March, 1958. [IndigenousBahais.com] Allan Prairie Chicken; Otakkoyiisaapop; Piikani First Nation, AB the first Backfoot to declare his faith on the Pikuni First Nations
    1958 Mar
    195-
    The Indian Teaching Committee (Indigenous Teaching Committee) reported that there were several studying the Faith in the Piikani First Nation. This committee had received permission from the Indian (First Nation) Council to teach on the Reserve. [BN No 341 July 1959 p10]

    The photo in this reference shows Indigenous believers of the Peigan Indian Reserve (Piikani First Nation), Blackfoot Confederacy, Alberta, Maggie Prairie Chicken, Rose Knowlton, Louise White Cow, Agnes Yellow Face, Councillor Samson Knowlton, Ben White Cow, Sam Yellow Face, and Allan (Otakkoyiisaapo'p) Prairie Chicken. Allan and Maggie Prairie Chicken were the first declarants of the Blackfoot nation in March 1958. [BN No 342 August 1959 p10]

  • Allan and his wife Maggie Prairie Chicken were the first Blackfoot (Peigan -Pikani) to declare as Baha'is. They declared in March 1958.
  • Sampson and Rosie Knowlton declared as Bahá'ís in 1958.
  • Louise and Ben White Cow declared around 1958-59.
  • Agnes and Sam Yellow Face Blackfoot Piikani Bahá'ís who declared around 1958-59. [IndigenousBahais.com]
  • Maggie Prairie Chicken; Rose Knowlton; Louise Whitecow; Agnes Yellow Face; Samson Knowlton; Ben White Cow; Sam Yellow Face; Allan Prairie Chicken; Piikani First Nation, AB first declarants of the Blackfoot Allan and Maggie Prairie Chicken.
    1958 24 Feb
    195-
    Judgement was rendered by the Honourable Associate Chief Justice W. B. Scott of the Superior Court in Montreal in favour of the National Spiritual Assembly against the City of Montreal. This achievement was the result of an action commenced on the 5th of October, 1955, to require the City of Montreal to recognize the Bahá'í Faith as an independent religious body and grant exemption to it from Municipal Taxes for the Bahá'í Shrine as a place primarily devoted to religious worship, and eligible for tax exemption under the city's own chart and by-laws.
  • The National Spiritual Assembly received a refund of taxes paid since the acquisition of the property. [CBN No 99 April, 1958 p2-3]
  • Montreal Shrine; Montreal, QC
    1958 6 Feb
    195-
    Hand of the Cause John Robarts arrived in Canada to begin his extensive tour of Canada. He had been sent to Canada by the Hands in the Holy Land because the Guardian had been concerned about the slow progress in the objectives of the 10-year plan in Canada The first stop was in Moncton where a three-day conference was held with Mr. Robarts. [CBN No 98 March, 1958 p2]
  • He had made a stop in Iceland en route to Gander where he met with Bruce Matthew and Bill Howell. [CBN No 99 April 1958 p7]
  • He shared with the friends his pioneering experience in Africa, the meeting of the Hands in London and in the Holy Land after the passing of the Guardian as well of the dedication of the Temple in Kampala that he attended just prior to his departure for Canada.
  • Mr. Robarts focused on the revitalization of the believers and constantly emphasized the power of prayer in beseeching assistance in winning the goals with special emphasis on the Prayer for Canada, the Tablet of Ahmad and the Long Obligatory Prayer. [CBN No 126 July 1960 p4]
  • He spent several weeks visiting communities in Quebec and Ontario, Montreal, Toronto, Hamilton, London, Ottawa and others. [CBN No99 April, 1958 p7]
  • In Saskatoon he performed the marriage of Ericka Janzen and Tom Gossen. [CBN No 100 May, 1958 p3]
  • John Robarts; Ericka Janzen; Tom Gossen; Moncton, NB; Montreal, QC; Toronto, ON; Hamilton, ON; London, ON; Ottawa, ON
    1958 Feb
    195-
    The National Spiritual Assembly published a policy statement for the Canadian Bahá'í News. [CBN No 97 February 1958 p4] Canadian Bahá'í News; Policy
    1958 Feb
    195-
    In an article in the Canadian Bahá'í News the National Spiritual Assembly asked those in the community who formerly were members in a church or a synagogue, to formally withdrew their membership by means of a letter to the minister, priest, rabbi or church board. This will serve two purposes, first to clarify our position as follows of Bahá'u'lláh and secondly, to clarify our legal status with respect to religious and civil authorities. This will ensure protection in any dispute that might occur concerning children, the disposal of property, funeral rites etc. In the eyes of the law, children are deemed to be of the same religious affiliation as their father unless an agreement has been entered into in writing by both parents that the child should be brought up in the faith of the mother or unless the father's will makes provisions for how the child should be educated. [CBN No 97 February 1958 p3] Membership of other organizations
    1958 Jan
    195-
    Hand of the Cause Amatu'l-Bahá' Rúhíyyih Khánum met the Bahá'ís of Winnipeg during her visit to Canada. [Bloodworth, Grains of Wheat p20] Amatul-Bahá Ruhiyyih Khanum; Winnipeg, MB
    1958 (In the year)
    195-
    The Bahá'í marriage ceremony was first legally recognized in Ontario. [MoC208 note 9] Weddings; Recognition (legal); Ontario, Canada first legally recognized in Ontario
    1957 6 Dec
    195-
    In a letter to the National Spiritual Assemblies the Hands of the Cause in America announced the appointment of Peggy Ross as the Auxiliary Board Member for Propagation (Teaching). Rowland Estall, who had served as the ABM in the Eastern part of Canada for several years was reassigned as the Auxiliary Board Member for Protection. [CBN No 97 February, 1958 p4] Auxiliary board members; Peggy Ross; Rowland Estall
    1957 Dec
    195-
    The National Spiritual Assembly appointed a National Promulgation Committee with a mandate to bring the Bahá'i Faith to the attention of Christian clergy and laymen throughout Canada. The committee members were: Fred and Jean Graham, Douglas and Elizabeth Martin, David and Carol Bowie. Hamilton was chosen as the site for a pilot project. Every minister and priest received the pamphlet, "The Promised Day of God" and a letter with the National Spiritual Assembly letterhead outlining Bahá'u'lláh's claim to be the return of Christ. Every Protestant minister received a copy of the article by Marcs Bach from the Christian Century entitled, "Bahá'í, a Second Look" and every Catholic priest received a pamphlet with excerpts from Bahá'u'lláh's Tablet to the Pope. Archdeacons and Bishops and prominent Presbyterian and United ministers receive a copy of Christ and Bahá'u'lláh. In addition a letter was sent to the local Council of Churches or Ministerial Association outlining Bahá'u'lláh's claim and including a pamphlet and the Christian Century article and offering a speaker if they desired.
  • On the weekend following the mailout, notices were placed in the newspaper on the church page informing people that their clergy had received the material and notice was given about a public meeting on Sunday with the subject "Christ and Bahá'u'lláh".
  • Questionnaires were sent to every group in Ontario requesting information that would facilitate further plans. [CBN No 104 September 1958 p3-4]
  • Promulgation Campaign; Fred Graham; Jean Graham; Douglas Martin; Elizabeth Martin; David Bowie; Carol Bowie; Hamilton, ON
    1957 9 November
    195-
    The funeral for Shoghi Effendi was attended by Lloyd Gardner, Peggy Ross, Allan Raynor, Rowland Estall, Hartwell Bowsfield and Winnifred Harvey representing the Canadian Bahá'í community. Hand of the Cause John Robarts, living in Africa at the time, attended in his capacity as a Hand of the Cause. Jameson and Gale Bond also attended. [CBN No 95 December, 1957 Insert p4]
  • Memorial services were held across Canada both on the day of the funeral and on November 18th as requested by Ruhiyyih Khanum. [CBN No 96 January, 1958 p6]
  • Following the directive of the Hands of the Cause resident in the Holy Land, the National Spiritual Assembly asked the Canadian community to refrain from "all manner of religious festivity" for a period of nine months which began on the 4th of November and ended the 4th of August. The "festive anniversaries" that fell during this period were Intercalary Days, Naw-Rúz, the Feast of Ridván and the Declaration of the Báb. In making this request the Hands were following Shoghi Effendi's example on the passing of the Greatest Holy Leaf in 1932. [CBN No 97 February, 1958 p1]
  • See report by Winnifred Harvey.
  • Shoghi Effendi, Passing of; London, England
    1957 04 Nov - 04 Aug
    195-
    Following the directive from the Guardian following the passing of the Greatest Holy Leaf in 1932, the National Spiritual Assembly called for a period of mourning of nine months in which all Festive Anniversaries were to be replaced by simple gatherings for prayers and administrative gatherings including the 19-Day Feasts were to be held with the utmost simplicity. [CBN No 97 February 1958 p1]
  • For a number of messages of condolence and an account of the funeral of Shoghi Effendi see CBN No 95 Dec 1957 p5-8.
  • Shoghi Effendi, Passing of
    1957 2 Nov
    195-
    Hand of the Cause Paul Haney visited the Toronto-Hamilton area and spoke at conferences in both cities and at a fireside in Hamilton. [CBN No 95 Dec 1957 p3] * Hands of the Cause; Paul Haney; Toronto, ON; Hamilton, ON
    1957 1 Oct
    195-
    A site at 15 Lola Road in Toronto was acquired and occupied on the 1st of October. It served as the National Hazíratu'l-Quds from October 1957 until 1969. [MtC281; CBN No 93 Oct 1957 p2]

    See [MtC198-199] for a photo.

    Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); Toronto, ON
    1957 Oct
    195-
    Acting on a recommendation from the National Convention, the National Spiritual Assembly published an organogram which showed three "departments", Teaching, Properties and Service with sub-committees reporting to them. [CBN No 93 Oct 1957 p7] National Spiritual Assembly; Toronto, ON
    1957 Oct
    195-
    The National Spiritual Assembly of the United States advised the friends in Canada, particularly local assemblies, to take no steps towards accepting the credentials of any person from Iran who claims to be a Bahá'í, without first communicating with the National Assembly.
         "Should any individual from Iran, either carring credentials or claiming to be a Bahá'í, appear in your community the matter should be reported immediately to the National Office where the authorizing signature and letter-head from the National Spiritual Assembly of Iran has been registered.
           It is most important that this procedure be followed with exception, with respect to all individuals from Iran making an appearance in any Bahá'í community." [CBN No 93 Oct 1957 p2]
    1957 Oct
    195-
    In a message to the National Spiritual Assembly the Guardian said of the Canadians believers:

      "The fortuitous combination of British solidity and good judgement and American get-up-and-go and enthusiasm, which has characterized Canada, must not be lost in the Canadian Bahá'í Community. Its members must demonstrate their out-standing abilities, and through a greater vision, more consecration and renewed self-sacrifice, arise and attain their goals." [CBN NO 92 Oct 1957 p1-2]
    1957 Oct or Nov
    195-
    At the request of the National Spiritual Assembly, the Department of External Affairs arranged for the British Legation in Sofia, Bulgaria to have a monument erected over the grave of Marion Jack in the British Cemetery. A photo of the grave and Shoghi Effendi's tribute of 29 March, 1954 were printed in the Canadian Bahá'í News. [CBN No 96 January 1958 p5] Marion Jack; In Memoriam; Sofia, Bulgaria
    1957 25 - 31 Aug
    195-
    Western Canada Summer Conference at the Banff School of Fine Arts. The syllabus included (1) "The Covenant and the Aims, Purposes and Processes of the Administrative Order" (Allan Raynor) (2) "The History of the Faith" (Ted Anderson and Hartwell Bowsfield) (3) "The Fundamental Spiritual Verities" (Florence Mayberry) and "The Bahá'í World Crusade" (Beatrice Ashton). [CBN No 88 May 1957 p3]
  • About 84 Bahá'ís and their friends were in attendance. [CBN No 93 Oct 1957 p5]
  • Western Canada Summer Conference; Summer schools
    1957 Summer
    195-
    The Laurentian Summer School was held at Beaulac. The presenters were Margery McCormick, Mehdi Firoozi and Stanwood Cobb. [CBN NO92 September 1957 p4; CBN No 93 Oct 1957 p3]
  • It was described as the most successful Conference held at Beaulac with over 80 Bahá'ís and friends in attendance.
  • Summer schools; Margery McCormick; Mehdi Firoozi; Stanwood Cobb; Beaulac, QC
    1957 Aug
    195-
    In response to a recommendation made at the National Convention, the functions and the staffing of the national committees were published in the August issue of the Canadian Bahá'í News. [CBN #91 August 1957 p6-8]

    The October issue included a graphic that illustrated the reporting structure of the national committees. [CBN No 93 October 1957 p7]

