John (Jack) William Donnelly

Jack was born in Kansas, USA on June 21,

1895. In 1907 Jack's family (Roger and Margaret Donnelly) migrated to Clyde, Alberta to homestead. In his teens Jack worked at various jobs. At one job in the bush in Saskatchewan where he was cutting logs, he missed and chopped his foot with his ax. He returned home to recuperate and in 1916 joined the army.

The One Hundred and Thirty‑eight Overseas Battalion landed in France February 3, 1916. Jack was wounded and left for dead on the battlefield. He crawled for help and made himself known. He was sent home and discharged January 31, 1918, spending considerable time in the Edmonton hospital needing surgery on his leg. From there he went to Jasper, Alberta to work for CNR on maintenance, eventually becoming timekeeper.

April 1918 he married Blanche Gertrude Shea. As partners and co‑owners Jack and his father‑inlaw, Charles Shea, built the Chaba Theatre in Jasper. Jack was the projectionist and ran the theatre. Charles was an engineer for CNR. Jack also ran a tourist business with Brewster Coach Line out of Jasper Park Lodge to Banff and Lake Louise.

In the mid‑twenties Jack sold out and moved his family to the coast. They stayed briefly in Victoria and then settled in Vancouver. There Jack worked for a few independent theatres; mostly his work was with Famous Players. Jack enjoyed hunting and fishing and often traveled through the Fraser Canyon. He retired in 1965 at age 70 in Vancouver. He died at age 81 on May 5, 1976.