A Rare Find: Ethel Ayres Bullymore

Book excerpt: A Rare Find is the heartwarming and true story of Ethel Kemp, an English emigrant whose vigilant determination to overcome endless trials lead her to successfully serve the people of Canada’s prairie for 6 decades. Despite her battle through years of family health problems, the Great War, the flu epidemic, considerable personal losses and constant overwhelming grief, she overcomes every obstacle and, perseveres. A widow at a young age, her strong faith, personal tenacity and unending passion for family life allow Ethel to overcome defeat and loss. Her crucial decision to start a new life leads her to the quiet town of Edgerton in Eastern Alberta where her practical nurse’s training led her into a natural vocation of caring for those in her community, dedicating herself mainly to midwifery. Winning people’s trust, she finds herself not only in taxing situations with public health, local education and the legal system, but at times she also must prepare loved ones for home visitation after death.