But who was Edith Gay?
Within its boundaries, the City of Kelowna boasts many fine parks and recreation facilities. One of these facilities, Edith Gay Park, is especially important to the citizens of Rutland. An online search provides only very basic information about Edith Gay Park: location (305 Moyer Road), area (4.36 hectares), and amenities (baseball field, pickle ball courts, playground, tennis courts, trails, and washrooms). It is also listed as an “on-leash” dog park.
But nowhere could I locate information about Edith Gay, after whom this park is named. Hopefully, this article will remedy this oversight.
Edith Gay’s long life story is told in partial acknowledgement of her generosity to the citizens of Rutland.
Edith Gay was born in London, England, the youngest of two children born to William Gay and Sarah Elizabeth Chalk. William Gay was born at St. Pancras, London, on April 23, 1867. Sarah Elizabeth Chalk was born at Maldon, Essex, England, on April 26, 1865.
William Gay and Sarah Elizabeth Chalk were married in London in 1890.
The 1891 England Census returns (Shoreditch, London) list William Gay working as a plumber and gas fitter. Sarah was working as a maker of silk ties.
They were living on their own, but this situation changed within the year; on December 31, 1891, their first child, Annie, was born. This was followed two years later by the December 24, 1893 birth of their second and youngest child, Edith.
On April 10, 1899, Edith Gay, five years old, was registered at Tottenham Road School in Hackney, London. The Gay family was living at No. 1 John Campbell Road.
Edith was not destined to attend Tottenham Road School, as the family — William and Sarah Elizabeth Gay and their young daughters Annie and Edith — left England within a month and came to Canada.
They sailed from Liverpool on board the “Laurentian” and arrived in Quebec City on May 27, 1899. Their final destination was Vancouver. Edith was almost five and a half years old.
The 1901 Canada Census returns for Vancouver (Burrard District) list William Gay (plumber), Sarah Gay, and their two daughters: nine-year-old Annie and seven-year-old Edith. The family remained in Vancouver for only a few years.
On page 358 of “Down Memory Lane — Rutland” by Evelyn Vielvoye and Elaine Senger, it is recorded that, “The Gay family moved to Kelowna from Vancouver in 1907 and purchased a 20-acre parcel of pastureland on the south corner of the now, Fitzpatrick and Rutland Roads. William Gay was a plumber and practiced for many years. Edith attended the school built in the Rutland district, which was close to Prior Brown’s cabin, near the old airfield by Belgo Road. She was the eighth required pupil. Her father (William Gay) joined the army in World War I and Edith managed the farm and looked after her invalid mother. Her sister, Anne, had moved to Vancouver. Edith worked and managed her farm for many years.”
Further information about Edith Gay’s life is found in “Down Memory Lane — Rutland” page 358: “Over the years she (Edith Gay) became the first leader (Brown Owl) in Rutland Girl Guides that were organized in March 1922. Edith also taught Sunday school at the Rutland Methodist Church and also served as secretary treasurer. She had a special love for animals and became involved with the S.P.C.A.”
Edith’s sister, Annie, married Fred Meek in Rutland on October 4, 1920. They did not live locally, leaving Edith to care for their aging parents. Annie Meek died in Burnaby on April 19, 1975 at the age of 83 years.
Edith, meanwhile, continued to live with her parents, gradually assuming more responsibility for managing the family farm.
Her father was very involved in the local Rutland Community. William Gay was an active church worker and was Recording Steward of the Rutland Methodist Church. He was also a member of the local Masonic Lodge, the Sons of England, and Loyal Orange Lodge No. 1870.
For many years, William Gay was involved with the local Boy Scout movement, and he served as President of the Rutland Scout Association. Although he enlisted to serve during World War I, he was not sent overseas. Because of his age, he spent some of the war years with the Canadian Engineers, stationed at the Coast.
William Gay passed away suddenly at his Rutland residence on April 21, 1936 at the age of 63 years.
He was survived by his widow, Sarah, and two daughters: Annie Meek of Vancouver and Edith at home in Rutland.
For many years, Edith’s mother, Sarah Elizabeth Gay, suffered from ill health. She was therefore unable to take an active role in her community. After her husband’s death in 1931, Sarah Gay came to depend heavily on Edith. Sarah Elizabeth Gay died in Rutland on August 17, 1936. She was 71 years old.
William and Sarah Elizabeth Gay are both buried in the Pioneer Cemetery, in Kelowna Memorial Park Cemetery. A granite military marker on the grave attests to William Gay’s service in World War I.
According to an article on page six of the Friday, March 9, 1979 edition of the Kelowna Daily Courier, “Miss (Edith) Gay continued to live on the farm after the death of her parents and out of her love of children bequeathed the pastureland to the city as a children’s playground, which is situated on Moyer Road.”
Further information about Edith Gay is found on page 358 of “Down Memory Lane — Rutland”: “Edith never married, but she had a special love for children. In 1962, a Minor Baseball League was formed and a need to have space for the youngsters to play became apparent. In 1965, Edith with her generous heart gave pastureland that was not being used for that purpose. She also donated land for the Rutland United Church. In 1972, she was Rutland’s Citizen of the Year for all her contributions of time, effort and money to the Rutland Community. She was made a life member of the S.P.C.A. the same year.”
As age took its toll, Edith Gay was obliged to move from her home on Rutland Road. She spent her final years in Cottonwoods Extended Care (Ethel Street, Kelowna), and it was there that she quietly passed away on June 3, 1980.
Edith Gay was 86 years old. She was buried in Kelowna Pioneer Cemetery, close to her parents’ grave.
Edith Gay’s legacy — the beautiful park and recreation facility named in her honour — continues to this day. Tens of thousands of young people have made use of the fine facilities at Edith Gay Park. Her name will live on through her generosity to the community and her love of the children who live in that community.
Robert Michael Hayes is a lifelong resident of Kelowna and a descendant of the pioneer Clement and Whelan families. He is a life member of the Okanagan Historical Society and a retired elementary school teacher. This article is part of a series, submitted by the Kelowna Branch, Okanagan Historical Society. Additional information would be welcome at P.O. Box 22105, Capri P.O., Kelowna, B.C., V1Y 9N9.