Alex Orlando Lawrance was born in Sedgewick, Ab. on March 22, 1914. He grew up with his 2 siblings on the Dominion of Canada Experimental Farm near the settlement. As a young man Alex worked on the farm, learning useful skills that he put to good use, as he won in local competitions for the livestock that he entered. The family moved north and homesteaded east of Grande Prairie near 5 Mile.
Alex enlisted on June 24, 1940 as a Sapper with the Royal Canadian Engineers – Edmonton Regiment. He rose to the rank of Lance Corporal while serving overseas, seeing action in the Italian campaign. After returning to Canada he was diagnosed with a spot of tuberculosis on his lung and spent a year recuperating in a Calgary sanatorium.
While stationed in England Alex met and married Elsie Mayo in 1945. Elsie came over as a War Bride on the Aquitania in 1946, staying in Calgary when she first arrived to be near Alex. They eventually moved to Grande Prairie where Alex had been living prior to the war.
Alex worked at Karren’s Plumbing when he returned to Grande Prairie, a position that they held for him after his enlistment. He was trained as a plumber, gasfitter and sheet metal technician.
Alex passed away on July 31, 1977 and is interred at City of Grande Prairie Cemetery.
Contributed by Derek Lawrance