Carol Snyder

Proud to be a Western Canadian, born in Regina, Carol Snyder has lived in Edmonton since 1983. As a textile artist she became interested in nature dyeing to complement the spinning and weaving she was enjoying. A Canada Council Grant in 1981 funded the research for her first book, Nature’s Colours. A Guide to Western Canadian Dye Plants. On moving to Edmonton, Carol owned and operated a yarn shop until retirement in 1995.

Her life changed in 2003 when she was accepted to participate in the 100th anniversary Barr Colony wagon trek from Saskatoon to Lloydminster. Her interest in the Barr Colonists resulted in meeting with some of the many descendants, and writing a book, On Saskatchewan Time, The 100th Anniversary Barr Colony Wagon Trek. Thinking that perhaps her own family history had included a wagon trek, Carol began research into her great grandparents who homesteaded in Manitoba. This also resulted in a book, The Hawthornes of Deloraine.

Having enjoyed interviewing people and writing their stories, Carol volunteered as Oral Historian with the Highlands Historical Foundation for 10 years, 2004 to 2014. Many people were interviewed and their stories published in the Highlands newsletters. Carol was honoured to receive a Historical Recognition Award in 2014 from the Edmonton Historical Board for her work with the Highlands Historical Society.

After “retirement” from the historical society, further items of interest kept arriving on Carol’s desk. An intense interest in the Gullion families who settled on the land that became The Highlands resulted in research into the fur trade and the claiming of river lots along the North Saskatchewan River in the area which became the City of Edmonton. This resulted in her most recent book, After the Fur Trade: Living on the Land.