LANGLEY TIMES’ SENIOR LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE • FEBRUARY 2015
60
Living
plus!
ON THE ROAD FOR A CURE FOR CANCER
in Dorothy’s Memory Dorscie Patterson
102 years old and going strong
Bringing History to Life Warren Sommer
JIM M GREGOR SAYS the BEST of C
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F E A T U R E
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On the Road for a Cure for Cancer – O i Dorothy’s Memory in D Don McIntyre’s amazing drive to Tuktoyaktuk to hhonor his late wife Dorothy’s memory.
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bringing history to LIFE
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Dorscie Patterson celebrates 102 years
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McGregor Says
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60
Living
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Langley Living 60 Plus is published by the Langley Times, February, 2015. Publisher: Dwayne Weidendorf Project Coordinator: Sherri Martin Editor: Jim McGregor Creative Director: Millie McKinnon www.langleytimes.com 20258 Fraser Hwy., Langley, BC V3A 4E6 604-533-4157
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EDITOR’S notes Thank you
for picking up our magazine. In this issue we celebrate our community heritage. February 16 – 22 is designated as Heritage Week in our Province and this year’s theme is “Main Street: At the Heart of the Community.” With that in mind, we have included articles on the rich, historical past of our community. Fort Langley was the first Capital of our province and the main street of our community started there. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Warren Sommer, a well-respected author and historian who takes history from the generals and politicians and teaches us about the real people who made a difference, the builders and the teachers who carved out our villages and cities. Contributor Mel Kositsky provides us some valuable insight into how we preserve our heritage buildings and land. Mel talks to some of the dedicated people who are concerned with the preservation of Langley’s built and natural heritage. We answer the questions, how does a piece of property gain heritage status, who is responsible for rebuilding, how does the community recognize our heritage? Continuing with our aspiration to inspire our readers, what could be more inspirational than 82-year-old Don McIntyre’s solo journey to Canada’s far north? Brenda Anderson takes us on the road with a touching story as Don heads out on a tribute his late wife on a fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society. Don’s journey was also his personal reminder that he still has plenty of life to live. A must read article is the interview with Dorscie Patterson who has just celebrated her 102nd birthday. Her joy for life and community will get you up out your chair for sure. We hope you enjoy this edition of Living 60+. ~ Jim McGregor, Editor email: nine-1@shaw.ca
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Published by THE LANGLEY TIMES ■ FEBRUARY 2015 ■
Bringing
HISTORY to LIFE Jim McGregor photo
“There are a lot of stories here in Langley that go far beyond the fur trade and the Hudson’s Bay Company” ~ Warren Sommer J I M M CG R E G O R
Warren Sommer
has chosen history as his passion for the opportunity to “Tell the stories that need to be told, to set the record straight, and to dispel the misinformation that exists.” Warren is the author of six books including, From Prairie to City: A History of the City of Langley, Frail Memorials: The Cemeteries of Langley, The Ambitious City: A History of the City of North Vancouver, and Nothing Without Effort: A History of Langley. When asked if he considers himself a Historian he replies, “Yes, but I discourage the term ‘local historian.’ That is the same as referring to ‘local artists’ or ‘local writers’ it implies that they only have local knowledge or experience.”
