Dr. Ron Nattress was born in Lower Cape, New Brunswick in 1926 and raised in
Edmonton. He graduated from the University of Alberta in 1949 with a
degree in medicine and specialized as a family physician in 1970.
In 1951 Dr. Nattress married Marge, a public health nurse, and they
immediately moved to Cadomin, a coal-mining town near Edson, Alberta, where they
took over a solo practice. Canamin had a little fourteen-bed hospital, and
was situated in: the mountains where Ron's grandfather, Dr. W. H. Hills, had
practiced many years before.
As a youngster, when Ron's family and relatives assembled for Christmas in
Coal Branch, he would watch while many of the 800 townspeople took turns curling
in the Christmas Bonspiel. The rink was a crooked little two sheeter attached to
the arena, and matched the uneven terrain on which it was built. Thus was
Ron introduced to the sport at which he would later excel.
The mining community was like a closely knit family, so it was with
considerable regret that the Nattress family left Cadomin in November 1951,
after a miners strike closed down the coal mine and left a ghost town.
Dr. Nattress then joined a wonderfully friendly and cooperative group of
doctors in the Lloydminster Clinic: Drs. G.. L. Cooke, J.W. Hemstock, J.M.
Dickout, E.L. Smith, and one year later J.S. Skefle (a former classmate).
One month after arriving in Lloydminster (which was then a town of less than
5000) Ron and Marge were introduced to active curling by Jim and Jean Hemstock,
and Ron soon became an outstanding competitive curler. All the doctors
curled, as did most of the business proprietors in town. For Ron it was a
wonderful week when work practically ceased for the Lloydminster Bonspeil.
The doctors morning coffee breaks at the hospital usually involved discussion of
at least two things - difficult medical problems and curling strategy. Dr.
Nattress's most memorable curling event took place when his team with their
wives traveled to New Brunswick to represent Alberta in the Canadian, Senior
Men's Playdown's in 1980. Their rink consisted of Don Christie, Headley
Manners, Ron Hardy and Ron Nattress.
There were many other memorable curling friends and highlights, including the
winning of several Medical Bonspiel Championships. (It was so sweet to beat the
doctors!). A tall (two foot) pottery wine urn with matching cups was the
main prize at the 1977 Canadian Medical Bonspiel held in Winnipeg. It was
won by the rural rink of Drs. Bill Acton of Provost, Al Kline of Viking (and St.
Albert), the late Ken MacQuarrie of Camrose and Ron Nattress.
The Nattresses remained in Lloydminster where they are now retired. They have
six children - John, Susan, Janet, Joan, Jim and Eleanor, and fifteen grand
children.