Q2 - Galt Archives

Courtesy Galt Archives.

Ella Emma Dunn, seen here in 1970, was a black, female entrepreneur in Lethbridge in the 1930s—an amazing achievement. It is believed she arrived in Lethbridge sometime in the 20s and soon operated a café called Emma’s Hot Tamale Parlour. In addition, her large house served as a boarding house until 1973 where she provided room and board to the many black railway porters who worked on the CPR. Though she faced racial discrimination herself, she opened her door to foster children of different races and epitomized what was best about southern Alberta. Living well past 100 years of age, staff who worked in the nursing home remember Ella’s children—of every cultural and ethnic group—coming to visit her.