Fonds MG 104 - Barrett family fonds

Robert Edward (Ed) Barrett was born on 9 January 1904 in Hamilton, Ontario to John Joseph and Charlotte (McNaughton) Barrett, and received his formal education in and around Southern Ontario. In the fall of 1918 he moved to Red Deer with his parents. Not long after arriving in Red Deer, Ed Barrett found work at the Alberta Meat Market owned by Jack Teasedale. In time, he bought out Mr. Teasedale and ran the operation until his retirement in 1964. In 1928 he married local A.G.T. telephone operator, Jessie Wright, and they had two daughters, Jeanne (Harrison) and Charlotte (Jestin). In 1961 Ed was elected alderman to the City of Red Deer Council, and in 1965 he was successful in his first attempt to run for mayor. He served three terms (nine years) as mayor, completing his tenure in 1974. Under Red Deer's commission form of government, the mayor was one of the two commissioners governing the civic administration. However, Ed Barrett was the first to make the position of mayor a full time job. During his time as mayor, Mr. Barrett was instrumental in bringing industries such as Canada Packers and Parkland Mall to the City. His attitude was to let the city grow slowly but efficiently and he wouldn't make promises he couldn't keep. Mr. Barrett served as president of the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (A.U.M.A.), a board member of the Canadian Federation of Mayors and Municipalities and a member of the provincial task force on municipal taxation. Jessie Scoular Wright was born on 17 February 1905 at Rutherglen, Scotland and came to Red Deer with her family in 1911. Jessie grew up in the Parkvale neighbourhood and worked as a telephone operator for Alberta Government Telephone until her marriage to Robert Barrett on 14 August 1928. Charlotte Barrett (Jestin) was born on 7 September 1930 in Red Deer, Alberta. Charlotte graduated from the drafting program at S.A.I.T. but also enjoyed painting, calligraphy and singing. Charlotte died on 20 January 2001 with her husband, Aubrey Jestin as a result of a car accident. Agnes Jeanne Barrett (Harrison) was born on 25 February 1929 in Red Deer, Alberta. The Barretts were very active in the community. In 1974 Ed was named Red Deer's "Citizen of the Year". Both Ed and Jessie Barrett were active in the community, the couple belonging to the Knox Presbyterian Church where they were both church elders, and where she taught Sunday school as well as being the Sunday school Superintendent and he served as treasurer, member of the Board and was the Choir Master for many years. Jessie was also an active member of the Alberta Rebekah Lodge #77 for more than 50 years and was also a member of the Women's Missionary Society with the Church. As well, she was a writer of several short stories and was interested in genealogy. Ed was also an active member of the Kiwanis Club of Red Deer (helping to start the Kiwanis Music Festival), the Twilight Homes Foundation, the Alberta Council on Aging, the Central Alberta Pioneers and Old Timers Association, the Red Deer and District Archives Committee and the Golden Circle Singers. For his dedication to the community, Barrett Park, Barrett Drive and Barrett Place, a senior's residence, are all named in his honour. Mrs. Barrett passed away on 13 September 1983 at the age of 78, and Mr. Barrett died on 3 October 1990 at the age of 86. Both are buried in the Red Deer Cemetery.