The Edmonton Historical Board has recognized the former residence of John Walker Barnett, founding Executive Secretary of The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA), as a historical building.
The Historical Board, established in 1938, started its Historical Plaque Program in 1975 and over the years has installed metal plaques on historically relevant buildings and sites throughout the city. Barnett built the house, located in Edmonton’s Queen Alexandra neighbourhood, in 1914, and his family lived there until 1946.
Barnett immigrated to Canada in the early 1900s and was hired as the first General Secretary of the Alberta Teachers’ Alliance, the forerunner of the ATA, in 1918. The first office of the Alliance was in the front parlour of Barnett’s house.
Since 1946, the house has had eight owners, many of whom have been professors at the University of Alberta.
A number of retired Association staff members and one active member attended the designation. Pictured here are (left to right) Lynn Penrod, present owner of the Barnett home; Tim Johnston, editor of The ATA Magazine; Pat Snow Miller, retired ATA staff member; Rick Pape, former graphic artist for the ATA and now chief designer for the Edmonton Journal; Joe Berlando, retired ATA coordinator of Teacher Welfare and Operations; Pat Hewitt, retired records clerk; Jean Mucha, former term-appointed ATA executive assistant; Bernie Keeler, retired executive secretary; and Lisa Maltby, retired archivist.
—Photo by Kyla Feschuk
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