Last change
July 23, 2020
Ongoing Oral History Project | Phase III - Oil Sands Oral History Project 117 interviews |
Phase II - CSEG/ CSPG Hall of Fame - 84 interviews | Phase I - 223 interviews
(Use Browser command "Edit > Find on this Page" to search for a name.)
Ongoing Oral History Project - 2013+
1 interview - Smiley Raborn - by
David Finch,
Interviewer. Funded thanks to a Community Spirit Grant.
Available in the Glenbow Western Research Centre at the University of Calgary. Contact Doug Cass, Past Chief Archivist at the Glenbow Archives
Phase III - Oil Sands Oral History Project, 117 interviews, 2011 - 2013
"an extraordinary treasure trove" - Chris Turner, author
|
Heavy machinery used at Athabasca Oilsands, 1967
Credit: Glenbow Archives (with permission) |
|
Bucketwheel at Great Canadian Oilsands, 1967
Credit: Robert McClements Jr. |
|
Bitumount oil sands processing plant, 1936
Credit: Glenbow Archives (with permission) |
Sponsors | Completed Interviews | Inventories and Descriptions of Key Oil Sands Archival Materials
Oil Sands Oral History Final Report in PDF
Funded by the oil sands industry and the Province of Alberta, and managed by the Petroleum History Society, the Oil Sands Oral History Project was the most-extensive research and documentation project ever undertaken on the oil sands industry.
The purpose of the project was to capture – in audio and, wherever possible, video format – interviews with people who played key roles in the development of the oil sands. The first interview, which took place on April 13, 2011, captured the recollections of the late Peter Lougheed. Protocols were developed for the conduct of the oral histories based on museum and archival standards, and the project took advantage of a team of experienced researcher/interviewers, videographers and transcribers.
After the interviews were transcribed and the project’s researchers have checked them over carefully, interviewees had the opportunity to review them and a short biography prepared by the researchers. The Petroleum History Society deposited these materials plus any donated documents to the Glenbow Archives, where they have become a permanent resource for historians and other researchers. 117 people were interviewed.
For some of the stories we've heard, please see our Archives newsletters starting with September 2011 and onwards.
Phase III Oil Sands Oral History Project |
Funding Sponsors: |
Non-funding sponsors: |
Canadian Oil Sands Limited |
Glenbow Museum and Archives |
Syncrude Canada Ltd. |
JuneWarren-Nickles Energy Group |
Alberta Historical Resources Foundation/
Alberta Lottery Fund |
CNW Group |
Athabasca Oil Corporation |
|
Canadian Natural Resources Limited |
|
Imperial Oil Limited |
|
MEG Energy Corp. |
|
Nexen Inc. |
|
Suncor Energy |
|
Connacher Oil and Gas Limited |
|
Inventories and Descriptions of Key Oil Sands Archival Materials
Here is the Finding Aid for the Oil Sands Oral History Project at the Glenbow Western Research Centre at the University of Calgary website https://glenbow.ucalgary.ca/finding-aid/oil-sands-oral-history-project/
Inventories of oil sands material at the University of Alberta Archives and the Provincial Archives of Alberta, in Edmonton, have been prepared as part of this project. Access is available here.
