JACKET

Description: 1. PURPLE WOOL BLAZER. EDGES ARE TRIMMED WITH OFF-WHITE CORD. HAS TWO WAIST PATCH POCKETS AND A PATCH POCKET ON LEFT BREAST. EACH POCKET IS ALSO TRIMMED WITH OFF-WHITE CORD (AS ARE CUFFS). ON BREAST POCKET IS A PATCH THAT CONSISTS OF A PURPLE SHIELD SHAPE, WITH AN ELK'S HEAD IN THE CENTER; ABOVE ELK'S HEAD IS A GOLD CLOCK; ABOVE CLOCK IS A BANNER SHAPE THAT READS "B.P.O. ELKS". BELOW ELK'S HEAD IS "1912-1972". BELOW SHIELD SHAPE IS A PURPLE BANNER WITH GOLD EMBROIDERY, THAT READS "DIAMOND ANNIVERSARY". BLAZER CLOSES WITH TWO BLACK PLASTIC BUTTONS. THE FOLLOWING TWO PINS ARE IN LAPEL OF JACKET: 2. PIN. 0.5CM(H) X 5.1CM(L) X 1.8CM(W). BRASS. RECTANGULAR WITH SCALLOPED EDGES. TOP HALF OF FRONT IS NAVY BLUE WITH GOLD PRINT THAT READS "ALTA. PROV. ELKS ASSOC. PAST PRESIDENT". BOTTOM HALF IS GOLD, ETCHED WITH "JOHN VASELENAK 1935-36". IMPRESSED INTO BACK OF PIN IS "G.F.". HAS A STRAIGHT PIN WITH CLASP ON BACK. 3. PIN. 0.9CM(H) X 1.5CM(L) X 1.0CM(W). 2 PIECES. BRASS. FRONT HAS A GOLD ELK'S HEAD ON A BLUE BACKGROUND; ABOVE HEAD IS A CLOCK, AND ON SIDES OF BLUE BACKGROUND ARE LEAVES. BELOW ELK'S HEAD IS "40 YRS" ON A RED BACKGROUND. BELOW THIS IS "B.P.O. ELKS OF CANADA" ON A WHITE BANNER. HAS A ROUND BACK THAT SCREWS ONTO STEM ON BACK OF PIN.

History: SEE P20000067001-GA FOR HISTORY. *UPDATE* IN 2017 COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT RUTHANN LABLANCE CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF CLOTHING, INCLUDING A BLAZER DONATED BY BRUCE MCKENZIE. THE FOLLOWING BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION WAS COMPILED USING ARTICLES FROM THE LETHBRIDGE HERALD. BRUCE MCKENZIE PASSED AWAY AT THE AGE OF 75 ON JULY 7, 2006. ACCORDING TO AN ARTICLE FROM JANUARY 29, 1998 BRUCE SERVED AS EXALTED RULER FOR THE B.P.O. ELKS, LETHBRIDGE LODGE NO. 37. JOHN VASELENAK WAS BORN IN AUSTRIA AND MOVED TO LETHBRIDGE IN 1919, WHERE HE STARTED HIS LAW PRACTICE, PRACTICING LAW UP UNTIL HIS DEATH. A NOTICE PRITED ON SEPTEMBER 8, 1922 INDICATES THAT HIS LAW OFFICE WOULD BE LOCATED IN SUITE D OF THE METCALF BUILDING FROM SEPTEMBER 11, 1922 ONWARDS, AND IT REMAINED HIS OFFICE UNTIL HIS DEATH. ACCORDING TO HIS OBITUARY, JOHN “WAS INITIATED INTO THE ELKS CLUB MARCH 5, 1924, WAS EXALTED RULER FOR LETHBRIDGE FROM 1928-1929, PROVICINAL PRESIDENT 1935-1936, PAST GRAND EXALTED RULER FOR CANADA 1938-1939 AND HS BEEN A LIFE MEMBER SINCE 1963.” JOHN WAS MARRIED TO CATHERINE “KAY” VASELENAK (NEE NEGREY). CATHERINE WAS BORN AND RAISED IN LETHBRIDGE, THE DAUGHTER OF GEORGE AND CATHERINE (MAIDEN NAME UNKNOWN) NEGREY. SHE PASSED AWAY AT THE AGE OF 81 ON NOVEMBER 15, 1983. JOHN PASSED AWAY, AGED ACCORDING TO HIS OBITUARY “IN HIS LATE EIGHTIES” ON APRIL 17, 1979. SEE PERMANENT FILE FOR COPIES OF THE ARTICLES FROM THE LETHBRIDGE HERALD.