    National Spiritual Assembly; Toronto, ON
    1957 (Summer)
    195-
    The Hazira committee continued to have difficulties in finding a suitable property. Zoning regulations precluded the purchase of many sites that were otherwise suitable. Negotiation were underway on one property. One property in north Toronto that might be suitable for the Temple ground was under investigation. [CBN No 91 August 1957 p1] Hazira and Temple Grounds Committee; Toronto, ON
    1957 (Summer)
    195-
    Hand of the Cause Zikr'u'lláh Khadem visited Central America, then the United States and Canada on way back to Haifa. He was accompanied by his wife and their daughter. Arrangements were made for them to visit a number of Bahá'í communities in Ontario and Québec, Hamilton, Greater Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, London. [CBN NO 92 September 1957 p4] * Hands of the Cause; Zikrullah Khadem
    1957 Jul
    195-
    Hand of the Cause Dhikru'llah Khádem met with the National Spiritual Assembly. He had come from Central America and was visiting in the United States and Canada before returning to Haifa. He, his wife, and their daughter spent ten days in Canada and visited the friends in Hamilton, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, and London. [UC68-69, 70; MtC269] Hands of the Cause, Activities; Dhikrullah Khadem; Hamilton, ON; Toronto, ON; Montreal, QC; Ottawa, ON; London, ON
    1957 Summer
    195-
    Pioneer Doris Richardson reported that the first Bahá'í declaration on Grand Manan, Ed Somers, was welcomed. [UC70] Doris Richardson; Ed Somers; Grand Manan Island, NB first declarant on Grand Manan Island.
    1957 Jul
    195-
    Hand of the Cause Dhikru'llah Khádem met with the National Spiritual Assembly. He had come from Central America and was visiting in the United States and Canada before returning to Haifa. He, his wife, and their daughter spent ten days in Canada and visited the friends in Hamilton, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, and London. [UC68-69] * Hands of the Cause; Dhikrullah Khadem; Hamilton, ON; Toronto, ON; Montreal, QC; Ottawa, ON; London, ON
    1957 14 Jun
    195-
    Winnifred Harvey of Ottawa, recently returned from pilgrimage, undertook a three week travel leaching trip to Western Canada. She stopped at Winnipeg, Brandon then on to Regina and following that, Lethbridge and Calgary. In British Columbia she visited Cranbrook, Penticton, Vancouver and West Vancouver then took a ferry to Nanaimo and then overland to Victoria. From there she travelled south to Seattle to catch a plane for Juneau and then the Canadian goal city of Baranof by seaplane. Venturing back into Canada her next stop was Whitehorse and then on to Edmonton and Yellowknife and Edmonton again. Saskatoon was the next stop then to St. James and finally to Toronto to attend a meeting of the National Spiritual Assembly. [CBN No 92 September 1957 p 3-4] Travel Teaching; Winnifred Harvey
    1957 May
    195-
    The New Territories Committee had a publication called the "Round Robin". It was written solely for pioneers in the goal areas as a means to share the pleasures and problems, hopes and fears, news and views with the distant members of their pioneer family. [CBN No88 May 1957 p2-3 ] Round Robin; * Publications; Pioneering
    1957 May
    195-
    About twenty-five different itineraries were arranged for Canadian Bahá'í teachers who served on the Intra-Regional circuits and, in addition, teaching programmes were arranged and organized for several visiting teachers from outside the Dominion, including Mr. Alan Pringle from Honduras and Mrs. Meherangiz Munsiff of the United States. Our Canadian teachers have included the following: Mrs. Laura Davis, Mr. Albert Rakovsky, Mr. Hartwell Bowsfield, Mr. Rowland Estall, Mr; Alan Raynor, Mre. !Peggy Ross, Mrs. Lily Ann Irwin, Mrs. Katherine Moscrop, Mr. Fred Graham, Miss Nancy Campbell, Miss Amy Putnam and Miss Winnifred Harvey. [CBN No88 May 1957 p1]
  • Seven weekend seminars conducted by Allan Raynor on "The Covenant and the Individual" were organized throughout Canada for the deepening, strengthening and confirming of believers and close contacts. [CBN No88 May 1957 p2]
  • Travel Teaching; Alan Pringle; Meherangiz Munsiff; Laura Davis; Albert Rakovsky; Hartwell Bowsfield; Rowland Estall; Alan Raynor; Peggy Ross; Lily Ann Irwin; Katherine Moscrop; Fred Graham; Nancy Campbell; Amy Putnam; Winnifred Harvey
    1957 May
    195-
    The site of the National Hazírratu'l-Quds at 274 Huron Street was expropriated by the University of Toronto. The property was included in the 26 acres taken over in December for the expansion of the campus. The University advised that they will not require the property for some time and that we may rent the building , possibly for several years. [UC66; CBN No 87 April 1957 p3; CBN No 91 Aug 1957 p8; MtC262]
  • An Hazira Location Committee was set up consisting of George Spendlove, George Smith, Alice Hall and Marjory Merrick. [CBN No 87 April 1957 p1]
  • Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); George Spendlove; George Smith; Alice Hall; Marjory Merrick; Toronto, ON
    1957 26 - 29 Apr
    195-
    The National Convention was held at the new Haziratu'l-Quds at 274 Huron Street. It was attended by about 100 visitors as well as seventeen delegates who voted in person and two who voted by mail. Those elected were: Hart Bowsfield, Peggy Ross, Winnifred Harvey, Audrey Westheuser, Allan Raynor, Lloyd Gardner, Rowland Estall, Fred Graham, and Harold Moscrop.
  • The Public Congress was held in the Royal Ontario Museum Theatre. About 300 persons attended. [CBN No 89 June, 1957 p3-4]
  • Photo.
  • There were 17 Local Spiritual Assemblies in Canada at this point, a drop from 19 two years earlier. [Bloodworth, Grains of Wheat p20]
  • National Convention; Hart Bowsfield; Peggy Ross; Winnifred Harvey; Audrey Westheuser; Allan Raynor; Lloyd Gardner; Rowland Estall; Fred Graham; Harold Moscrop; National Spiritual Assembly, election of; Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); Toronto, ON
    1957 22 - 24 Feb
    195-
    At its February meeting the National Spiritual Assembly formed a Hazira Location Committee consisting of George Spendlove, George Smith, Alice Hall and Marjory Merrick. They were instructed to look for a property primarily for the National Headquarters use and to meet the requirement for a provisional Hazira set down by the Guardian. [CBN No 87 April, 1957 p1] Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); Toronto, ON
    1957 2 Feb
    195-
    Dr Donald Kidd and Mary Campbell, both of Edmonton were married in a Bahá'í marriage ceremony in Calgary. It was the first Bahá'í wedding to take place in the province of Alberta. [CBN No87 April, 1957 p3] Marriage; Don Kidd; Mary Campbell; Calgary, AB the first Bahá'í wedding to take place in the province of Alberta.
    1957 Jan
    195-
    The Laurentian Bahá'í Winter School was attended by about twenty people. Mary and Andy Andrews of Ottawa were the presenters. [CBN No 85 February 1957 p2] Winter schools; Andy Andrews; Mary Andrews; Beaulac, QC
    1957 (In the year)
    195-
    The first Temple site was purchased in 1957 in North York, and replaced by the site in Markham Township in 1969. [MtC281] Purchases and exchanges; Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Toronto; Toronto, ON
    1956 Dec
    195-
    The passing of Leslie Silversides. Leslie became a Bahá'í in 1945 and while visiting Emeric and Rosemary Sala became aware of the necessity and urgency of making contact with the Native People. When a new school opened on a Reserve in the fall of 1947 he re-assumed his career as a teacher. Mabel and Leslie Silversides, were the first non-Aboriginal Bahá'ís in Canada to move to a reserve. When a memorial service was held for him on December 16th some 50 or 60 Native people from the Reserve where he had been teaching attended, some walking as far as 10-12 miles. Another service was held on December 17th in Regina, his former community. After his passing his wife Mabel resumed teaching. She passed away in 1992. Both were buried in the Wolseley Cemetery. [Encylopedia of Saskatchewan; CBN No86 March, 1957 p4]
  • Note mention made of Carlye Reserve Meadow Lake in CBN No 92 September 1957 pg 2. Could this have been where the Silversides lived and taught school?
  • Find a grave.
  • Mention made of "Gordon Silversides" of Meadow Lake in CBN No 92 September 1957 pg 2.
  • Leslie Silversides; In Memoriam; Mabel Silversides; Native Teaching; Wolseley, SK the first non-Aboriginal Bahá'ís in Canada to move to a reserve
    1956 30 Sep
    195-
    The dedication of the new Haziratu'l-Quds of the Bahá'ís of Canada at 274 Huron Street in Toronto. ABM Roland Estall read an address on behalf of Hand of the Cause Horace Holley who was unable to attend due to weather conditions. [CBN No 82 November, 1956 p1-4]

    The purchase was made possible because of the generosity of the Canadian believers as well as an "exceedingly generous bequest made to the Canadian Bahá'í Community, on his death, by Fred Schopflocher". [CBNNo 77 June 1956 p4]

  • The Haziratu'lQuds was to serve as the administrative headquarters of the National Spiritual Assembly, its secretariat, for Assembly meetings, the preservation of its records, for public meetings , a Bahá'í library, an Archives, for committee meetings and Bahá'í Conferences. Its influence would enhance the prestige and consolidate the authority of the National Assembly in the Bahá'í community, confer dignity and prestige upon the Faith in the eyes of the public and be the seat of one of the electoral bodies that would elect the Universal House of Justice. [CBN No 82 November, 1956 p 3]
  • Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); Toronto, ON
    1956 2 - 8 Sep
    195-
    The Western Canada Bahá'î Summer Conference was held at the School of Fine Arts in Banff. The course material dealt with Bahá'í Administration, The Covenant, and Living the Bahá'í Life. CBN No 78 July 1956 p4]
  • Presenters were: Katherine Moscrop and Ted Anderson spoke on the Covenant and Bahá'í Administration. Joyce Noble and W R Maclean spoke on "Deepening the Spiritual Life". Katherine Hamilton and Joyce Noble gave a wonderful description of their pilgrimage to Haifa. [CBN No 81 October 1956 p5]
  • Summer schools; Katherine Moscrop; Ted Anderson; Joyce Noble; W R Maclean; Katherine Hamilton; Banff, AB
    1956 09
    195-
    The National Spiritual Assembly published the policy for the performing of a Bahá'í marriage by a local spiritual assembly. [CBN No 80 September 1956 p4] Marriage
    1956
    195-
    The Bahá'í Faith was put on the curriculum in a course on comparative Religions at McMaster University. [UC61] McMaster University, Ontario; Hamilton, ON
    1956 Aug
    195-
    The Ontario Summer School was held during the long holiday weekends. The first two were held in Dundas and the last two in Forest. sessions. At Forest on Labour Day weekend Nancy Campbell spoke on "Meditation and the Law of Love" and Charles Grindley on "The Science of Teaching". [CBN No 81 October 1956 p2] Summer schools; Nancy Campbell; Charles Grindlay; Dundas, ON; Forest, ON
    1956 21 - 28 Jul
    195-
    The Laurentian Summer School was held in two sessions, 21-28 July and 28 July to the 5th of August. The presenters were: Dr Genevieve Coy spoke on "The Reality of Man", Mehdi Firoozi told stories on the Dawnbreakers and the Hands of the Cause, Ruth Moffet gave her course on the "Spiritual Crusade" and Winnifred Harvey took the theme "Tools of Living", Audrey Westheuser gave a course on Faith in Action and Allan Raynor on "Bahá'u'lláh's Covenant and our Relationship to It". [CBN No 81 October 1956 p2] Summer schools; Genevieve Coy; Mehdi Firoozi; Ruth Moffett; Winnifred Harvey; Audrey Westheuser; Allan Raynor
    1956 21 - 28 Jul
    195-
    The Laurentian Bahá'í School was held in two sessions, July 21-28 and July 28-August 5. The theme for the sessions was "The Development of The Individual". The teachers for the first session were Mrs. Audrey Westheuser, Dr. Genevieve Coy, Mr. Allan Raynor and from July 28 - August 5, Miss Winnifred Harvey, Mrs. Ruth Moffett and Mr. Mehdi Firoozi. [CBN No74 Mar 1956 p4; CBN No 78 Jul 1956 p4] Summer schools; Beaulac, QC
    1956 (Summer)
    195-
    David Bowie became a Bahá'í and was soon followed by his wife Carol who was later elected to the National Spiritual Assembly and was appointed to the Auxiliary Board in 1975. [UC61-62] David Bowie; Carol Bowie; Auxiliary board members; Niagara Falls, ON
    1956 16 Jun
    195-
    A group of friends from the Montreal area gathered at the grave the beloved Hand of the Cause of God Sutherland Maxwell. The purpose of the gathering was to fulfill the instructions of the Guardian to deposit, under the headstone, a piece of plaster from the walls of the prison at Mah-Ku where the Báb had been incarcerated in 1847. The box containing the plaster was placed in a special excavation in the foundation stone under the headstone and attar of roses, sent by the Guardian for the purpose, was poured over the alabaster box which was then permanently sealed with tile and cement in the foundation stone.
          This was followed by a brief statement on the life of Mr Maxwell and his historic services to the Faith as recalled in the Guardian's cable at the time of his passing. The Guardian had pointed out that another piece of plaster from the same source had been placed under the first golden tile of the dome of the Shrine of the Báb on Mount Carmel. The superstructure of the Shrine of the Báb had been designed by Sutherland Maxwell. [CBN No 80 September, 1956 p2]
          To pay further tribute Mr Maxwell's contribution as the architect of the Arcade and the Superstructure built over the Sepulchre built by 'Abdu'l-Bahá, the Guardian named one of the eight doors Báb-i-Maxwell. [CBN No 82 November, 1956 p3]
    In Memoriam; Sutherland Maxwell; Montreal, QC
    1956 10 May
    195-
    The property at 274 Huron Street was acquired for a Haziratu'l-Quds at a cost of $48,000. When this goal was given to Canada in 1953 the Guardian contributed £2,000 towards this undertaking and donations were made by the National Spiritual Assemblies of the British Isles and of Germany. Further donation came from Canadian believers and from the estate of Hand of the Cause Fred Schopflocher. [CBN No 77 June, 1956 p4-5; CBN No 78 July, 1956 p1]
  • See [MtC198-199] for a photo.
  • Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); Toronto, ON
    1956 27 - 29 Apr
    195-
    The 9th National Convention was held in the King Edward Hotel and was attended by over 100 delegates and friends. Those elected were: Audrey Westheuser, (sec'y) Peggy Ross, (treasurer) Winnifred Harvey, Lloyd Gardner, (chair) Don MacLaren, Angus Cowan, Rowland Estall, Allan Raynor, (vice) and Hart Bowsfield.
  • It was announced that Canada's National Endowment had been secured, a beautiful piece of property on the Niagara River in the shadow of Queenston Heights. It had been donated by one of the friends.
  • The Public Congress was held in the Royal Ontario Museum Theatre on the evening of Saturday the 28th of April. Over 300 attended. [CBN No 77 June 1956 p2]
  • It was learned that Canada's National Endowment had been secured, a beautiful piece of property on the Niagara River in the shadow of Queenston Heights, which had been donated by one of the friends. [CBN No 77 June 1956 p2]
  • National Convention; NSA; Audrey Westheuser; Peggy Ross; Winnifred Harvey; Lloyd Gardner; Don MacLaren; Angus Cowan; Rowland Estall; Allan Raynor; Hart Bowsfield; National Spiritual Assembly, election of; National Endowment; Toronto, ON
    1956 Ridván
    195-
    The formation of the first local spiritual assembly in St James, Manitoba. [CBN No 76 May 1956 p6] Local Spiritual Assembly, formation; St. James, MB
  • Twenty-two local Spiritual assemblies were formed in Canada. [CBN No 76 May 1956 p6]
  • Statistics; Local Spiritual Assembly, formation
    1956 18 Apr
    195-
    After three years of attempts by the National Assembly Mary Zabolotny was able to secure employment on the privately-owned Island of Anticosti and settle there to become a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. She was only able to stay for several months before she was forced to leave. [CBN No 76 May, 1956 p7]
  • Considering that this proved a difficult goal to fill the Guardian allowed the National Spiritual Assembly to choose an alternate goal-the Gulf Islands. [KoB10], 274; MC2p56]
  • - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Mary Zabolotny McCulloch; Anticosti Island, QC
    1956 Mar
    195-
    The course "The Covenant and the Individual, was conducted in British Columbia and consequently was given in every province in Canada. The National Spiritual Assembly requested that the Local Assemblies and Regional Teaching Committees to make certain that prospective believers were familiar with the essential contents of the following books: Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablet of the Branch, Book of the Covenant (Kitab-i-A!hd) and the Dispensation of Bahá'u'lláh. [CBN No89 June 1957 p1] Covenant; Deepening
    1956 Mar
    195-
    The course "The Covenant and the Institutions" was conducted in BC in March, 1956 and subsequently in every other province.
  • The National Spiritual Assembly, in a directive published in Canadian Bahá'í News in June of 1957 said, "concerning the minimum teachings that should be covered before a new member is accepted into the Faith" should include a knowledge of Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Baha, The Tablet of the Branch, The Book of the Covenant and the Dispensation of Bahá'u'lláh. Specifically, Tablet of the Branch BWFp204, Kitab-i-Ahd, BWFp207 and pages 134-135 of Dispensation of Bahá'u'lláh They also urged the study of Covenant and the Administration [CBN No 89 June, 1957 p1].
  • 1956 25 Feb
    195-
    Because of the cost of adapting the Mount Pleasant property for Hazira use, the replacement of this property by the premises of the Free Magyar Reformed Church on Huron Street was authorized provided satisfactory financial arrangements can be made. The Temple Grounds Committee reported that no action could yet be taken on their option to purchase land in the Toronto area. Hazira and Temple Grounds Committee; Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); Toronto, ON
    1956 (In the year_
    195-
    With the growing number of Bahá'ís in the Yukon they were able to send their first delegates to the National Convention. Three of the six delegates elected at the first Yukon Bahá'í Convention were Native: Annie Drugan (later Auston), Shirley Lindstrom and Liz Jackson. [Native Conversion, Native Identity: An Oral History of the Bahá'í Faith among First Nations People in the Southern Central Yukon Territory, Canada by Carolyn Patterson Sawin p98] Yukon, Canada
    1956 Feb
    195-
    The Canadian Bahá'í News reported that the Local Spiritual Assembly of Winnipeg had been incorporated and that they had approved the incorporation of the Spiritual Assembly of Vernon. [CBN No 73 February, 1956 p2] iiiii Local Spiritual Assembly, incorporation; Winnipeg, MB; Vernon, BC
    1956 7 Jan
    195-
    The National Spiritual Assembly made arrangements for the erection of a memorial stone on the grave of Marion Jack. [CBN N74 Mar 1956 p2] Marion Jack; In Memoriam; Toronto, ON
    1956 7 Jan
    195-
    A full report on progress on incorporations and Hazira and Temple Grounds was sent the Guardian at his request. [CBN No74 Mar 1956 p2] Hazira and Temple Grounds Committee; Toronto, ON
    1956 Jan
    195-
    The National Spiritual Assembly published the policy on membership in Freemasonry.

