This is part two of a two-part series as I continue to recap the names and a short memory of the many interesting subjects of my column throughout 2014. These are just a few of the many people who have helped to make Prince George the great City that it is today:
- Donalda Carson (70) was hired by the Hospice Society 19 years ago to get BCs first free standing hospice house up and running. She did it and she did it in a big way. Donalda recently retired after a very successful career.
- Euc Goyer is 84 years old and he says he still has not retired. He still takes on small woodworking jobs and has been a member of the Elks for the past 45 years. Wife Gladys retired from her job as a data entry clerk for the School Board District Resource Centre.
- Laurie Meier started P.G Power Train Parts Ltd. in 1979. He has been an active member of the Elks for 26 years and part of the Elks Elastic Band for 27 years. Wife Minnie worked for Woodwards store until it closed. She is a life member of the Ladies Auxiliary for the Royal Canadian Legion.
- Veteran Wayne Hamblin (79) was a chef by trade. For the past 21 years Wayne and his wife Mary (80) have contracted meal provision to the Prince George Youth Containment Centre.
- Ivan (77) and Lise McGill own and operate the Bee Lazee RV Park and Campground. Ivan, a former Prince George Citizen employee retired in 1995 after 28 years at the paper. Lise graduated as an LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) and retired after nearly 20 years as a nurse.
- Beth Crewson and her mom Helen Leckie live together. Helen said, My Mom is now 90 years old, she is my roommate, my best friend, my Mom!
- Retired School District No. 57 Superintendent Jim Imrich (79) started as a teacher, then as a principal and finally as the School District No. 57 Superintendent until his retirement in 1995. His wife Meg is a retired nurse. Jim and Meg both agree that Prince George has been a great place to raise their family and that they have no intentions of moving out of this great City of Prince George
- In 1952 Pat Martin and three other men (on a handshake) decided to form Martin Brothers Sawmill. Pat said, I am now 88 years old. I started with horse logging in McBride, skidding logs onto a landing, and ended up with modern day logging or what I call high ball logging in the Prince George area. It was lots of hard work but hard work never hurt anyone. Yes, Ive seen it all. From stump to dump we logged it and hauled it [to the mills].
- Len (87) and Mary Duperron got married in 2001. One day they just decided to get married. Mary said, It was a perfect fit. I had known Len for many years and we were both alone and still volunteering at the senior centre. We were spending so much time at the centre so we just got married there.
- Alcide Gauthier (82) worked with heavy equipment all of his life. He worked for Northwood Pulp and retired in 1998. His wife Margaret took on the job of raising the family. Alcide said, Raising a family is a job of its own! Looking after kids in my book comes first because it is a big deal. We were not rich and I can tell you we stuck together and we never gave up. We had a good life but best of all we had each other and we had our family.
- Nowell Senior and the Caledonia Ramblers Hiking Club volunteers can quite often be found out at the Ancient Forest working on their 500 meter long Universal Boardwalk. The nine year project has 72 sponsors in our community and beyond that have given generously to support this project.
- Eva St. Pierre recently celebrated her 95th birthday. She said, I am not rich and I am not dead yet either. I live on my pension and I am happy to stay alive and help other people. I beat breast cancer and I have trouble with my knees and one shoulder but I intend to take care of myself and live to be 100.
- Bill (92) and Joyce (91) Shatford left the food industry and on a leap of faith they moved to Prince George where Bill went into full time Christian ministry at the Kelly Road Gospel Chapel.
- Helen Dery (85) worked as a camp cook for ten men and her husband and raised her 6 children at the same time. She is an active member of the Catholic Womens League and recently received her 60 year pin.
- Jose Fernandes Ferreira (95) was born in 1919 in Portugal and was a blacksmith by trade. He now lives happily at the Two Rivers Seniors Lodge. Joe (Jose) Nelson Ferreira the eldest of the senior Ferreiras eight children was 16 years old when the family came to Canada. When he left Portugal with the family he also had to leave behind the love of his life and his future wife Manuela. He corrected that as soon as he could. The couple will soon be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.
- Italian born Dirce Pandolfo (82) has been a member of the Catholic Womens League for nine years. Her passion is her family and her gardening.
- Jack Little (83) had an interesting story as he explained the ups and downs on how he built up his Dollar Saver Lumber business.
If you know any of these seniors that I mentioned, please take some time and give them a phone call or stop in for a visit.
