Educational Facilities Are Excellent 21

tions of a pioneer life, shrink from being cut off from ready means of ecommunica-
tion with their distant friends, or from the current news of the day. Provision
has been made to meet these demands, the Dominion Government supplying
an efficient telegraph and mail service. In addition, the Government of Alberta
owns and operates a rural telephone system throughout the province, the exten-
sion of which follows closely upon the opening of new districts.

Mail is carried by the railway twice a week from Edmonton to McLennan,
Peace River, Spirit River, and Grande Prairie. From railway points it is dis-
tributed by carrier to various post offices throughout the district. Already
about sixty offices have been opened, and the mail service is constantly being
extended and improved to keep pace with the growth of the country.

The Dominion Government telegraph line from Edmonton to Peace River
has been extended westerly to Dunvegan, Grande Prairie, Fort St. John, Hudson
Hope, and intermediate points, comprising in all 710 miles of line. The following
are the stations on it: Edmonton, Halfway Lake, Athabaska, Mirror Landing,
Sawridge, Swan River, Faust, Indiana, Grouard, Peace River, Waterhole,
Dunvegan, Spirit River, Grande Prairie, Lake Saskatoon, Beaverlodge, Pouce
Coupé, B.C., Fort St. John, B.C., Halfway River, B.C., and Hudson Hope. B.C

Education and Social Life

The public school system of Alberta applies to all settled portions of the
province, and provides free and competent instruction to all children. The
provincial Department of Education is very much alive to the child’s intellectual
and educational welfare. As soon as eight children can be assembled in any
district, a suitable building is provided and a competent teacher engaged to carry
on the work of instruction, as outlined by the department, under proper inspection
and supervision. In the towns and larger villages, high-school studies are
included in the curriculum. At Peace River, and Grande Prairie the work is
carried up as far as matriculation, so that the boy or girl may be prepared to
enter upon his or her college course without finding it necessary to leave home
for intermediate studies. Over one hundred schools are now open throughout the
district. The average daily attendance for the year 1919 at Grande Prairie
was 115-76, while the attendance of purely rural schools is somewhat higher
than in many older-settled districts.

Religious denominations are well represented. The Church of England
and the Roman Catholic church have been very active during the past quarter
century in mission work, and have established mission schools among the Indians
at Fort Vermilion, Shaftesbury, Dunvegan, Lake Saskatoon, and Flying Shot
lake. Methodist and Presbyterian churches have been established at principal
points, in many instances concrete examples of union being manifest. Other
denominations and societies are found throughout the district.

Fraternal and benefit societies are opening lodges in principal towns. Peace
River, Spirit River, and Grande Prairie have live boards of trade eager to promote
the welfare of the town and to welcome the newcomer. Agricultural societies
have been formed at various local districts and annual fairs are held.