Alix
Settlement


FEATURED AUDIO
Brothers Edward and Walter Parlby are "remittance men" from England who have settled in the Beaver Lake District, near a lake to be named for them. A neighbour of the Parlbys returned from a trip to England in 1896 with a family friend, Irene Marriott. She and Walter fell in love and married the following year.
BEFORE WWII
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FEATURED VIDEO
The Reluctant Politician: The Story of Irene Parlby - Part I © 1999 White Pine Pictures
"In the spring of 1896 a young English woman named Irene Marryat made a long journey to the frontier of western Canada. Touched by the sudden beauty of the west and its freedom, Irene would adopt this new country as her home."


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WWII AND AFTER
Women from Alix joined the services in WWII and were stationed at Suffield.
As WWII was being fought, the Alix Ladies Auxiliary took over the supplying and sending of parcels to the men serving overseas. 

These women also volunteered with the Red Cross and raised money through suppers, bake sales, and teas. They also knitted socks and sweaters as well as hospital supplies, such as pajamas and bed sheets.
A number of organizations were formed in the village of Alix over the years, such as the Women's Institute, Oddfellows, Alix Agricultural Society, and the Board of Trade (now called the Chamber of Commerce). Many volunteers have worked hard to improve the community.
FEATURED AUDIO

Irene Parlby talks about the isolation she first experienced oh the Parlby ranch.
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Irene Parlby and others in the Alix district made their homes comfortable places to live, making their country seem more civilized.
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Irene Parlby discusses what motivated her and her neighbours to start a Country Women's Club and a local library in the Alix district
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Irene Parlby was reluctant to run for office as a United Farmers of Alberta member in 1921. As a Cabinet Minister, she found politics to be troubling but full of new experiences.
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Present Day
Alix is a progressive community with growing business endeavours as shown by the recently completed $50- million barley malting plant and more than 25 local businesses that offer most services. Alix boasts of some of the finest recreation facilities in central Alberta, with its nine-hole golf course, Alix Lake recreation area, the arena, curling rink and hiking trail.
The economy of Alix and the surrounding region has received a boost for the future with the recent construction of the Westcan Malting plant in 1993. This plant converts malting barley to malt, which is used primarily for the production of beer. The economic base of the region is wheat, malting barley, coarse grains, coal, cattle, horses, sheep, hogs, straw, dairy products, poultry, oil and gas.