The story begins in 1903, when George left Italy and came to the Canadian Rockies with hopes of striking it rich. While establishing the Buffalo Head Ranch in the Alberta foothills, he became friendly with the neighbouring Stoney, with whom he explored much of what is now Kananaskis Country.
In 1933 he returned to Italy, where he met and fell in love with Norma Piper, a young Calgary singer who had moved to Italy to study opera. They eventually married, and George took over the management of Norma's rising operatic career. However, the onset of the Second World War compelled them to change their plans. They returned to Alberta, where Norma's career took off in a totally different direction. Initially she taught singing at Mount Royal College, but she later opened her own studio and became Calgary's most beloved music teacher. George, meanwhile, continued with his coal-mining ventures in the mountains, but was to suffer many bitter disappointments.
Drawing on personal diaries and correspondence, the authors have created an intimate portrait of two remarkable Albertans whose legacy lives on.
Authors
- Bibliography, etc. Note
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 313-315) and index
- Control Number Identifier
- CaOOCEL
- Dewey Decimal Classification Number
- 971.23/030922
- General Note
- Issued as part of the desLibris books collection
- Geographic Area Code
- n-cn-ab
- ISBN
- 9781459332232 9781894765701
- LCCN
- CT310.P63
- LCCN Item number
- H36 2006eb
- Modifying agency
- CaBNVSL
- Original cataloging agency
- CaOONL
- Physical Description | Extent
- 1 electronic text (320 p.)
- Published in
- Canada
- Publisher or Distributor Number
- CaOOCEL
- Rights
- Access restricted to authorized users and institutions
- System Control Number
- (CaBNVSL)thg00601778 (OCoLC)431538631 (CaOOCEL)420022
- System Details Note
- Mode of access: World Wide Web
- Title proper/short title
- Diva and the rancher Story of Norma Piper and George Pocaterra
- Transcribing agency
- CaOONL
Table of Contents
- Chapter 1 11
- George The Buffalo Head 11
- 18821910 11
- Chapter 2 33
- George Dudes and Coal 33
- 19101933 33
- Chapter 3 72
- Norma Life at Home 72
- 18981926 72
- Chapter 4 83
- Norma Calgary Songbird 83
- 19261934 83
- Chapter 5 107
- Norma George Milano 107
- 19341935 107
- Chapter 6 146
- Norma George Waiting and Hoping 146
- 19351939 146
- Chapter 7 186
- Norma George On the Highwood 186
- 19391941 186
- Chapter 8 214
- Norma George Valnorma 214
- 19411955 214
- Chapter 9 247
- Norma George The Studio Years 247
- 19551972 247
- Chapter 10 274
- Norma Alone Again 274
- 19721983 274
- Epilogue 283
- Appendices 284
- Notes 285
- References 309
- Index 314
