Gordon Tolton books showcase pioneer times in Alberta history

Author Gordon Tolton
C. Davis file photo

Toni Lucas, Pincher Creek Voice

History buffs that are fascinated with the the pioneer days of early Alberta will want to pick up on the work of Gordon Tolton.  Two of his books are centered around the Northwest Rebellion of 1885.  His newest book,  an historical biography titled 'The Life and Times of John J. Healy' is scheduled to come out in May 2014.


Tolton was raised on a family farm near Taber, Alberta.  An amateur historian, he has a passion for history in Alberta and western Canada. He has worked in agricultural, construction, and in service industries, and has served with historical associations for more than two decades. He and his wife Rose live in Coaldale, Alberta.

Tolton's book 'Cowboy Cavalry: The Story of the Rocky Mountain Rangers' was released in the spring of 2011.  It tells of the time when Treaty 7 was new, circa 1885 and First Nations and Metis discontent was escalating into a possible war, led by Louis Riel.

Local rancher John Stewart took over the NWMP Ranch at Pincher Creek and started the Rocky Mountain Rangers.  This was a militia group of 114 local cowboys that were charged with patrolling the area from the Rocky Mountains to the Cypress Hills, charged with ending unrest in the region. The ranks of these Rangers included ex-Mounties, ex-cons, retired, high-ranking military officials and working ranch hands.

The chief scout of the Rocky Mountain Rangers was none other that John George 'Kootenai' Brown.

'Prairie Warships: River Navigation in the Northwest Rebellion' is set in the same time period, circa 1885, and examines how waterways played a part in the conflict.  Métis leader Louis Riel led the Northwest Rebellion to oppose the military forces of the Canadian government at a time when steamship paddle-wheelers traversed the North and South Saskatchewan Rivers.   Warriors and soldiers on both sides of the conflict used the waterways for cargo, navigation and transportation.  Then one more step was taken and steamboats, ferries and other river craft were used for warfare along the banks of rivers in Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba.

Tolton's forthcoming book 'Healy's West The Life and Times of John J. Healy' centers on John Healy, a man who came to the Canadian prairies from Ireland. Healy was a jack of all trades who made his way through the frontier on his own terms, paving the way to his future by prospecting for gold, trapping, trading, and scouting. Healy proved he could live in the world as an educated man with the skills of newspaper editor, merchant, a lawman, historian and politician.  He proved that he had what it took to flourish in a new land.

Books by Gord Tolton are available through Heritage House Publishers, Amazon, Chapters, and many museum and heritage site gift shops in southern Alberta.