  • From the American Bahá'î News, September; 1955: "A recent issue of the British Bahá'í Journal contained the text of two cables from the Guardian concerning membership of Bahá'îs in Freemasonry:
      'Disapprove membership (in) Freemasonry' (November 11, 1954);
      'Any Bahá'î determined retain membership (in) Freemasonry loses voting rights' (December 22, 1954) .
    • The National Spiritual Assembly inquired of the Guardian whether this directive applied to the United States. In a letter written on behalf of the Guardian, dated July 9, 1955, this question was answered:
        'The directive regarding membership. in Freemasonry should be 'carried out by your Assembly in all areas under your Assembly's jurisdiction.'The Guardian's directive about Freemasonry is an application of the general principle he laid down some years ago to the effect that Bahá'îs are not to affiliate with organizations, any of whose purposes and methods contradict fundamental principles of the Bahá'í teachings. This directive closes our ranks for the forth-coming new period of public responsibility when enemies of the Cause will do their best to find ways to discredit our principles of complete neutrality with respect to various social organizations in East and West."

      The Canadian National Spiritual Assembly regards the Guardian's directives as general policy with equal application to Canada. [CBN No 72 Jan 1956p3-4]

  • Freemasonry
    1956 Jan
    195-
    The National Teaching Committee launched a teaching campaign directed at the Ukrainian population. For several months they have had weekly advertisement published in a widely read Ukrainian newspaper. The purpose was to introduce the reader to the Faith and ask them to write for more information. They received some 300 inquiries from across Canada, the US and even Central America. The plan was ready to go to the second step, to introduce the contacts to the local community, [CBN No 60 Jan 1956 p2] Ukrainian teaching
    1956 (In the year)
    195-
    Arthur Bonshaw Irwin (born 6 June 1915 – died 1994) and Lily-Ann Irwin of Calgary, Alberta were the first to take the Bahá'í teachings to the Piikani First Nation (Peigan Reserve).
      Note: Canadian Bahá'í News August 1961 p10 reported that this took place in 1960.
  • "Arthur Irwin became a Bahá'í in 1947 and was a very active Bahá'í teacher to the native peoples of Canada, Alaska, and the Caribbean. He and his wife, Lily Ann, established the first Native Indian Friendship Centre in Calgary, Alberta… He was honoured by the Blackfoot, Peigan, Blood, and Morely tribes in Alberta for his honesty and integrity. A geologist with a doctorate in the field, Irwin worked on Indian reserves in Canada ensuring that fair market value was paid for leases on natural resources (Bahá'í World. 1994. "Arthur Bonshaw Irwin." Bahá'í World. 1994. Volume XXIII)."
  • Arthur Irwin; Lily Ann Irwin; Native Friendship Centre; Teaching, Native; Piikani First Nation, AB the first Native Indian Friendship Centre
    1956 (In the year)
    195-
    Incorporation papers have been granted to the Assembly in Scarborough, Ontario. [CBN No 78 July 1956 p4] Local Spiritual Assembly, incorporation; Scarborough, ON
    1955 31 Dec - 1 Jan
    195-
    Teachers at Beaulac Winter School were Roger White, Ottawa, who led a discussion on "The Way Home" based on the Seven Valleys and Douglas Martin whose course was entitled "The Emphasis is on the Individual". [CBN No 73 Feb 1956 p4] Winter schools; Roger White; Douglas Martin; Beaulac, QC
    1955 Dec
    195-
    It was reported in the Canadian Bahá'í News that the Hamilton Spiritual Assembly received its official incorporation papers "some little time ago". One of the goal of the Ten-Year Crusade was to have nineteen incorporated assemblies in Canada. [CBN No 71 Dec 1955 p4] Local Spiritual Assembly, incorporation; Hamilton, ON
    1955 Dec
    195-
    National Spiritual Assembly member Allan Raynor went on pilgrimage. Upon his return to Canada, he travelled across the country sharing his pilgrimage and stressing the importance of the Guardianship and firmness in the Bahá'í Covenant. [UC58] Allan Raynor; Pilgrimage; Haifa, Israel
    1955 25 Nov
    195-
    Plans for structural changes in the Hazira were approved in principle, and tax exemption, insurance and legal matters dealt with. The Temple Grounds Committee report was considered, and a property purchase approved, replacing previous proposals that could not be implemented. [CBN No 73 Feb 1956 p2] Hazira and Temple Grounds Committee; Toronto, ON
    1955 1 Oct
    195-
    At the meeting of the National Spiritual Assembly they spent a half day viewing possible Temple sites. It was agreed to make an offer on one site provided that further investigation indicated that it met requirements. Renovations required on the Hazira were discussed; three members were added to the Committee. [CBN No70 No 1955 p2] Hazira and Temple Grounds Committee; Toronto, ON
    1955 Oct
    195-
    In an article in the Canadian Baha'i News The Indian (First Nations) Teaching Committee quoted Fred Riley of High Prairie, Alberta, someone who has spent 20 years among the Dogrib people whose language he speaks. He explained how the past experiences of the Native People have made them mistrustful of the White man. He suggested the only way to make headway in Native teaching was to start by earning the friendship and trust of a single person and then build from there, [CBN No 69 Oct 1955p3] Native Teaching
    1955 Oct
    195-
    In an article in the Canadian Bahá'í News the procedure for the "exchanged of cheques" was explained whereby a believer could get a tax receipt for expenses incurred while completing a pre-approved project. [CBN No 60 Oct 1955 p6] Fund
    1955 17 Sep - 15 Mar 1958
    195-
    Vicki Rusk of Calgary pioneered to the Yukon. [CBN No 117 October 1957 p1] Pioneering, Yukon; Vicki Rusk; Yukon, Canada
    1955 Sep (or earlier)
    195-
    Canadian Bahá'í News No 68 Sep 1955 p3 reported that Margaret and Larry Rowdon and family arrived in the Magdalen Islands and settled in Grindstone. Larry Rowdon; Margaret Rowdon; Magdalen Islands, QC; Grindstone, Magdalen Islands, QC
    1955 Sep
    195-
    It was reported in the Canadian Bahá'í News that the National Spiritual Assembly was encouraged to 'speed up' finding a new Hazíratu'l-Quds as their present site at 539 Mount Pleasant Road was proving not to be suitable for their needs. [UC55]

    See Shoghi Effendi's cable of 1 May 1955 and his letter to the National Spiritual Assembly dated 16 July 1955. [MtC220, 222]

    Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); Toronto, ON
    1955 26 Aug
    195-
    The Winnipeg Spiritual Assembly incorporated. [CBN No72 Jan 1956 p5; Bloodworth, Grains of Wheat p20, 49]

    Members at the time of incorporation were: Singe Saxton, Stella Pollexfen, Claire Atwood, Margaret Saxton, Angus Cowan, Bobbie Cowan, Ethel Martens, Moliie Macpherson, and Miron Thom.

    Local Spiritual Assembly, incorporation; Singe Saxton; Stella Pollexfen; Claire Atwood; Margaret Saxton; Angus Cowan; Bobbie Cowan; Ethel Martens; Mollie Macpherson; Miron Thom; Winnipeg, MB
    1955 26 Aug
    195-
    At its meeting of the 26th of August the National Spiritual Assembly arranged to apply to the Province for licence in mortmain to hold in perpetuity the Hazira property. Further directions were given the Hazira management committee regarding its upkeep and use. Since it is now unlikely that the selected Temple site will he available, a Temple Grounds committee was set up to continue the search for a suitable property. [CBN No69 Oct 1955 p3] Hazira and Temple Grounds Committee; Toronto, ON
    1955 21 - 27 Aug
    195-
    The Summer School on the prairies was held at Valley Centre, Fort Qu'Appelle, SK. [CBN No65 Jun 1955 p6] Summer schools; Fort Qu'Appelle, SK
    1955 30 Jul - 6 Aug
    195-
    Ontario Summer Conference was held at Geneva Park in Orillia, ON. One presenter, Mrs. Mildred Mottahedeh was unable to attend as planned and so on each day a different camper developed the theme "We Meet a Faith, Choose, Grow Within, Grow Without, Grow Together, Our Future". Mr. Ronald Nablo spoke on "Magnetic Living. The Covenant, and the latent power within us that obedience to it can generate, formed the theme of Ron's course. ln addition to these, Pem Piggott gave two very fine sessions on the technique of teaching. Brenda Piggott had some very helpful suggestions to Bahá'í parents [CBN No65 Jun 1955 p5] Ontario Summer Conference; Orillia, ON
    1955 3 Jul
    195-
    Over two hundred friends attended a memorial service at the House of Worship in Wilmette to honour the memory of Marion Jack. The service was held on the advice of the Guardian and was prepared by the National Assembly of the USA in association with the National Assembly of Canada and the European Teaching Committee. Laura Davis represented the Canadian community and read the opening prayer.
  • Hand of the Cause Paul Haney chaired the event and Hand of the Cause Amelia Collins, who was present when the Guardian heard the news of her passing, recalled how he used to say that Marion Jack was a perfect pattern for pioneers. Edna True recounted knowing her as an artist at Green Acre and Horace Holley drew attention to the fact that the Guardian identified her along with Martha Root and other distinguished teachers of the Faith. [CBN No 63 April 1955, Insert p4]
  • Marion Jack; Memorial Service; In Memoriam; Laura Davis; Paul Haney; Horace Holley; Millie Collins; Wilmette, IL
    1955 1 - 10 Jul
    195-
    Ross Woodman presented at the first Beaulac session, July 1-10, and Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Kelsey and Mr. Ron Nablo at the second, Aug. 7-14. The themes for study were:
    1. Man's Relationship to God.
    2. Man's Relationship to Society.
    3. Society and Administration. [CBN No65 Jun 1955 p6]
    Summer schools; Beaulac, QC
    1955 c. Jul
    195-
    The National Spiritual Assembly received a reply from R. Rabanni on behalf of Shoghi Effendi regarding the purchase of a site(s) for the Temple and the Haziratu'l-Quds:

      "He considers the revised criteria you sent him for the Temple and Haziratu'l-Quds, as outlined in your letter of December 15th, satisfactory.
      He is extremely anxious to have these properties purchased, either together in one-place, or if this is not feasible, then in two separate places, as he has already informed you. Eight of the eleven Temple sites have been purchased, and many of them in very difficult places; and he feels very strongly that it is a great pity that Canada should be behind-hand in this matter, in view of the fact that she is one of the oldest Bahá'í Communities in the world. No doubt the problem is more difficult for you to solve, owing to the special conditions in Toronto and vicinity; but we know that all problems are solvable for the Bahá'ís, with the power of God to help them; and he is eagerly awaiting news of your success."
    [CBN No68 Sep 1955 p2]

    He further clarified that while the Maxwell House was indeed a National Endowment it should not be considered as having fulfilled this objective of the Plan and a second one should be obtained. [MC2p222; CBN No 73 Feb 1956 p2]

    Hazira and Temple Grounds Committee; Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); Toronto, ON
    1955 17 Jun
    195-
    At its meeting of the 17th of June the National Spiritual Assembly made final arrangements to permit purchase of the Hazira property at 539 Mount Pleasant Road, Toronto, and further reports were heard on the proposed Temple property. [CBN No 68 Sep 1955 p6] Hazira and Temple Grounds Committee; Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); Toronto, ON
    1955 14 May
    195-
    At its meeting of May 15-15 the National Spiritual Assembly viewed Several possible Hazira properties and it was decided to make an offer on one df them. An option has also been taken on a proposed Temple site. A maintenance committee for the future Hazira was appointed. [CBN No66 Jul 1955 p2] Hazira and Temple Grounds Committee; Toronto, ON
    1955 12 May
    195-
    The Ottawa Assembly received its Letters Patent for the incorporation of the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Ottawa. [CBN No 66 July, 1955 p4] Local Spiritual Assembly, incorporation; Ottawa, ON
    1955 2 May
    195-
    In a letter from the International Bahá'í Council that has been entitled Progress at fhe World Centre they give an account of the various plans and projects ongoing at the World Centre. [CBN No65 Jun 1955 p1; BN No292 Jun 1955 p4] Progress at the World Centre; * Bahá'í World Centre
    1955 30 Apr
    195-
    During the lunch break at the National Convention on Saturday several members of the Assembly visited a property in the St. Clair Avenue district and announced that they had made arrangements to sign an offer to purchase, for the purpose of a Haziratu'l-Quds, provided zoning regulations were met. The chairman of the Hazira and Temple Grounds Committee, Mr. Allan Raynor, also announced that negotiations were pending with regard to a 7 acre piece of property within 9 miles of the heart of Toronto as a Temple site. It is situated on Highway 401. [CBN N065 Jun 1955 p5] Hazira and Temple Grounds Committee; Allan Raynor; Toronto, ON
    1955 29 Apr - 1 May
    195-
    The National Convention was held in Toronto with the meetings and the Public Congress held in the King Edward Hotel. Elected were: Lloyd Gardner (chair), Allan Raynor (vice-chair), Audrey Westheuser (secretary), Peggy Ross (treasurer), Rowland Estall, Angus Cowan, Winnifred Harvey, Donald MacLaren, Albert Rakovsky. [CBN No 65 June 1955 p4]
  • List of delegates. [CBN No 62 March, 1955 p1]
  • On May 1st the friends shared in a Memorial Service for Marion Jack. The delegates and other believers gathered in Victoria Hall in Westmount for a brief commemoration and prayers in advance of the main Memorial Service at the Temple. [CBN No 62 March, 1955 from the 4-page insert]
  • The Guardian's message to the National Convention dated 17 April 1954 was distributed as an insert to CBN No 54 Jun 1954. The message list recent accomplishments.
  • See the National Convention report, the Guardian's supplementary message to the Convention and a letter, Progress at the World Centre from the International Bahá'ií Council. [CBN No65 Jun 1955 p4]
  • National Convention; NSA; Lloyd Gardner; Allan Raynor; Audrey Westheuser; Peggy Ross; Rowland Estall; Angus Cowan; Winnifred Harvey; Donald MacLaren; Albert Rakovsky; National Spiritual Assembly, election of; Statistics; Toronto, ON
    1955 Ridván
    195-
    Twenty-three local Spiritual assemblies were formed in Canada. [CBN No 76 May 1956 p6] Statistics; Local Spiritual Assembly, formation
    1955 Apr
    195-
    The announcement of the enrollment of the first resident believers on the Queen Charlotte Island, William Washburn and John Giegerich. [CBN No68 April,1955 p1] William Washburn; John Giegerich; Queen Charlotte Island, BC the enrollment of the first resident believers on the Queen Charlotte Island, William Washburn and John Giegerich
    1955 Apr
    195-
    The announcement of the first Bahá'í in the Yukon, Mr Robert Fowler of Whitehorse. [CBN No68 April,1955 p1] Robert Fowler; Whitehorse, YT first Bahá'í in the Yukon
    1955 23 Feb - 21 Oct
    195-
    Roy and Jean Ziegler of Vancouver pioneered to the Yukon. [CBN No 117 October 1957 p1] Pioneering, Yukon; Roy Ziegler; Joan Ziegler; Yukon, Canada
    1955 17 Feb
    195-
    Robin Fowler became the first person to declare his Faith in the Yukon. [CBN No63 Apr 1955 p1; CBN No 117 October 1957 p1] Robin Fowler; Yukon, Canada first person to declare his Faith in the Yukon
    1955 c. Feb
    195-
    A celebration to mark the 10th anniversary in Edmonton of the Friends of the Indians Society was held with some four hundred white and Native people in attendance.

    The anniversary meeting of the Society, at which Cree First Nations danced with the skill of professionals, First Nations handicrafts and artifacts were displayed, and a full-blooded Haida spoke. His message was directed to the Native people to take up their responsibilities as citizens, to avail themselves of education and adapt themselves to the encroachment of modern civilization.