Warren was born in Vancouver and graduated from Kitsilano Secondary and went on to study at UBC for the next eight years, graduating with an M.A. in historical geography. He pursued his interest working for Parks Canada preparing an inventory of historic buildings in the lower mainland and then became the assistant curator for Heritage Village in Burnaby. In 1979 he came to Langley as Curator/Director of the Langley Centennial Museum in Fort Langley and also held numerous positions over 17 years with Township of Langley including Deputy Director of the Parks Recreation division until 1991. During that time he also taught for three years at Simon Fraser University in their Public History program, specifically a museums course, teaching that history is not just an academic subject, showing how museums work …CONTINUED
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bringing history to LIFE and the value of museums and archives to the community. “Many people have lived in our community for years and don’t know we have a museum,” Warren points out. Most of us, when we saw history was the next class on our high school timetable, we sighed and trudged off to class. So how does someone develop an interest and passion for the subject? “You have to find a spark for your interest,” Warren explains. “For me it was my grade five and six social studies teacher. I was looking at areas of history back then that included Mediterranean history, medieval England, ancient Egypt. When I got to UBC, like many other first year students, I wasn’t sure of my focus and then I encountered a very inspirational professor in the geography department, teaching a strange hybrid of history and geography. He took us beyond the political history of names and dates showing us how history actually unfolded on the landscape.” “Some of the challenges for students is that our courses focus too much on dates, places and historical leaders and they don’t learn the human stories which can be very interesting. Seeing history through the eyes of the common man rather than the generals or politicians. We are so overwhelmed by American accounts of history. We have to find out who we are and what our values are as a country.” Warren’s current project is doing just that. “I am currently transcribing the diary of a young Langley man. He was conscripted during the Great War and his diary starts in Vancouver and takes him across Canada by train. There is a great sense of adventure and discovery with detailed descriptions of type of barns, breeds of cattle. Then it changes dramatically as he gets on the boat, is tossed across the Atlantic and then military discipline kicks in. “Getting that perspective from someone we all could have known as opposed to the memoirs of a general writing while sitting in a chateau while drinking champagne.”
Warren is the current Chair of the Fort Langley Remembrance Day committee and has been researching for another book on Langley and the First World War. “I hope to record the experiences of Langley soldiers and how the war affected our community both here and overseas. When we consider that over half the adult male population of Langley went off to serve King and Country and many of those that returned died prematurely in the 1920’s of war related injuries. Try to imagine that today. Would that many of our young people be motivated to take up arms and leave for a foreign country? “There are a lot of stories here in Langley that go far beyond the fur trade and the Hudson’s Bay Company. There is a lot of mythology around the fur trade and it really never was a profitable venture. There are so many changes in the Langley community that have had greater impacts on our development. Maybe somewhere down the line someone will write the story of the demise of local agriculture and what has happened to our green space. The rate of change we are dealing with now is phenomenal.” The topics for Warren’s books vary from historical studies of the community to stories and catalogues of Langley’s cemeteries. “How I choose my projects is complicated,” smiles Warren. “As a child, I was terrified of graveyards and even though I wasn’t Roman Catholic, I used to cross myself when I passed one just to be safe. But I became interested in historic church architecture in British Columbia and discovered that many older churches had small cemeteries in their churchyards. They were an extension of the church, the congregation was still there. “After a trip to Europe where everything
“
there is built of brick and stone, I came back to the despair of everything here being built of wood and often poorly maintained to sit and ruin. However churches and institutional buildings are better cared for and remain standing as part of the landscape. Outside the churches are the gravestones, each one telling a story. We see the evidence of high infant mortality. We see life expectancy being much lower than by today’s standards. We can walk through a churchyard cemetery and see the makeup of the community and how it has changed over time. “While working on another project for the HBC cemetery, I have uncovered that there were more than one grave site and that far many more people died during that time than originally thought. My research has many interesting new facts that are coming to light and so this book may be on the HBC gravesites, plural.” Researching history is an art in itself, many times having to rely on faded newspaper stories or microfilm. “I start by tracking down people, family members that can provide clues or start me in a direction. I check museum archives, microfilm and 19th century newspapers such as the British Columbian published out of New Westminster. Government records are available if you know what you are looking for. The best sources are old letters or diaries that were kept and handed down through generations.” “This will be a big issue for future generations as no one writes letters any longer and e-mails and photos are disposable and deleted. Kids no longer write or read long hand, mostly e-mails or texting now. We are losing our enduring historical records.” In addition to his writing, Warren has also
Kids no longer write or read long hand, mostly e-mails or texting now. We are losing our enduring historical records.
