Finding Anna: Calgary woman traces family history to Meadow Lake

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(Image Credit: Janelle Paul/ submitted)

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“It was the coolest, most emotional part of this whole journey; just being able to give her a name finally,” Paul said. “We grew up knowing of her, but nobody would give us any information growing up… I wish I asked more questions.” 

Determined to learn more, Paul travelled to Meadow Lake, where local residents helped her piece together the final steps of Anna’s story and directed her to the remote cemetery where the infant was buried in 1919. 

(Image Credit: Janelle Paul/ submitted)

“I found out the cemetery was not easy to access. You had to walk through these farmer’s fields to get to it, and I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to do this. Then a butterfly went by my windshield and that was my sign to go.” 

She brought several butterflies she had raised from larvae, along with a hand-painted rock that read: “My name is Anna… I was here… I existed… I am loved.” 

“She’s been an unmarked grave; even if it was a marked grave, I probably would never have found it because it’s so overgrown. The rock I painted, I put it in the tree and then I released the butterflies and I sat there for about 45 minutes just… it’s almost like I knew her.” 

(Image Credit: Janelle Paul/ submitted)

Paul said the trip would not have been possible without the generosity of people in the Meadow Lake area; many of whom helped her locate the cemetery or offered assistance if she couldn’t reach it. 

“Anybody that I asked for any assistance there, they were just so willing to help. Even a lady, she told me that if I couldn’t get out to the cemetery, that she would take the rock out for me. I was impressed with the help I got.” 

Looking back on the experience, Paul hopes it encourages others to ask questions and preserve their family history before those stories are lost. 

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Alyssa.rudolph@pattisonmedia.com