Completed Interviews in Oil Sands Oral History Project
|
First Name |
Surname |
Principal Affiliation |
1 |
Mickey |
Abougoush |
Amoco; private consultancy |
2 |
Brad |
Anderson |
Alberta Chamber of Resources |
3 |
David |
Armstrong |
Imperial Oil |
4 |
Jack |
Avery |
Suncor Operations |
5 |
Gene |
Bacon |
GCOS/Suncor HR |
6 |
John |
Barr |
Syncrude Canada |
7 |
Guy |
Boutilier |
Mayor and MLA |
8 |
Clem |
Bowman |
Chair AOSTRA; Imperial Oil |
9 |
Cliff |
Britch |
Suncor |
10 |
John |
Broadhurst |
VP Shell |
11 |
Larry |
Brocke |
Alberta Environment |
12 |
Elmer |
Brooker |
Engineering consultant |
13 |
David |
Brown |
Director Canmet Energy, Devon |
14 |
Gerry |
Burden |
Imperial Oil; incorporated Syncrude |
15 |
Terry |
Burton |
Suncor |
16 |
Neil |
Camarta |
VP Oil Sands Petro-Canada/Suncor |
17 |
Maurice |
Carrigy |
Chair AOSTRA |
18 |
Jim |
Carter |
CEO Syncrude Canada |
19 |
William (Bill) |
Cary |
GCOS (Suncor Energy) |
20 |
Harbir |
Chhina |
VP Cenovus Energy SAGD pioneer |
21 |
C. R. (Chuck) |
Collyer |
Syncrude; Bechtel |
22 |
Ted |
Cyr |
AOSTRA, Alberta Energy |
23 |
Lester |
Deep |
Suncor Operations |
24 |
Gerry |
DeSorcy |
Chair ERCB |
25 |
William D |
Dickie |
Former Alberta Energy Minister |
26 |
Howie |
Dingle |
Esso VP |
27 |
Richard |
Dixon |
U of A Centre of Applied Business Research |
28 |
Grant |
Duncan |
Principal Production Engineer In Situ Resources, Suncor |
29 |
Maurice |
Dusseault |
University of Waterloo |
30 |
Neil |
Edmunds |
Laricina |
31 |
Alan |
Fair |
Director of Tailings EPA, COSIA |
32 |
Keith |
Firmin |
Shell Canada |
33 |
Charlie |
Fischer |
Nexen CEO |
34 |
Richard L (Rick) |
George |
CEO Suncor Energy |
35 |
Ned |
Gilbert |
Suncor Energy |
36 |
Ray |
Gillespie |
Esso Cold Lake |
37 |
Simon |
Gittins |
Cenovus |
38 |
George |
Govier |
Chair ERCB |
39 |
Murray |
Gray |
Director, Centre of Oil Sands Innovation |
40 |
Ron |
Gray |
First Syncrude employee; executive positions |
41 |
Hassan |
Hamza |
Director, CANMET Energy |
42 |
Maggie |
Hannah |
Geological Consultant |
43 |
Jack |
Haston |
Suncor |
44 |
Toshiku |
Hirata |
President Japex (Japan Canada Oil Sands) |
45 |
Chris |
Holoboff |
Cold Lake High School |
46 |
Ernie |
Hui |
Alberta Environment |
47 |
William (Bill) |
Humphreys |
Abasand |
48 |
Al |
Hyndman |
Syncrude Canada Research/Operations |
49 |
Eddy |
Isaacs |
Alberta Innovates Alberta Research Council |
50 |
Dave |
Krook |
Esso Cold Lake |
51 |
Bert |
Lang |
Suncor/head of Millennium Project |
52 |
Vern |
Larson |
Director Imperial Oil Research |
53 |
Peter |
Lougheed |
Premier Province of Alberta |
54 |
Richard |
Luhning |
AOSTRA |
55 |
Jean |
Lund |
Syncrude |
56 |
Neil |
Lund |
Syncrude |
57 |
Donald S |
Macdonald |
Energy Minister Government of Canada |
58 |
Hans |
Maciej |
Canadian Petroleum Association (now CAPP) |
59 |
Bert |
MacKay |
Suncor Safety and Training |
60 |
Preston |
Manning |
Ernest Manning (his father) |
61 |
Dee (Parkinson) |
Marcoux |
VP Suncor Energy |
62 |
Jacob |
Masliyah |
University of Alberta |
63 |
William (Bill) |
McAffrey |
Founder and CEO MEG Energy |
64 |
Bob |
McClements |
GCOS construction CEO of Sun Oil |
65 |
Neil |
McCrank |
Chair ERCB |
66 |
Anne |
McLellan |
Energy Minister Government of Canada |
67 |
Bill |
Mooney |
Cities Service; Syncrude |
68 |
Norbert |
Morgenstern |
University of Alberta |
69 |
Thomas |
Morimoto |
Bitumount |
70 |
Arthur |
Morris |
Suncor Heavy Equipment Operator |
71 |
Jane |
Morris |
Suncor Human Resources |
72 |
Prakash |
Mullick |
