Home Social Landscape Featured Articles John Roy Bowett: A Life Devoted to Canadian University College

John Roy Bowett: A Life Devoted to Canadian University College

by Heather Till

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In 1948, Bowett was invited to return to Lacombe to teach at his alma mater, Canadian University College (CUC - previously name Canadian Union College). His family now included son Reginald (born July 1941) and daughter Linda (born December 1946). Daughter RosaLee completed the family in May 1949. When Bowett joined the CUC faculty, the curriculum included courses of study at both the high school and college levels. During his 25 years of service, he taught all grades from 9 through 12 in the areas of history, social studies, economics, English, and youth problems. He also shared his expertise in several college-level courses. One of his favourites was History of Western Civilization. According to one former student, he was the "best teacher in the school."

In his history classes, he sometimes used dramatization or role-playing to bring historical events to life. He claims wryly that "some teachers have the art of making history dull," even though it is "the story of human beings, and they are the strangest creatures on the face of the earth." Bowett made the learning process enjoyable, even though some people thought he was "rather dramatic." Renate (Ritter) Krause, currently Chair of the Department of English at CUC, assisted Bowett as a reader and grader when she was a student. She says: "He was fun to work for because he didn't mind looking the fool - he wasn't worried about that. It was his teaching he was concerned about." She particularly recalls one history class on the German system of parliament, the Bundestag. Bowett was "stalking through the class cutting the air with his finger in very decisive motions." Although Bowett has always been slightly built and maintains a certain British dignity, Krause says it was not difficult to imagine him as a fat, blustering German politician: "He used his body to clarify the intent of his words. It was very funny, but more importantly, it stuck."

Bowett has contributed to the education of the past three presidents of CUC: Malcolm Graham (1982-87), Reo Ganson (1987-91) and Victor Fitch (1991-present). Perhaps it was the "rambunctious" nature of the adolescent Reo Ganson that prompted Bowett's caution that a person "can never assess the human mind or potentiality." Victor Fitch remembers his teacher in high school social studies as a "master of his subject, always well prepared and current in the events of the day. He was a very patient teacher with a concern for each student and a willingness to help each one achieve. He was fair in his treatment of students. He treated people as individuals, yet there was a consistency about him. It's a fine balance to maintain, but he did a good job of it."

Joyce (Tinkler) Van Scheik, head librarian at CUC, also recalls her former teacher as "personally interested in each student. (He) often invited students to his house for Sabbath dinner. I remember going there a lot." Bowett and his wife could always be counted on to drive students to Red Deer. He cheerfully went out of his way to make students feel at home on campus, performing services like picking up Van Scheik's dad from the train station: "I don't think I was special. I presume he was doing this kind of thing for everybody. They opened their home to us and interacted with the students. In those days, all the faculty lived right on campus and were more accessible." She remembers, if students had questions or needed help, especially during exam week, "We'd put on our coats and march right down to their door."

Bowett took an interest in his students both in and out of the classroom. He was a familiar presence at student functions, not in the sometimes austere role of teacher, but as a genuine friend. He was visible on campus, always warm and approachable. He served several times as graduating class sponsor, and initiated several extracurricular activities such as a current events discussion group and student prayer bands. One of his most memorable activities was ice skating. The first flooding of the rink at the foot of the hill below the dormitory was a long anticipated event each winter. Students and faculty alike enjoyed the exercise and friendly storytelling around the bonfires. He was also responsible for starting and maintaining the Rainbow Riding Club, which boarded and rented horses at a minimal fee. He and other club members explored the many trails and lakeshores on campus and learned proper care of the animals. Bowett still keeps horses on his property in Rosedale Valley and each year hosts groups of excited elementary school children on field trips to Bowett Meadows.

Throughout his 25 year tenure Bowett continued to learn. During the summers he took master's level courses at Washington State College (later University), and in 1959 he received his MA degree in history and sociology. His Master's thesis entitled "A History of Canadian Union College" was recognized by Bowett's major professor as a unique and professional contribution. Bowett's thorough and extensive research used much primary-source material. It has been distributed to several universities and is in active use as reference material at the CUC library. The long-retired Bowett is still regarded as a resident historian at CUC, and his work remains authoritative.

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