1 11:00 am - 7:00 pm In the first of a series of interviews with long time Cassiar Country resident’ Bill Storie, we trace his years through the early part of this century. During the course of my talks with Bill, | have found him to be a man full of life’s experiences with a vast Knowledge of information stored in his memory banks. He also has a wonderful sense of humour and is a thoughtful and interesting individual. It is our good , fortune that he shares his life with us. Born in Vivian, Manitoba in 1909, Bill Storie was one in a family of ten children. A year after Bill’s birth the family moved to the Columbia Valley in British Columbia. _Bill’s father was enployed here with the Kootney Central Railroad, where he worked in con- struction. Bill has good memories of these days, recal- ling that his first teacher was a lady by the name of Stubbs. “* | attended the Old Wapatus (an Indian name) School at McMurdo,” says Bill. “They changed the name later to the McMurdo School.” Bill remembers the three and one half mile walk to school - and they did fall, winter and spring unless it was very, very cold. “When it was cold you didn’t go, but otherwise you walked. The road was kept open in the winter by horsedrawn scrapers, and of course horses and sleighs were very common!” “Also,” continued Bill, ‘“ our teacher (Miss Stubbs) had children of all ages and classes in one room. It was a lot different then than it is today. In those days discipline was handled with a club! Today it seems like the students get away with everything. That leaves the students the teachers, and the teachers the students!” In 1916, Bill’s family moved to Calgary - where Bill’s mother settled with her large brood. Bill’s dad worked away from home, continuing work for the rail- road at Spallumcheen in the Columbia Valley. After the first world war, a terrible flu epidemic swept our country. The flu of 1918-1919 was horrific and Bill has memories of the tradgedy. “We had to wear a face mask,” says Bill. “It covered our mouth and*nose and | hated it on my face. 1 was always in trouble with the health inspectors of the time as they felt this face cover protected us from the flu! Everytime they caught me without my mask they gave me heck!” He remembers walking amongst the coffins in the streets of Calgary as they were loaded onto horse- drawn wagons to be carried away. It was a terrible time. Bill did not contract the flu, but his mother did, and succumbed to it. “We moved to Edmonton after that,” says Bill, “where a nurse was hired to look after us. The older brothers sort of took control of the younger ones!” BEAUTIFUL HISTORIC BUILDING OVERLOOKING geal THE STIKINE RIVER — >4// ‘a OPEN Dany DEALERS FOR: - Inglis Appliances - Stihl Chain Saws STIKINE RIVERSONG CA LODGE and GENERAL STORE LTD| | B.C. Approved guest rooms (kitchen facilities available) ; Cafe feautures home-cooking (Stikine Salmon a specialty) Groceries, gas and oil available - Makita Power Tools - Sharp TV’s and VCR's - Johnson Outboard Motors FOR RESERVATIONS AND INFORMATION, PHONE GENERAL DELIVERY, TELEGRAPH CREEK, B.C. VOJ 2W0 BILL STORIE - Surveying the scene so familiar to him after his many years in Cassiar Country “I remember being on the platform of the C.N.R. sta-~ tion and seeing the Ukrainians sitting on these huge wicker baskets with a loaf of bread in one hand and a garlic sausage in the other!” Bill credits these hard’ working people as being the ones who opened up the prairies, Bill recalls the influx of immigrants from the Ukraine into Edmonton and out onto Ene in Alberta. During this time period Bill’s dad was working on the construction of the Smokey River Hill which took place on the east bank of the Smokey River in Alberta. This was the Dynn-Baker railroad project which is the railroad that goes into Dawson Creek. “I was still too young to be working in 1922, but,” continues Bill with a twinkle in his eye, “I was managing to get into some mischief!” The family moved from Edmonton to McClenner, Alberta south af Grand Prairie. ‘‘All there was at Grand Prairie at that. time,” says Bill, “was a water tank, and old boarding house and a McCleods store!” In 1925, the railroad was at Wembly, twenty five miles west of Grand Praire. It was at this time that Bill’s dad left the railroad to go cattle ranching and wheat farming. Bill was drawn back to what he called “home” in the Columbia Valley in 1926. At age seventeen he left the prairie, and headed “home”. “It was just after the G.R.L. lumber company fire,” says Bill, “It was a major catrastrophy as they supplied half the country in timber!” He found work 235-3196 in a logging camp out of Harrigate, B.C. His job was to drive slupe teams which hauled logs off the moun- tain and down to the river. “If you made a mistake,” Bill states matter of factly, “you didn’t come back!” He logged here for about eight months. I asked him about the social life the people en- joyed. I received a straight answer which told me little but left much to the imagination! “There was lots of social life,” Bill replied, ‘you could get into trouble anywhere!” 