mary dover by tobi
Early Life
Mary Julia Cross Dover was born in Calgary to Nell and A.E. Cross in 1905. She lived from 1905-1994. Mary was sent to private schools. In the summer, she worked in the hayfield at their farm near Nanton, Alberta. Mary was elected Queen of the Banff Winter Carnival in 1927. A year later, she was a stunt rider in a Hollywood movie. Mary married Melvin Grant Dover in 1930. He was a sales manager for the Ford Motor Company. Melvin once had to go to India for his job, and Mary came with him. There, she heard about the war and when Mary returned to Alberta in 1939, she had a plan.
How would you feel if you had to leave your family and risk your life? In the 1900’s this is what life was like for many Albertans. Many men went to join the air force, army and navy. With the men gone, women had more jobs to do. A lot of the women also went to help with the war, which only made it harder. In school, children learned what an enemy aircraft looked like, even though none flew over Canada. Canadian soldiers mostly fought against Europe.
How Mary Dover Helped With the War
When war against Germany started in September 1939, Mary joined an organization called The Canadian Women’s Army Corps (CWAC). Before Mary worked for the Canadian Women’s Army Corps, she worked for the Red Cross. She started working for the CWAC in 1941 and retired in 1945. Mary even became a senior staff officer. Later she became CWAC’s chief recruiting officer. Mary went to Europe to learn training methods. In 1942 she was the first CWAC posted overseas. Mary was named to the Order of Canada in 1974 and awarded the Order of the British Empire. Mary thought there should be more women in the government, so after she retired from CWAC, she ran for a seat in the government. Later she ran for the liberals in 1947.
Values
Mary Dover was good at many things, like riding horses and skating. She was adventurous because she worked for the CWAC and she was determined to get a seat in the government. Mary might have valued people because she helped CWAC when the war started. When Mary helped CWAC, she was helping the soldiers.
Sources used:
Books: Ordinary People in Alberta’s Past pgs. 102, 103, 98
Sites: http://www.glenbow.org/mavericks/english/war/index.htm
http://www.ourroots.ca/e/page.aspx?id=3627794
Mary Julia Cross Dover was born in Calgary to Nell and A.E. Cross in 1905. She lived from 1905-1994. Mary was sent to private schools. In the summer, she worked in the hayfield at their farm near Nanton, Alberta. Mary was elected Queen of the Banff Winter Carnival in 1927. A year later, she was a stunt rider in a Hollywood movie. Mary married Melvin Grant Dover in 1930. He was a sales manager for the Ford Motor Company. Melvin once had to go to India for his job, and Mary came with him. There, she heard about the war and when Mary returned to Alberta in 1939, she had a plan.
How would you feel if you had to leave your family and risk your life? In the 1900’s this is what life was like for many Albertans. Many men went to join the air force, army and navy. With the men gone, women had more jobs to do. A lot of the women also went to help with the war, which only made it harder. In school, children learned what an enemy aircraft looked like, even though none flew over Canada. Canadian soldiers mostly fought against Europe.
How Mary Dover Helped With the War
When war against Germany started in September 1939, Mary joined an organization called The Canadian Women’s Army Corps (CWAC). Before Mary worked for the Canadian Women’s Army Corps, she worked for the Red Cross. She started working for the CWAC in 1941 and retired in 1945. Mary even became a senior staff officer. Later she became CWAC’s chief recruiting officer. Mary went to Europe to learn training methods. In 1942 she was the first CWAC posted overseas. Mary was named to the Order of Canada in 1974 and awarded the Order of the British Empire. Mary thought there should be more women in the government, so after she retired from CWAC, she ran for a seat in the government. Later she ran for the liberals in 1947.
Values
Mary Dover was good at many things, like riding horses and skating. She was adventurous because she worked for the CWAC and she was determined to get a seat in the government. Mary might have valued people because she helped CWAC when the war started. When Mary helped CWAC, she was helping the soldiers.
Sources used:
Books: Ordinary People in Alberta’s Past pgs. 102, 103, 98
Sites: http://www.glenbow.org/mavericks/english/war/index.htm
http://www.ourroots.ca/e/page.aspx?id=3627794