Suncor Standards Program |
73 |
Patricia (Black) |
Nelson |
Alberta Energy Minister |
74 |
Eric |
Newell |
CEO Syncrude Canada |
75 |
Randy |
Ottenbreit |
Imperial Oil including Cold Lake |
76 |
Frederick |
Otto |
Dean of Engineering emeritus U of A |
77 |
Harold |
Page |
GCOS; Alberta Chamber of Resources |
78 |
Albert |
Poulette |
Alberta Environment, Manager, Compliance |
79 |
Paul |
Precht |
Alberta Energy |
80 |
Carolyn |
Preston |
CONRAD |
81 |
Roland |
Priddle |
Chair National Energy Board |
82 |
David |
Redford |
AOSTRA |
83 |
Joy |
Romero |
CNRL Horizon Project |
84 |
Robert |
Rosen |
City Lumber Supply Chain |
85 |
Brian |
Rottenfusser |
UTF geologist |
86 |
Germain |
Routhier |
Suncor Operations |
87 |
Mark |
Ruschkowski |
Esso Cold Lake |
88 |
David |
Ryan |
Suncor PR & Training |
89 |
Bob |
Scarborough |
Dome Amoco steam technology |
90 |
David |
Schindler |
U of A |
91 |
Glen |
Schmidt |
Laricina |
92 |
Brent |
Scott |
CEO Syncrude Canada |
93 |
Tony |
Settari |
U of C |
94 |
John |
Shaw |
U of A, Chair in Petroleum Thermodynamics |
95 |
Mary Clark |
Sheppard |
Karl Clark (biographer of her father) |
96 |
Cal |
Sikstrom |
Imperial Oil environmentalist |
97 |
Gale |
Simpson |
AOSTRA |
98 |
Kem |
Singh |
Dir Air. Land and Water, Alberta Environment |
99 |
Dr Robert |
Skinner |
Alberta ADM Energy; IEA; Statoil Canada |
100 |
George |
Skulsky |
Suncor Superintendent of Operations |
101 |
Bruce |
Slevinsky |
Esso and Imperial |
102 |
Nell |
Spragins |
Widow of Frank Spragins |
103 |
Gerry |
Stephenson |
AOSTRA/Underground Test Facility |
104 |
Barry |
Stewart |
Imperial/ PetroCanada/ Suncor exec. |
105 |
Bruce |
Stewart |
Former Director, CANMET Energy |
106 |
Jack |
Suggett |
Athabasca Oil Sands |
107 |
Michael A (Mike) |
Supple |
Suncor executive now chair of Synenco |
108 |
Robert W (Bob) |
Taylor |
Alberta ADM-Oil; Amoco Canada |
109 |
Don |
Thompson |
Syncrude Oil Sands Developers Group |
110 |
Don |
Towson |
Petro Canada PCEJ Electric Heat Pilot |
111 |
Ron |
Wallace |
AEMP Panel; AEMWG Chair
AEMMB Vice Chair; AOSERP program |
112 |
Allan |
Warrack |
MLA, Professor, Business Economics, U of A |
113 |
Kathryn |
Wood |
AOSTRA; RMRC Implementation Team |
114 |
Barry |
Worbets |
Statoil |
115 |
Chi-Tak |
Yee |
Roger Butler’s partner VP MEG Energy |
116 |
K. C. |
Yeung |
Oil sands reservoir engineer |
117 |
Erdal |
Yildirim |
Syncrude National Oil Sands Task Force |
News release January 18, 2011
Announcing our third Oral History Project: Preserving Our Oil Sands Story
|
|
|
Interviews available at the Glenbow Western Research Centre at the University of Calgary in audio and transcribed.
Finding aids to Phases I and II https://glenbow.ucalgary.ca/finding-aid/petroleum-industry-oral-history-project/
Contact Doug Cass, Past Chief Archivist at the Glenbow Archives
|
Phase II - Quarterly Report #16 Final Report
For period April 1 to December 31, 2004
by
David Finch,
Interviewer and Project Manager
Petroleum Industry Oral History Project - Petroleum History Society
Overview | Work conducted during
this period | Interviews conducted by Phase II of this project
Overview
Phase I of the Petroleum Industry Oral History Project operated from 1981 to 1985 and collected more than 200 interviews with key men and women involved in the development of the Canadian oil and gas industry. Phase II of this project began operation in October, 1999 and has revived and continued the process of recording and transcribing the stories of these important pioneers.
