This photo of the wedding of Ruby Jackson and Donald Norrie took place in the small - no tiny - village of Bistroff on Friday evening at 1900 hours, 08 March 1957. We were accompanied by our bridesmaid Jean Ober, best man Glen Goodman, and honorary father-of-the-bride Dennis St. Pierre. The wedding ceremony took place in the residence of the Mayor of Bistroff (shown in the photo) with Ruby & Don.
Our small party arrived 10 minutes early as taught by our RCAF superiors; you remember; "hurry up and wait". We did not however, have to wait that long. Within a few minutes the door from the barn - which adjoined the house - opened and in came the Mayor, resplendent in brown suit and tie and wearing black rubber boots. As he walked toward us he was in the process of placing his red sash of office over his shoulder and across his chest.
Our small party assembled in front to this humble man and without delay he opened his book and the ceremony commenced - all in the French language - of which we knew very little. "Do you Donald Norrie of ......................take Ruby Jackson of Creston, BC - here he paused. The Mayor was excited as he had just read all about the Doukabors in the Creston valley parading around without any attire, and burning down houses, barns, schools, and a grain elevator. So in the middle of our wedding ceremony we paused for 5 minutes or so, to discuss the Doukabor problem in Creston. The ceremony eventually ended.......we took some pictures, and departed for the Wing.
The next day we were married again in the Wing Chapel by F/L Moore the Protestant Chaplain. Here many of our friends and co-workers assembled for the ceremony, with a reception to follow in the Airwomens Lounge. F/L Moore was a wonderful padre who was to meet an untimely death from stomach cancer within the next year.
The primary reason for displaying this photo is to ask any of the viewing serviceman and women if they remember the name of the Mayor of Bistroff. I have his signature on our Marriage Book, but it is not readable and I would like his name for my memoirs. In conclusion, it would be interesting to know just how many Canadians were married by this man who was a farmer, Mayor, and Justice of the Peace.
Donald M Norrie, 21 Sleigh Drive, Redwood Meadows, AB, T3Z 1A1, Canada - or communicate by Internet email.
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http://www.grostenquin.org/other/gtother-249.html
Updated: February 11, 2002