Northern Hardware's 65-year employee Hilliard Clare was born 84 years ago in the year of 1929. Hilliard was a mere 18 months old when his father, a CN Railway employee in Calgary, took a transfer with the railway company that landed him and his family here in Prince George. They lived on CN property in the Cache that was exclusive to CN Rail employees. Hilliard, his older brother and two sisters all attended King George V Elementary School and later attended Baron Byng High School. He finished his education at Prince George Secondary School.
You could always find Hilliard working at the Northern Hardware after school and on the weekends. He said, "My dream was to go on to school and attain a law degree. There was no money for continued education at that time so I just stayed on at the Northern Hardware. I drove the delivery truck and repaired bicycles. In January 1947 Thomson Ogg, my predecessor, invited me to work in the office along with him. I figured that I would try it for awhile. I was sure that I would not care for office work but 65 years later I am still there. I enjoy my job and all the people that I work with. "
Hilliard is a 55 year member of the Elks Lodge and a 53 year member of the Masonic Lodge. He served as an alderman for the City of Prince George for 10 years from 1960 to 1969. He ran against Harold Moffat for mayor and came in short of 176 votes to take the seat.
He was the youngest president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce in BC. Hilliard took on a unique and special project during his presidency. An appeal came out of England through a press release to Canada for bear skins hides. The hides were needed to make the hats for the Grenadier Guards. The bear skin hats were worn as a part of their ceremonial military uniform. Upon seeing the press release, Hilliard went to work gathering up bear skins and shipped 75 hides off to England. He has fond memories of it all and especially the thank you notes and the acknowledgements received from England.
In the past few years Hilliard has taken up golf. He assured me that Tiger Woods has nothing to worry about.
Throughout our conversation I could clearly see that Hilliard is so very fond of Prince George. He laughed and said, "I saw many changes in Prince George over the years. I saw us go from dirt roads, to boards on the sidewalks. Later on I saw us go to pavement on the roads and now we have gone to potholes. I grew up with people of all nationalities and various backgrounds. I have established many good and long lasting friendships and I am thankful for that. The people in Prince George are friendly and helpful and it is indeed a great place to live."
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