    The Friends of the Indians (First Nations) Society did much during its 10 years of existence to promote its aims, through monthly meetings to which Indians are invited, through representations to government bodies, by enlightening public opinion through press releases, and through direct welfare and charity when needed. Its present executive committee include a Roman Catholic priest, a Unitarian minister, a Mormon elder, a Bahá'í, and others who are able to work together in harmony and unity. {CBN No63 PE 1955 P3]

    Friends of the Indians Society; Edmonton, AB
    1955 Feb
    195-
    The first fireside was held in Hull, Quebec at the home of one of the friends of the Faith. Bert Rakovsky of Westmount was the speaker. [CBN No 63 April, 1955 p2] Albert Rakovsky; Outaouais Cluster; Hull, QC the first fireside in Hull, QC
    1955 8 Jan
    195-
    At its meeting in Toronto National Spiritual Assembly members examined several proposed Hazira and Temple properties and advised the committee to arrange for the purchase of a property as soon as possible on the basis of the specifications sent the Guardian in December and approved by him. [CBN No62 Mar 1955 p3] Hazira and Temple Grounds Committee; Toronto, ON
    1955 1 - 2 Jan
    195-
    At Skyloft Lodge north of Toronto 29 Bahá'ís and 30 non-Bahá'ís attended a winter school conference arranged by the Ontario Youth Committee. Canadian communities represented were Toronto, Thoro1d, Kingston, Forest Hill, Pickering, Hamilton, Stratford and Oshawa. Friends were also welcomed from Hamburg and Niagara Falls, N.Y., from Connecticut and from Pittsburg, Pa. The speakers were Miss Nancy Campbell, Hamilton, who spoke on "Living the Bahá'í Life'', which gave much food for thought. Douglas Martin and Elizabeth Manser, each conducted a session. [CBN No61 Feb 1955 p1] Winter schools; Toronto, ON
    1955 1 - 2 Jan
    195-
    A Winter School was held at Beaulac, QC. Courses included one by Lloyd Gardiner on "Administration", during which the L.S.A.'s of East Beaulac and West Beaulac met to discuss a specific community problem. This workshop method of learning by doing ensured better learning with many an added chuckle.[CBN No 61 Feb 1955 p1] Winter schools; Beaulac, QC
    1955 1 - 2 Jan
    195-
    Twenty-five Maritime believers met in Saint John for their annual winter conference. With them were the Robarts, Allan Raynor of Toronto, and Easter King Thompson from Calais, Me. Mr. Robarts gave a report on the New Delhi conference which he had attended as Canada's representative. [CBN No 48 January 1954 p4] Maritime Winter Conference; John Robarts; Saint John, NB
    1954 11 Dec
    195-
    The National Assembly received a message from the Guardian specifying that the Hazira and Temple property should be about 9 miles from the heart of Toronto. The issue was carefully discussed at the Assembly meeting and revised specifications were given the committee who were asked to make every effort to secure a suitable property at an early date. [CBN No61 Feb 1955 p1] Hazira and Temple Grounds Committee; Toronto, ON
    1954 4 Dec
    195-
    December 4. On this date in 1954, Leroy Ioas wrote "The beloved Guardian has directed me to write you... that the Israel Branch of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Canada was to be established, and land on Mount Carmel registered in your name..." iiiii Israel Branch of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Canada; * Bahá'í World Centre
    1954 9 Oct
    195-
    More than 20 believers attended the Maritime Fall Conference held in Charlottetown. Mrs. Peggy Ross of Scarboro highlighted the conference, the theme being "Augmenting the Dynamic Spirit in the Ten-Year Crusade". She discussed bridging the gap between thought and action, saying that a living sacrifice is required these days to prevent giving in to inertia. "Action towards what we believe in is like food in the hands of starving people." She discussed taking on the ways of the new Kingdom by learning the manners and customs of the Faith. [CBN No58 Nov 1954 p3] Maritime Fall Conference; Peggy Ross; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
    1954 1 Oct
    195-
    Land on Mount Carmel, specifically Parcel No. 304, Block 10811, was transferred to the Israel Branch of the Canadian National Spiritual Assembly and registered. [CBN No 61 February, 1955 p1] Israel Branch of the Bahá'ís of Canada; Haifa, Israel
    1954 1 Oct
    195-
    Auxiliary Board Member Florence Mayberry launched the first weekly fireside effort and the first public meeting when she returned in October, 1956. [CBN No 117 October 1957 p1] Florence Mayberry; Auxiliary board members; Yukon, Canada first weekly fireside in the Yukon; first public meeting in the Yukon
    1954 (In the year)
    195-
    Canadian Bahá'ís who were studying in other countries this year were Joyce Noble (Devlin), New Westminster, who was awarded the Emily Carr Scholarship, and who was studying in England, Vicki Ogal, Steinbach, MB., who was in California at University, and Bruce and Loretta Francis, Etobicoke, who were doing postgraduate. [CBN No57 Oct 1954 p2] work in Ithaca, N.Y. Joyce Noble; Joyce Devlin; Viki Ogal; Bruce Francis; Loretta Francis
    1954 17 Sep - 6 Nov
    195-
    Rex King from Tucson, Arizona arrived in the Yukon and stayed until the 6th of November. He also made two brief visits in April and May of 1955. He made the first Bahá'í radio broadcasts in the Yukon. [CBN No 117 October 1957 p1] Pioneering, Yukon; Rex King (Reginald King); Radio; Yukon, Canada first radio broadcast in the Yukon
    1954 12 Sep
    195-
    Seventy Bahá'ís and their friends attended a picnic at Kappus Farm, near Newfan, N.Y. The day gave an opportunity to renew friendship "across the border". Mr Allan Reed, chairman of the U.S. National Bahá'í Press Service, spoke on "Proclaiming the Faith", with the use of Audio-Visual Aids. Mr A Tichenor, secretary of the U.S. National Audio-Visual Aids Committee, discussed the effective use of special days for attracting attention to the Faith. [CBN No57 Oct 1957 p2] International picnic; Newfane, NY
    1954 11 Sep
    195-
    A detailed report on the findings of the Hazira and Temple Grounds Committee was sent to the Guardian with a request for further guidance on purchase of a site. [CBN No58 Nov 1954 p3] Hazira and Temple Grounds Committee; Toronto, ON
    1954 Sep
    195-
    The annual publication of the list of National Committees and their mandates was published in the September edition of the Canadian Bahá'í News [CBN No 54 Sep 1954 p7-8] National Committees
    1954 29 Aug - 5 Sep
    195-
    A summer school was held at the Banff School of Fine Arts attracting 41 adults and 12 children. Speakers were Florence Mayberry, who spoke on "Spiritual Dynamics", Ron Nablo, Rex King, (who had just recently pioneered to Anchorage. [CBN No 58 November, 1954 p4] Summer schools; Florence Mayberry; Ron Nablo; Rex King (Reginald King); Banff, AB
    1954 18 Aug - 6 Oct
    195-
    Marjorie Wheeler of Chicago arrived in the Yukon but found it necessary to leave on the 6th of October because of her mother's ill health. [CBN No 117 October 1957 p1] Pioneering, Yukon; Marjorie Wheeler; Yukon, Canada
    1954 31 Jul - 7 Aug
    195-
    The Ontario Summer Conference was held at Geneva Park in Lake Couchiching. Mr Curtis Kelsey lead a discussion on "The World Order Unfolds", Glen Eyford of Winnipeg gave a course on consultation called "The Living Framework" and Harriet Kelsey spoke on "Essential Principles of the Faith. Mr and Mrs Kelsey commemorated the 27th anniversary of their marriage. [CBN No 51 Apr 1954 p4; CBN No 53 Jun 1954 p2; CBN No 56 Sep 1954 p5] Ontario Summer Conference; Lake Couchiching, ON
    1954 24 Jul
    195-
    At the meeting of the National Spiritual Assembly some proposed Temple sites were viewed but no final decision reached. The Hazira and Temple Grounds Committee was commended on its work. [CBN No 56 Sep 1954 p2] Hazira and Temple Grounds Committee; Toronto, ON
    1954 14 Jul
    195-
    The first Bahá'í wedding in Charlottetown took place on July 14, when Muriel Sheppard and Elwood McLeod were united in marriage by Rowland Estall. They spent a nine-day honeymoon on the Magdalen Islands, where they were able to make some friends and visit Mrs. Kay Zinky, the pioneer there. [CBN No56 Sep 1954 p5] Marriage; Muriel Sheppard; Elwood McLeod; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island first Baha'i wedding in Charlottetown
    1954 Jun
    195-
    In June of 1954 it was announced in the American Bahá'í News that the following had been appointed to the Auxiliary Board in North America: Gayle Woolson, Margery McCormick, Katherine McLaughlin, Florence Mayberry, Sarah Pereira, and Rowland Estall by the three Hands of the Cause in North America, Corrine True, Horace Holley and Paul Haney.
  • To make it possible for the Auxiliary Boards to fulfill their mission, the Guardian transmitted an initial contribution of five thousand pounds to be equally divided among the five continents, and appealed to both individuals and National Assemblies to augment these funds. [BN No 28 June 1954 p6]
  • In Africa there were eight new Auxiliary Board Members and among them were Elsie Austin, 'Alí Nakhjavání, John Robarts, William Sears, and 'Azíz Yazdi. [UC49]
  • Auxiliary board members; Gayle Woolson; Margery McCormick; Katherine McLaughlin; Florence Mayberry; Sarah Pereira; Rowland Estall; Elsie Austin; `Alí Nakhjavání; John Robarts; William Sears; Aziz Yazdi
    1954 Jun
    195-
    Ted and Joanie Anderson wrote the Guardian and asked him who they should teach. They received this reply:
      The Guardian...urges you to concentrate on the native populations it is for that reason that we have opened new countries to the Faith. After all, Europeans, Americans, etc., can become Bahá'ís in their homeland. We have entered new fields all over the world to bring the light of divine guidance to the native population, who have thus far been deprived of the spiritual teachings of Bahá'u'lláh. May you be confirmed with this teaching effort among the natives. The great foal would be an assembly in Whitehorse, made up of native Bahá's or at least the majority natives..
    [Native Conversion, Native Identity: An Oral History of the Bahá'í Faith among First Nations People in the Southern Central Yukon Territory, Canada by Carolyn Patterson Sawin p91-92]

    It was through the participation of the Bahá'í in the Yukon Indian Advancement Association that many of the early Native people became Bahá'ís. [ibid p92]