1926-1927 saw the start of construction of the Big Ben Highway in the Columbia Valley. Bill worked at Bush River on this project for half a year. “I didn’t follow the road all the way to its completion, even though it was a good job.”’ says Bill. “I got the chance to go to work on the railroad as a wiper and trimmer at the locomotive shop at Field, B.C. The job entailed me looking after the engines, keeping them fired up and ready to go!”’ He stayed with the railroad steadily until 1929, spending some time at Golden, B.C. in the “pusher service’’ (literally a service where by the freight trains and passenger trains were assisted up and through the mountains with the help of an extra engine). As it was in those days with ample opportunity for work, Bill found himself back in the logging camp again. However, in order to keep his seniority with the C.P.R. he had to keep returning to work for them. “J didn’t particulary like that idea,” recalls Bill. In 1930, at the age of twenty-one, Bill took a fatefull step into his own destiny. “Yes,” he says, “I went to work with the Crown Point Mining Company under Captain Edwards up at the head waters of the Spallumcheen and McMurdo Creek. CASSIAR FITNESS CLUB As April drew to a close, the winning aerobics class held their last class for the season. The few hardy individuals that have perservered from Sept. to April have seen an increase in their strength, flexability and all round fitness. A prize of an indoor jogging track was presented to Marie Borsato for being the most per- sistant participant during the 1986-87 season. After the last session the girls retired to the Lounge for a wind-up drink and continued in the aerobic vein while dancing to the “Sounds of Chapple.” The morning class has also seen their last class of the season, as with the opening of the pool many of the mom’s and tots have taken to the water. Aquasizes have started at the pool Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights with a large group being active. There is also talk of a noon-time class. Lorraine Lantaigne is the evening instructor for aquasize as in other years. On a sad note, as the season closes, we say good- bye to Shannon Carlow. Shannow has been a fitness leader for 5 years here in Cassiar. She is a certified B.C. and National fitness instructor and yearly has up- graded her tickets and attended conferences to increase her knowledge for the benefit of Cassiar residents. All the time our fitness instructors spend is. vol- untary, from the time of putting a tape together, co- ordinating moves to correspond with the up-to-date music, to actual classes, runs into many hours. This doesn’t include certification or courses on C.P.R., first aid, sports medicine or any course that will improve the leader. Shannon has spent many hours to benefit the club and it has been appreciated by those involved at the time. Her highly innovated classes will be missed by all. But if ever in Victoria check out some of the aerobic classes as we all know Shannon’s talent will make her popular there as she was here. Good luck Shannon and thank you from the Fitness Club members. ———— |CASSIAR ANGLICAN LADIES’ AUXILIARY by Beth Minty The ladies of All Saints Anglican Church have been busy this spring as usual. On Wednesday mornings, we gather to sort rummage. While this is not our favor- ite occupation, we would like to thank those of you who make this job possible. We certainly appreciate all donations. On Good Friday some of our members partici- pated in a fund raising walk for the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund. This was held in con- junction with the Catholic Church. Thank you to all those generous souls who supported a walker. Since September, the Ladies Auxiliary meetings have been social evenings. At each meeting we open and close in prayer. We also have a short devotional to encourage us in our daily walk. We then have business to deal with and some sort of special activity. We end up with coffee, munchies and conversation. The women who attend these meetings have expressed that they enjoy this monthly outing, and the format of the meet- ings. However the president is open to comments and suggestions. (positive or negative - leave your baseball bats at home please!) We will be discussing new ideas for the fall at our annual ladies dinner in June. Yes, it is that time of year again and we are planning our annual