I am continually updating Bedard’s Unofficial St. John’s Page. Within the old pdfs, and newspapers saved by old boys from back in the early days of the school is some great history, intertwined threads. I’ve transcribed some of the information found in a four-page newspaper, published in 1961, no doubt edited (if not written) by Ted Byfield. I’ve excerpted below some details of the early cutter trips up and down the Red (as far south as North Dakota) and other places north in Manitoba up Lake Winnipeg. This document predates the Cuban Missile Crisis, (Oct 16, 1962 – Oct 28, 1962).
Youngsters Redrew Manitoba Map and Answered Mr. Khrushchev
Western civilization, according to the Communists, is rotting from within because of the decadence of its too comfortable and materialistic society. We would like them to look at the following record of the St. John’s Cathedral Boys School:
1957 – Cutter St. John rowed from Winnipeg to Gull Harbor and back. Distance 250 miles. Age of boys seven to 13.
1958 – Cutter St. John rowed Winnipeg to Berens River and back. Distance 500 miles. Age or boys 11 to 15.
1958 – Cutters St. John rowed Winnipeg to Punk Island and back. Distance 260 miles. Age of boys eight to 11.
1959 – Cutters St. John and St. Andrew rowed Winnipeg to Pembina, N.D., and back. Distance 270 miles. Age of boys eight to 11.
1959 – Cutters St. John and St. Andrew rowed Winnipeg to Norway House and back. Distance (excluding 200 miles on steamship) 540 miles. Age of boys 12 to 16.
1960 – Cutters St. John and St. Andrew raced Grand Forks to Winnipeg. Distance 287 miles. Age of boys eight to 11.
1960 – Cutter St. Andrew rowed The Pas to Winnipeg via Saskatchewan River and Grand Rapids. Distance 560 miles. Age of boys 12 to 15.
1961 – First annual snowshoe race held Lockport to Winnipeg. Distance 18 miles. Age of boys eight to 11.
1961 – First annual snowshoe race held Matlock to Winnipeg.Distance 56 miles. Age of boys 12 to 15.
