Len Duperron was born in 1927 in Plamondon, a small town in northern Alberta. He arrived in Prince George for the first time in the winter of 1950. Len had temporarily left his farm and family in Alberta while he came to Prince George looking for work and a better life for his family. He made many trips back to Alberta and then eventually sold everything and moved his family to Prince George.
"Farming in Alberta way back then just did not pay," Len said. "I found work, got established and then I sent for my family. My wife Bella and my three children arrived in Prince George by train in 1954 and I have been here ever since. At first we lived and worked in Summit Lake. Eventually the kids needed to go to school in Prince George so we bought property on Chief Lake Road and the kids started school at Kelly Road."
Len worked at the planner mill until he retired in 1992. His hobbies were gardening, wood working, camping and fishing. His wife Bella passed away in 1989 and everything in his life changed.
The next 12 years, after Bella passed away, went by very slowly until Len married Mary Moser in 2001. It turns out that Len, Bella and Mary had volunteered together for many years at the Hart Pioneer Centre. Mary had worked in the restaurant business for 16 years and she was in charge of catering at the senior centre. Two of her many volunteers over the years were Len and Bella. Mary and Bella had been good friends right up to when Bella passed away.
The years went by and then one day it just happened: Len and Mary decided to get married.
"It was a perfect fit," Mary said. "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."
"It was a big bash with well over 100 people attending our wedding party," Len said. "Everyone had fun and our friends were happy for us. The Hart Pioneer Centre is a great place with a lot of great people."
Mary added, "I couldn't have picked a better man - in fact at the time I wasn't even looking for one. That was 13 years ago and I still think I got a great guy. We never have any serious arguments but we do agree to disagree at times over a good card game. Len is so good to me and I love every day of it."
Due to age, bad legs and aching backs, the couple has since sold their Chief Lake property and retired from volunteering, fishing and camping.
"I am 87 and Mary is 85," Len said. "We have slowed down but we haven't stopped. We moved into town and joined a senior centre downtown and that keeps us busy enough."
The Hart Pioneer Center, 6986 Hart Hwy., is having a barbecue lunch on Friday, Sept. 12 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and then on Sunday, Sept. 21 they are having a ham and roast pork dinner at 5 p.m.
If it is dancing that you want then check out their 8 p.m. dance on Saturday, Sept. 27. For more information just phone the centre at 250-962-6712.
The Elder Citizens Recreation Centre, 1692 10th Ave., is having a fall harvest dinner on Saturday, Sept. 20. Doors open at 4 p.m. and dinner is at 5 p.m. Tickets are limited. For more information call 250-561-9381.
Nechako Chapter No. 40 Order of the Eastern Star is holding a pub night fundraising dinner and silent auction on Saturday, Oct. 4 at the BX Neighborhood Pub, 433 Carney St., with cocktails at 5:30 p.m. and dinner at 6:30 p.m. For tickets and more information call 250-614-9170.