■ FEBRUARY 2015 ■ Published by THE LANGLEY TIMES
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bringing history to LIFE been conducting and taping oral interviews to compile an oral history for the Langley Centennial Museum. “One of my constant regrets is not interviewing people then finding out it is too late, they’re gone. Perhaps they were a branch of a Langley family that settled here and never got a chance to share their story. There are also many stories waiting to be told by people who have been here shorter periods of time that also have contributed and they have a story.” Currently Warren and Bev, his wife of 33 years, reside in Fort Langley with their dog Tucker. They are the principals of their firm, Langley Heritage Consultants specializing in heritage studies and providing such services as interpretive signage for Surrey and Langley and preparing small exhibitions for the Surrey Museum. In addition to his other projects, Warren is the President of Langley Heritage Trust and a Trustee, Langley Builders and Developers Cultural Facilities Trust. Nothing Without Effort: A History of Langley and Frail Memorials: The Cemeteries of Langley are both available for purchase at the Langley Centennial Museum and the Langley Civic Facility. His books are also available at some local libraries. I’m pretty sure I would have looked forward to attending Mr. Sommer’s history class.
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Published by THE LANGLEY TIMES ■ FEBRUARY 2015 ■
Life is Not a Bowl of Cherries,
You have to Work at it. J I M M CG R E G O R
Dorscie
Patterson celebrated her 102nd birthday on January 25 and it took some doing to track her down to talk about this incredible milestone in her life. Dorscie is busy. Sitting in the kitchen of her basement suite in the family home, Dorscie pulls her calendar over and spins it around to show me an appointment written on every day for the next two weeks. She is a tireless volunteer and an inspiration to everyone she works with. Dorscie was born in the Kirkland Lake area of Ontario in 1913. She was the only child in her family and her father passed away in Saskatchewan when she about three years old. “I was raised by a very strict mother who had very strong community values and that was what I knew, always helping in the community. “After a few severe prairie winters we moved to North Vancouver and we had a corner store with our residence in the back. That store was the gathering place for the neighbourhood. Women would come in and pour out their problems and then the clergy would come in and Mother wold tell them which of their flock they should go visit. She had a medical background and was well educated, it seemed she was always helping someone. “When I was in high school all the other girls were in their Sweet Sixteen outfits but I had black pleated skirts and white blouses, there was no time for fooling around. My Mom met and worked for Tommy Douglas and, at a young age, I attended Dorscie Patterson photo by Marcy Court many CCF rallies and meetings. I was taught to take an interest in my community, to know what was going on and be part of it.” …CONTINUED
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Dorscie Patterson Dorscie was a founding member of the Langley Hospice Society 31 years ago. She continues to do regular palliative care visits to the hospital and serves on the board, attending two or more meetings a month. In addition, she serves on the board of the Hospice Thrift store in Walnut Grove, attending regularly there as well. “One day 31 years ago, a few ladies were sitting in Janine McCarthy’s kitchen discussing the need for a hospice and we decided to get the word out and get one going. We got a cheque for $50 from the Kinettes and that paid for stamps to send out pamphlets and a phone and we were in business. Things just don’t happen unless you make them happen.” Dorscie has also been a member of the lady Lions as well and regularly attends meetings and functions. She points to a stack of envelopes waiting for mailing, “I am in charge of keeping track of the club members’ birthdays and sending out their birthday cards. It’s jobs like that that keep you going,
A younger Dorscie
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you need a purpose.” Add to that her membership in the Beta Sigma Phi and the Salvation Army Church, you can see how the calendar fills up. Dorscie had a career as a teacher and recalls the challenge she was given at Van-Tech. “They told me it didn’t really matter what the curriculum was, I was to keep the students in school. I decided to make learning interesting and took them out of the classroom on regular field trips. “We went to art galleries, Essondale, and we sat in court rooms. They had to learn that there were many things out there they weren’t going to learn in class and it was a great experience for everyone. When I retired we had moved out here to our farm and for a retirement gift they gave me these yellow cedar trees that you see now standing tall and lining the property. They are a great legacy.” Dorscie and her husband moved to their
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property on the Langley/Surrey border in 1975. They were married for 61 years and raised two children, a son and a daughter, and she now has three grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Her husband and her son have both passed away. Dorscie values her independence. “I suppose one day I’ll have to move to a facility of some sort but I have my suite here where I do my own cooking and look after the housework. I still have my driver’s licence and my car and I drive regularly. I go for a yearly physical and last time my doctor said my eye test was better than the year before. I want to know your secret, he said.” So what is her secret? “There is no secret,” she replies. “I enjoy life and I enjoy being with people and keeping busy, no sitting around. Even after we retired we had a 40-foot boat and we were out on that often. I have been active all my life, swimming, skating, gymnastics, playing the piano and painting. I still paint, when I have time for it. “Life is not a bowl of cherries, things don’t drop in your lap, and you have to work for it. I try to leave people smiling, get up get on with it.” When asked what she sees as the biggest change in 102 years, she frowns. “It’s not good. Our education is going down the drain, no one is reading anymore. We are losing our neighbourhoods because people don’t participate any more. They all have their faces buried in some sort of device and unless we can get people talking to each other again, it doesn’t look good.” Dorscie celebrated her big day at her church at the Gateway of Hope with family, friends and Black Forest cake.
