Remembering our roots – Gord Morck

John Godsman

Times Contributor

 

Gord’s grandparents came to North America through Ellis Island, from Denmark in 1915, travelling first to Nebraska where they bought cattle, before moving on to Dickson, Alberta. There, they purchased land and farmed and raised cattle with other Danish migrants. 

Gord’s father was born there in 1924, the fifth in a family of nine children. Gord was born in Olds, the youngest of four children. Most of his early education was at Olds, and following graduation he attended the University of Alberta in Edmonton for five years, where he obtained his Bachelor of Science – Pharmacy degree. While growing up in Olds, he worked part-time for Joe Gustafson, the owner of Olds Value Drug Mart, so it was natural for him to seek similar employment following his graduation from U of A. 

He came to Strathmore in 1988, where he worked for John Leboldus at Strathmore Value Drug Mart, and acquired the store after John passed away in 1999.

Gord was active in The Strathmore Kinsman Club for many years, and recently joined The Strathmore Free Masons.

When he arrived here in 1988, the population of Strathmore was 3,500 people. The speed limit on Hwy 1 from Strathmore to Calgary was 

100 km/h, which has been increased to the current 110 km/h. The hospital had been opened in 1986, and since then, there have been many agreements by the Provincial Government to add different specialty wings. He is very concerned about all the businesses moving from downtown to be nearer to the highway, and hopes an effort will be made to revitalize our downtown in the near future.