With seed funding from the Petroleum History Society, grants from the Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists and the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists, a partial matching grant from the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation and assistance from the Glenbow Archives and Oilweek Magazine, this project intended to conduct an additional 100 interviews – 84 were completed.
Work conducted during this period
The project concluded conducting interviews during this period by interviewing Mike Miller in April, Robert Rintoul and Earl Lipsett in June and finally, Bill Mooney in July. Ms. Lenni Rae continued transcribing for this project during this reporting period and has cleared up the backlog of transcribing interviews from the first part of this project too. She has transcribed more than 250 interviews to date.
84 Interviews conducted by Phase II of this project
October 1999 to December 2004
These interviews are available on audio tape and transcribed at the Glenbow Western Research Centre at the University of Calgary.
Finding aids to Phases I and II https://glenbow.ucalgary.ca/finding-aid/petroleum-industry-oral-history-project/
|
Related to
Hall of Fame or other |
1 |
Bill Fisher |
Bill Mooney |
2 |
Hugh Leiper |
Roland Priddle |
3 |
Earl Lipsett |
Robert Rintoul |
4 |
Mike Miller |
Tony Vandenbrink |
|
|
Related to
Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists |
Related to
Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists |
1 |
Dick Baillie
|
Bill Ayrton
|
2 |
Wilf Baillie
|
Ted Best
|
3 |
Art Baptie
|
Fred Calverley
|
4 |
John Baxendale
|
Don Cook
|
5 |
Peter Bediz
|
Rein de Wit |
6 |
Harry Carlyle
|
John Downing |
7 |
Bob Comer
|
Bob Erickson
|
8 |
Don Crane
|
Cal Evans
|
9 |
Hans den Boer
|
George Eynon |
10 |
Marty Dewis
|
Bill Gussow |
11 |
Dave Einarsson
|
Mike Hriskevich
|
12 |
Bill Evans
|
A.N. Hutton
|
13 |
Harold Farney
|
Jim Kirker
|
14 |
Craig Ferris
|
Ed Klovan
|
15 |
John Frey |
Jim MacDonald |
16 |
Ed Fulmer
|
John Maher |
17 |
Ned Gilbert
|
Terry McCoy |
18 |
Lloyd Hatlelid
|
Bob McCrossan |
19 |
George Hobson |
Digby McLaren |
20 |
Norman Jones |
Jack McMillan |
21 |
Andrew Kennedy |
Peter Fitzgerald Moore |
22 |
George Kostashuk |
Eric Mountjoy |
23 |
Roy Lindseth
|
C.B. Newmarch |
24 |
George Longphee
|
Dave Organ |
25 |
J. Warner Loven |
Bob Orr |
26 |
Earle Mahaffy
|
Ernie Pallister |
27 |
Ian McIlreath |
Alice Payne |
28 |
Roy Millice
|
Ray Price |
29 |
Ken Morrison
|
Peter Putnam |
30 |
Denny O'Brien
|
Gerry Reinson |
31 |
Jack Pullen
|
Clay Riddell |
32 |
Wes Rabey
|
Kathy Scales |
33 |
Ted Rozsa
|
Jim Scott |
34 |
Bud St. Clair |
Lee Slind |
35 |
Peter Savage
|
Don Stott |
36 |
Don Seaman
|
Gordon Williams |
37 |
Gerry Sykes |
Harry Woodward |
38 |
Ken Thompson |
|
39 |
Bill Watson |
|
Top
223 People Interviewed in the
Petroleum Industry Oral History Project
Phase I, 1981 - 1985
A B C
D E F
G H I
J K L
M N O
P Q R S
T U V W
XYZ
These interviews are available on audio tape and transcribed at the Glenbow Western Research Centre at the University of Calgary.