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Published by THE LANGLEY TIMES ■ FEBRUARY 2015 ■
&celebrate
LANGLEY’S H E R I TA G E
M E L KO S I TS K Y
I
t may be the designated time of the year to remember and celebrate our heritage, but that activity is ongoing in Langley. The City and Township of Langley are leaders when it comes to heritage preservation and both places realize the potential of heritage tourism to help drive economic activity. Known as the “Birthplace of B.C.”, Fort Langley first comes to mind when discussing heritage places, but Langley has much more to offer historical buffs with its buildings and landscapes spread out throughout its various communities. There are a number of heritage precincts and landmarks for people of all ages to explore and enjoy. Through the work of organizations such as the Langley Heritage Society, the Heritage Advisory Committee, local governments and private builders, there are many places to view and visit in remembering our past. Because of its vast land size Langley has grown as a community of communities and in each area you will find a building, a plaque, a cairn - or just a vista or landscape which brings out the best of the past. “The Township of Langley values where we came from and
Shortreed Residence before & after. “The simplified, Craftsman-influenced design reflects the austerity of the immediate post-First World War era, but also demonstrates the nostalgic traditionalism that suffused North America after the end of the war and the return of peace,” Township heritage planner Elaine Horricks. The building is currently located in the 2600 block of 272A Street. Photos courtesy Township of Langley
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■ FEBRUARY 2015 ■ Published by THE LANGLEY TIMES
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L A N G L E Y ’ S H E R I TA G E it is important that we continue to honour our past,” said Mayor Jack Froese. “Historic places convey our unique story as a community and we know the owners of registered heritage sites invest a lot in preserving, restoring, or adapting their historic buildings for new uses.” Heritage planner Elaine Horricks says Langley’s historical significance can be attributed to those characteristics and events that have afforded it a place within the regional, provincial and national landscape - primarily related to its geography and location on the Fraser River, with its ties with First Nations, and its strategic
position in the Pacific Northwest during the Hudson’s Bay Company era. Incorporated in 1873, two years after the establishment of the province, the Township of Langley is the third oldest municipality in British Columbia. Because of its deep history, Langley has been tied to stories about the establishment of the province, such as the Gold Rush of 1858 and the Declaration of the Crown Colony of B.C. Horricks says the early trade centres which created the downtowns of today, its streetscapes and neighbourhood nodes, its distinct community businesses, and its cultural landscapes
and transportation infrastructure remain key elements in the district. The most significant remaining historic sites are representative of the Township’s major historic settlement periods, from the pioneering efforts of the Hudson’s Bay Company and the first agricultural homesteads, to the later and more sophisticated mill-cut homes and commercial establishments of the Edwardian boom era that preceded the First World War. Many of Langley’s sites consist of more than just an individual building, as their landscape and surroundings add to our understanding of how
Hope Carriage House, the last remaining building of a Fort Langley estate built in 1912 is located in the heart of Fort Langley behind the famous Community Hall.
