“Changed trains at Regina & M.J.. Thursday, November 8, 1945
4 Sun. Fairly nice day, though no sun. The girls brought me to town to go to Saskatoon C.C.Y.M. Convention on the train. Mable Coleman & I went together. Had one hour wait in Regina. Saw Gordon. One hour in Moose Jaw. Travelled with Mr. L.A. Morris from Regina who was very comical. Cold was terrific from Regina to Saskatoon. Could hardly sleep but got a little.
5 Mon. got in Sask at 6.30 went to the Bessborough, registered, & left our grips in one of the rooms with some other women. Went to the C.C.F. Committee Rooms for meetings this aft. They were real interesting, Bob was there & later Carl. Had speakers, passed resolutions. After supper went back & had a Social. Mock C.C.Y.M. meeting, poetry & finally dancing. Swell time. Sang at the top of our voices. Carl bought my lunch. Bob showed me the way to our billet on 4th Avenue. Slept in the basement.
6 Tues. We stay at Alrens. They are lovely. Had breakfast here. Meeting from 9 til noon. Ate lunch down there where it was provided. Had singing, etc. I played for some of it. Had to hurry through our work this aft. Interesting discussion groups this morn & had to help count ballots for executive. Mable & I went to the banquet in the Bessborough, hurried home & got cleaned up, then we went to the dance at the Cavern with Bob and Carl. Had a perfect time. Bob saw us home. It sure was cold. In bed at two.
7 Wed. Alrens gave us a ride down town, we shopped all morn, had dinner at a café & phoned the two Aunts. We then went to the Ritz Theatre & saw “Show Business.” Hurried home & ate supper which Joyce prepared. Took our suitcases down & checked them, then got cleaned up. Pert called for us & took us down to Ryly’s where he & Dean play. Had a nice evening lunch then Pert saw us to the train. Slept fairly well from about one until six.
8 Thurs. Changed trains at Regina & M.J. Alice & Isabelle were down to meet us, & Harry B. brought us to the house in the car. I hurried & ate & tried to clean up a little, then went back to work. It was rather nice to be back. I was so tired tonight but Mr. Powers wanted me to work, so I went down & stayed for two hours. Got all the eight letters typed.
9 Friday. Back to work. Fairly cold out, though it has warmed up some. I bowled tonight. Harry Howell was on our team instead of Bill Robertson. We played against South Weyburn & got three points. I couldn’t do anything but the rest did.
10 Sat. Quite sleepy today. Mom & the girls were in town. We got out home before eight. Started working on some clothes for Shirley’s Christmas Doll. I took a bath before going to bed. Warmer out tonight.
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These are the diaries of a seventeen-year-old teenager from a farm near Weyburn, Saskatchewan. Her name is Lorraine. She eventually was a church organist in Colgate. In 1944 she was the piano player for a dance band in Weyburn. In these days before school busses she, and her sisters, each had to move from the farm into town to attend school for Grades 11 & 12. This is the darkest time in World War II. Weyburn hosted an airbase for BCATP (British Commonwealth Air Training Plan). In other words, the town is filled with eligible young airmen from all over the world …
For more information on BCATP see a blog site dedicated to “Paying homage to those who stayed behind to train those who fought overseas.
Definitely Lorraine that you picked out in the picture.