    Ted Anderson; Joan Anderson; Teaching, Native; Whitehorse, YT
    1954 May
    195-
    The National Archives Committee made an appeal to all assemblies and individuals to keep and record all information relative to the early history of the Cause in their area and to forward copies to the National Archives. They repeated their appeal for the friends to send Tablets that had been received from the Master. [CBN No 52 May 1954 p4] Archives
    1954 May - Jun
    195-
    Rosemary and Emeric Sala departed for their pioneer post in Africa via Cardiff, Wales, Oxford England, and Esslingen, Germany. In Europe they boarded the Kenya Castle and made a stop in Cairo before arriving in Mombassa and taking the train to Nairobi and back. They obtained visas for entry in South Africa in Mozambique, traveled to Durban by bus and then took a bus for the 90 some miles to their destination in Eshowe. [TG122-126]
  • See Rosemary's letter CBN No59 Dec 1954 p1.
  • Pioneering; Rosemary Sala; Emeric Sala; St. Lambert, QC
    1954 30 Apr - 2 May
    195-
    The. seventh Canadian Bahá'í National Convention was held at Victoria Hall, Westmount, Montreal. followed by a Teaching Conference held Sunday, May 2nd in the Assembly Hall of the YMCA across the street. The following were elected to serve on the National Spiritual Assembly: Lloyd Gardner (chair), Allan Raynor, (vice), Audrey Westheuser (sec'y), Peggy Ross, (treasurer), Rolland Estall, Angus Cowan, Winnifred Harvey, Donald MacLaren, Albert Rakovsky. [CBN No 53 June 1954 p3; CBN No 54 July 1954 p1]
  • On Saturday afternoon, May 1st, the delegates and friends gathered at Victoria Hall in Westmount for a brief commemoration and prayers. [CBN No 63 April 1955, Insert p4]
  • A memorial service for Marion Jack, the beloved Canadian pioneer to Sofia, Bulgaria, was held. Miss Jack was born in St. John, N .B. As an artist, as well as a believer, she was invited to Haifa to paint many of the scenes there. She was in Bulgaria during the war and suffered greatly. Because of this, the Guardian invited her to leave and return to Haifa. She decided, however, to remain, even though the difficulties were great, and stayed at her post until her passing March 27, 1954. She is interred in the British Cemetery in Sofia. [CBN No54 Jul 1954 p1]
  • Polly Pollexfen, Ethel Martens and Hart Bowsfield were injured in a motor vehicle accident while travelling from Winnipeg to the National Convention in Montreal. It was a serious accident and recovery was slow. [CBN No57 Oct 1957 p2]
  • National Convention; NSA; Lloyd Gardner; Allan Raynor; Audrey Westheuser; Peggy Ross; Rolland Estall; Angus Cowan; Winnifred Harvey; Donald MacLaren; Albert Rakovsky; National Spiritual Assembly, election of; Westmount, QC
    1954 Apr
    195-
    They were unable to obtain visas for the Comoro Islands and so Rosemary and Emeric Sala set their new pioneering destination to Basutoland (Lesotho).[CBN No53 Jun 1954 p2] Pioneer; Rosemary Sala; Emeric Sala; Basutoland
    1954 Ridván
    195-
    Twenty-six local Spiritual assemblies were formed in Canada. [CBN No 76 May 1956 p6] Statistics; Local Spiritual Assembly, formation
    1954 21 Apr
    195-
    Bruce Matthew came to Canada in 1951 from Scotland via Hertfordshire and moved to Toronto in 1953 where he encountered the Faith after responding to a newspaper in The Toronto Star. The advertisement was for a talk by Laura Davis at a public meeting at the Bahá'í Centre. Willing to go "anywhere" he was asked to move to Goose Bay, NL and arrived on the 21st of April, 1954, the deadline established by Shoghi Effendi for being named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh by Shoghi Effendi. Bruce has an interesting story of his miraculous healing just prior to his boarding the plane for Goose Bay. [KoB270-271]
  • During the time he spent there, from April 1954 to January 1956, Bruce worked at the hospital and later as a court reporter for the United States Air Force until his job was phased out.
  • In consultation with the Goals Committee, Bruce pioneered to Charlottetown, PE, then St. John's, NL, and Windsor, ON. The Goals Committee then suggested that Bruce go to Moncton, NB, and he finally settled in the community of Alliston, ON, north of Toronto. [CBN Vol4 Issue 2 Jun 1991 p11; KoB271; BW13p453]
  • Bruce Matthews; Knight of Bahá'u'lláh; Goose Bay, NL; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; St. Johns, NL; Windsor, ON; Moncton, NB
    1954 10 Apr
    195-
    The National Spiritual Assembly made a careful study of the Hazira and Temple Grounds Committee and new directives to the committee were formulated. [kCBN No 53 Jun 1954 p3] Hazira and Temple Grounds Committee; Toronto, ON
    1954 6 Apr
    195-
    Shoghi Effendi called upon the Hands of the Cause to appoint, during Ridván 1954, five auxiliary boards to act as their adjuncts or deputies to work with the national spiritual assemblies to execute the projected national plans. [MBW44, BW13p335; CBN No 53 June, 1954 p6; MBW58-60] Auxiliary board members; Haifa, Israel
    1954 Apr
    195-
    Howard Gilliland, an Air Force captain, arrived in Labrador and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. Because of housing difficulties his family was not able to join him. He left in February of 1955. [BW13:453; KoB269] Howard Gilliland; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Labrador, NL
    25 or 27 Mar
    195-
    The passing of Marion Jack (General Jack) at her pioneer post in Sofia, Bulgaria at the age of 87. She was born in Saint John, NB on December 1, 1866. [BWNS385, Never be Afraid to Dare p. 227; BW12p674-677]
  • She first learned of the Faith from Mason Remey while she was in Paris during her student days.
  • Marion Jack was one of the first to respond to the call of the Divine Plan performing pioneer service in Alaska and teaching in Toronto, Montreal and may other places. She also spent a good deal of time at Green Acre.
  • In 1930 or 1931 she returned to Haifa where she had been in 1908 and following the visit went to Sofia. During the early years there she attended the German summer school and made teaching trips to Vienna and Budapest.
  • She remained at her post until her passing encountering untold hardship due to poor health, the lack of money, the privations of the war and the subsequent communist rule.
  • See the Guardian's tribute dated the 29th of March. [CBN No52 May 1954 p1]
  • She was buried in the British Cemetery in Sofia. [CBN No 54 July 1954 p1]
  • A tribute to her was published as an insert to CBN No 63 April 1963.
  • See CBN October 1979 for tributes as well as a photo of her gravesite.
  • For her biography see Never Be Afraid to Dare by Jan Teofil Jasion published by George Ronald, 2001.
  • See also Marion Jack: Immortal Heroine by Jan Jasion.
  • See Bahá'í Chronicles.
  • Marion Jack; General Jack; In Memoriam; Jan Teofil Jasion; Sofia, Bulgaria
    1954 Mar - Apr
    195-
    Albert Rakovsky, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly 1953-1956 was the first Bahá'í to visit Anticosti Island. [MtB192-193] Albert Rakovsky; Anticosti Island, QC the first Bahá’í to visit Anticosti Island
    1954 14 Feb
    195-
    The National Spiritual Assembly gave the Manitoba Regional Teaching Committee to prepare translations of approved literature into Ukrainian. [CBN No 50 Mar 1954 p2]
  • "The Guardian was greatly encouraged to learn of the steps being taken by you for the translation of literature into Ukrainian and into Polish. He feels that this is a very important step, and one which will produce outstanding results for the Faith". [CBN No 51 Apr 1954 p1]
  • * Translation; Ukrainian; Polish language; Winnipeg, MB
    1954 6 Feb
    195-
    A detailed report on Hazira and Temple properties was presented at the National Spiritual Assembly meeting. A letter from the Guardian requesting purchase by the end of March if possible was discussed. On February 13, three properties were visited and further discussion took place. Suggestions for the Hazira building were examined. It was arranged to send the Guardian immediately a detailed report on progress to date with information on properties believed suitable and on tentative Hazira plans. The Hazira and Temple Committee were asked to prepare additional information on the proposed building and on properties available. [CBN No 50 Mar 1954 p3] Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); Toronto, ON
    1954 (Early in the year)
    195-
    A by-election was held to replace National Spiritual Assembly members John Robarts, Rosemary Sala and Emeric Sala who had planned on leaving Canada for the Comoro Islands. The new members selected were: Angus Cowan, Peggy Ross and Alan Raynor. Rowland Estall was elected a chairman of the Assembly and Winnifred Harvey was elected to serve as vice-chair. [CBN No 50 March 1954 p2] National Spiritual Assembly, election of; Angus Cowan; Peggy Ross; Alan Raynor; Rowland Estall; Winnifred Harvey; National Spiritual Assembly, By-election; Toronto, ON
    1954 (Early in the year)
    195-
    Florence Mayberry made a tour of Eastern Canada with stops in Bellville, Kingston, Montreal, St Lambert, Westmount, Quebec City, Charlottetown, Ingersoll, Hamilton, and Peterborough. [CBN No 51 April, 1954 p5] Florence Mayberry; Travel Teaching; Belleville, ON; Kingston, ON; Montreal, QC; St. Lambert, QC; Westmount, QC; Québec City, QC; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; Ingersoll, ON; Hamilton, ON; Peterborough, ON
    1954 14 Jan
    195-
    Miss Lilian Wyss, a former member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia and New Zealand, arrived in Samoa and became an adopted Canadian pioneer. She hoped to obtain employment so that she could remain and hold the goal when Emmanuel Rock's contract expires next January. [CBN No 49 February 1954 p2]
  • Emmanuel Rock and Lilian Wyss have organized the Bahá'í Group of Apia, are making regular contributions, are helping with Samoan translations and have been able to do a good deal of teaching. They may well establish the first local assembly of the region. [CBN No51 Apr 1954 p6]
  • Samoa; Lilian Wyss; Pioneer; Apia, Samoa
    1954 14 Jan
    195-
    Miss Greta Jankko sailed from Vancouver on the S.S.Oronsay - destination the Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia. [CBN No49 February 1954 p2]
  • Greta Jankko arrived March 5th after visiting friends in San Francisco, Samoa and Papeete. She reported a warm hospitality from the friends wherever she went. [CBN No51 Apr 1954 p4]
  • Greta Jankko reportedly left the island for Finland. [CBN No61 Feb 1955 p2]
  • Pioneer; Greta Jankko; Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia
    1954 Jan
    195-
    It was announced that Angus Cowan had been chosen in a by-election to replace John Robarts on the National Spiritual Assembly. [CBN No 49 January 1954 p3] Angus Cowan; John Robarts; National Spiritual Assembly, By-election; National Spiritual Assembly, election of; Toronto, ON
    1954 Jan
    195-
    John and Audrey Robarts with their two younger children, Patrick and Tina, left Toronto for their pioneer post in Mafeking (later Mafikeng), Bechuanaland (later Botswana and formerly Bophuthatswana). Older children Aldham and Gerald pioneered to Nigeria and a homefront post respectively. [LOF485-6]
  • Upon departure, as they passed through Montreal, Rosemary Sala presented 13-year-old Tina with a large box containing 21 individually wrapped presents to be opened, one per day, on their 21-day sea voyage. [TG121]
  • Later the same year he was appointed to the newly established Auxiliary Board by Hand of the Cause of God Músá Banání. They returned to Canada some 13 years later. [LOF486, 491]
  • * Hands of the Cause; John Robarts; Audrey Robarts; Patrick Robarts; Tina Robarts; Gerald Robarts; Auxiliary board members; Canada; Botswana; Nigeria; - Africa
    1954 Jan
    195-
    The Hazira and Temple Grounds Committee called for suggestions and preliminary designs for the Canadian Haziratu1-Quds to be built on the site for the Mother Temple of Canada. [CBN No 48 January 1954 p4] Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); Toronto, ON
    1954 (In the year)
    195-
    The passing of Christine Monroe at the age of 94. She was the first Bahá'í in West Vancouver. [CBN No 80 September 1956 p2] Christine Monroe; West Vancouver, BC first Bahá'í in West Vancouver
    1954 (In the year)
    195-
    The passing of Mrs Christine Monroe, the first Bahá'í in West Vancouver. She passed away at the age of 94. [CBN No 80 September, 1956 p2] Christine Monroe; In Memoriam; West Vancouver, BC first Bahá'í in West Vancouver
    1953 c. Dec
    195-
    The legal transfer of the ownership of the Maxwell House was transferred to the National Spiritual Assembly. {CBN No 45 October 1953 p2] Montreal Shrine; Montreal, QC
    1953 26 Dec - 3 Jan
    195-
    A winter session was held at Beaulac. A maximum of 30 people were accommodated. Priority was given to those able to spend the entire week. For those who could not be there full-time, a weekend session was arranged from evening dinner on Dec. 31 to lunch on Jan. 3. [CBN No 47 December 1953 p2] Winter schools; Beaulac, QC
    1953 19 Dec
    195-
    Rosemary and Emeric Sala resigned from the National Spiritual Assembly and their to go pioneering. The National Spiritual Assembly had to transfer the National Teaching Committee from Montreal to Toronto and make changes to the regional teaching committees in both Ontario and Québec. [CBN No 39 February 1954 p2; CBN No 49 February 1954 p2] National Spiritual Assembly; Emeric Sala; Rosemary Sala; St. Lambert, QC
    1953 20 Nov
    195-
    The establishment and legal recognition of the Israel Branch of the Canadian National Spiritual Assembly, known as a 'Religious Society' by the Israeli Civil Authorities. This entity was empowered to hold title to immovable property without restriction in any part of the country on behalf of the parent Assembly. Such arrangements were made for the National Spiritual Assemblies of Britain, Iran, and Australia as well. This was the 7th goal of Canada's part of the Ten Year Crusade. [MtC174, 204, 213; CBN No 61 February, 1955 p1]
  • "The land on Mount Carmel which the Guardian had instructed to be registered in the name of the Israel Branch of the Canadian Assembly was transferred to the title of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Canada, Israel Branch, on October 1, 1954". Quoted from a letter from Leroy Ioas. [CBN No 61 February, 1955 p1]
  • Israel Branch of the Bahá'ís of Canada; Haifa, Israel; * Bahá'í World Centre
    1953 7 Nov
    195-
    At a National Assembly meeting in Montreal the Hazira ·and Temple Committee reported on a proposed purchase was discussed in detail and some questions on it were referred to the Guardian. [CBN No 47 December 1953 p2] Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); Montreal, QC
    1953 12Oct
    195-
    Irving and Grace Geary arrive at their pioneer post on Cape Beton Island and took up residence in Baddeck and later moved to Sydney. They stayed on the island until 1961. They learned of the Faith from Mabel Ives who made a teaching trip to Moncton, NB where they were living in 1937. [KoB280-282]
  • Frederick and Jeanne Allen arrived one day later and opened a small grocery store a few kilometers from Sydney. They remained until 1961 when they were asked to return to Charlottetown to maintain the Assembly. [KoB280-282; BW15458-459]
  • Irving Geary; Grace Geary; Frederick Allen; Jeanne Allen; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Cape Breton Island, NS; Baddeck, NS; Sydney, NS
    1953 Oct
    195-
    John Robarts (1901 – 1991) and Audrey Robarts, who had become Bahá'ís in 1937 in Toronto, pioneered to Bechuanaland (Botswana) with their children, Patrick and Tina. Aldham pioneered to West Africa. [Bahá'í Community of Canada. "John Robarts." Baha'i Historical Figures; CBN No 47 December, 1953 p1]
  • John was a member of the National Spiritual Assembly from 1948–53.
  • In 1953 they became Knights of Bahá'u'lláh when they pioneered to Bechuanaland sailing from Saint John on the 6th of January. [CBN No 50 March 1954 p2]
  • from John and Audrey Robarts. "They are now comfortably settled at Mafeking, where they were fortunate enough to buy an attractive bungalow with electrical equipment and furniture a few days after their arrival. Housing is very scarce in Mafeking and people who have been living in hotels for months looking for accommodation eye them with envy. The house is situated in an orchard with 12 varieties of fruit, and overlooks a golf course on one side and a fine school playground on the other. John had a choice of positions offered him in the insurance field, Nina has an excellent school and Patrick is in Johannesburg at university." [CBN No52 May 1954 p2]
  • In 1957 John Robarts was appointed a Hand of the Cause of God. [14 May 1954. Messages to Canada]
  • John Robarts; Audrey Robarts; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Tina Robarts; Patrick Robarts; Aldham Robarts; Toronto, ON
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Mrs (Alexandra) Ola Pawlowska arrived in St Pierre and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for Miquelon Island and St Pierre Island. [BW13:454; KoB282-283; CBN No 46 November 1953 p5]
  • See CBN No 48 January, 1954 p5 for a letter from Ola describing the conditions on the island.
  • After four years she asked the Guardian's permission to leave and his reply was that she could provided she found a replacement. She went on to spend more than 30 years in Africa. [KoB283]
  • - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Ola Pawlowska; Miquelon Island; St. Pierre and Miquelon
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Florence Mayberry of Santa Paula, California made a tour of Western Canada with stops in Victoria, Vernon, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Calgary, Regina, Moose Jaw and Brandon. [CBN No 47 December, 1953 p4] Florence Mayberry; Travel Teaching; Victoria, BC; Vernon, BC; Saskatoon, SK; Winnipeg, MB; Calgary, AB; Regina, SK; Moose Jaw, SK; Brandon, MB
    1953 Oct
    195-
    The National Spiritual Assembly announced that the property that had been purchased the previous year at 188 St George Street West in Toronto had been sold. It proved to be impractical to alter the building to suit the needs.
  • A search for a suitable piece of land for the Haziratu'l-Quds and the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár was undertaken. [CBN No 45 October 1953 p3]
  • Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); * Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); Toronto, ON
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Noland Boss arrived Yellowknife (MacKenzie District). Noland was one of the first believers to arise during the Ten Year Crusade, and to travel from his home community in the Okanagan Valley north to the frontier town of Yellowknife which was a twentieth century version of a nineteenth century mining camp. Here amidst a floating and ever changing population, Noland found employment and in later years to it he brought his bride. In the years that have followed, Noland and Bernice established their home and raised their family and, with undeviating steadfastness, have remained at their post.

    Other pioneers to Yellowknife were Ted Blencowe (1954 September) and later his wife, Helen, and Don and Midge Ulery, as well as Arthur and Lily Anne Irwin. [CBN No57 Oct 1954 p1; CBN No 207 Apr 1967 p8]

    Noland Boss; Bernice Boss; Ted Blencowe; Helen Blencowe; Midge Ulery; Don Ulery; Yellowknife, NT
    1953 26 - 27 Sep
    195-
    In Winnipeg, where the conference met in the Cowan home, relaxation from more serious discussion was achieved by a play "The Fireside Wood is Green" presented by the Community Players. [CBN No 46 November 1953 p5] Conferences, Teaching; Winnipeg, MB
    1953 26 - 27 Sep
    195-
    In Toronto over 70 Bahá'ís from 15 localities registered for the conference. A wall-size map of the province, with the assemblies and goals marked, provided visual aid in grasping the scope of the task facing the Bahá'ís of Ontario. [CBN No 46 November 1953 p5] Conferences, Teaching; Toronto, ON
    1953 23 Sep
    195-
    Ted and Joan Anderson arrived in Whitehorse, Canada, and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh for the Yukon. The first local spiritual assembly was elected in 1959. When they left in 1972 there were some 400 Bahá'ís in the area. [BW13:457; KoB255263; LynnEchvarria2008p57; CBN No46 Nov 1953 p3]
  • The Andersons established an organization called the Indian Advancement Association for Indigenous people, which later was changed to the Native Brotherhood and Yukon Association of Non-status Indians. Many of the early Bahá'ís in the Yukon were Indigenous elders. In addition to contributing to the growth and development of the Bahá'í community in the Yukon, these Bahá'ís also significantly contributed to the revitalization of the Indigenous cultures and language of the Yukon. [NSA website]
  • Ted Anderson; Joan Anderson; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Susan Rice; Marion Jack; Emogene Hoagg; Orcella Rexford; Local Spiritual Assembly, formation; Whitehorse, YT
    1953 22 Sep
    195-
    Kathleen Weston MacLeod moved from her pioneering post in Charlottetown to the Magdalene Islands. She was followed by her husband Ernest. Although she was qualified as a nurse she was unable to work at the Catholic hospital and so took a job as a temporary replacement for the teacher in an English school. The local minister launched a rumour campaign against her and so she called a meeting of the parents of her school to reveal that she was a Bahá'í and to explain the tenants of the Faith. They expressed their overwhelming support for her in oppositions to the minister's efforts to have her teacher's permit revoked and to have her leave the Island.

