Margaret Louise Riley (1900-1957)
Author and longtime children’s librarian Margaret Louise (1900-1957), is best known for her role in introducing children’s sections to Calgary’s public libraries. She was educated in library science, majoring in children’s libraries, and completed her post-graduate work in that field. In 1930 she joined the Calgary Public Library system, serving as its children’s librarian for 19 years and becoming the assistant chief librarian in 1949. In addition to establishing a room in the libraries for youth, her initiatives included developing the library’s collection of children’s books and initiating a Children’s Story Hour on radio. Louise also served as chairman of the Alberta Library Board, and was a published author of adult and children’s books. She lived with her father in the Ezra Riley family home until 1936, the year before Ezra’s passing, at which time it was sold to the Anglican Diocese.
Maude Riley (nee Keene, 1880-1962)
Maude Riley was just as well-known as [her husband] Harold, and was recognized for her achievements in women’s rights, child welfare and justice reforms, and family courts. Born in Ontario, Maude came to Calgary in 1903, teaching at the Nose Creek School up until the time she married Harold in1907. She helped found the Calgary Playground Association in 1917 and the Calgary Child Welfare Society in 1918 (which later became the Alberta Council on Child and Family Welfare) and served as president of the Council for four decades. Her honours include an award by the Belgian government for work on behalf of the Belgian Relief Fund and the King George VI Coronation Medal. Their son Harold W Riley Jr was a lawyer and for a period of time worked with Riley’s Limited; in 1957 he was appointed to the Alberta Supreme Court.
This is an excerpt from the Hillhurst Sunnyside Historical Context paper, ‘Early Homesteaders & Pioneer Settlement (1883-1907) (pp. 14-16). For more on the history of Hillhurst Sunnyside, check out the full paper: https://www.hsca.ca/historical-context-paper.