1882 - Former slave John Ware becomes Alberta's first cattle rancher and cowboy (February 17, 2017)

Former slave and African-American John Ware arrived in Alberta in 1882 to introduce the first long-horned cattle in this province. Today's all-important Alberta cattle industry first started with this South Carolina native. Following the U.S. Civil War, John Ware left to go to Texas where he learned cowboy skills and how to work a ranch. Next, he went to  the state of Montana from where he went to Alberta in 1882.

While in Alberta, he laid out the foundations of this province's cattle industry. Imagine Calgary without the Calgary Stampede! Without this pioneer, the history of Alberta would be different, indeed!

John Ware with his wife and two of his five children.
Source of image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e5/John_Ware_and_Family.jpg

In 2012 Canada Post introduced a postage stamp commemorating the life of John Ware.

Canada Post's 2012 postage stamp. Source of image: c3d70cdd-712c-4cad-a2bf-c467275471e5_thumbnail_600_600.jpg