Charles Zelensky was born in 1957 at the Edmonton General Hospital, one of seven children of Peter and Ruth Zelensky. Peter was from Winnipeg, MB and Ruth from Morrin, AB. Peter built grain elevators, and met Ruth when he was building an elevator in Morrin and staying in a boarding house owned by Ruth’s parents. The couple settled in the Jasper Place area, as did Ruth’s sister and husband (who had two children). In this interview, Charles talks about his life and family in Jasper Place.
The house we lived in was at 9830 151 Street. The house was 950 sq.ft., two bedrooms upstairs and a sort of bedroom in the basement. Kitchen, one bathroom, and living room. The house came with furniture. My dad dug out the foundation and would, in 1967, put an addition to the house adding another bedroom and expanding the kitchen. The first furnace had to be lit manually. We always had a gas range. At first my mom had a wringer washer and used a solar and wind powered dryer (a line outside). In the winter she would hang clothes in the basement. She eventually got a gas dryer and later an automatic washer. When my brothers started junior high a shower was put in the basement.
We had a garden, a good sized garden. My dad loved gardening. We also had raspberry, gooseberry bushes, strawberries, herbs, and crabapples. At first mom canned much of the produce from the garden. We also had what we called a potato bin where the potatoes, carrots and jars of preserves were kept. We eventually got a chest freezer then much of the produce was put for keeping.
I believe the community league was West Jasper Place. My neighbourhood was mostly single family dwellings. To the east of us a long 149 Street became apartments. There were long-term neighbours but also short-term. Since the size of the houses were small, the homes were mostly starter houses then people moved onto bigger houses. There were those who would stay and increase the size of their house. On our block there were the Coopers, Andersens, Tom and Doris, Pootzs, Ruttans, Dickens, Potses(?), Dales, our family (Zelenskys), Hintzs, Samis, Knopps, and Lakeys. I know the Lakeys are still there.
The neighbourhood described was my home base for 39 years. I lived and worked in Camrose for eight years coming home at least once a month, and I was in Asia for two years. My mother was there for 45 years. I am still living in Jasper Place but in Jasper Park Community League, seven blocks south of our original neighbourhood. We came here in October 1996. So I have been in Jasper Place for 68 years.
Re: Where Charles went to school:
- Elementary: Central Elementary (Where Orange Hub is)
- Junior High: Westlawn Junior High. Was in the first class to go from grades 7 to 9.
- High School: Jasper Place Composite High School
Re: Shops/ businesses the family patronised:
- Safeway on Stony Plain Road
- Meadowlark and Centennial Mall
- Clock IGA
- Woolco
- Suburban Drugs
- Etherington Drugs
- Vienna Bakery
- Loblaws
- A pet shop at City Limits Center
- Royal Bank
- Alberta Liquor Store
- Post office off Stony Plain Road and 151 Street
- Klondike Bowling Alley
- Jasper Place Theatre and later Meadowlark Theatre
- Many shops at Meadowlark Mall
- Sun Groceries
When my dad was home, [we got around] in his work truck sometimes in the back. Eventually we got a station wagon. Walking, riding my bike, public transit (we had to walk to Stony Plain Road and 147 Street), taxi on occasion, and when I was old enough I had my own car. In high school and junior high we went by city bus when it was cold. Elementary school we walked to school and home for lunch. Lunch at school only when it was very cold.
I am retired now. As a kid (junior high age) I delivered the Edmonton Journal 98 Ave. and 148 Street to 95 Ave., and 95 Ave. 149 Street to 98 Ave. Grade 11 I got a part time job at the Ponderosa Steak house. [The] summer after grade 12 [I] got a job with Woodward’s Edmonton Centre in the cafeteria until I graduated from NAIT (Commercial Baker). I worked for Safeway at Centennial Mall, Thorncliffe, Jasper Gates. So I did some work in Jasper Place.
I am still living in Jasper Place in Jasper Park Community League. I still shop in the area, do my banking, my medical doctor and dentist are in Jasper Place, [I] participate in Jasper Park Community League, [and] buy auto gas and get my car repaired in Jasper Place.
I have memories of part of Central Elementary School burning down. Grades 2 to 6 were fit into one building from two, and grade 1 in another building on the school grounds. I also have memories of a parade going down Stony Plain Road and the Midway set up in the field where Jasper Gates is now.
This article (“Paint, Hammer Provide Family Fun,” Edmonton Journal, May 23, 1956) features Charles’ aunt and mother.
This post is part of the Jasper Place Community History Project’s Community Profile series. These are stories about current and former community members presented mostly in their own words. We have not fact-checked these stories. As a result, there may be some discrepancies concerning dates, locations, spellings of names, and other details.
The series is curated by Paula E. Kirman and Colette Lebeuf.
