by Fred Morris
6 April 2022, revised March 2026
Next Sunday is Palm Sunday 2026. The organization of St. Stephens Lutheran occurred on Palm Sunday, 25 March 1956. The work of Pastor Eric Sigmar, First Lutheran Pastor Valdimar Eylands, and many others created St. Stephen's Lutheran.
Peter Fidler (1769-1822), an HBC surveyor and map maker, had 14 children with his wife Mary MacKagonne. He is remembered with various monuments in Dauphin, Meadow Lake (Saskatchewan), Elk Point (Alberta), and Derbyshire (England). Fidler Point on Lake Athabasca is named for him. Fidler Avenue was built in the 1950s. Its residents are first listed in the 1955 Henderson Directory. In 1955, Doug and Hazel Martin planted a tree in their yard. In 1987, the tree which was blocking the sun was cut down and donated to the City. The tree became the City Hall. Let us remember some of the people who lived part of their lives on Fidler Avenue.
Herb Chanin was a Second World War Flight Engineer in the Canadian Air Foce based in Iceland. After briefly living in Toronto, he and wife Muriel became original Fidler Avenue residents. The Chanins raised five children. In 2020, Fidler Avenue was given the honourary designation of Herb Chanin Way.
Rick Honey worked for radio stations in four different provinces. His popular afternoon show on CKNW Vancouver remained on the air for over 20 years. He is a member of the British Columbia Entertainment Hall of Fame. In 2000, he was made an honourary member of the Vancouver Police Pipe Band.
Darlene Dufily worked for 40 years as a teacher, Principal, and Superintendent for the Interlake School Division. During her seven years as Superintendent, she and the School Board overhauled School Division policies.
Otto Kirzinger served as the Food Services Director of Red River Community College. During a long career as a chef in Europe and Canada, he organized various dinners for Heads of State and members of the Royal Family. Kim Kirzinger, one of Otto and Kris' children, followed her father into the restaurant business. Kim worked in many fine restaurants including the Old Swiss Inn. She always shared her black licorice imported from Denmark.
David Law was Shop Easy's District Manager. Gordon Neeb was a sales manager for Burns. He served as the President of St. Stephens Lutheran.
Robert Thompson was a District manager for Mack Trucks. Joe Dufily was the proprietor of the service station at 2001 Portage Avenue. Victor Stechishin was the Director of Transport Research for the Royal Commission on Northern Transportation. He was on the list of UN-approved international consultants. William Manson was the proprietor of Manson Printing.
A couple of 1957 newspaper archives describe a St. Stephen's Lutheran Church musical variety show at St. James Collegiate, and a joint church fundraiser with Glenboro Lutheran Church. The performers included Fidler residents Barbara Honey, Ken Honey, Paul Lindquist, Bob Goodman, and Beryl Goodman. Barbara Honey served as the organist at St. Stephens Lutheran Church for 32 years. Paul Lindquist was the Conductor of the Manitoba Employees Choir. Also, he served one term as a St. James Alderman. Ken Honey was the first Superintendent of the St. Stephens Sunday School.
Reverend Aubrey Hemminger served as the Chaplin for Deer Lodge Center. Also, he served St. Stephens and Ste. Bedes and St. Andrews Anglican churches. No street embraced St. Stephens Lutheran more than Fidler Avenue.
Page revised: 14 October 2026