Finding aids to Phases I and II https://glenbow.ucalgary.ca/finding-aid/petroleum-industry-oral-history-project/
Contact Doug Cass, Past Chief Archivist at the Glenbow Archives
In 2018-2019, the PHS completed a project to transcribe and digitize 60+ interviews that were not previously in those formats. This project was funded in part by the Government of Alberta through the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation.
|
|
1 |
Harold |
Acheson |
2 |
Harry |
Alger |
3 |
Bill |
Allen |
4 |
Geoff |
Andrews |
5 |
John |
Andrichuk |
6 |
Jean |
Angus |
7 |
Jack |
Armstrong |
8 |
Eric |
Atkinson |
9 |
W. L. "Pete" |
Atkinson |
10 |
Don |
Axford |
11 |
Herb |
Bagnall |
12 |
Andy |
Baillie |
13 |
John |
Ballachey |
14 |
Ed |
Baltrusaitis |
15 |
Ray |
Barker |
16 |
Ed |
Barroll |
17 |
Peter |
Bawden |
18 |
Peter |
Bediz |
19 |
Elmer |
Berlie |
20 |
Ted |
Best |
21 |
"Tiny" |
Bevans |
22 |
Doris |
Bingham |
23 |
Don |
Binney |
24 |
"Swede" |
Black |
25 |
Mark |
Blain |
26 |
George |
Blundun |
27 |
Bob |
Brinkerhoff |
28 |
Doug |
Brown |
29 |
R. A. |
Brown |
30 |
R. S. "Spike" |
Brown |
31 |
Jack |
Browning |
32 |
Bun |
Burggren |
33 |
Doug |
Cairns |
34 |
Thelma |
Cameron |
35 |
Don |
Campau |
36 |
Harry |
Carlyle |
37 |
Lyle |
Caspell |
38 |
S. K. |
Chakravorty |
39 |
Carl |
Chapman |
40 |
Bill |
Charles |
41 |
Norm |
Christie |
42 |
Bill |
Clemis |
43 |
C. E. |
Cleveland |
44 |
Gordon |
Connell |
45 |
Eugene |
Cook |
46 |
Bert |
Corey |
47 |
Pierre |
Cote |
48 |
Colin |
Crickmay |
49 |
Marshall |
Crowe |
50 |
Sterling |
Davies |
51 |
Marion |
de Chastelain |
52 |
George |
de Mille |
53 |
Mary |
Dickson |
54 |
Walter |
Dingle |
55 |
John |
Downing |
56 |
Ian |
Drum |
57 |
Jim |
Drumheller |
58 |
Charlie |
Dunkley |
59 |
Ralph |
Edie |
60 |
Garnet |
Edwards |
61 |
Oscar |
Erdman |
62 |
Art |
Feldmeyer |
63 |
Ralph |
Flanders |
64 |
Glenn |
Fox |
65 |
Larry |
Frantz |
66 |
Bill |
Friley |
67 |
George |
Furnival |
68 |
Bob |
Galbraith |
69 |
Jack |
Gallagher |
70 |
Ed |
Galvin |
71 |
Alvin |
Geddes |
72 |
Ian |
Gehman |
73 |
Ken |
Germond |
74 |
Kelly |
Gibson |
75 |
Marjorie |
Gibson |
76 |
Sheldon |
Gibson |
77 |
Willis |
Gibson |
78 |
D. P. |
Goodall |
79 |
Jack |
Goodman |
80 |
Jack |
Goth |
81 |
George |
Govier |
82 |
David |
Gray |
83 |
Jean |
Greig |
84 |
Earle |
Gray |
85 |
John |
Gray |
86 |
W. C. "Bill" |
Gussow |
87 |
Conrad O. |
Hage |
88 |
E. T. "Jeep" |
Hall |
89 |
Willis |
Hancock |
90 |
Stan |
Harding |
91 |
Don |
Harvie |
92 |
Dallas |
Hawkins |
93 |
John Homer |
Hayden |
94 |
Cecil "Harry" |
Heath |
95 |
M. |
Helliwell |
96 |
Alex |
Hemstock |
97 |
Emily |
Hemstock |
98 |
Gerry |
Henderson |
99 |
W. S. |
Herron Jr. |
100 |
Charles |
Hetherington |
101 |
Tom |
Hicks |
102 |
Polly |
Holden |
103 |
Harley |
Hotchkiss |