Photos courtesy Township of Langley
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Published by THE LANGLEY TIMES ■ FEBRUARY 2015 ■
they were originally inhabited and utilized. “We truly appreciate the efforts taken to conserve these sites. The Township created the Community Heritage Register Plaque Program to recognize that commitment,” said Mayor Froese. “The program started in 2010 and since then close to a dozen projects have been commemorated for enhancing our conservation efforts and helping to preserve Langley Township’s unique history.” Three times per year Langley Township offers its Heritage Building Incentive Program, which funds up to 50 per cent of the cost of refurbishing the exterior of designated heritage buildings. To be eligible for a grant, owners must have their residential, commercial, institutional, industrial or agricultural buildings listed in the Township’s Heritage Inventory, which documents the community’s historic places. The amount of funding received through the program depends on the level of legal protection a property has. Up to 50 per cent of exterior project costs can be contributed to sites that have official heritage designation under municipal bylaws or through Heritage Re-
vitalization Agreements. “We need a commitment from the owner, and the minimum criteria is that the building needs to be on the Register. The goal is to encourage investment in our heritage resources,” said Horricks. “Once they are gone, they are gone for good. We want to keep these gems.” She estimated the program has generated an investment in excess of $2 million in conservation projects since 2006, which compares very favourably with similar programs that support heritage sites around the province. Buildings or resources qualify for inclusion on the Community Heritage Register based on a thorough evaluation of their architectural, cultural and historic attributes. Resources on the Community Heritage Register are also included on the British Columbia Register of Historic Places, and may be included on the Canadian Register of Historic Places: www.historicplaces.ca For more information go to www.heritagebc.ca.
Right: The Cummings residence was part of the Edwardian-era expansion of Murray’s Corners. The Roderick Cummings house was built at 21561 Old Yale Road approximately 97 years ago.
Photos courtesy Township of Langley
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Fiddle tunes delight at seniors’ dances KU RT L A N G M A N N
Old time
fiddle music has become a major attraction at the Aldergrove OAP Hall, with fans coming from as far as Vancouver and Hope to dance Saturday afternoons away. Gladys Andreas, who has been coordinating the twice-monthly dances here since she started it in June of 2013, says, “It’s been very successful. We have 60 to 80 attend, with the oldest regular being 94 years old. Many of them would like us to play every week but it would be hard to get all the players to commit to that.” The orchestras are all volunteers from the Central Fraser Valley Fiddlers, Surrey Old Time Fiddlers and Hazelmere Heritage Fiddlers, who take turns at providing the music for the dances.
Gladys is a long-time member of all of these fiddle organizations and performs herself with the groups at their weekly rehearsals, as well as at their dances and shows. “We play schottisches, waltzes, polkas, foxtrots, heel and toe, and square dances,” says Gladys. “Julius Cotter, who is 90, calls the square dances, and sometimes he joins in on fiddle or harmonica. It’s rewarding to see people enjoying themselves, the smiles on faces, the rapport they have, hugging one another. It’s inspired me to start writing a poem about it.” While most are there to dance, Gladys notes there are some who come just to listen and enjoy themselves even if they are wheelchair-bound. The cost to attend is kept low, thanks to other volunteers such as Norm and Mary Hildrum, who
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Gladys Andreas is playing the hammered dulcimer on left.
help by shopping for, and preparing the refreshments, sausage and cheese plates and desserts. The $6 admission fee includes everything, from the music to the refreshments and light lunches. “People love the treats. We’re going to have cupcakes with red hearts on them for the Valentine’s day dance,” says Gladys. And while the fiddlers, accompanied by pianists and guitarists, are all volunteers many of them are professional performers. Gladys has performed in Las Vegas, and Surrey Fiddlers president Evan Sanyshyn and his son Michael are top notch players. Michael is a winner of many awards and has performed on concert tours across the North American continent with many of the top country music stars, but he enjoys sitting in with the old time fiddlers if he has a free night. A retiree herself, Gladys keeps busy as a contributing member of 11 organizations, as well as contributing to the upcoming B.C. Old Time Fiddlers Association history book. But her first love is playing fiddle — as well as dulcimer and mandolin. “I grew up on a farm in Alberta and that’s what we did for fun, we played music and went to dances.” The Aldergrove Seniors’ Old Time Dances are held every second Saturday, 1-4 p.m. at Aldergrove OAP Hall, 3015 - 273 St. Cost is $6
per person, includes refreshments. Upcoming dates to mark on calendars are Feb. 28, March 14 and 28, no dance April 11 as there will be line dancing instead that day, and resumes on April 25, May 9 and 23, June 6 and 20. There is a summer break for July and August, and dances resume in September. The Surrey Fiddlers also host monthly dances at Clayton Hall, 18513 - 70 Ave., on the first Thursday of each month from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. The public is also welcome to attend the weekly practices of the fiddlers, although there is no dance floor available at the venues. Typically 15 to 20 members attend and musician guests are also able to sit in and play. Central Fraser Valley Fiddlers meet every Wednesday, 6:45-9:45 p.m. at the Hallmark seniors’ centre, 3055 Princess St., Abbotsford. There is no admission fee. Funds raised by the club go to providing fiddle workshops for youths. Hazelmere Heritage Fiddlers meet every Monday, 7-9 p.m. at Hazelmere Heritage Hall, 16 Ave. at 184 St., Cloverdale. Admission is $2. Funds raised by the club go to hall maintenance and to the food bank.
