A group of 28 men, women and children, including Walter C. Murray, are seen standing and kneeling in front of the stone [Balogh?] house on a sunny day in Bekvar, Saskatchewan. Simalar to MG1_S2_BX2_F17_RCPC_05
An arch of trees spells out "Welcome" marking the entrance to a farm. Several people are seen gathered in the background as a team of horses approach pulling a wagon.
Walter C. Murray is seen, standing at the left, a woman stands in front of him [wife?] as a man is seated in a chair and another man stands to the right.
A display created by the Rural Municipality of Laird is seen. Samples of grain, spices and other agricultural products are present along side local wild flowers and wildlife. A sign is present to the right stating that "Rural Municipality of Laird is located 44 miles North of Saskatoon; Settled in 1901 with a population of [2960?] which was 75% being of Mennonite nationality and Won Second Prize in Community Progress Competitions 1930."
Bio/historical note: The Community Progress Competitions were conceived by Dr. W. J. Black of the Colonization Department of the C.N.R. to ascertain what contributions people of Continental European origin had made to community life in districts in which they possessed a resident population of 70% or more from the first or second generation, and to what extent they stimulated further community progress and development. They were judged on the basis of their educational efforts; agricultural development; citizenship, co-operation, and social welfare; arts and handicrafts; and general activities. These records were obtained by Dr. W. C. Murray in his capacity as one of the judges of the Community Progress Competitions. The records concentrate mainly on the first two years, 1930 and 1931, of the proposed five year competition for Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta residents. Only records on the Saskatchewan communities are included. They contain the assessments of the judges on community life on the districts that entered the competition. Financial statements and maps of many of the rural municipalities of Saskatchewan that entered the competition are included. Also, photographs of the districts that entered the competition for the years of 1930 and 1931, including many of the Edenwold district are included. The letters included are mainly those from the Western Region of the Department of Colonization and Agriculture of the Canadian National Railways to Dr. W. C. Murray.
Five girls are seen in formal dress as they stand on a train platform beside a train station as several others look on. Box cars and a grain elevator appear in the background.