John WareJohn Ware is legendary in the history of Alberta for his strength, skilled farming techniques and skilled horsemanship.
The traits he is said to have had are typical of frontier heroes of cowboy culture. What distinguishes him the most, however, is how successfully he established himself on his own terms in 19th-century Canadian society, where anti-Black prejudice and discrimination were common.
Born enslaved, he became a successful rancher who settled his first ranch near Millarville, near Calgary, Alberta, and his second ranch near Brooks, Alberta. Despite widespread anti-Black racism and discrimination, he was widely admired as one of the best ranchers and cowboys in the West.