104 |
Al |
Howes |
105 |
Michael |
Hriskevich |
106 |
Harry |
Hunter |
107 |
Vern |
Hunter |
108 |
Allan |
Insley |
109 |
Jim |
Irwin |
110 |
John |
Jackson |
111 |
Marg |
James |
112 |
George |
Jones |
113 |
Gordon |
Jones |
114 |
Stan |
Kanik |
115 |
Aubrey |
Kerr |
116 |
Fred |
Kidd |
117 |
Tom |
Kimmett |
118 |
Stu |
King |
119 |
Howard |
Kirk |
120 |
Margaret |
Knode |
121 |
Labby |
Laberge |
122 |
E. H. "Eddie" |
Laborde |
123 |
"Spi" |
Langston |
124 |
Douglas |
Layer |
125 |
Louis |
Lebel |
126 |
Charles |
Lee |
127 |
D. E. "Ed" |
Lewis |
128 |
Fin |
Lineham |
129 |
Jim |
Lineham |
130 |
Jim |
Livingstone |
131 |
Bill |
Lockhart |
132 |
Emily |
Mackay |
133 |
W. D. C. "Don" |
Mackenzie |
134 |
Roy Harry |
McMillan |
135 |
Gerry |
Maier |
136 |
Paul |
Marshall |
137 |
Rod |
McDaniel |
138 |
D. P. |
McDonald |
139 |
Bill |
McGregor |
140 |
Don |
McIvor |
141 |
Gordon |
McKay |
142 |
Fred |
McKinnon |
143 |
Horace |
Meech |
144 |
Archie |
Miller |
145 |
Jack |
Minchin |
146 |
David |
Mitchell |
147 |
Hoadley |
Mitchell |
148 |
Carl |
Moore |
149 |
Paul |
Moseson |
150 |
J. V. "Tip" |
Moroney |
151 |
Scovil |
Murray |
152 |
Clair |
Nabors |
153 |
Reg |
Nelson |
154 |
Matt |
Newell |
155 |
Carl |
Nickle |
156 |
Arne |
Nielsen |
157 |
Trajan |
Nitescu |
158 |
Lauder |
Nowers |
159 |
Ralph |
Oborne |
160 |
Ernest |
Pallister |
161 |
E. O. |
Parry |
162 |
Raymund |
Paterson |
163 |
Maurice |
Paulson |
164 |
Stan |
Pearson |
165 |
David |
Penner |
166 |
John |
Pettinger |
167 |
W. A. |
Phillips |
168 |
Jack |
Pierce |
169 |
Mary |
Pope |
170 |
Mel |
Pope |
171 |
Jack |
Porter |
172 |
John |
Poven |
173 |
Gilbert |
Raasch |
174 |
Wes |
Rabey |
175 |
Gordon |
Rae |
176 |
Mel |
Reasoner |
177 |
Don |
Redman |
178 |
Bill |
Roliff |
179 |
Alastair |
Ross |
180 |
Charles |
Schock |
181 |
Jim |
Scott |
182 |
Bob |
Sears |
183 |
Ernie |
Shaw |
184 |
Charlie |
Shipp |
185 |
Clark |
Siferd |
186 |
Hubert |
Somerville |
187 |
Bobby |
Sparrow |
188 |
Lloyd |
Stafford |
189 |
David |
Stauft |
190 |
Peter |
Stauft |
191 |
Charles |
Stelck |
192 |
Bill |
Stuart |
193 |
Hans |
Suter |
194 |
Kathleen |
Taylor |
195 |
Nick |
Taylor |
196 |
Vern |
Taylor |
197 |
Ann |
Knode Tharp |
198 |
Ben |
Toone |
199 |
George |
Tosh |
200 |
Ed |
Tovell |
201 |
Ray |
Tull |
202 |
Helen |
Turgeon |
203 |
Mary |
Pandachuk Turner |
204 |
Bill |
Twaits |
205 |
Leo |
Vladicka |
206 |
Len |
Walker |
207 |
Bruce |
Watson |
208 |
Jack |
Walper |
209 |
Tom |
Wark |
210 |
Jim |
Warke |
211 |
C. T. "Bill" |
Webb |
212 |
Gordon |
Webster |
213 |
Harry |
Webster |
214 |
Jack |
Wegh |
215 |
Don |
Weir |
216 |
Bob |
Welch |
217 |
Sid |
Weller |
218 |
R. T. D. |
Wickenden |
219 |
Giles |
Wilderman |
220 |
Don |
Wilken |
221 |
Ralph |
Will |
222 |
Lloyd |
Wilson |
223 |
Lewis |
Workman |
|