Published by THE LANGLEY TIMES ■ FEBRUARY 2015 ■
It is done. Don McIntyre photo
One of the many photos taken by Don McIntyre on his drive to Tuktoyaktuk.
I have gone to the end of the earth, so to speak. WHY? To run away from my grief? If so, the trip was a failure, because I still mourn. To fight cancer? If so the trip has been moderately successful. To go on a grand adventure? If so, the trip was a great success. I wanted to prove as Dorothy always said age does not matter, it is how you live your life. To push to the limit of my courage and stamina? If so I have to admit that I did that. When I started up the Dempster highway, I was really wondering what I had got myself into, and a couple of times I was quite tired. Please believe me when I say the trip was wonderful. The Arctic is beautiful in winter, the drive challenging, and the people ever so friendly. So what is there to say, except to say that I learned that one cannot run away from one’s grief. It is here to stay. One can only learn to cope, and to get used to it. ~ Don McIntyre
On the Road for a Cure for Cancer – in Dorothy’s Memory B R E N DA A N D E R S O N
Don
McIntyre’s northern adventure is coming to an end. Having accomplished what he set out to do — drive nearly 4,000 km to Tuktoyaktuk alone in the dead of winter — the 82-year-old Langley man is returning with a clear sense of accomplishment, hundreds of photos and some great memories. On Sunday morning, Feb. 1, McIntyre climbed into his white Honda Crosstour and set out on his own for the farthest reaches of northern Canada — a drive he would make as a tribute to his late wife, who passed away from cancer in July 2013. His journey, Titled On the Road Again For Dorothy, began as a fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society, but for McIntyre it also became an opportunity to remember his wife, to say goodbye and to remind himself that he still has plenty of life to live. “I was kind of making up my mind as I drove,” he said over the phone, from his granddaughter Arica’s home in Whitehorse. “I did what I could when (Dorothy) was alive and I’ve done what I can now that she’s gone. “I’ve got to turn the page. I’m not turning my back on her, but I’ve done all I can.” During their 55-year marriage the Langley couple often spent weeks at a time on the open road, driving from coast to coast across Canada and around the U.S., usually in their RV, camping along the way. After Dorothy died, McIntyre made a solo drive from Arizona, winding
along the Gulf Coast, to Key West, Fla. It was tough, he said, navigating some of the large U.S. cities, without Dorothy in the passenger seat to guide him. But when it comes to sheer degree of difficulty, McIntyre said, the drive to Tuktoyaktuk is the most challenging he’s faced in North America. “There was ice, there was black ice, there was icy compact snow, there was rutted, icy compact snow with black ice in between, and there was snow so (heavy) you could not see, and the big trucks were dropping big chunks of ice that you did not want to hit,” he wrote in an email to friends and family. “There’s no forgiveness up there,” he added. “You can’t do something stupid or you’ll pay the price. The ice highway between Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk was a revelation in itself — as wide as two football fields in places, said McIntyre. It is smooth as glass, he explained, until it nears the ocean where it develops “huge, ugly” ridges that limit drivers to speeds of 10 km/h. And then there were the extreme cold temperatures, which at times dipped as low as -46 C (-51 F) without windchill As he travelled north, McIntyre would pull over occasionally to take photos of the spectacular — and incredibly remote — scenery. “You can’t be an atheist up there,” he said. “I think I was just overwhelmed with the beauty,” he said. “Blue sky and acres of white snow. It’s so big, so vast.”
