Today's story is about Charlie (Charles) and Vi (Irvina) Forden.
Charlie was born in Punnichy, Sask. in 1937. In 1959, he traveled from his hometown to Mission, B.C., to attend his cousin's wedding and stayed.
He worked in the bush near Lillooet, then a sawmill at the Douglas Lake Ranch and then he moved on to work at Aspen Grove, ending up in Quesnel where he studied and successfully earned his scaler's license.
He moved to Prince George in 1969 and worked for the forest service as a scaler until 1974 when he went to work for Acme Masonry as a brick layer helper.
He met and married Vi Butler McAuley in 1977.
Vi was born in 1940 in Bradner, B.C., a small area near Abbotsford. She went to school in Abbotsford, attended Mount Lehman junior high and then moved to Ontario where she finished Grade 9. Vi's father, who was a commercial fisherman, died before she was born due to a drowning accident while at work so she did not have an easy childhood.
At the age of 17, Vi moved to Vancouver and worked for the Unemployment Insurance Commission (UIC). It was during this time that she met and married Pat McAuley (deceased).
They had two children - Joe (Lee) and Terri (Brian) - who in turn gave her four grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Vi very proudly said "When my kids were in grades one and two I was in grade 12. I figured it was time I went back to school so I did and I successfully earned my diploma. I was rather proud of that."
She eventually went to work for the Medical Services Association and when the provincial government took it over as the Medical Services Plan, she took a buyout and moved to Victoria for a short time.
Years later, she met Charlie Forden through a family friend and they married in 1977.
Charlie said "The years went by and we bought a place in Red Rock and became farmers on the Fraser River. We raised cattle but specialized in raising Fjord horses.
"The Fjord horse also known as a Norwegian Fjord Horse is a small but very strong breed originally from the mountainous regions of western Norway. We raised and trained up to 25 horses at one time. They are a very gentle animal and perfect for children.
"Due to complications from my viral arthritis and a major heart attack we eventually sold the farm and bought a place in Buckhorn and later moved again into Prince George where we now enjoy a small garden and our retirement."
Charlie and Vi joined the Sons of Norway Ski Club and skied and volunteered for many years with the group.
Vi said "My all time favorite event as a member of the club was their Ski for Light cross-country skiing program for visually impaired adults.
"The first Canadian Ski for Light event was held in Castlegar in the late 70s. Prince George held the one and only Ski for Light event here in Prince George in 1987 and Charlie and I were among the many volunteers who made the blind cross country ski meet possible."
The Ski for Light, a Sons of Norway outreach program, provides cross- country skiing programs for visually impaired adults by pairing them with an experienced and sighted cross-country skier who serves as an instructor and a guide.
The original concept was the idea of a Norwegian who had some sight as a child but became totally blind as an adult. The idea is to use two sets of ski tracks side by side so that a guide could ski with a blind skier to let them know what was coming up in regards to turns and hills.
The guides are all volunteers and members of the Sons of Norway club; Charlie and Vi were no exception.
The club members worked diligently and raised the $35,000 required to hold the event in Prince George. The event was quite successful with nearly 100 blind skiers participating in the competitions.
Vi received a plaque that reads, "In appreciation for your time and efforts towards the Ski for Light Event; from the Prince George Blind Skiers February 1987."
She also received a Certificate of Merit that says "The Government of Canada proudly salutes Vi Forden in grateful recognition of your contribution to your community." The certificate is signed by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and dated Jan. 17, 1988.
Vi concluded by saying, "Marion Betcher (deceased) and I worked together on this event. I learned a lot about team work, compassion and courtesy before the event was over. It was a very rewarding experience; one that I was very proud to be a part of and then on top of that to be recognized for all my volunteer work."
July Birthdays that I know about are: Bonnie Pauley, Scott Pauley, Marilyn Shelest, Jack Tremblay, Meg Imrich, Joan Buchi (87), Fred Buchi (93), Evie Padalec, Armand Denicola (95), Pat McKenna, Gloria Thorpe, Della Walker, Mildred Green, Lavinia Ouellet, Gary Kwast, Roy Green, Bernice Carrier, Carole Pitchko, Helen Sarrazin, Henri LeFebvre, Richard LeFebvre, Eugene Fichtner, Pat Sexsmith, Alice Westra, Red McKenzie, Karen McKenzie, Leonard Duperron, Doris Bolduc, Eileen Slusarenko, Isobel Blair, Carmen Foucher, Mary Taschner, Mary Radke, Elmer Braun, Gail Gromball, Gervin Halladay, Ben Wilson, Elaine Lamb, Kathleen Boyes, Shirley Dewald, Leo Denis, Mildred Fugate, Joyce Kennedy, Alan Nunweile, Norma Raycraft, Pete Goodall, Loene Sadowick, Ta Mackay, Irene Warren, Stella Wiktor, Carol Hunter, Garry Doucette, Robert Whitehead, Dorus Raines, Bob Collison, Ernestine Schreiner, Linda Moore, Delores Baza and Linda Letawski,
July Anniversaries: 62 years for Wil and Elsie Wiens, 56 years for Rudy and Velma Wortman, 51 years for Dawn and Clarence Wigmore, 52 years for Walter and Joyce Hanik, 46 years for Linda and Andy Horwath, 14 years for Eugene and Hilda Fichtner and this past June 61 years for Walter and Marilyn Shelest.
