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Notable Residents
Ross King
Ross King is the bestselling author of books on Italian, French and Canadian art and history. Among his books are Brunelleschi’s Dome (2000), Michelangelo and the Pope’s Ceiling (2002), The Judgment of Paris (Governor General’s Award, 2006), Leonardo and The Last Supper (Governor General’s Award, 2012), and Mad Enchantment: Claude Monet and the Painting of the Water Lilies (Charles Taylor Prize, 2017). He has also published two novels (Domino and Ex-Libris), a biography of Niccolò Machiavelli, and a collection of Leonardo da Vinci’s fables, jokes and riddles. He is the co-author with Anja Grebe of Florence: The Paintings & Frescoes, 1250-1743 (2015), the most comprehensive book ever undertaken on the art of Florence. The Shortest History of Italy: 3,000 Years from the Romans to the Renaissance to a Modern Republic―A Retelling for Our Times will be published in April 2024. King was born in Estevan and grew up in North Portal. He currently lives near Oxford, UK.
Elsie Wingrove Earl
Elsie grew up on a farm 3 1/2 miles outside of Zelma, SK. She described life on the farm as fun, happy times with lots of work and many chores. She worked on the farm and attended school in Zelma, SK until graduation, after which she attended Business College in Saskatoon, SK and worked at the Bank of Montreal.
Elsie played in the All American Girls Professional Baseball League in 1946 and 1947 for the Grand Rapids Chicks and helped the Chicks win the league championship in 1947. Elsie has been inducted into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame in North Battleford, SK, the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in St. Mary's, ON, as well as the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, NY.
Elsie left her baseball career to marry the love of her life, Russell Earl on October 18, 1947, in Saskatoon, SK. This was a marriage that lasted 64 years. Elsie and Russ lived in North Portal, SK where she worked as a Custom Broker for Percy H. Davis for 37 years. After retiring in 1989, Elsie and Russ enjoyed many winter in Phoenix, AZ. In 2007, they made Estevan, SK their permanent residence.
In addition to being a talented athlete, Elsie had a green thumb, taught Sunday school, and was a member of the North Portal Legion Auxiliary, Rebekah Lodge and AAGPBL.
Elsie passed away July 13, 2016 at age 92.