Great Aunt-Margaret, the Missionary Doctor

Dr. E. Margaret (Strang) Savage

Dr. Ella Margaret (Strang) Savage was a medical doctor and missionary in the Peace River district and Cold Lake area of Alberta. She was Keith's aunt. Commonly referred to as Margaret, she grew up on the original Strang homestead where she wrote stories about her experiences on the farm. 

In 1929, Margaret graduated from the University of Western Ontario Medical School. She was the third female graduate of the medical school. Later in her life in 1965, Margaret was granted an honorary degree from the University of Western Ontario. 

Dr. Savage worked for a year at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hamilton, ON before taking a position assisting a doctor in Ayr, ON. In 1931, the Home Mission Board of The Presbyterian Church in Canada appointed her to the field of North Star-Dixonville, in the Peace River district of Alberta.

Margaret served as a medical missionary in this area until 1933, when she married Douglas Savage. They homesteaded for a few years, then operated a saw mill to the north of Dixonville, before moving to McLennan for a short period of time.

By the later 1930s the family was back in Dixonville. Margaret was appointed by the Alberta Department of Health to serve as the doctor for the area. She served in this capacity until 1943, during which time she also played a very active role in leading the Presbyterian congregation – preaching, delivering Bible classes, teaching Sunday School, conducting funerals, etc.

In 1943, the family moved to Cold Lake, Alberta, where Margaret became the resident doctor at the John Neil Hospital under the auspices of the United Church of Canada. Dr. Savage continued in this post for more than 20 years.

During most of this time she also served as the Medical Officer of Health for Cold Lake and area until December 1961. Strang Presbyterian Church in Dixonville is named in her honour.

Dr. Margaret Strang Savage passed away on May 9, 1970.

Dr. Savage with her horse, Duke

Books written by Dr. Savage
Margaret penned three volumes of type-written memoirs entitled "Life is an Adventure". The first two volumes chronicle her life growing up on the Strang homestead and her years as a doctor, missionary, and mother in the Peace River district and Cold Lake, Alberta. The third volume is a compilation of ten addresses given by Dr. Margaret Strang Savage in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Letters written by Dr. Savage
http://www.frontiercollege.ca/english/learn/history_letters_strang.html
http://www.frontiercollege.ca/english/learn/history_letters_strang_fitzpatrick.html
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_Articles written about Dr. Savage
http://www.prrecordgazette.com/2011/10/11/margaret-strang-savage-spirited-physician-missionary-and-outdoorswoman
http://www.dmscc.ca/page.asp?ID=9

Connecting with Great Aunt Margaret - stories written by Jennifer Strang
In 2014, Jennifer contributed stories for the local newspaper (Exeter Times Advocate) that are based on Margaret's experiences and how they relate to Jennifer's experiences two generations later. Both Margaret and Jennifer grew up living in the same old stone house and left Ontario to chase adventures far away from home.
https://www.wattpad.com/story/28324006-connecting-with-great-aunt-margaret/parts

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