    Because she was not able to find employment she departed on the 22nd of December and was replaced by Kay Zinky in February 1954. She was an American from Colorado Spring, Colorado, whose husband, a non-Bahá'í, supported her during her stay of one year, until February 1954. Margaret and Larry Rowdon with their daughter Ayn arrived in the summer of 1954. They stayed until 1969. During this time the rest of their children, Leslie, Ruth, Devin, Karen and Bret were born. [CBN No 49 Feb 1954 p2; CBN No 54Jul 1954 p2] [CBN Vol 18 No 1 May 2005 p24-26; HB25; BW13:453; KoB278-280]

    The first person to declare on the Magdalens was Carole Bates, originally from Nova Scotia. [HB116]

    Kathleen Weston; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Kay Zinky; Margaret Rowdon; Larry Rowdon; Ayn Rowdon; Carole Bates; Ernest MacLeod; Magdalen Islands, QC first person to declare on the Magdalens was Carole Bates
    1953 20 Sep
    195-
    The North Atlantic Regional International Picnic was held at the Kappus Farm, McClen Road, in Burt, New York. [CBN No 33 September 1953 p2] International picnic; Burt, NY
    1953 17 Sep
    195-
    Dick Stanton arrived in Baker Lake on the 17th of September to become a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for Keewatin. He was forced to leave in November of 1958 but Ken and Mary McCulloch to maintain the post. In the early 1960's Dick pioneered to China for five years. [CBN No 45 October 1953 p2; CBN No 47 December 1953 p1; KoB263-264 ]
  • On his way from Churchill, Manitoba, to his pioneer post at Baker Lake, Dick Stanton presented a copy of Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era to the library of the Hudson Bay vessel which serviced that northern outpost. [BN No 276 November 1953 p4]
  • Knight of Bahá'u'lláh; Dick Stanton; Ken McCulloch; Mary McCulloch; Baker Lake, NU
    1953 8 Sep
    195-
    Jameson and Gale Bond arrived in Arctic Bay in the District of Franklin and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. They stayed until 1955. They were in Cambridge Bay from 1955 until 1962 and then Mr Bond served as the Northern Services Officer, the first to hold this government position. [BW13:451, SDSC127; KoB264-268] Jameson Bond; Gale Bond; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Arctic Bay, NU; Cambridge Bay, NU
    1953 5 - 6 - 7 Sep
    195-
    Maritime Summer Conference was held during the Labour Day weekend at Little Sands on Prince Edward Island. Bahá'ís from three of the Atlantic Provinces attended-with a total of 18 adults and one youth.
  • Peggy Ross of Scarboro gave a course on "The Reality of Man".
  • The Charlottetown friends presented the play written by Ruhiyyih Khanum, A Spiritual Assembly's Growing Pains. This play included a scene from a real incident which took place in early Montreal Bahá'í history between Ruhiyyih Khanum and Charlottetown Bahá'í Ernest Harrison. [CBN No 45 October 1953 p4]
  • Maritime Summer Conference; - Conferences; Peggy Ross; Ernest Harrison; Amatul-Bahá Ruhiyyih Khanum; - Plays; Spiritual Assembly's Growing Pains (play); Little Sands, Prince Edward Island
    1953 2 Sep
    195-
    Doris Richardson arrived on Grand Manan Island and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. She remained there until 1974 The first declaration, Arno Chesley, on the island was in 1958. [BW13:452; CBN No 321 November, 1957 p5; KoB276-277; CBN No 45 October 1953 p1] Doris Richardson; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Arno Chesley; Grand Manan Island, NB
    1953 Sep
    195-
    A list of National committees with their mandates and addresses of the secretaries was published in the Canadian Bahhá'í News. [CBN No 44 September 1953 p5] National Committees
    1953 Sep
    195-
    Edythe MacArthur arrived at her post in the Queen Charlotte Islands (Haida Gwaii) and took up residence in Tlell. She found employment as a cook on a dude ranch. She was the first pioneer to the Queen Charlotte Islands (Haida Gwaii) In 1954 she asked the Guardian for permission to pioneer to Africa and it was granted. [CBN No 45 October 1953 p2; KoB272-273] Edythe MacArthur; Knight of Bahá'u'lláh; Queen Charlotte Island, BC
    1953 8 - 15 Aug
    195-
    The annual Ontario Summer Conference was held this year at Geneva Park, Lake Couchiching, a Y.M.C.A. camp. There was an attendance of about 90 for the entire week, with about 120 for the first weekend.
  • The principal speaker for the occasion was Dr. Stanwood Cobb of Washington, D.C., well-known lecturer and author of many books on the spiritual aspect of the Faith. The subject of his series of lectures was "Deepening the Spiritual Life".
  • A course on "The Art of Consultation" was conducted by Violet Wuerfel, of Detroit.
  • Margery McCormick, of Chicago, brought the warmth of her loving personality to the conference and was instrumental in conducting daily classes for inquirers drawn from the staff and other guests of the camp.
  • Gisela Commanda, of the nearby Rama Indian Reservation, (Rama First Nation) gave interesting and informative talks on the life of the Indian and had several displays on hand. Several Baha'is visited the Reservation and made valuable contacts.
  • Ontario Summer Conference; Stanwood Cobb; Violet Wuerfel; Margery McCormick; Gisela Commanda; Lake Couchiching, ON
    1953 Aug
    195-
    Douglas Martin became a Bahá'í. [UC43] Douglas Martin; Toronto, ON
    1953 27 Jul
    195-
    Siegfried (Fred) Schopflocher, Hand of the Cause of God, passed away in Montreal and was buried beside the grave of Sutherland Maxwell in Mount Royal Cemetery at the Guardian's suggestion. He was born in Germany in 1877. [BW12:664-666, LOF390, TG119, CBNS 24 July 2014, Bahá'í Chronicles, SCRIBD, Schopflocher, Siegfried (1877–1953) by Will C. van den Hoonaard; CBN No 43 August 1953 p4; CBN No 44 September 1953 p2; MtC185-187]
  • Shoghi Effendi had appointed him among the second contingent on the 29th of February, 1952. [MoCxxiii]
  • See TG32, 228 and LoF384-390 for short biographies.
  • See Schopflocher, Siegfried by Will C. van den Hoonaard.
  • For his obituary see BW12:664–6.
  • He was known as the "Chief Temple Builder" because of his great contributions to the completion of the first Mashriqu'l-Adhkár of the West. [BW12:664-666]
  • He made significant contributions to Green Acre both financially and administratively.
  • During the period 1924 to 1947 he was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States and Canada fifteen times. He served on the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Canada from its formation until his passing.
  • He was instrumental in the purchase of the first property for the Haziratu'l Quds.
  • For a brief biography see Bahá'í Chronicles.
  • Find a grave.
  • His funeral was held on the 31st of July presided by the chair of the National Spiritual Assembly John Robarts. The eulogy was delivered by the vice-chair, Rowland Estall. [CBN No 46 November, 1953 p7-10]
  • On August 23, the Montreal Assembly arranged a memorial service in the Maxwell Home which was attended by members of the National Assembly and friends, mainly from the Montreal area. This service in Fred's home community was intimate and personal. Many people recalled with loving gratitude personal associations with Fred, kindly and helpful things he had done in his unobtrusive way, gifts of hospitality or consideration that they had treasured sometimes for many years. [CBN No 46 November 1953 Insert]
  • A memorial service was held in the Temple in Wilmette on the 28th of August. [CBN No 46 November, 1953 p3]
  • Siegfried Schopflocher; * Hands of the Cause; Births and deaths; In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause, Second Contingent; Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Wilmette; Montreal, QC
    1953 14 Jul
    195-
    Gale Keass and Jameson Bond were married in the Maxwell home, the first marriage to be performed there since it was declared a Shrine. [UC43] Gale Keass; Jameson Bond; Marriage; Montreal Shrine; Montreal, QC first marriage in the Shrine.
    1953 10 Jul
    195-
    The accidental death of Eddie Elliot, the first African-Canadian Bahá'í. He was a hydro-line worker and met his death while working on a high-voltage transformer. [CBN No 45 October, 1953 p4]
  • He had grown up in the same household as Mary Maxwell because his mother was employed as a maid and lived in the house.
  • He was a long-time member of the Local Spiritual Assembly and was often called upon to chair. He also maintained his membership in a Christian Church and came to the Faith through Rev Este's church, the Union United Church, the only African Canadian church in Montreal. [OBBC91-92]
  • Only a few months previous to his passing the Guardian had invited him to Haifa and then he continued on to attend the African Intercontinental Teaching Conference in Kampala in February, 1953 as a representative of the National Spiritual Assembly. [CBN No 43Aug 1953 p2; BN No 267 May 1953 p5-7; CBN No 45 October, 1953 p4]
  • Eddie Elliot is considered the first Black Canadian Bahá'í. [MC2p184]
  • In Memoriam; Eddie Elliot; Montreal, QC first Black Canadian Baha'i
    1953 c. Jul
    195-
    Emmanuel Rock, the first to fill a Canadian post overseas, found employment on a short termcontract as Assistant Audit Officer for the Samoan Government. [CBN No 44 September 1953 p2]
  • The Winnipeg Assembly has adopted Emmanuel Rock in Samoa. [CBN No47 December 1953 p1]
  • Pioneer; Emmanuel Rock; Samoa
    1953 (Summer)
    195-
    First Bahá'í w@ddmg in London was solemnized between Dorothy Boys and Bob Smith, the Secretary and Chairman of London Assembly. Friends attended from Toronto, Hamilton and Forest. [CBN No 45 October 1953 p5] Marriage; Dorothy Boys; Bob Smith; London, ON first Bahá'í wedding in
    1953 28 Jun
    195-
    The Hazira Committee reported that the cost of modification of the building at 188 St. George Street to permit public use under Toronto bylaws was exceedingly high. The Guardian was asked for a decision on the advisability of disposing of it for a less costly centre. [CBN No43 August 1953 p3] Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); Toronto, ON
    1953 Jun
    195-
    In a message from the Guardian he stated that of all the objective of the Ten Year Plan for Canada, the purchase of the site of the Mother Temple and the settlement of pioneers in the thirteen virgin territories and islands, eleven of which were situated in North America and two in the South Pacific Ocean, may be regarded as the most important. [CBN No 44 September 1953 p1; MC2p181] Ten Year Crusade
    1953 20 Jun
    195-
    Shoghi Effendi designated the Maxwell home in Montreal as a Shrine. [MtC179; CBN No 45 October 1953 p1] Montreal Shrine; Montreal, QC first Bahá'í Shrine in North America
    1953 14 Jun
    195-
    The 12th annual International Picnic was held at Queenston Heights with 300 in attendance. Mrs. Mary Magdalin Wilkin of Youngstown, N.Y., and Bert Rakovsky from Westmount,QC, were the speakers and Arthur Mushlian, Ingersoll, ON., was chairman. Mrs. Stanley Bolton brought greetings from Australia. Through the efforts of the Hambourg Baha'is, the Brass Band of the Six Nations Reserve, Hambourg, N.Y., provided music. The band attracted the attention of other picnickers and between selections manyheard about the Faith from the Bahá'ís. [CBN No 43 August 1953 p2] International picnic; Queenston Heights, ON
    1953 Jun
    195-
    Hand of the Cause Siegfried Schopflocher made a tour of Western Canada to inform the friends of his trip to Haifa, his talks with the Guardian and his plans for the Ten Year Crusade. Stops were made in Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, Calgary and Edmonton. [CBN No 43 August, 1953 p2] Hands of the Cause, Activities; Siegfried Schopflocher; Travel Teaching; Winnipeg, MB; Regina, SK; Saskatoon, SK; Calgary, AB; Edmonton, AB
    1953
    195-
    It was reported that with the arrival of Fran Bachynski in Charlottetown they had a sufficient number to complete their Assembly. [CBN No42 July 1953 p4] Local Spiritual Assembly, formation; Fran Bachynski; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
    1953 (Ater the Chicago Conference)
    195-
    Dr. Stanley Bolton and Mariette Germaine Roy Bolton of Australia visited Canada after the Chicago Conference. Dr. Bolton was the chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia and he and Mrs. Bolton were both natives of Canada. They visited Toronto and Winnipeg. While in Toronto they addressed two meetings in the Centre and showed pictures of the Australian Summer School, Bolton Place, which was donated to the Faith by the Boltons. [CBN No 42 July 1953 p3-4] Stanley Bolton; Winnipeg, MB; Toronto, ON
    1953 21 May
    195-
    Ruhíyyih Khánum gave the Maxwell home at 1548 Pine Avenue West in Montreal, to the Canadian Bahá'í Community. [UC41] Montreal Shrine; Amatul-Bahá Ruhiyyih Khanum; Montreal, QC
    1953 17 May
    195-
    Following his attendance at the Intercontinental Conference in Wilmette Hand of the Cause Furutan made a tour of Canada with an interpreter, Mr M Anvar. They visited several communities in Western Canada and attended the Feast of Grandeur in Edmonton. [CBN No 41 June, 1953 p3]
  • Visits were also made to Winnipeg,London, Ottawa, Toronto, and Kingston and others. [CBN No 42 July, 1954 p5]
  • The tour concluded in the Maritimes with visits to Moncton and lastly Saint John. [CBN No 43 August, 1953 p2]
  • * Hands of the Cause; `Alí-Akbar Furútan; Winnipeg, MB; Edmonton, AB; Ottawa, ON; London, ON; Kingston, ON; Moncton, NB; Saint John, NB
    1953 9 or 10 May
    195-
    Following her attendance at the Intercontinental Conference in Wilmette Ruhiyyih Khanum met with Bahá'í friends in her former home. She discussed the donation of the Maxwell House to the National Spiritual Assembly as a shrine and suggested how it might be suitably used.
  • The following day friends gathered in Mount Royal Cemetery for a commemorative service for her father, Sutherland Maxwell. Rose petals from the Tomb of Bahá'u'lláh were scattered on the grave. [CBN Vol 13 No 3 July 2000 p5]
  • She was accompanied by Hand of the Cause and member of the International Council Amelia Collins. [CBN No 41 June 1953 p3; CBN No 45 October, 1953 p3]
  • Amelia Collins; Amatul-Bahá Ruhiyyih Khanum; Sutherland Maxwell; Montreal Shrine; Montreal, QC
    1953 3 - 4- 5- 6- May
    195-
    The All-American Intercontinental Teaching Conference was held in Chicago for delifileration on plans designed to establish the Faith in all unoccupied territories of the West and also to adopt measures to assist other National Assemblies. Through the association in this Conference of the four National Spiritual Assemblies of the West, and the consecrated consultation of a great throng of Bahá'ís from Canada, the United States, Central America and South America, the dynamic spirit will be created for the launching of our role in the great World Crusade.
  • The Jubilee Program included the National Convention of the the Bahá'ís of the United States, a series of public meetings, the dedication of the House of Worship on the 2nd of may and an International Conference. The whole program ran from the 29th of April until the 6th of May. [CBN No 35 November 1952 p2]
  • Conferences, Teaching; Chicago, IL; Wilmette, IL
    1953
    195-
    The Hazira Committee was replaced by The Hazira and Temple Committee. [CBN No 41 June 1953 p2] Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); Montreal, QC
    1953 29 Apr - 1 May
    195-
    The Jubilee Celebration commemorating the Centenary of the birth of the Mission of Bahá'u'lláh was held in the Medinah Temple in Chicago. [CBN No 42 July, 1953 p2]
  • The House of Worship in Wilmette was consecrated in a simple ceremony for Bahá'ís only on the 1st of May with the public dedication on the following day. [BW12:143, 152; ZK93; CBN No43 Aug 1953 p2]
    • For details of the dedication see BW12:152–4.
    • A most wonderful and thrilling motion will appear in the world of existence," are 'Abdu'l-Bahá's own words, predicting the release of spiritual forces that must accompany the completion of this most hallowed House of Worship. "From that point of light," He, further glorifying that edifice, has written, "the spirit of teaching … will permeate to all parts of the world." And again: "Out of this Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, without doubt, thousands of Mashriqu'l-Adhkárs will be born." "It marks the inception of the Kingdom of God on earth. [CoF69 Message of 21 March 1949]
  • * Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); Holy Years; Great Jubilee (1952-1953); Chicago, IL
    1953 29 - 30 Apr
    195-
    The sixth National Convention took place in the Unitarian Church of Forest Hill Village and was attended by sixteen delegates as well as over 100 visitors. Elected were: John Robarts, (chairman), Lloyd Gardner, (treasurer), Rowland Estall, (vice chair), Laura Davis, (secretary), Winnifred Harvey, Emeric Sala, Rosemary Sala, Albert Rakovsky and Audrey Westhaeser. [CBN No 41 June, 1953 p2]
  • This convention marked the end of the Five Year Plan that had been given to Canada in 1948 upon the formation of the National Spiritual Assembly.
  • National Spiritual Assembly; National Convention; John Robarts; Lloyd Gardner; Rowland Estall; Laura Davis; Winnifred Harvey; Emeric Sala; Rosemary Sala; Albert Rakovsky; Audrey Westheuser; National Spiritual Assembly, election of; Toronto, ON
    1953 Ridván
    195-
    Canada and the world embarked on the Ten Year Crusade (1953-1963). See [MtC173-276] for the years 1953-1957.

