Person:Gertrude Swift (1)

Leader-Post - Nov 25, 1972
Bursary honors teacher^S5 by Dorothy Bee

The Regina Conservatory of Music has lost a valued and dedicated member of it's staff through the death of Mrs. Ivadelle Johnston, who will be greatly missed by her colleagues, students and friends.

In honor of her many years of service to the Conservatory, her firends on the faculty are establishing a scholarship in her memory and are inviting contributions from any former students or friends who wish to honor her.

Mrs. Johnson was the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Swift of Indian Head, where she was born in 1894, and where she acquired her early education. In 1913 she entered Regina College as a student, specializing in music. In 1916 she became a member of the Regina College staff as a student teacher. Mrs. Johnston received her licentiate fof music from McGill University, Montral, and later did post-graduate work in Boston, Mass.

In 1921 she married Robert Hartley Johnston who had also been a student at Regina College. During the First World War Mr. Johnston was a member of the original cast of the famous Dumbells. On his return form overseas, Mr. Johnston lived in Kerrobert, North Battleford and Yorkton, where Mrs. Johnston taught music.

In 1943, following her husband's death, Mrs. Johnston resumed teaching at the Regina Conservatrory and continued until her death.

During her sixty years of teaching, several of her students attained recognition in the music world, two of whom were Fraser Dana Lordly and Danny Tait, Jim Zinkham, present organizt at St. Andrew's Church, is also a former student.

Her many friends and students will long remember her.

1. ↑ copy by E.F. White, Jr. E.F. White, Jr. Copy of Rhoda Johnston's Records. (July 30, 1938)
   Page 3.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Compiler: Ada J Flynn. Johnston Family Tree. (self published, Collingwood, ON, 1974, revised 1981)
   Page 13.

   Piano Teacher, Darke Hall, Regina.;

3. ↑ ^3.0 3.1 Indian Head Cemetery, in Saskatchewan Cemeteries Project. (Saskatchewan, Canada).

   Robert H and G Ivadelle Johnston
   
   Name - Date of Burial (unless otherwise indicated) - plot #
   Johnston, Robert H. 1943 11-18
   Johnston, G. Ivadelle Nov 21, 1972 11-18

4. ↑ ^4.0 4.1 Gertrude Ivadelle Swift, in Saskatchewan, Canada. Saskatchewan Vital Statistics. (Government of Saskatchewan)
   1894.

   Registration Number: 9802
   Last Name: SWIFT
   First Name: GERTRUDE IVADELLE
   Sex: F
   Birth Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 1894 / 12 / 25
   Place of Birth: Saskatchewan
   Mother
   NANCY GERTRUDE TISDALE
   Father
   JAMES BRILLON SWIFT

5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} Bursary honors teacher, in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Regina Leader Post
   25 Nov 1972.

   View on Google News Archive

6. ↑ James B Swift household, in East Assiniboia, Northwest Territories, Canada. 1901 Census of Canada. (Ottawa, Ontario: Library and Archives Canada)
   Page: 13; Family No: 123, 31 Mar 1901.

   Name: Gertrude I Swift
   Gender: Female
   Marital Status: Single
   Age: 6
   Birth Day & Month: 25 Dec
   Birth Year: 1894
   Birthplace: Assa
   Relation to Head of House: Daughter
   Father's Name: James G Swift
   Mother's name: Nancy G Swift
   Racial or Tribal Origin: English
   Nationality: Canadian
   Religion: Methodist
   Province: The Territories
   District: Assiniboia (east/est)
   District Number: 203
   Sub-District: Indian Head
   Sub-District Number: B2-1
   Household Members:
   Name Age
   James G Swift 48
   Nancy G Swift 38
   James E Swift 16
   Gertrude I Swift 6

7. ↑ Darke Hall
   Home of the Regina Cons (Conservatory of Music, University of Regina) and, until 1970, the Regina Symphony Orchestra. The gift of Regina businessman Franklin N. Darke, the building, with its fine 578-seat auditorium, was designed by J.H. Pontin. Darke Hall opened 6 Jan 1929, 'dedicated to music and arts and the enrichment of the lives of the people of the city'. Ambrose C. Froom donated a Casavant pipe organ and Dr Hugh MacLean a large art collection more recently housed in the Norman MacKenzie Art Gallery. In 1963 extra rehearsal, recording, storage, and dressing rooms were added and in 1986-7 the basement and foundations were rebuilt. Darke Hall has housed performances by Jorge Bolet, Marjorie Lawrence, Nino Martini, Nan Merriman, Jan Peerce, Teresa Stratas, Jean Watson, and Efrem Zimbalist, among others.