Remembering our past – Damien and May Corbiell

Times Contributor

 

Damien’s father Jean Baptiste Corbiell (J.B.) was born in Norway, Michigan in 1893. They moved to Gleichen in 1910. At that time, CPR was building the roadbed through Makepiece, Hussar and Chancellor.  J.B. and his brother Frank drove wagons, which carried all necessary supplies – including food, from Gleichen to the work camps. At that time, this area was so dry, that even birds were not available for fresh meat. So, gophers and badgers were trapped, cleaned and cooked over an open fire! 

In 1911, a family with the surname ‘Bouchard’ arrived at Gleichen from Chicoutimi, Quebec with seven children. Two more were born in the west, including Damien’s mother – Yvonne. History advises the courtship between J.B. and Yvonne must have been hilarious, as mother knew very little English and father’s French was no better. The family often wondered if it was all sign language!

Damien, the third son of J.B. and Yvonne, and was born in Calgary in 1922. He attended Jean D’Arc school and also went to Wheatfield school. He has lived on the farm north of Cluny all his life. During his younger years, he remembers all the neighbours coming to their place to skate and play hockey, on the nearby pond. Later, Damien played hockey for the Flying Frenchmen, and in the summer played ball. 

After J.B. had a stroke in 1930, it fell to the three brothers Adelard, Clem and Damien to continue to operate the farm. When WW2 began, Adelard and Clem joined the RCAF, but Damien stayed to help his father, who was now an invalid. Damien served in the reserve army for eight years as a Lieutenant.

May was born across the river in Milo, in 1930. When school age arrived, she was bussed to Cluny where she met Damien at the Cluny Dorm. They were married at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Cluny, on April 20, 1950 – only the third couple to be married there. 

She advises many, a road was plowed during that courtship! In those days her Dad used to haul his grain to Cluny, and purchased supplies at Louie Hong’s Store. After their wedding, they lived at the homeplace for a couple of years, before buying land from J.B. With the assistance of Ernie Gibeau, they built their new home. They adopted two boys and a girl, who have given them nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

They spent their working lives farming north of Cluny, before retiring to Strathmore in 1987. On arrival in Strathmore, they found so many of their neighbours already living here, that it was given the nickname of ‘Clunyville’!

Throughout their lives they’ve both remained very involved with the Catholic Church, both in Cluny and in Strathmore. Damien has been involved with the Knights of Columbus, The Lions Club, Curling Club, UFA, United Grain Growers, and the Credit Union. 

May served as Chairperson with the Sacred Heart for Gleichen/Cluny and Strathmore, as well as being very involved with Women’s Rural Institute, Catholic Women’s League, the Curling Club, and the Gleichen Jubilee Choir..

When I asked them what changes they had seen in this area in recent years, they both replied at the same time – the population growth! There were 3,500 residents living in Strathmore when they moved here in 1987.