History of the EKC

1911 Show

The Edmonton Kennel Club was formed in 1910 by a group of local dog fanciers. The first president was Mr. Charles May, the mayor of Edmonton at the time. Club meetings were held in the Council Chambers of the Civic Building. Educational talks were presented by members on their particular breed. Some of the breeds owned by members in those days were Bulldogs, Airedale Terriers, Wire-Haired and Smooth Fox Terriers, Scottish Terriers, Irish Terriers, Cocker Spaniels, Labradors, Flat-coated and Curly-coat Retrievers, Pomeranians, and Poodles.

Trophy Table, 1910 show

Occupations of members ranged from mayor to blacksmith, boxer, beauty salon owner, railway worker, horticulturist, butcher, and nurse.

The following EKC members were Canadian Kennel Club directors: Mr. Wally Jacob (pictured on the right), Mr. Bob MacKillop, and Mrs. Marie M. Gardner. A number of EKC members have been all-breed conformation judges, obedience trial judges, and lure coursing judges.

The earliest EKC dog show catalog available is dated July 16, 17, 18, 1924, and indicates a total entry of 153 dogs. The show was held at the Edmonton Exhibition Grounds. Entry fees were $1.00; 50 cents for each additional class (dogs were often entered in multiple classes). Exhibitors came from Edmonton, Calgary, Fort Saskatchewan, S. Cooking Lake, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, and Vancouver.

Breed entries for this show were:

Toy Poodles 2
Pekingese Spaniels 6
Pomeranians 10
Spitz 1
Whippet 1
Bull Dogs 8
Cocker Spaniels 16
Collies (Rough) 4
Irish Water Spaniels 5
English Setters 5
Pointers 3
Chesapeake Bays 9
Greyhounds 6
St. Bernards 2

Irish Wolfhounds 3
Retriever, Labrador 1
Springer Spaniel 3
Black & Tan Terriers 2
Alsatians 4
Huskys 1
Wire Fox Terriers 8
Smooth Fox Terriers 7
Irish Terrier 1
Airedales 10
Boston Terriers 13
Bull Terriers 3
Great Danes 6
Retriever, Curly 13

The judge was Mr. George Kynoch of Winnipeg.

Prizes were often donated by local merchants. Among those listed are phonograph records, lamps, fishing rod, dog collar, travelling rug, 10 gallons of gasoline, and flashlights, as well as silver trophies and gold medallions.

In the early years, the Edmonton Kennel Club shows raised funds for various good causes: Junior Hospital League charities and overseas war comforts. In 1946 and 1947, 50% of proceeds were devoted to comforts for hospitalized war veterans.

Caswell 1913
Joe Caswell, one of EKC's founding members, with
some of his Curly Coated Retrievers in 1913.

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