A Tribute to the Taylor Family

For nearly 60 years, the Taylor family owned the land where the Aspen Village community now stands, cultivating their property and creating many cherished memories. Bill and Blanche Taylor and their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren nurtured the land with love, dedication, and a spirit of togetherness.

Bill, originally from Prince Edward Island, and Blanche, hailing from Manitoba, met and began their journey together in Alberta. Bill purchased his first 5 acres of land, and the couple married in 1964. At the time, Calgary’s population was only 300,000 and Crowchild Trail was just a gravel road. The Taylor property initially featured a small 1940s house with outdoor plumbing on a vast open plain. With dedication and a can-do attitude, Bill updated the family home by studying municipal plans and installing modern plumbing.

While Bill operated a truck for Maple Leaf Mills, Blanche worked a secretarial role at National Trust and managed the comforts of home life. They soon raised two sons: Terry, born in 1965 and Wendell in 1968, and a daughter, Lynn, born in 1977. Blanche fondly remembers hanging clothes on the line and walking uphill with a baby carriage to meet Bill at the end of a workday. They built a barn while raising their young children and welcomed miniature ponies, cows, hundreds of chickens, a llama, and even a racehorse. Bill's inventive spirit shone through when he built a chicken plucker and scalding tank, allowing them to sell chickens by the pound.

The Taylors extended their love of the land by managing a wheat farm in Vulcan. With several tractors for both practical use and fun, they often transported them between both properties. Balancing life between the home and the farm allowed them to enjoy the best of both worlds.

In 1973, the Taylors built a new house with two garages and later added an addition. With its beautiful backyard and serene views, this house became the heart of family life. Over the years, they planted spruce and poplar, protecting the property and enhancing its character. Wildlife, including deer, moose, rabbits, and gophers frequented the land. A greenhouse and beloved garden brought favourites like rhubarb, potatoes, carrots, and peas to the table. Early mornings were the best part of their days, and peony blooms wrapped around the home in summer. Filled with the joys of outdoor adventures, the Taylor children enjoyed exploring the yard and neighbouring properties, sledding in winter, motorbiking, and getting into playful antics. Blanche reminisces these simple times as their most cherished memories.

Over the years, the Taylors expanded their property to 10 acres, purchasing 5 acres across the road in the early 2000s, renting its existing home, and fostering community. Social life extended beyond the home, with Bill and Blanche partaking in Dots ‘n Dashers square dancing in the 1970s. As time passed, their property witnessed the joys of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, continuing the legacy of family gatherings and outdoor adventures.

After nearly 60 years, the Taylors sold their beloved land in September 2023. Their legacy, however, endures for all Aspen Village residents, symbolized by the beautiful blue spruce and apple trees that now stand by the pond. Bill and Blanche’s dedication to their family and the land exemplifies the spirit of hard work, love, and community that will continue to inspire us all.