It’s often said that people are born neutral and taught to be good and pure or bad. Experiencing life, my sentiment is a little different. I think people figure out along the way if they want to be good or bad.
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Today’s subject is Elizabeth “Libbie” Isabella Young. She made an enormous difference for the betterment of the community and the people around her.
Young was born in Brandon, Man., in 1894. Her family didn’t stick around for too long, but notably, at the age of 10, she overheard her mom talking to a neighbour about how lonely it was for women living in the Prairies as they rarely saw visitors. She recalled a woman saying she could hardly stand being alone without visitors.
The next steps for her were simple. If the women were lonely, perhaps they’d like a visit. She got permission from her mom for her and her eight-year-old sister to go visit. And that they did. Young was nervous during the first visit, but after some visiting and tea, they were invited to come back any time. Clearly, it went well.
By 1906, the family was on the move to Lloydminster. Fast forward a few years, Libbie married a local farmer, Alan Young.
She even got her licence to be able to drive and help out on the farm. The pair would have four children, with one passing away from Diphtheria.
Sports was clearly Young’s thing; she had her kids involved in plenty of sports. Whether it was baseball, basketball or running, they were an active bunch. She coached a ball team and was involved in refereeing a senior men’s hockey league. Young was so interested in sports she said it was the reason she had a TV.
Unfortunately, in 1954, Alan died of a heart attack and Young had the decision to make whether she would stay on the farm or move
into town.
Well, Young decided it was best to move into the big city. Well, I guess Lloydminster was big enough. Her time in Lloyd was very fruitful and she was always busy.“I never once asked for a job,” she said. “But I was never once out of work.”
She worked a myriad of jobs around the Border City. She was a welfare assessor for the county, a first aid instructor who taught in small communities, a head cook at Camp Easter Seal in Watrous, Sask., for the Saskatchewan Council of Crippled Children and Adults. Young worked at CKSA radio as a receptionist, music purchaser and record librarian and also hosted women’s and children’s programming on air. Shortly after her time with CKSA, she went over to The Lloydminster Times where she worked as a receptionist and wrote a column called “A woman’s point of view.” Eventually, she joined the staff at the Lloydminster Hospital Auxiliary as an activity therapist at the young age of 80. Throughout all this time, she even managed to find time to attend church every Sunday.
She volunteered as a receptionist and troubleshooter for Rev. David Patterson at the church.
OK, I think it’s pretty evident that Young did everything. She kept herself extremely busy and loved her community.
She kept up her outreach and visiting with her gang, the widow gang. They called themselves that and it’s a fantastic name. Names aside, Young and her gang would travel to North Battleford to visit patients in the psychiatric hospital. They talked, played cards or just kept the people company.
She was involved in forming quota clubs across the Prairies, including a charter in Wainwright. Quota Clubs are a charitable service organization for women that performed much good work in the community. Young and one other woman ran the local Quota Club’s small store alone for several years until they disbanded.
She travelled extensively across Western Canada as a volunteer. For many years, she visited seniors in nursing homes and read to them, as well as being involved in volunteer projects.
She died at the age of 95 on Aug. 13, 1989. She attributed her longevity to keeping busy and the will of God. All I know is, I hope when I’m 80 I’m fit enough to be an activity therapist.
I’d credit her longevity in life with the good she did and brought to other people’s lives. I don’t think people are born good or bad. I think along the way something clicks. For Young, it clicked when she was just a kid that she could help others with the smallest gestures.
Oh, right, the Libbie Young Centre, I guess you’ll have to wait until next week for that one.
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