    The objectives of Canada's Plan were:

    1. Opening following virgin territories eleven North America: Anticosti Island, Baranof Island, Cape Breton Island, Franklin, Grand Manan Island, Keewatin, Labrador, Magdalen Islands, Miquelon Island and St. Pierre Island, Queen Charlotte Islands, Yukon;
      Opening two Asias Marquesas Islands, Samoa Islands.
    2. Consolidation faith Iceland, Greenland, Mackenzie, Newfoundland.
    3. Purchase land Toronto anticipation construction first Haziratu'l-Quds Canada.
    4. Establishment national Bahá'í endowments.
    5. Doubling number local spiritual assemblies.
    6. Raising number incorporated spiritual assemblies nineteen.
    7. Formation Israel branch Canadian National Spiritual Assembly.
    8. Establishment American Asian teaching committees entrusted task stimulate coordinate teaching activities initiated plan.
      "Appeal members entire community worthy allies chief executors Abdu'l-Bahá's divine plan dedicate themselves immediate requirements steadily unfolding mission discharge nobly sacred strenuous tasks ahead contribute memorable share prosecution decade long world spiritual crusade pay befitting tribute through future accomplishments memory founder faith occasion most great jubilee commemorating centenary declaration his mission city Baghdad."
      (signed) Shoghi
    Ten Year Crusade; - Teaching Plans; Israel Branch of the Bahá'ís of Canada; Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres)
    1953 (Ridván)
    195-
    The close of the Second Seven Year Plan that had been pursued by the Bahá'ís of the United States and Canada 1946-1953. Worldwide there were 2,425 localities, 611 Local Spiritual Assemblies, 100 countries,island and dependencies open to the Faith and 12 National Spiritual Assemblies formed. [UC43]
  • Thirty local Spiritual assemblies were formed in Canada. [CBN No 76 May 1956 p6]
  • Second Seven Year Plan; Statistics
    1953 Jan
    195-
    A special edition of the Canadian Bahá'í News focused on the purpose of the Haziratu'l-Quds as a symbol of unity and focus that will contribute to the prestige of the Faith. The Guardian asked other National Communities to contribute to the project. [CBN No 35 January 1953; Bahá'í Canada Summer/Fall 2023 p16] Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres)
    1953 (In the year)
    195-
    Shoghi Effendi launched the Ten Year Crusade. It called for the settlement of 131 international goal by Canada and the United States. [UC38] - Teaching Plans; Ten Year Crusade
    1953 (In the year)
    195-
    Spiritual Assemblies were formed in London, Verdum, Saskatoon, Oshawa, St Catharines, Kingston, New Westminster, Westmont, Belleville, Pickering and Etobicoke, the 20th to the 30th to form. [CBN No 46 November, 1953 p2] Local Spiritual Assembly, formation; London, ON; Verdun, QC; Saskatoon, SK; Oshawa, ON; St. Catharines, ON; Kingston, ON; New Westminster, BC; Westmount, QC; Belleville, ON; Pickering, ON; Etobicoke, ON
    1952 26 Dec - 1 Jan
    195-
    Rosemary Sala spoke about her recent pilgrimage at the Beaulac Winter Session. [CBN No 36 December, 1952 p8] Winter schools; Rosemary Sala; Beaulac, QC
    1952 Dec
    195-
    Mr. Schopflocher wrote to the Hon. Lester B. Pearson, Minister of External Affairs in Ottawa, to assist us on behalf of Miss Marian Jack, the Canadian pioneer in Sofia, Bulgaria. She would have been 88 years old at this time. Canada did not have diplomatic representation in Bulgaria at this time so, as a Canadian citizen, she came under the responsibility of the British Delegation. NBAD227; [CBN No 36 December 1952 p2] Sofia, Bulgaria; Bulgaria
    1952 Dec
    195-
    The National Spiritual Assembly announced that the Hazíratu'l-Quds had been purchased at 188 St George Street in Toronto. [UC36; CBNNo 36 December 1952 p2] Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); Toronto, ON
    1952 8 Oct
    195-
    The Guardian cabled the the Bahá'í world that he had appointed five Auxiliary Boards, one for each continent, to help the Hands of the Cause in their work. The first Auxiliary Board Members were appointed by the Hands under the direction of the Guardian. They were to serve as adjuncts, deputies and advisers to the Hands and to work closely with the National Spiritual Assemblies. [UC35; MBW44, BW13p335] Auxiliary board members; Haifa, Israel
    1952 Oct - 1953 Oct
    195-
    Holy Year, "The Great Jubilee", 16 October 1952 to 16 October 1953, was inaugurated. [MBW16-18; BW12:116; DG84; PP409–10; SBR170–1] Great Jubilee (1952-1953); Holy Years
    1952 Oct
    195-
    It was announced in the Canadian Bahá'í News that Mrs Catherine Jones was the first resident of Saskatoon to accept the Faith. [CBN No 35 November, 1952 p7] Catherine Jones; Saskatoon, SK first resident of Saskatoon to accept the Faith
    1952 25 Sep
    195-
    The National Spiritual Assembly made a deposit payment of $5,0000 on the purchase of a property at 188 St George Street West in Toronto to become the site of the Haziratu'l-Quds. The full purchase price was $49,500 and they were obliged to by $20,000 by the end of November with the balance mortgaged at 5 1/2% interest for 10 years. [CBN No 34 October, 1952 p2; CBN No 36 December, 1952 p2]
  • For a description see CBN No 38 February 1953 p4.
  • See [MtC198-199] for a photo.
  • Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); Toronto, ON
    1952 (In the year)
    195-
    Alan and Evelyn Raynor made and extensive travel teaching tour throughout Western Canada. [CBN No 36 December, 1952 p2; 4] Travel Teaching; Alan Raynor; Evelyn Raynor
    1952 Aug
    195-
    The National Spiritual Assembly was actively searching for a property in Toronto to be used as a National Hazíratu'l-Quds. They had $17,000 which included $6,000 that had been a special contribution from the Guardian and other National Spiritual Assemblies. [CBN No 34 October 1952 p2] Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); Toronto, ON
    1952 Aug
    195-
    The Ontario Bahá'í Summer School was held at the Blue Mountain Resort in Collingwood. [UC35] Summer schools; Collingwood, ON
    1952 14 May
    195-
    In a cable to the National Spiritual Assembly the Guardian advised them the he would contribute £2,000 to the future Haziratu'l-Quds. [MtCp153]

    The National Spiritual Assembly announced that the Hazira Committee would continue its search for a suitable building not exceeding $50,000, [CBN No 31 July 1952 p6]

    Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); * Bahá'í World Centre; Canada
    1952 25 - 29 Apr
    195-
    The fifth National Convention was held in the Brunswick Hotel in Moncton, NB. Sixteen delegates and twenty-five observers were in attendance. Those elected to the National Spiritual Assembly were: Lloyd Gardener John Robarts, Emeric Sala, Rowland Estall, Laura Davis, Freddy Schopflocher, Rosemary Sala, Winnifred Harvey, and Ross Woodman. [CBN No 28 April 1952 p6; Bahá'í News No 258, August 1952 p10] National Convention; Moncton, NB
    1952 Apr
    195-
    In an article in the Canadian Bahá'í News by Jameson Bond, instructions were given to locate the direction of the Qiblih using the "Great Circle Route". [CBN No 28 April, 1952 p5] Qiblih; Great Circle Route; Jameson Bond; Canada
    1953 29 Mar
    195-
    The funeral for Hand of the Cause Sutherland Maxwell was chaired by John Robarts, the then chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly.
  • Mr. Eddie Elliott, member of the Spiritual Assembly of Montreal and son of a former servant in the Maxwell household sang the spiritual "Steal Away".
  • Mr Rowland Estall, the vice-chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly read some Writings and then delivered the eulogy.
  • A cable that had just arrived from the Guardian announced that the southern door of the Tomb of the Báb would be named after him.
  • Mr. Estall read the Prayer for the Departed.
  • Mr Horace Holley, secretary of the National spiritual assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United states and Mr Fred Schopflocher, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Canada, both distinguished Hands of the cause, had the honour to represent the Guardian at the service. Each of them read a prayer at the interment in Mount royal Cemetery. [CBN undated Memorial Issue]
  • Sutherland Maxwell; John Robarts; Eddie Elliot; Rowland Estall; Horace Holley; Fred Schopflocher; Montreal, QC
    1952 26 Mar`
    195-
    Shoghi Effendi appointed Ruhíyyih Khánum Hand of the Cause of God to replace her father. [UC34] * Hands of the Cause; Amatul-Bahá Ruhiyyih Khanum; Haifa, Israel
    1952 25 Mar
    195-
    Sutherland Maxwell, Hand of the Cause of God, passed away in Montreal. (b.14 November, 1874) [DH143; MBW132; PP246]
  • For his obituary see BW12:657–62.
  • Shoghi Effendi had appointed him among the first contingent on the 24th of December, 1951. [MoCxxiii]
  • For his relationship with Shoghi Effendi and work on the superstructure of the Shrine of the Báb see PP236–43.
  • Shoghi Effendi named the southern door of the Báb's tomb after him in memory of his services.
  • On June 16th, 1956, friends of the Montreal area gathered at the grave to place, under the headstone, an alabaster box that had been sent by the Guardian. The box contained a piece of plaster taken from the walls of the prison in Máh-Kú where the Báb had been incarcerated in 1847. Another piece of plaster from the same source had been placed under the first golden tile of the dome of the Shrine of the Báb. The superstructure of the Shrine had been designed by Sutherland Maxwell. [TG55; CBN No 80 September 1956 p2]
  • Find a grave.
  • For a brief biography see LoF276-286.
  • See Bahá'í Chronicles.
  • The Canadian Bahá'í News published a special Memorial issue.
  • Sutherland Maxwell; Fortress of Mah-Ku; Relics; Báb, Shrine of; In Memoriam; Montreal, QC
    1952 29 Feb
    195-
    Shoghi Effendi appointed Siegfried Schopflocher among the second contingent of Hands of the Cause of God. [BW12:375–6; CT202–3 MBW20–1; PP254; ZK47]
  • Shoghi Effendi described their two-fold function: propagation of the Faith and preservation of its unity. [BW12:376; MBW21]
  • Siegfried Schopflocher; * Hands of the Cause; Haifa, Israel; Montreal, QC
    1952 10 Jan
    195-
    The passing of Honoré Jaxon (b. 1861 as William Henry Jackson in the village of Wingham, ON). He died one month after his eviction from his basement apartment where he hoarded three tons of archival material which he hoped would become a library for the study of the Métis people of Saskatchewan.

    See Speechless 4 December 2009 for a chronological biography as well as a bibliography / webliogrphy of other works on him.

    See NUVO for a photo of his eviction from the New York Daily News archive and a short biography.

    See as well BFA1p90-93; OBCC18-21, 25-26.

    In Memoriam; Honoré Jaxon; Metis people; New York City, NY
    1952 5 Jan
    195-
    Fred and Jean Graham were registered as Bahá'ís. They had been closely aligned and were sympathetic to the Faith since 1948. [UC33]
  • In the months and years that followed their relatives enrolled in the Faith. It can be said that the Graham family established the first dynasty in Canada.
  • 1952 November 2: Fred's mother Florence as well as Fred's sister Jeanie and her husband Orv Seddon enrolled. [UC35]
  • Fred Graham; Jean Graham; Jeanie Seddon; Orv Seddon; Hamilton, ON first Bahá'í dynasty in Canada
    1952 (In the year)
    195-
    A spiritual assembly was formed in North York, the 19th to form. [CBN No. 46 November, 1953 p2] Local Spiritual Assembly, formation; North York, ON
    1951 26 Dec - 2 Jan
    195-
    Beaulac Winter School. [CBN No 23 November 1951 p 5]
  • A "shower was given for the Beaulac School to which all Bahá'ís in the greater Montreal area were invited. Lamps, sheets, towels, bedspreads, furniture and money were received. [CBN No 25 January 1952 p4]
  • Winter schools; Beaulac, QC
    1951 24 Dec
    195-
    Shoghi Effendi appointed Sutherland Maxwell among the first contingent of Hands. [MoCxxiii] Sutherland Maxwell; * Hands of the Cause; Haifa, Israel
    1951 22 Oct
    195-
    After two preliminary meetings, the Montreal District Youth Group got away to a good start. Under the direction of John Pollitt, of St. Lambert, this group reviewed Prescription for Living. There were plans to do something by way of social activity during the coming season and every effort was made to interest young people in Bahá'í activity. [CBN No 25 January 1952 p8] Montreal District Youth Group; John Pollitt; Montreal, QC
    1951 Oct
    195-
    An article entitled The Spiritual Significance of the Shrine of the Báb was printed in CBN No 220 October 1951 p1. The following contracts have been made for the completion of the project: $63,000 for the stone work of the octagon, $5,065 for the metal frames for the windows, $130,000 for cement, steel and stone for the remaining portion of the building plus miscellany for total of $203,965. Báb, Shrine of; * Bahá'í World Centre
    1951 Oct
    195-
    For a list of National Committees complete with their mandates see CBN No 22 October 1951 p6-8.

    For a list of functioning local spiritual assemblies see CBN No 22 October 1951 p8.

