Stories
a dedicated Canadian nurse.
Elspet Robertson was born at Dufftown, Scotland, on the
3rd day of March, 1884. She was the daughter of George Robertson and
Elizabeth Calder (RN=262). Her father George Robertson was born in
Mortlach parish, Scotland, on the 23rd of July, 1853. His parents
were Jean McWillie and a John Robertson (RN=113). As a young girl
she became known as Elsie, the name by which she was so
fondly remembered by her family and friends for the rest of her life.
There has been a story passed down in family circles that when Elsie
was born, her mother was expecting the senior doctor of the town to
attend her at the time of Elsie's birth; however he had been
called away to another emergency and thus sent his young assistant,
Dr. S. Findlater, to attend the birth. It has been claimed
that, as a result of the shock her mother had when the young doctor
appeared, Elsie was born with red-hair.
Indeed
Elsie's crowning glory for the most of her one hundred and five
years of life was her long auburn hair, which was only trimmed short
following her retirement and after she entered the Extended Care Hospital
at the age of one hundred and one. She was not only remembered
because of her red hair but also for her sparkling eyes and her great
sense of humor.
Doctor S.
Findlater who attended the birth was later to become Elsie's uncle
when the young doctor married Jean McWillie's daughter, who had been
born out of wedlock and baptized Margaret Ann Grant. That Dr.
Findlater and his wife Margaret were to later establish a farm situated
near the town of Lacombe, Alberta, Canada. After they became
established they invited Elsie and her brother, John, to join them
in Alberta. As a result, Elsie and John both immigrated
to Canada in 1901, and stayed with the Findlater's during their
early years while they themselves were getting established in Canada.
In 1905 Elsie entered a nurses' training program at the nearby General
Hospital at Calgary, Alberta. It was while she was at the General
Hospital she became acquainted with Robert (Bob) Edwards, who was
the editor of a well known western Canadian newspaper "THE CALGARY
EYE-OPENER." Canadian History records that Bob Edwards was considered
to be one of the most influential newspaper editors in western Canada
during that period. His life and work in defense of the common citizen
has been well recorded in various publications. However Bob
Edwards did have one major problem relating to his desire for alcoholic
drink and from time to time ended up in the Calgary General Hospital
seeking treatment. It was during this period that Elsie and Bob
Edwards met and became friends. His editorials reflected the high
regard he held for those people employed in the nursing profession.
The author has a letter Bob sent to Elsie (dated December 1907) that
she kept all her life, in which he was thanking her for a small
gift she had sent, and expressing his most sincere friendship.
Later on, family members of Elsie's, who were aware of their
close friendship, related that the only reason the relationship
did not develop beyond that close friendship was because of Bob
Edward's drinking habits. For those readers who may wish
to learn more about the life of Bob Edwards we suggest reading "EYE
OPENER BOB" by Grant MacEwan, published by The Institute of Applied
Art, Ltd., Edmonton, Alberta.
On completion of her training Elsie moved
to Vancouver where she nursed her sick aunt, following which she took
employment with the Phoenix company, a mining center in British
Columbia. In 1912 she returned to Scotland for a holiday
and to visit with family members. In 1913, while on her return to
Canada, she stopped over in Winnipeg, Manitoba, to visit with her
brother John who had moved there from Alberta, had married
a Margaret Ross and was employed in a farm Implement dealership in
that city.
