Olson, Louise (ca. 1903-98)

Louise Olson (her maiden name was probably Downing) was born about 1903 in England and came to Moose Jaw as a child. She taught in rural schools, studied at Regina Normal School, and taught in Moose Jaw in the early 1920s. She moved to Saskatoon after marrying Carl Olson, a businessman; they had two sons and a daughter. Interested in drama, she joined the Little Theatre Club (established 1922) in Saskatoon. She acted in about thirty plays and directed several while doing staging, casting and other work; she also served as president of the Club. The group disbanded by mid-century, however, and she then founded the Saskatoon Community Players in 1952; she served as president for four years and directed several plays until the group disbanded in 1959. Olson was an adjudicator for high school drama in Saskatoon and around the province from 1933 to 1957, and was the director and producer of Quota Club's Children's Theatre for two seasons after World War II. Her other involvements included being drama chair for the Saskatchewan Arts Board (1949-56) and participating in various Saskatoon radio productions. In 1955 she took a business course, and then began teaching and counselling at Saskatoon Business College, where she became principal. She retired at 70 and died in Toronto on April 19, 1998.

Bob Ivanochko