In 1936, two landmarks emerged: The Aberdeen Hotel on Carleton at Graham, in Winnipeg Manitoba (the Abbey) and Donald Cameron Kerr (Don) in Saskatoon Saskatchewan. Don (1936–2020) outlived the Abbey (1936–1992) by twenty-eight years. Both had a life filled with people, music, dancing, and poetry. Both left an impact on many.
The Abbey was known for cheap draft, pickled eggs, shuffleboard, red terry-cloth covered tables, the Manitoba Room, North End’s King of Rock ‘N Roll Wayne Walker, a “downstairs” pub, a mens-only lounge/bar (no stairs, just a long sloping ramp entrance). Later, a bar was built next door, for men and women, with a restaurant at the front, where one could purchase a good corned beef and egg on rye sandwich for lunch.
Don received an Order of Merit for a lifetime of service to the provice of Saskatchewan, was Saskatchewan’s poet laureate for three years, wrote and edited, was a board member and editor with Coteau Books and NeWest Press, and for forty-two years, taught as a professor at the University of Saskatchewan in the departments of English and Drama.
Replaced by a parking lot, the Abbey is remembered through the Manitoba History, Number 25, Spring 1993 publication, posters such as R.I.P. Aberdeen Hotel 1936-1992, photos, old advertisements, comments of former clientele on groups such as the Facebook group, “If you grew up in Winnipeg Manitoba you remember…” and through print articles such as Don’s “June 1988 Winnipeg Journal” (NeWest review, June / July 1989).
Don’s memory survives through his many books of poetry, history, and biographies of artists, and in his plays. More personally, it survives through his family, friends, and colleagues such as Walter Hildebrandt and his wife, Sarah Carter who conceived the idea of a broadsheet featuring Don’s article commenting on the Aberdeen Hotel and written after more than five decades of living at a time when both landmarks were in their heyday, full of lively activity and conversation,. Through the “in memoriam” piece, a reflection of that time elicits fond remembrances.
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