■ FEBRUARY 2015 ■ Published by THE LANGLEY TIMES
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Published by THE LANGLEY TIMES ■ FEBRUARY 2015 ■
On the Road Again – For Dorothy Seven days after he pulled out of Fort Langley, McIntyre found himself bundled in his parka and mittens, standing at the edge of the frozen Arctic Ocean, clutching a bouquet of silk roses he’d brought to lay in Dorothy’s memory. As he stood there, he caught the eye of a local man who had been trying, unsuccessfully, to start his snowmobile. Eventually, the man wandered over, introduced himself as Roger Ettaqaik, and the two struck up a conversation. “He said he’d been a photographer in another life,” recalled McIntyre. And so it was, through the chance meeting with Ettaqaik, that the Langley man finally ended up with a couple of pictures of himself standing at the top of the world — photographic proof of his accomplishment. McIntyre laid the roses, along with a poem he’d written for Dorothy, at the gate of the town’s cemetery before heading back down the ice highway toward Inuvik and the first leg of his journey home. He was ahead of schedule, having arrived in ‘Tuk’ a day earlier than expected. During his drive north from Dawson City, McIntyre had planned to break his journey at Eagle Plains and booked a room there for the night. When he arrived, the clerk told him that a storm was expected to blow through the following day. She advised him to get ahead of it, so McIntyre carried on to Inuvik. A few days later, as he passed through Eagle Plains on his way south, McIntyre decided once again to carry on driving, rather than stay overnight as planned.
As he gassed up his vehicle, the same woman with whom he’d spoken a few days earlier came running out to the pumps with an envelope in her hand. After he’d left, she explained, she’d told his story to some of the locals and truckers on their way through town. Passing the hat around, they raised $250 for his cause. So far, McIntyre’s On the Road Again For Dorothy campaign has raised about $3,600 for the Canadian Cancer Society. He hopes it has also raised a bit of awareness. It’s important, McIntyre said, that people realize that just because someone has reached a certain age, it doesn’t mean their journey is over. “People look at seniors and they don’t pay attention. They think our lives our finished, but we’re not finished — not if you have reasonable health and the will to keep going.” Asked where he’d like to go next, McIntyre chuckled. “There’s really nowhere left to drive,” he said. Leaving Whitehorse, the Langley senior planned to make one more stop on his way home — in Prince Rupert, where his son, Cameron, lives. From there, he said, he planned to book passage on the ferry to Port Hardy and, with nothing left to prove to himself or anyone else, let someone else do the driving for a while. “I feel a lot better for having made the trip,” McIntyre said. “I’m pretty proud of myself, to tell you the truth.”
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it comes to community building Langley has an advantage over most other places. Because of its rich history and agricultural base, distinct communities were created in Langley that exist today - and nearly all of those areas still have their own community halls run by a non-profit organization composed of dedicated neighbours. They act as gathering places for all age groups or as community hubs for special events. They are also utilized extensively by the film industry. And Langley Township would
like to keep it that way. Last May the Township’s Heritage Advisory Committee held a workshop at Milner Church Hall to support the long-term survival of community halls by collecting and documenting information on how local halls are run, funded and maintained, as well as how volunteers are engaged and resources utilized. More than 20 not-for-profit organizations came to the workshop to talk about their concerns and share information. “We wanted to know why they think these halls are important,” said local historian Jane Watt, who heads the task force working on this project. The
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Published by THE LANGLEY TIMES ■ FEBRUARY 2015 ■
The newly renovated Willoughby Hall left, and as it looked in 2010.
proposed sourcebook will look at how to foster strong societies, governance, maintenance, finances and future planning. The workshop was one of the action steps recommended in a new Heritage Strategy, which was endorsed by Township Council in 2012. It outlines strategic goals and actions for heritage that align with the broader civic goals of economic, environmental and cultural sustainability. Langley is home to 15 community halls, each owned and run by a hall society. Nine halls have been recognized or legally protected for their heritage value. These halls are integral to modern Langley. They were built over the last century through community fundraising and donations of land, materials and labour.
