Glen Leslie facts for kids
Glen Leslie, Alberta is a small community in northwest Alberta, Canada. It's not a big city but a "locality," which means it's a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own local government. You can find it about 20 kilometers (12 miles) east of Grande Prairie, just off Highway 43 on Highway 670.
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Discovering Glen Leslie
Glen Leslie got its name from the Thomas Leslie family, who were among the first settlers there. It started as a place where mail was delivered, known as a post office.
How Glen Leslie Began
In 1912, Thomas Leslie, his sons, and three other brave men made a long journey. They traveled with horses and wagons all the way from Edmonton, using a route called the Edson Trail. Their goal was to claim land in the Bezanson area, which was a new place for settlers.
The Leslie family's home quickly became a busy spot. On July 1, 1914, it officially opened as the Glen Leslie store and post office. Thomas Leslie himself was the first postmaster, in charge of all the mail. Their home also became a welcoming stop for travelers and a place where people could gather for church services.
The Glen Leslie Church
In 1915, the community decided to build a special log church. It was located about a mile east of the post office. Workers finished building it that fall, and the very first church service happened on October 30. This church became known as the Glen Leslie Presbyterian Church.
Years later, this historic church was carefully restored. It became a provincial historic site, meaning it's an important place protected by the government because of its history. In 2015, the church celebrated its 100th anniversary!
Learning at Somme School
The Somme School District was created in 1915. At first, students had their classes in the little log church. It wasn't until 1930 that a proper school building, called Somme School, was built.
However, the Somme School didn't stay open forever. In 1956, it closed down as part of a plan to combine smaller schools into larger ones.
