{"id":1495,"date":"2022-12-12T11:04:56","date_gmt":"2022-12-12T17:04:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edmontonski.com\/?p=1495"},"modified":"2025-01-03T05:15:17","modified_gmt":"2025-01-03T11:15:17","slug":"the-story-of-how-artist-margaret-chappell-saved-mckinnon-ravine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/edmontonski.com\/en\/eternal-1495-the-story-of-how-artist-margaret-chappell-saved-mckinnon-ravine","title":{"rendered":"The Story of How Artist Margaret Chappell Saved McKinnon Ravine"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>She always fought for beauty, life, and Edmonton\u2019s natural spaces. Margaret Chappell was an activist who called on people to protect nature, river valleys, ravines, and Edmonton\u2019s hidden gems. Learn more on <a href=\"https:\/\/edmontonski.com\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/edmontonski.com\/\">edmontonski<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a1471579a1ea\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a1471579a1ea\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/edmontonski.com\/en\/eternal-1495-the-story-of-how-artist-margaret-chappell-saved-mckinnon-ravine\/#A_Passion_for_Art_and_Nature\" >A Passion for Art and Nature<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/edmontonski.com\/en\/eternal-1495-the-story-of-how-artist-margaret-chappell-saved-mckinnon-ravine\/#A_Career_in_Art\" >A Career in Art<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/edmontonski.com\/en\/eternal-1495-the-story-of-how-artist-margaret-chappell-saved-mckinnon-ravine\/#Protecting_Nature_Margarets_Fight_for_McKinnon_Ravine\" >Protecting Nature: Margaret\u2019s Fight for McKinnon Ravine<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/edmontonski.com\/en\/eternal-1495-the-story-of-how-artist-margaret-chappell-saved-mckinnon-ravine\/#A_Legacy_of_Art_and_Advocacy\" >A Legacy of Art and Advocacy<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Passion_for_Art_and_Nature\"><\/span>A Passion for Art and Nature<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Margaret Chappell, the only child of her parents and the wife of a young doctor, grew up surrounded by comfort. From an early age, she was deeply fascinated by art and nature. Margaret loved her work and was uninterested in material wealth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her friend Dorothy Barnhouse recalled that Margaret was an inspiration. She always wore stylish clothes and had a remarkable talent for painting. She was constantly offered lead roles in popular plays of the time, and many women envied her, especially when they saw her with her devoted husband.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even during challenging times, Margaret displayed a rebellious spirit that eventually led her to organize one of Edmonton\u2019s most renowned environmental campaigns. Raised in a religious family that rejected modern medicine, her parents opposed her marriage to her beloved, who was not only a doctor but also ten years older than her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Margaret stood firm in her beliefs, even at the cost of family estrangement. She lived life on her terms, unconcerned with others\u2019 opinions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1023\" height=\"680\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.edmontonski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2025\/01\/1-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1496\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.edmontonski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2025\/01\/1-1.jpg 1023w, https:\/\/cdn.edmontonski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2025\/01\/1-1-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.edmontonski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2025\/01\/1-1-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.edmontonski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2025\/01\/1-1-696x463.jpg 696w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1023px) 100vw, 1023px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Career_in_Art\"><\/span>A Career in Art<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>At the age of 32, Margaret decided to study fine arts at the University of Alberta, where she honed her skills as an accomplished artist. Later, she became the president of the Edmonton Art Club and the Federation of Canadian Artists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She won a prestigious medal for ceramics at the International Contemporary Ceramics Exhibition in Prague. Margaret worked in various mediums, including watercolor, acrylic, and oil. Her paintings often depicted Edmonton\u2019s landscapes, created through meticulous research and on-site sketches. Her profound respect for nature\u2019s beauty was evident in her works, which frequently featured the Rocky Mountains and local parks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although Margaret and her husband had no children, they maintained a loving marriage despite the envy and challenges they faced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"837\" height=\"680\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.edmontonski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2025\/01\/2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1499\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.edmontonski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2025\/01\/2.jpg 837w, https:\/\/cdn.edmontonski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2025\/01\/2-300x244.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.edmontonski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2025\/01\/2-768x624.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.edmontonski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2025\/01\/2-696x565.jpg 696w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 837px) 100vw, 837px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Protecting_Nature_Margarets_Fight_for_McKinnon_Ravine\"><\/span>Protecting Nature: Margaret\u2019s Fight for McKinnon Ravine<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Margaret\u2019s passion for nature took a decisive turn when urban development threatened the natural beauty in her backyard. She began an 18-year battle to protect McKinnon Ravine and Edmonton\u2019s river valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As Edmonton grew and traffic congestion worsened, the city proposed constructing massive highways through five ravines in the river valleys. When plans targeted McKinnon Ravine near Margaret\u2019s home, she and other women organized the &#8220;Save Our Parks&#8221; campaign to oppose the project, appealing directly to city officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite their efforts, the authorities pushed forward. In response, Margaret and her supporters staged protests, including physically blocking construction by lying in the path of the planned highway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Years of resistance followed. Margaret openly condemned the city\u2019s dishonesty, and eventually, her perseverance paid off. In 1983, the city abandoned its river valley development policy, halting the highway project. The following year, the community celebrated the opening of McKinnon Park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Legacy_of_Art_and_Advocacy\"><\/span>A Legacy of Art and Advocacy<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Margaret not only left a lasting impact on the art world but also on environmental conservation. After her victory, she continued painting and created stunning works from her backyard near the ravine. She lived modestly and contributed significantly to civic charity, leaving a legacy as a defender of both art and nature.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>She always fought for beauty, life, and Edmonton\u2019s natural spaces. Margaret Chappell was an activist who called on people to protect nature, river valleys, ravines, and Edmonton\u2019s hidden gems. Learn more on edmontonski. A Passion for Art and Nature Margaret Chappell, the only child of her parents and the wife of a young doctor, grew [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":402,"featured_media":1502,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[190],"tags":[1009,1002,1003,1012,1004,1007,1016,1006,1010,1015,1008,1005,1013,1011,1014],"motype":[196],"moformat":[74],"moimportance":[30,33],"class_list":{"0":"post-1495","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-success-stories","8":"tag-alberta-artists","9":"tag-alberta-nature-conservation","10":"tag-canadian-ceramics","11":"tag-canadian-environmentalists","12":"tag-edmonton-art-history","13":"tag-edmonton-artist","14":"tag-edmonton-cultural-heritage","15":"tag-edmonton-landscapes","16":"tag-edmonton-river-valleys","17":"tag-environmental-activism","18":"tag-margaret-chappell","19":"tag-mckinnon-park-edmonton","20":"tag-mckinnon-ravine","21":"tag-nature-inspired-art","22":"tag-save-our-parks-3","23":"motype-eternal","24":"moformat-copywriting","25":"moimportance-golovna-novyna","26":"moimportance-retranslyacziya-v-agregatory"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/edmontonski.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1495","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/edmontonski.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/edmontonski.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmontonski.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/402"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmontonski.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1495"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/edmontonski.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1495\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1505,"href":"https:\/\/edmontonski.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1495\/revisions\/1505"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmontonski.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1502"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/edmontonski.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1495"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmontonski.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1495"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmontonski.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1495"},{"taxonomy":"motype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmontonski.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/motype?post=1495"},{"taxonomy":"moformat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmontonski.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moformat?post=1495"},{"taxonomy":"moimportance","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmontonski.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moimportance?post=1495"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}