    National Committees; Local Spiritual Assemblies
    1951 8 - 9 Sep
    195-
    A two-day Teaching Conference was held in West Vancouver and was attended by representative of all BC communities. The visiting speakers were Helen and Charles Bishop of Portland, and Mark Tobey, of Seattle. The topics were Knowledge and Faith. [CBN No 22 October 1951 p5] Conferences, Teaching; Helen Bishop; Charles Bishop; Mark Tobey; Vancouver, BC
    1951 1 - 2 Sep
    195-
    John Robarts was the guest speaker at the Laurentian Bahá'í School. He stressed the unique privilege Bahá'ís have today of bringing a Divine Plan to a chaotic world. The three letters'---"of the Guardian, "God-Given Mandate", written in 1946, "Challenging Requirements of the Present Hour (1947) and "Citadel of Baha'u'llah (1948) were discussed. Sixteen people from Montreal, Toronto, London and Kingston were present. [CBN No 23 November 1951 p6] Laurentian Bahá'í School, Quebec; John Robarts; Beaulac, QC
    1951 27 - 31 Aug
    195-
    More than 30 people attended the Banff Conference which was held at Holliday House Mrs. Helen Bishop, of Portland, presented a masterly course on The Book of Certitude, Mr. Bob Donnelly, of Regina, gave some very enlightening information of pioneering, substantiated by carefully prepared maps and diagrams. The children presented "A Child Shall Lead Them", under the guidance of Lulu Barr, of Regina. The Calgary believers were responsible for the daily devotions, and several plays, written by Alan Fraser of West Vancouver, were produced in an impromptu manner. The public meeting, held on the 31st of August, at which Helen Bishop was the speaker, attracted a number of local residents, one cf whom asked the Bahá'ís to hold a monthly fireside in his home. [CBN No 22 Oct 1951 p4] Conferences, Teaching; Helen Bishop; Bob Donnelly; Lulu Barr; Alan Fraser; Banff, AB
    1951 26 Aug - 2 Sep
    195-
    The Prairie Regional Teaching Conference was held at the Holliday House in Banff. They continued to use this venue until 1967 when the summer school were held at what become to be the Sylvan Lake Baha'i Centre. [CBN No19 April 1951 p13] Summer schools; Banff, AB
    1951 4 - 11 Aug
    195-
    The Ontario Summer School was held at the Blue Mountain Lodge. The weekly group numbered 37, with many visitors dropping in for a shorter period. Owing to a serious accident to his son, Mr. Curtis Kelsey was unable to be present as originally planned, but Mrs. Margery McCormick, out of her great love for Canada, came directly from Louhellen to give a wonderful course on 'The Seven Valleys". "Administration" was the second major subject, co-ordinated by Lloyd Gardner, with various speakers. An added feature was introduced this year when Nancy Campbell gave three periods on "Platform Technique While Speaking in Public". [CBN No 19 April 1951 p13; CBN No 23 November 1951 p6] Summer schools; Curtis Kelsey; Rex King (Reginald King); Margery McCormick; Lloyd Gardner; Nancy Campbell; Collingwood, ON
    1951 Aug
    195-
    For a list of Local Spiritual Assemblies and National Committees see CBN No21 August 1951 p4-5. Local Spiritual Assembly; National Committees
    1951 Aug
    195-
    An anonymous believer provided for a one year scholarship at the University of Saskatchewan for a Bahá'í youth willing to serve as a pioneer in Saskatoon for one year. The scholarship was awarded to Suzanne Pawlowska of Winnipeg. [CBN No 21 August 1951 p2] Scholarship; Suzanne Pawlowska; Saskatoon, SK
    1951 21 Jul - 3 Aug
    195-
    Reginal King and Lowell Johnson were speakers at the Laurentian Summer School. [CBN No19 April 1951 p13] Summer schools; Reginal King; Lowell Johson
    1951 (In the year)
    195-
    Ontario's first all-Bahá'í funerals were held for Mrs E J Gill of Toronto and Arthur Lehman of Hamilton. [CBN No 22 October 1951 p4] E J Gill; Arthur Lehman; Toronto, ON; Hamilton, ON first all-Bahá'í funerals in Ontario
    1951 14 Jun
    195-
    All will note with interest the increasing use of plays and playlets as a teaching medium. The Montreal community produced one entitled "Fireside Chatter", written by Harold Hamwee. They report "The Maxwell Home was crowded for the event, and it was an exciting evening, not only for the audience, but for the 9 Montreal Bahá'ís in the cast, some of whom had never been on stage before, and were rather surprised to find out that in the new era one also ACTS. The play takes place in the home of a couple who had pioneered to a new city and are holding a fireside. The discussion is typical of most Bahá'í firesides where Bahá'u'lláh's remedies for a better world are discussed. The most outstanding character was Alix, whose thinking was obviously mixed up, but who bravely wore a bright red shirt in honour of her ideas. Rena Gordon deserves praise for the character study of this pathetic but comic figure. Alex had prejudice against everything except names. ·She had no difficulty with the word Bahá'u'lláh. "My own name is Yosopovitch", she said, "which does not includemy three middle names!" The play had no dramatic action, but it had continuity and held the attention of the audience. It presented the Baha'i Faith. to new contacts in a more vivid manner than any speaker could have done." [CBN No23 November 1951 p6] - Plays; Harold Hamwee; Montreal, QC
    1951 6 Jun
    195-
    Palle B. Bischoff, Canada's Greenland pioneer from Copenhagen, arrived in Egedesminde where he took up his duties as manager of a fishing station. [CBN No 21 August 1951 p2; CBN No 23 November 1951 p5]
      Should in Greenland the fire of the love of God be ignited, all the ices of that continent will be melted and its frigid climate will be changed into a temperate climate-that is, if the hearts will obtain the heat of the love of God, that country and continent will become a divine garden and a lordly orchard, and the souls, like unto the fruitful trees, will obtain the utmost freshness and delicacy. Magnanimity is necessary, heavenly exertion is called for.
    Pioneer; Palle Bischoff; Egedesminde, Greenland
    1951 27 - 29 Apr
    195-
    Canada's fourth National Convention was held in the Vancouver Hotel. Those elected were; John Robarts (chair), Rowland Estall (vice-chair) Laura Davis (secretary), Emeric Sala (treasurer) Rosemary Sala, Lloyd Gardner, Mae McKenna, Winnifred Harvey, and Siegfried Schopflocher.
  • For a list of delegates (18) see CBN No 18 Mar 1951 p2. For the agenda see CBN No 19 April 1951 p10-11.
  • Amelia Collins attended the Convention and gave the Canadian Bahá'í Community a lock of hair of Bahá'u'lláh as a gift from Shoghi Effendi. In addition, she gave a piece of Burmese alabaster from the Tomb of the Báb, These precious relics were placed in the Maxwell home archives in Montreal. [UC31]
  • National Spiritual Assembly; National Convention; Relics; Amelia Collins; John Robarts; Rowland Estall; Laura Davis; Emeric Sala; Rosemary Sala; Lloyd Gardner; Mae McKenna; Winnifred Harvey; Siegfried Schopflocher; National Spiritual Assembly, election of; Vancouver, BC; Montreal, QC
    1951 Apr
    195-
    The National Archivist, E V Harrison, on behalf of the Canadian National Archives Committee, made an appeal to the friends to donate Tablets from 'Abdu'l-Bahá to the Archives. He also provided this quotation from 'Abdu'l-Bahá:

      Verily, know, that the letter of 'Abdu'l-Bahá is a hidden mystery and concealed fact; no one is informed of its greatness and importance at these times. But in the course of time and future centuries, the signs thereof will be made manifest, the lights thereof will dawn. The fragrance thereof will be diffused and the greatness, the importance thereof will be known. The truth I say unto thee, that each leaflet from 'Abdu'l-Bahá will be a widespread Book; nay, rather a glistening Gem on the Glorious Crown. Know thou Its value and hold great Its station. [CBN No 19 April 1951 p9]
    Archives; E V Harrision
    1951 21 Jan
    195-
    The Ottawa community observed World Religion Day by securing a 15-minute slot on CFRA Radio where Rowland Estall read a script that had been prepared by Winnifred Harvey on the significance of the event. In the evening he spoke at a public meeting at the Chateau Laurier. [CBN No 18 March 1951 p12] iiiii World Religion Day; Rowland Estall; Winnifred Harvey; Ottawa, ON
    1951 Apr
    195-
    The "unofficial" prayer for the Guardian was adopted by the Canadian believers and published in the Canadian Bahá'í News.
      0 God! We pray that from now on, Thou, the Beloved
      will bestow upon Shoghi Effendi all the strength and
      vigor that will enable him to pursue over a long unbroken
      period of strenuous labor, the supreme task of achieving,
      in collaboration with the friends in every land, the
      speedy triumph of the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh.
    [CBN No19 April 1951 p14]

    This was adapted from his letter dated the 14th of November 1923

      I cherish the hope that, from now on, the Beloved may bestow upon me all the strength and vigor that will enable me to pursue over a long and unbroken period of strenuous labor the supreme task of achieving, in collaboration with the friends in every land, the speedy triumph of the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh. This is the prayer I earnestly request all my fellow-brethren and sisters in the Faith to offer on my behalf.
    [BA52; BA (PDF p27/108)]

    He also had a prayer for the believers:

      "Let us pray to God that in these days of world-encircling gloom, when the dark forces of nature, of hate, rebellion, anarchy and reaction are threatening the very stability of human society, when the most precious fruits of civilization are undergoing severe and unparalleled tests, we may all realize, more profoundly than ever, that though but a mere handful amidst the seething masses of the world, we are in this day the chosen instruments of God's grace, that our mission is most urgent and vital to the fate of humanity, and, fortified by these sentiments, arise to achieve God's holy purpose for mankind."
    Prayer for Shoghi Effendi; Guardians Prayer
    1950 30 Dec - 1 Jan
    195-
    The National University Teaching Committee sponsored a teaching conference in the home of Audry and Dick Westheuser. Christian, Muslim and Bahá'í students attended. [CBN No 18 March 1951 p4] Conferences, Teaching; Rice Lake, ON
    1950 26 Dec - 1 Jan
    195-
    A Winter School was held at Beaulac. [CBN 16 November 1950 p7] Winter schools; Beaulac, QC
    1950 26 Dec - 1 Jan
    195-
    A Winter School was held at Beaulac. [CBN 16 November 1950 p7] Winter schools; Beaulac, QC
    1950 22 Oct
    195-
    The National Spiritual Assembly met with interested Bahá'ís in the Toronto area to report the slow progress of the Five Year Plan and to solicit ideas and take action to remedy the situation. One of the results of the meeting was the appointment of a Pioneer Training Committee to better prepare volunteers for service. [CBN No 16 November 1950 p3] Pioneer; Training, pioneer; Pioneer Training Committee; Toronto, ON
    1950 Sep
    195-
    It was reported that Mr E Blair Fuller was appointed as Canada's first pioneer to Greenland and that he was on his way to take up his post. [CBN15 Septmeber 1950] Pioneer; Blair Fuller; Greenland
    1950 26 Aug
    195-
    Harry Gibson (Ohmilik) became the first Inuit in the Eastern Arctic to hear about the Revelation. His teacher was Jameson Bond on a one-year assignment to Coal Harbour. [CBN No 16 November 1950 p3-4; SDS86-96] Harry Gibson; Ohmilik; Coral Harbour, NU the first Inuit in the Eastern Arctic to hear about the Revelation
    1950 20 - 26 Aug
    195-
    Bahiyyih and Harry Ford were the guest teachers at the Bahá'í Conference held in Banff and she spoke on the Covenant. Harry's talk dealt with teaching methods. [CBN No 16 November 1950 p3-4] Summer schools; Bahiyyih Ford; Harry Ford; Banff, AB
    1950 12 - 19 Aug
    195-
    The Ontario Summer Conference was held at Franklin Camp with about 60 persons in attendance. The speaker was John Robarts who spoke on the Covenant and Elsie Austin of Washington DC whose topic was "The Divine Art of Living". [CBN No 14 July, 1950 p14; No 15 September 1950; CBN No19 April 1951 p14] Summer schools; John Robarts; Franklin Camp, ON
    1950 (summer)
    195-
    The National Public Relations Committee announced that they had obtained the services of a professional publicity agent to assist in a series of campaigns to provide exposure to the Faith Plans included free publicity by radio and press as well a paid advertising by local publicity committees. They also prepared a series of news articles of local press releases. [CBN 15 September 1950 p8] National Public Relations Committee
    Lloyd and Helen Gardner left their home in North York for a travel teaching trip in Western Canada. They cover 7,100 miles and were gone for more than five weeks. [CBN 16 November 1950 p5] Travel Teaching; Helen Gardner; Lloyd Gardner; North York, ON
    1950 22 Jul - 4 Aug
    195-
    The Laurentian Bahá'í School was held at Beaulac. Speakers were Genevieve Coy and Kenneth Christian. [CBN No 13 May, 1950 p5; CBN 15 September 1950 p5-7] Summer schools; Genevieve Coy; Kenneth Christian; Beaulac, QC
    1950 6 - 9 Jul
    195-
    The Maritime Summer Conference was held at a tourist home four miles from Wood's Island Ferry with twenty people in attendance. Three courses were given; Laura Davis on the "Thirst for Spirituality" and others by Hedda and Bert Rakovsky on "Character Development" and "Teaching Methods". [CBN15 September 1950 p5] Maritime Summer Conference; Laura Davis; Hedda Rakovsky; Albert Rakovsky; Woods Island, Prince Edward Island
    1950 (summer)
    195-
    Nan Brandle, formerly of Ottawa, was transferred by the Department of Indian Affairs to their new hospital at Moose Factory, about three miles from Moosonee, ON. The settlement consisted of the hospital, a Hudson's Bay Post, an Anglican Mission, and a Roman Catholic Church. This large hospital will be used as a base for outpost station in the Eastern Arctic. [CBN 15 September 1950 p9]
  • Nan was later joined by Garry Rea-Airth who was employed as a bookkeeper. [CBN No 18 March 1951 p10]
  • She served several years as a pioneer to the native people in Department of Indian Affairs hospitals at Fisher River and Hodgson, Manitoba and at Moose Factory and Ohsweken First Nation, Ontario. Note: At this time there were a great many First Nation and Inuit people in the Hamilton Sanitorium. [MC2p13; CBN No 47 December 1953 p4]
  • See this comment about Nan Brandle in Messages to Canada 1999:

    He was very happy to know that the work in connection with the Indians and the Eskimos is receiving special attention, and he would like your Assembly to please express to Miss Nan Brandle1 his deep appreciation of the unique service she is rendering the Cause, and of the exemplary spirit which is animating her. He hopes other believers will follow in her footsteps, and arise to do work in this very important field of Bahá'í activity. [MC2p13]

  • Pioneer; Nan Brandle; Ottawa, ON; Moose Factory, ON; Fisher River, MB; Hodgson, MB; Ohsweken, ON
    1950 (Summer)
    195-
    Angus and Bobbie Cowan relocated from Pickering, Ontario to St James, Manitoba. [CBN 15 September 1950 p9] Pioneer; Angus Cowan; Bobbie Cowan; St. James, MB; Pickering, ON
    1950 Jul
    195-
    The first Bahá'í baby in the Ottawa area, Gloria Joyce Tredennick, was born to Mr and Mrs Irving Tredennick. [CBN 15 September 1950 p9] Gloria Joyce Tredennick; Ottawa, ON
    1950 May
    195-
    The annual budget for 107B.E. was set at $19,000. [CBN 14 July 1950 p2] Annual budget
    1950 29 - 30 Apr
    195-
    The third National Convention was held in Toronto at 22 College Street with 19 delegates and a total of 125 in attendance. Those elected to the National Assembly were: Rowland Estall, (vice-chair) John Robarts, (chair), Emeric Sala, Ross Woodman; Laura Davis, (secretary), Winnifred Harvey, Freddie Schopflocher, (treasurer) Mae McKenna and Rosemary Sala. [CBN No 13 May 1950 p2-3]
  • The budget for the year 107 B. E. was $19,000. [CBN No 14 July 1950 p2]
  • All 19 delegates were present. [CBN 13 May 1950 p3]
  • National Convention; NSA; Rowland Estall; John Robarts; Emeric Sala; Ross Woodman; Laura Davis; Winnifred Harvey; Freddie Schopflocher; Mae McKenna; Rosemary Sala; National Spiritual Assembly, election of; Toronto, ON
    1950 April (Near end)
    195-
    After much discussion involving Dagmar Dole, Edna True and the European Teaching Committee, the local assembly of Copenhagen as well as the national spiritual assemblies of the United States and Canada as well as Shoghi Effendi, it was agreed that American Pioneer and violinist Nancy Gates would be transferred from Denmark, where she had been for three years, to the Canadian overseas goal in Greenland. [Citizens of the World: A History and Sociology of the Bahá'ís from a Globalisation Perspective by Margit Warburg p203]
  • While travelling back to the US to get a visa she attended the Canadian National Convention for one day. [CBN 13 May 1950 p11]
  • Pioneer; Nancy Gates; Denmark; Greenland
    1950 Ridván
    195-
    The Spiritual Assembly of Forest Hill was established. Members were: Jameson Bond, Alice Hall, Jessie Manser, Marian Ogden, Stewart Ogden, Mildred LePoidevin, Tom LePoidevin, Audrey Robarts, and John Robarts. It was the 18th spiritual assembly to form. [CBN No 14 July 1950 p15] Local Spiritual Assembly; Jameson Bond; Alice Hall; Jessie Manser; Marian Ogden; Stewart Ogden; Mildred LePoidevin; Tom LePoidevin; Audrey Robarts; John Robarts; Local Spiritual Assembly, formation; Forest Hill, ON
    1950 Mar
    195-
    At this time there were 13 local spiritual assemblies in Canada. [CBN 13 May 1950 p12]
    1950 26 Mar - 10 Apr
    195-
    The British Community needed 22 declarations to complete the goals of their Six Year Plan. The National Spiritual Assembly of Canada sponsored a trip by John Robarts to lend his assistance. During his 13 day stay he visited London, Manchester, Blackpool, Blackburn, Sheffield, Oxford, Dublin, Belfast, Glasgow and Edinburgh and witnessed 18 declarations. [CBN No 13 May, 1950 p4] John Robarts; United Kingdom
    1950's (Early)
    195-
    The editor of the Canadian Bahá'í News was Miss Vicki Bond of Montreal. [CBN No 13 May 1950] Vicki Bond; Canadian Bahá'í News; Montreal, QC
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