Notes

Frank Oliver founded the first newspaper in Alberta. Born in Ontario, he travelled west to Alberta circa 1876, and started publishing The Bulletin in 1880. The Bulletin would later become The Edmonton Bulletin. Like Patrick Gammie-Laurie in Saskatchewan, Oliver too was a staunch believer in British imperialism. Over time he went on to political life and eventually became Minister of the Interior and Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs under Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier. As Minister of the Interior, Oliver helped shape Canada’s Immigration Act, which restricted immigration based on ethnic origin. As the Indian Agent, he enforced regulations that prevented Cree children and great-grandparents from leaving the reserves. He also campaigned for the expropriation of Indian reserve lands.

Artifact Text

First newspaper in Alberta, founded by Frank Oliver, Dec. 6, 1880, a 4-page weekly 7 x 5 inches, it is now a full size daily of 16-32 pages. Oliver, born in Peel County, Ontario, in 1853, went west to Winnipeg in 1873. Three years later he moved on to Edmonton, North West Territories, taking its first press into the present province of Alberta. On this press he printed its first and long-lived newspaper of which No. 2 appears above. Oliver went into political life and, three years after he began publishing the “The Bulletin,” became member of Territorial Assembly and Council. Later he sat in the House of Commons, Ottawa, and served as Minister of Interior. He retained control of his newspaper throughout his career, remaining owner if not printer of “The Bulletin” till 1923.