Lynne Chernin, last year's recipient of the Bill Draayer award, presents Mary Jane Harper with the prestigious Bill Draayer Award on September 17, 2006 at the Radisson Hotel, Calgary. Mary Jane Harper was the third generation of her family to work for the Olds Gazette. The newspaper was purchased by her grandparents William (Henry) Miller and Mary Miller in the 1930s and at the end of WWII her father joined his in-laws in the business. In the 1950s he and a partner bought the newspaper and formed Leatherdale Publishing Limited. Click the Full Story tab for more.

Mary Jane Harper was the third generation of her family to work for the Olds Gazette. The newspaper was purchased by her grandparents William (Henry) Miller and Mary Miller in the 1930s and at the end of WWII her father joined his in-laws in the business. In the 1950s he and a partner bought the newspaper and formed Leatherdale Publishing Limited.

Mary Jane remembers her first reporting assignment when she was 12 years old. Her father had to run the press and she covered an important trial at the courthouse. A number of prominent farmers had been charged with selling grain. The judge asked her what she was doing there and the next thing she knew she was sitting next to him, making sure she was taking notes properly. In the early 1990s her parents sold the business to the four children: Brian, Leslie, Marlynn and of course, Mary Jane. She assumed the duties of Editor and General Manager at that time. She also took on the responsibilities of photographer and news reporter on a number of occasions.

When the family purchased the newspaper they also made the decision to join the Alberta Weekly Newspapers Association. With that, Mary Jane soon became a member of the Education Committee and hosted (with the permission of her siblings) the annual Golf Tournament.

Her eight years' of service to the board of Directors of AWNA was very rewarding and gratifying, she says. She was part of the board that moved to the digital archive project under the leadership of Roger Holmes and was also part of the board that revamped committees and cemented relationships with its corporate members under the leadership of Lynne Chernin. As president of the association, she helped direct the board to establish a policy handbook which would aid in the running of the organization and assist members and staff greatly.

Mary Jane has been actively involved in her community as well. Elected a school trustee, she served as Chair of the Policy and Education Committee for six years as well as Vice Chair for two years and Chair of the board for one year.

She was elected to the Board of Trustees of the Olds Hospital Board for a three-year term.  She served as a board member of the Library Board and the Recreation Board for three years respectively.

She also was a board member of the Olds Family Community Support Services for nine years and chair for six years.

She was a committee member of the Centennial Committee and a founding member of the Christmas Angels Society, a non-profit group of six women who organize the collection of food and toys for less fortunate families.

She currently works with the Food Bank Society and serves on the Olds Institute Marketing Committee.

Mary Jane has had a remarkable career in the newspaper business and has made remarkable contributions not only to the Alberta Weekly Newspapers Association, but to her community and I am proud to have served with her and more proud to call her my friend.

As she leaves the industry to move forward in another career we wish her much success in her new endeavours.

Another remarkable recipient of the Bill Draayer Award.

Scott Fitzpatrick, Fairview	2006-07
Bob Doornenbal, Cochrane	2005-06
Roger Holmes, Wainwright	2003-05
Mary Jane Harper, Olds	2002-03
Greg Foster, High River	2001-02
Lynne Chernin, Camrose	2000-01

Joan Plaxton, Valleyview	1999-00
Barry Hibbert, Sylvan Lake	1998-99
Frank McTighe, High River	1997-98
Richard Holmes, Provost	1996-97
Gordon Scott, Claresholm	1995-96
Hugh Johnston, Devon	1994-95
Coleen Campbell, Taber	1993-94
John Gorman, Hanna	1992-93
Allan Treleaven, Lacombe	1991-92
Joyce Webster, Coronation	1990-91

Al Blackmere, Barrhead	1989-90
Steven Dills, Stony Plain	1988-89
Duff Jamison, St. Albert	1987-88
Paul Rockley, Claresholm	1986-87
Gary MacDonald, Sylvan Lake	1985-86
Byron Keebaugh, Lloydminster	1984-85
Peter Schierbeck, Fairview	1983-84
Al Willis, Stettler	1982-83
Trevor Harris, Beaverlodge	1981-82
Oliver Hodge, Bow Island	1980-81

Barry Banilius, Whitecourt	1979-80
Lawrence Mazza, Rocky Mountain House	1978-79
Ossie Sheddy, Drumheller	1977-78
William Holmes, High River	1976-77
Jack Gieg, Leduc	1975-76
Peter Pickersgill, Vulcan	1974-75
John MacDonald, Westlock	1973-74
Bert Taylor, Wetaskiwin	1972-73
Don Tanner, High River	1971-72
Howard Bowes, Leduc	1970-71

Evelyn Rogers, Athabasca	1969-70
Ashley Cooper, Vermilion	1968-69
Lou Drouin, St. Paul	1967-68
Tom H. Ford, Lacombe	1966-67
George Meyer, Taber	1965-66
Ron Newsom, Bashaw	1964-65
Dick Hawk, Nanton	1963-64
K.E.G. Patrige, Camrose	1962-63
Ernie Jamison, Ponoka	1961-62
Jack Parry, Rimbey	1960-61

Tom Ford, Lacombe	1959-60
Roy Willis, Stettler	1958-59
George Holmes, Provost	1957-58
W.H. Bowes, Grande Prairie	1956-57
Hal Martin, Westlock	1955-56
Fred Johns, Leduc	1954-55
Bob Munro, Vulcan	1953-54
Bert Ford, Lacombe	1952-53
Ben Knowles, Ft. Saskatchewan	1951-52
C.A. MacLean, Strathmore	1950-51

Charles Clark, High River	1949-50
John Huckell, Innisfail	1948-49
Wm. Draayer, Wetaskiwin	1947-48
Clive Nesbitt, Brooks	1946-47
A.H. Avery, Taber	1945-46
C.C. Jessup, Nanton	1944-45
W.H. Schierholtz, Rocky Mount. House	1943-44
Gordon Neale, Ft. Saskatchewan	1942-43
Leon D'Albertanson, Wainwright	1941-42
R. L. King, Claresholm	1940-41

H.J. Ford, Lacombe	1939-40
R.C. Jessup, Macleod	1938-39
F. P. Galbraith, Red Deer	1937-38
H.T. Halliwell, Coleman	1936-37
G.C. Duncan, Drumheller	1936
H.G. Thunell, Viking	1935
E.S. Duncan, Banff	1934
D.W. Wright, Cardston	1933
Robert Smith, Westlock	1932-33
E.L. Stone, Redcliff	1927-28
L.D. Nesbitt, Bassano	1925-27
John MacKenzie, Strathmore	1923-25
W.J. Huntingford, Wainwright	1922-23
J.H. Woods, Calgary	1921-22
V.C. French, Wetaskiwin	1919-21
A.J.N. Terrill, Medicine Hat	1917-18
F.W. Galbraith, Red Deer	1916-17
F.J. Deane, Cranbrook	1912-13
H.A. Buchanan, Lethbridge	1909-12
T.B. Thomas, Camrose	1908-09
D.H. Elton, Lethbridge	1907-08
F.E. Simpson, Cranbrook	1906-07
J.J. Young, Calgary	1906