Alden Bigsby

Humble & Kind – Lending a Hand in Shop Class

A former teacher, firefighter, airplane builder, carpenter and more, Alden Bigsby has lived a colorful life. His family originated in Michigan USA and settled on the prairies in Saskatchewan. Alden’s father, Floyd Bigsby was a hardworking man who served in the First World War, and his mother, Edna, tended to the family home ensuring the kids were taken care of.

After the War, the family purchased a 480 acre parcel of land on the shores of Bright Sand Lake, Saskatchewan and on July 1, 1930 (or thereabouts) Alden Bigsby would come into the world. 

“I was born in my family home and dad worked long hours at the time, so when mother told him to go to town to report my birth, he wasn’t fully certain of my actual birthdate, but he thought July 1st was a good day to be born,” chuckles Bigsby!  Alden’s memories were of hardships and the skills that it took those pioneers to eke out a living on virgin soil; the rigorous clearing of trees and breaking of land. He also recalled that at no time did they feel that the government needed to support them or that they were unhappy in any way. It seemed that an acceptance of all that came was the Bigsby way of life.

With the Depression coming on strong and the climate change of the 1930’s, Floyd was faced with some heavy decisions to make. He would eventually gather his family and all their belongings into a 1920 Chevrolet and off they went to Michigan, to a dairy farm that was familiar to the family. The farm in Saskatchewan was sold in 1939; once again the Bigsby family would head out, this time heading to the US Border. 

Upon arrival at the border, they ran into a dilemma. As war had been declared, only US citizens could enter,  and the 3 children born in Canada were turned away. After some collaboration, and an offer from friends, they soon found themselves enroute to Summerland where they would pick and harvest fruit in order to make ends meet. Their journey would eventually land them on a farm two miles from Armstrong.  

With assistance from a Veteran’s Land Administration loan, they were able to purchase 103 acres for $500.00 on Sleepy Hollow Road. Five years later an additional 80 acres of ‘wild’ land was obtained for $200 and farm life for the Bigsby family was back in full swing. Alden continued his schooling in Armstrong, and in his spare time he would hang out at the local Armstrong pool hall where he was considered a front runner in Snooker 101! Alden would eventually graduate from Grade 13 in 1948 and would then embark on his working career, at least for a short time, until he returned to school to become a teacher – a shop teacher of course! 

He took his training at University of Victoria and his first teaching job was in Ashcroft where he taught grades 7-12. When he arrived at the school he was startled to find that the shop was in the basement of the school and could only be accessed through the boys washroom, which as you can imagine, carried with it all kinds of humorous and challenging stories, but, the biggest surprise of all was: NO POWER TOOLS, NO BENCHES, and only a small cupboard with hand tools consisting of hand planes, hand saws, and miscellaneous tools like chisels etc. His other challenges included, having a population of a diverse group of students, “It was a learning curve for me,” says Bigsby! 

After 5 years of pouring his heart and soul in to children in Ashcroft, he went on to accept a position in the Langley School District. Here he found the attitude of the city students lacked the respect and discipline he was used to and made a decision to pursue other possibilities. With a determined spirit and a friend who was teaching in Salmo, he found his way to the Kootenays.  Alden was hired at Stanley Humphries High School in Castlegar, BC in 1957 and spent the remainder of his teaching career doing what he loves to do.

Throughout the next 28 years, Mr. Bigsby has planted many seeds of integrity, compassion, and opportunity in the lives of his students. With a twinkle in his eye and a smile on his face, Alden Bigsby recalls many fond memories of his teaching career. Alden expressed his creativity in a variety of ways, including building his own airplane and a beautiful wood workshop for himself.  After retirement, he spent many hours flying and creating furniture, jewelry boxes, and an assortment of wooden bowls and other things. He and his buddy even built a sawmill in Salmo! Alden married and brought 3 children into the world.  

He is happily settled in at Heaton Place Retirement Residence in Armstrong, where he has been reconnected with many fellow schoolmates from his growing up years.  “Alden brings peace to many in our facility; he is a beautiful soul and we are very lucky to have him with us,” says Carrie O’Neill, Resident Relations Coordinator. There is so much more to say about Alden Bigsby, as there always is when telling a life story, but I am so grateful to share a little piece of his life with you all!