“Artist, sculptor, photographer and lover of nature as well as an outstanding dentist.” Edmonton Journal, May 7th, 1942.
I first learned of Dr. H. E. Bulyea as a Masters student. I was searching for traces of the University of Alberta (U of A) Varsity Ski Club at the U of A Archives, and came across several photos taken by Dr. Bulyea that depicted university life during the early 1900s. These photos were invaluable to my research and helped piece together a story that eventually became my thesis. But Dr. Bulyea didn’t focus his photography only on the Varsity Ski Club. He was also an artist. The material housed at the U of A Archives under his name is varied, including sketches, glass slides and documents. The collection captures a piece of Edmonton’s visual history; houses, boating, skiing, and nature were his subjects. I soon realized that he was an ardent supporter of the Alpine Club of Canada (ACC) Edmonton section, one who captured the club history through photographs. I’ve returned multiple times to explore the boxes of archived material and learn more about the early days of the ACC Edmonton section. The following is an account of Dr. Bulyea’s life based on newspaper research, archival material and secondary sources. It is in no way complete, yet it outlines stories that help illuminate the history of the ACC.
Harry Ernest Bulyea grew up in New Brunswick before moving to the United States where he continued his education, graduating from Harvard University as a Doctor of Dental Medicine in 1897. After returning to Canada’s East coast, he married Sarah Hendry in 1903. The couple spent time in both Saskatchewan and British Columbia before settling in Edmonton in 1915. Newspaper articles indicate that Bulyea offered “radiography and orthodontics” alongside several other dental professionals in the McLeod Building located in downtown Edmonton. He joined the University of Alberta (U of A) faculty in 1920, was appointed to the position of Director of the Department of Dentistry in 1924 and became the Dean of the Dental School in 1929 (the first school of its kind in Western Canada). Despite his many work commitments, Dr. Bulyea was active on the U of A campus, participating in extracurricular activities organized by students. He served as the honorary president of the Dental, Ski and Outdoor Clubs. He rolled up his sleeves and helped the Ski Club build a cabin west of the U of A campus, a location that proved to be popular until the 1950s. He was one of the founding members of the Varsity Photographic Club (1927) and the University Lawn Bowling Club (1929). His participation in these various clubs tells us that he embraced university life; both academic and extracurricular. During Bulyea’s 1942 retirement banquet Dr. Robert Newton, acting president of the U of A, stated that Bulyea was, “a fine gentleman, a friend and colleague of all. He has been a beneficial influence on the staff of the university.”
Outside of his work at the U of A Bulyea was involved in many different activities. He and his wife supported the YWCA through donations and by attending the organization’s summer holiday camps held in Jasper. In 1921, he built a vacation cottage in the Waverly Island area of North Cooking Lake to enjoy what was then a popular summer vacation destination. This cottage allowed his family to embrace boating and outdoor activities for many years. As a member of the Edmonton Yacht Club, Bulyea participated in races during the vacation season, photos of which can be found in the archived material at the U of A. His deep appreciation of, and love for, the arts prompted him to become a founding member of the Edmonton Art Club that formed in 1921. He presented his artwork in local shows and competitions, and served on the association executive for many years. Bulyea continued to enjoy art throughout his life, participating in the club until well into his 90s. He was honored during the club’s 1963 art exhibition, marking 42 years of commitment to the Edmonton art scene. Bulyea was also a member of the Eastwood United Church, serving as a steward and assisting with fundraising.
His enthusiasm for art may have been sparked by the majestic mountain views he encountered as an Alpine Club of Canada (ACC) Edmonton section member. As early as 1917, Dr. Bulyea participated in the ACC summer camps located in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. The caption of an archived photo indicates that Mount Edmonton was his first “official” mountain climb in 1920. He was accompanied on the climb by Margaret Gold and Cyril Wates, the latter of whom wrote about the achievement in the Edmonton Journal. As an avid climber and supporter of the Edmonton section, Bulyea served as club president in 1919 and participated on the executive committee for many years. His stone masonry skills were put to use in the construction of the Whitemud Creek hut fireplace, the U of A Varsity Ski Club cabin fireplace and the Disaster Point hut fireplace (Jasper National Park).
Photography was a passion through which he documented segments of the ACC Edmonton section’s history. He captured camplife during the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s, alongside photos of climbing and hiking. In 1919 his photos accompanied a talk given by Mr. William Johnstone detailing their two week trip to Mount Robson. The photos brought to life a mountain adventure that few ACC members had undertaken. These photos won Bulyea the 1919 Challenge Cup during the ACC national photo contest. Bulyea’s enthusiasm for photography was evident in the frequent slideshows he presented to the Edmonton section, and other organizations, throughout the city. During a social evening held at his house in November of 1922, Bulyea entertained the audience with thrilling descriptions of a previous attempt to summit Mount Gelkis using a plasticine model and lantern slides to illustrate his adventure. His reconnaissance and attempts to summit Gelkis led to a successful bid by ACC members in 1924, a trip in which Bulyea was unable to participate. In 1931 Bulyea sustained a broken leg while descending from Mount Geikie in the Tonquin Valley during the ACC Jasper summer camp. After being struck by a falling rock, Bulyea fell approximately 15 feet, sustaining a leg fracture in the process. The Edmonton Journal reported that he spent “a gruelling 42 hours on the side of a mountain and a ride on horseback of some 28 or 30 miles.” Luckily the fracture was easily set and he made a full recovery.
Dr. Bulyea was the recipient of many accolades later in life, many of which praised his dedication to the profession of dentistry. In 1952 a bursary for dental students was created in his name to honor his work in the field. He received an Honorary Law Degree from the University of Manitoba in 1960 for his contribution to the profession of Dentistry. As an avid mountaineer and ACC Edmonton member, Bulyea climbed more than 30 mountains and continued to attend events well into his 80s. He lived to be 103, passing away in 1976. His photos captured ACC events and antics from over 100 years ago, documenting the adventures of times gone by. These photos offer us a glimpse into the rich history of outdoor recreation that took place in and around Edmonton during the first part of the 20th century. He supported the Edmonton section during its initial days, and was integral to its success, making him a critical part of the ACC Edmonton section history.
Dr. H.E. Bulyea (left) with Cyril Wates (right). University of Alberta Archives, H. E. Bulyea Fonds, UAA-1982-030-009-232a
Dr. H. E. Bulyea after a fall on Mount Geikie in the Tonquin Valley in 1931. Ned Woolf, Hans Fuerer, Rex Gibson, Cyril Wates, Helen Burns and H. E. Bulyea. University of Alberta Archives, H. E. Bulyea Fonds, UAA-1982-030-009-138
Dr. H.E. Bulyea sketching at the Memorial Hut in 1931. University of Alberta Archives, H. E. Bulyea Fonds, UAA-1982-030-009-132
Sources
Evergreen and Gold: The Annual Publication of the Students of the University of Alberta. Edmonton: Esdale Press, 1930-38.
Harry Ernest Bulyea fonds, 82-30, University of Alberta Archives, Edmonton, Alberta.
The Edmonton Journal. Edmonton: Journal Co. Ltd, 1911, Newspapers.com
The Gateway. Edmonton, Alberta, https://archive.org/details/the_gateway
University of Alberta Alumni Association. “History Trails: The Dean of Dental Deans.” Summer, 1982. https://sites.ualberta.ca/ALUMNI/history/peoplea-g/82sumdean.htm
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