They were Mrs. W. Lang (Bella) and Mrs. E. Wilt (Mabel) of Winnipeg, Mrs. M. McCowan (Mamie) of Warren, brothers Edgar, Harold, Ernest and Howard, all of Warren, and Charles of Winnipeg.  Four other members of the original family of twelve have passed away:  Mrs. F. Bradley (Minnie) in 1931, Walter in 1958, Mrs. H. Barrows (Violet) in 1966 and Royden in 1967.

Their parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. James H. Riddell, were pioneers in the true sense of the word.  Both from the Blyth area of Ontario, they were married in 1883 and came by wagon and oxen to the Pierson area of Manitoba, to homestead forty acres of land.  Their first home was a sod house, in which their two oldest children were born.  The family eventually moved into the town of Pierson where Mr. Riddell owned a livery barn.  He later became a grain buyer, and did a good deal of carpentry.  Finally, they moved back to the homestead, where the house built in 1903 still stands in good condition.  With a series of uncertain crops over the years, the family left Pierson.  Only one son, Walter, and one daughter, Violet, remained in the area.  Edgar, Harold, Royden, Ernest, Howard and Charles all came to the Warren area and the sisters married and left to raise their own families.  James Riddell died in 1939 at the age of 80 and his widow, the former Selina Ady, passed away in 1953 at the age of 89.  There are 196 living descendants and relatives, including 38 grandchildren, 84 great grandchildren and 14 great great grandchildren.  Of these, 104 signed the reunion guest book..

The gathering was a memorable and happy occasion, beginning with a delicious turkey dinner served in the Warren Hall.  The head table was graced by the presence of the eight senior family members.  Mr. Ron Riddell of Winnipeg acted as master of ceremonies giving a fitting welcome to those present.  Grace was said by Mr. Bud Bradley of Edmonton.  Following the meal the head table and their families were introduced, after which an account of the family history was read by Mr. Ken Riddell of Warren.

On display in the hall were numerous old family photographs as well as a copy of the family history and a detailed family tree.  The afternoon was spent renewing old acquaintances and making new ones, as many of the relatives had never met one another.  A few lively innings of baseball were enjoyed by most of the younger family members, while others took part in horseshoe games.  A buffet style supper was held in the evening, after which the families met and visited at the homes of relatives in the district.

Out of town relatives present at the reunion were: Mr. and Mrs. Charles Riddell and Bill, Mr. and Mrs. David Riddell, Mr and Mrs. Russell Manchester, Clark and Dee, Mr. and Mrs. Ron Riddell, Heather, Curtis and Mark, Mrs. Shirley Sanders and David, Mr. and Mrs. Rod Wedge and Jeffery, all of Winnipeg, Manitoba; Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Sutherland and boys from Phoenix, Arizona, Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Weed, Great Falls, Montana:  Mr. and Mrs. Ben Rathwell, Tom and Holly, Vancouver B.C.; Mr. and Mrs. Joe Blocksidge, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Mutter, Mr. and Mrs. Horace (Bud) Bradley, Mr. and Mrs. Brad Blocksidge, all of Edmonton Alberta; Mrs. Kay Schiltroth, Grant and Gary, and Mr. and Mrs. Archie Murray, all of Gainsborough Sask; Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Gillander, Kim and Michelle, Regina, Sask.; Mr. and Mrs. Cy Parker, Ottawa, Ontario: Miss Janice McCowan, Woodstock Ont.: Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Riddell, Norva, Dawne and Myles of Thompson; Mr. and Mrs. Bob Riddell, Kim Robbie, Janet and Randall, of Miami, Man.; Mr. and Mrs. A Lang and Frances and Mr. and Mrs. Tom Riddell of Stonewall, Manitoba.