Chris Clegg
Many people who use Jaycee Park in High Prairie have no idea why the park is named so. Oldtimers remember the High Prairie Jaycees, who existed for a short time starting in 1965.
After reading through South Peace News issues from 1965 and 1966, I finally stumbled across an article in the Nov. 30, 1996 edition which referred to the Jaycee Ball Park north of the trailer court. In the article, the Jaycees committed $500 to the ball park as their 1967 Centennial Project.
As a result, Jaycee Park was named sometime between 1965 and late 1966. It was the first mention of Jaycee Park in the paper. I have asked to review Town of High Prairie records from 1965 and 1966 to attempt to pinpoint the date.
The Jaycees were a junior chamber of commerce. It is why you see a spelling of J.C. Park often (junior chamber). The first meeting of the newly-formed Jaycees was Feb. 11, 1965. Jack Marfleet was elected the first president, Ben Wevers the vice-president and Dave Regenwetter the secretary-treasurer. John Landry was public relations chairman.
It was decided at the meeting the club would be known as the High Prairie Jaycees, not as the Junior Chamber of Commerce. It is for that reason the spelling of J.C. Park is incorrect and should not be referenced as such.
Also of interest is the club only allowed members age 21-40 years. After that, you were punted.
The Jaycees were part of a larger group, the Alberta Jaycees, and Junior Chamber International, both which still exist today. The Jaycees were designed to be a leadership group for young adults ages 18-40, with a focus on providing opportunities for personal and professional growth, leadership training and community involvement. It was community involvement the High Prairie Jaycees excelled at. Many times they worked on projects with the High Prairie Chamber of Commerce and developed a friendly rivalry.
Here are a few of the projects the Jaycees took on and promoted:
In March 1965, the Jaycees printed 719 briefs to promote Education Week and had a window display downtown.
The March 31, 1965 South Peace News commended the Jaycees for promoting the town and district. At that time, the Jaycees were hoping to send a delegation of 10-15 to the Wetaskiwin Peace Pipe Convention Committee to promote the district. Eight Jaycees attended and distributed pamphlets on High Prairie and district to convention attendees.
In Easter 1965, the Jaycees delivered 600 Easter baskets to the children of High Prairie. Quite the undertaking, you must agree, and many happy children!
Also during Easter, the Jaycees held Bunny Nite at Providence Hospital. Members and children dressed in bunny costumes and Jaycee members treated the children to Easter eggs.
In the spring of 1965, the Jaycees and chamber of commerce organized Clean-Up Week in High Prairie.
June 11, 1965, the Jaycees celebrated its charter night with nearly 200 people attending to see the 28 charter members receive their official membership. Mayor Max Vanderaegen said the Jaycees were important because they were a group “making use of the manpower of the younger men of this community.”
Later, the Jaycees kicked off the annual Stampede by holding the first street dance. The chamber sponsored the Queen contest. Seven entered.
In August, a blood donor clinic was held in High Prairie. The Jaycees challenged chamber members to see who could round up the most blood donors. The chamber won. Chamber president Bill Smith won the right to be wheeled around town in a wheelbarrow by Jaycees’ president Jack Marfleet. South Peace News captured the event in a front page photo.
In the Nov. 24, 1965 edition South Peace News announced Marfleet was transferred to Bonnie Doon Shopping Centre in Edmonton. Marfleet was working at the Macleods store in town. It was a bitter blow to the Jaycees. Marfleet was its driving force.
It was not until November 1966 the next Jaycees report was published in South Peace News referring to the ball park.
I realize many organizations have existed that contributed to the welfare of the town. The Elks, Lions, Royal Purple, Chamber of Commerce – just to name a few.
Since the Jaycees disbanded, many other community organizations as well as the Town of High Prairie and Big Lakes County (predecessors I.D. No. 17 Central and the M.D. of Big Lakes) contributed to upgrades and multiple expansions at Jaycee Park.
The High Prairie Recreation Committee should recognize the accomplishments of the Jaycees at the park. A small monument or plaque is appropriate.
A community that does not recognize the volunteer work of its citizens and community organizations is one that dies a slow death. Recognition of the Jaycees and what they did is long overdue.
Such a monument would also answer the question to all visitors: “Who were the Jaycees?”
The picnic shelter sits nestled among the trees at Jaycee Park. Seen are the paved walking trails leading to the shelter and to other destinations in the park. The Jaycees were not part of these projects.