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Alberta Online Encyclopedia

Social Life

During the golden age, the entertainment activities of the Board expanded beyond the program of guest speakers and musical presentations, and became independent of the regular meetings of the membership. Organizing social activities was the responsibility of the Program and Attendance Committee. The Program and Attendance Committee's first organized event was a bowling league started on September 9, 1960, at the B and B Lanes.

Social activities had been part of the Association's history since 1933 when the first golf tournament was held at the Prince Rupert Golf Club. The April 1960 issue of The Edmonton Realtor suggested that a golf tournament would be the appropriate recreational activity for the summer.

Other social athletic activities included an annual curling bonspiel and a softball league. By 1979 curling had become so popular that only members were allowed to participate. The curling bonspiel was held in conjunction with another popular event: the "smoker." The annual trap shooting contest reflected the influence of Ed Shaske, who won nine Canadian Championships and was on the 1968 Canadian Olympic team. He was also instrumental in organizing the facilities for the 1978 Commonwealth Games. He served as president of the EREB in 1965 and 1966. Ed is also a Life Member.

Social activities were very popular in the Board's history. At this time no individual company parties were held and the Board organized all activities. There was real camaraderie since it was a small group and there was less movement between companies. One popular contributor to the social life of the Board was Howie Molstad's band.

This article is extracted from John Gilpin, Responsible Enterprise: A History of Edmonton Real Estate & the Edmonton Real Estate Board. (Edmonton: Edmonton Real Estate Board, 1997). The Heritage Community Foundation and the Alberta Real Estate Foundation would like to thank John Gilpin and the REALTORS® Association of Edmonton for permission to reproduce this material.

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