dinner, our final meeting before we break for the summer. We hope to have a crowd again this year! Anglican Ladies; bring your appetites! The date is set for Monday, June 8. To anyone who is seeking that peace that passes understanding, I invite you to join us at All Saints. You would be most welcome. Keep those chins up every- one and remember, “Blessed is the man who perserveres under trial, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.” ANGLICAN CHURCH — POLARIS, NEW INSTOCK ~4-WHEELERS - CYCLONE - TRAIL BOSS - FOUR WHEEL DRIVE AND TEST THE BEST! JOHN BROWN 471-5600 IDEASE LAKE SHELL COME NORTHERN LIGHTS COLLEGE This is the last article from Northern Lights College for this year. We will be closing from June 1st until September 8th. It has been a busy year which saw the College expand its programme and areas of interest in a way that had not been attempted before. We opened a permanent office, purchased computers and tried to provide a wider range of educational op- tions at the post-secondary level. The results have been mixed and are always limited by response and budgets, but we are committed to becoming a more permanent and better used facility in Cassiar. Over the summer we will be exploring new ways of serving your educa- tional needs. To those who have supported our pro- grammes in the past year we say thank you. To those who are not yet aware of us, we encourage you to come down and see us in September. On a recent trip to Vancouver I had time to visit Emily Carr College of Art. Subject to support from the-people of Cassiar, they indicated a willingness to provide us with two workshops a year. We will in future, schedule one in the Fall and one in the Winter. They also told me about the newly launched Mobile Art Studio. This is part of their Artist in Residence program and will provide an intense experience in the visual arts to communities all over B.C. An artist travels with the studio into a town and spends 10 days there working as an artist and a teacher with adults and senior teens. Emily Carr has confirmed that they will put Cassiar on their schedule of visits, but it may not be for a year or so, I also have received confirmation that the B.C. Young Artists Exhibit will be in Cassiar from November 21 - December 11, 1988. That is a long time from now, but at least we got it! -This is an exhibit of 70 pieces of art done by secondary school students from across the province. It begins its tour in Vancouver in Sept- ember and ends in Cassiar 14 months later. They also took time to tell me about their Tele- Art courses that are offered through KNOWLEDGE Sunday Worship - 10:30 a.m. (with Sunday School) Holy Communion - Ist, 3rd, 5th Sundays of the month Morning Prayer - 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month Thrift Shop - 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month Minister - The Rev. Allan Studd Telephone - 778-7239 .- y Allan Studd LSE Ren > —- - oe ooo oor or om ooo eT Specialty Gift Items Arriving Soon All New Soaps, Tales, Perfumes, etc. Tues. Wed. Thurs 6:00 - 8:00 pm Saturday: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm Phone: 778-7476 for Appointment POS SoCo ]4a—_o-<—o <— — - — — <> Cassiar Courier June 1987 Page 7 NETWORK. There are two, one on the history of art in Canada, another which is a studio course in acrylics. Both can be taken for credit or simply audited. Both have a single tuition fee which covers all supplies as well as the course. If anyone wishes further information about any of Emily Carr’s programs, I will be happy to help. Needless to say, I was impressed by their commitment to provide art education by extention to any of the B.C. communities. Unfortunately I then had to cancel our scheduled Workshop in Pottery which was to be held on May 23/24 because there was not sufficient interest. The artist, Bob Kingsmill, will be asked to ‘return in the Fall. Frank Buckley, who has served as a member of the Board of Directors for the past few years, is step- ping down in June. We at the College would like to thank him for his hard work on behalf of the Stikine Campus and unfailing support of the work we try to do. We wish Frank the best of everything as he takes on a new endeavour on the Island. That is about all the news. Watch for the reopen- ing of Northern Lights’ Learning Centre soon after Labour Day. We look forward to serving you at that time. DLeooeo POCCCCCCCCCCCCCR Subscriptions 3 Subscriptions are only $8.50 per year.(Eleven Issues) Why don’t you send one to your friends now? f | rf Cassiar Courier : $ Box 100 : Cassiar, B.C. VOC 1E0 : Name Address City Province Code ey St BPODSOSOOOSOOSOOSOSOOOOOOSSOS" ¢ > + © ~~ oo oo oo oe oo oo oe oe ee ee oo oe oe oe oe oe oe ee eee itt a Sa aetna a a a a ae a