Memories and photos shared by Bob Corless. Compiled by Lisa Chong
This article was originally published in the March 2022 edition Hillhurst Sunnyside Voice and the HSCA blog on March 1, 2022 (memories and photos shared by Bob Corless and compiled by Lisa Chong).
Editor’s Note: On May 17, 2024, 2024, Bernice Helen Corless passed away at the age of 98 years. Bernice was a dedicated volunteer and spent countless hours at HSCA and other community organizations. A Celebration Of Life for Bernice will be held on Saturday, June 29th from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Association (1320- 5 Ave NW, Calgary, AB). To express condolences, visit Mountain View Memorial’s page here.
If you have been around HSCA, you have probably seen Bob Corless working away outside the building, volunteering on various projects, and working on his home renovations. Bob’s parents, Bernice and John managed the community association facility in the 1950s as volunteers. “Dad and I used to flood the HSCA ice rink where the tennis courts are now. Mom ran the concession,” Bob recalls.
The following text snippets were taken from Margaret Tanko’s Hillhurst Sunnyside Remembers (1978) book.
In the fifties, Bernice and John Corless, caretakers at the community hall, were active in the community’s sports programs.
“My husband did the ice. He was manager of the teams and helped the coaches,” explains Mrs. Corless.
“Hockey was the most popular sport in the fifties. We had good teams,” says Mrs. Corless. We took lots of teams out of town and competed in the provincial finals which I think is pretty good. We tried baseball in the summer but it’s vacation time and now families go away. We also noticed that since television became so popular, kids seemed to be less active in sports.”
“Our coaches were all volunteers except for figure skating and dance instructors. We paid experienced teachers to come in. After the season the dancers would put on a recital at St. Barnabas Hall.”
Two ice rinks were maintained at the community grounds: one for hockey, the other for pleasure skating. The pleasure skating rink was always packed.
“We had the best outdoor skating rink in the city and people would come from all over,” Mrs. Corless says proudly. Music was played and skaters used the old hall to change and warm up. Parents helped out in the concession and the check room.
“We had some wonderful workers,” she says thinking back. “A lot of kids played over at the hall. To me the community is one of the best in the city.”
Tennis courts were opened in the mid fifties and square dancing was held regularly in the hall.
“We also put on banquets for the athletes in the hall, remembers Mrs. Corless. “We had some wonderful times and used to bring down the little [Indigenous] boys from Morley to play hockey with kids their own age here in the community. We had a hot meal for all the boys. Then they would invite the kids to come out and play an exhibition team up there. The kids would be just thrilled!”
“You know we dedicated all our time there but we loved it!”
Bob Corless grew up in Hillhurst Sunnyside and spent much of his time at the HSCA playing for the Hillhurst Sunnyside youth hockey team. The Hillhurst Sunnyside Midget hockey team won the city championship one year. “I earned my HSCA letter jacket that year. Our team colours were black with yellow on the leather sleeves. How did we get our letter jackets? We picked up bottles on the side of Highway 2!”
A community member of many talents, Bob owned and managed the local theatre in Kitimat and later, served as councillor for 16 years before moving back to the neighbourhood to care for his mother. Bernice, now 96, recently moved to a care home. Bob and Grace now reside in the family home.
House Relocation
The Corless’ moved their entire house on the west side of 14th Street, a few blocks to the east when 14th Street was widened in 1960. Always the DIY expert, Bob recently renovated his home and upon removing the mantlepiece, a document was discovered with the original address: 303 14th Street NW.
Corless Corner today is a community within the community – it features an upcycled bench from the HSCA flea market and 11A Street’s own Little Free Library!