The advisory committee’s task force will be releasing its findings in the form of a guide book later this spring. Watt says: “Our halls exist at the heart of the distinct neighbourhoods that make up the Township of Langley. We know that halls are really good for our community. Langley was built on cooperation, working together, and looking out for each other. That’s what we want to capture and enhance in the halls’ sourcebook that we are creating - a go-to document for hall volunteers.â€? These halls continue to make strong social contributions to their neighbourhoods and to the larger community. They host banquets, weddings and other special events, as well as regular programs for ‌CONTINUED
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THE HUB OF THE COMMUNITY various youth groups, seniors, religious groups, fitness classes, craft sales, trade shows, and even act as venues for performing artists. One example is the recently restored Willoughby Hall on 208th Street at 83rd Avenue. The hall is a designated heritage building and the restoration work was performed under a Heritage Revitalization Agreement. Work began in 2013 and the hall was officially reopened on May 24, 2014. The hall was restored as part of the Athenry Gate apartment development by Peak Construction Inc. New foundations were provided on the same site where it has always stood, a restored exterior - including roof, windows and doors were completed, and an interior upgrading was included in the scope of the project. Despite its modest architectural appearance, the Hall is a Willoughby landmark and is at the centre of social life, constantly in use for meetings, events, birthdays, weddings, dances and community dinners. The Willoughby Community Hall has a long history of community
service and volunteering. It was built by volunteers on land donated by Jack ( John) William Bray, a founding member of the society and a former Township Councillor. Construction of a new hall was needed after a fire claimed the original 1924 building - a structure that was also at the centre of community life and served as the first elementary school in the area. Construction of the second hall under Bray’s direction started in 1937 and was officially opened on January 14, 1938. Its governing body, the Willoughby Community Hall Society, incorporated under the Societies Act as a non-profit body on April 12, 1937. Over the years functional additions have been added, such as the porch entrance and a cloak room - and these features remain at the newly-renovated hall.
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Published by THE LANGLEY TIMES ■ FEBRUARY 2015 ■
the best of
mcgregor says Navigating Through Childhood
Without a Cell Phone
I
was coming out of a grocery store the other day and a young boy about 11 or 12 years old was standing beside his bike which had a flat tire. He was wearing blue jeans a jacket and new sneakers. He reminded me of generations of many other young boys running errands on his bike, except for one thing. He was using his cell phone to call his Mom to come pick him up because his tire was flat. I suppose my generation has to accept the fact that life has moved on and technology has created ways and means for us to live a much less complicated life. But getting your own bike was a sign of independence and freedom. Riding a bike used to be something you had to do if you wanted to keep up with everyone. I remember when they paved Norris Road. No more gravel or pot holes and every kid on that street from the McGregors at one end down to the Muenchs at the other end rode back and forth on that smooth black pavement for hours until it was dark. I’ve never had a fancy bicycle. My first one was my older brother’s worn out CCM. There were no frills like hand brakes or chain guards. Once in a while the chain would grab my pant leg and slam me down on the bar. Remember that guys? Boys that wore hats with ear flaps or pants with bicycle clips had a tough time in elementary school and a torn right pant cuff was a badge of courage. My first new bike was a heavy duty Schwinn with balloon tires and a big black metal paper carrier on the front handlebars. Good for the paper route but not so good for speed, unless you were going downhill. One day and as my buddy and I were coasting down the 208th St. hill, which was mostly gravel back in those days, my jacket was in the carrier and a sleeve worked its way through, jammed between the spokes
and the front forks and the bike stopped, right now. I became the Human Cannonball arms stretched out in front, and landed hard. But I had no MCGREGOR way of calling anyone. We had to figure things out for ourselves. Jim McGregor As I drove home from the grocery store, I found myself visualizing my old paper route bike. On the back of the seat were 2 slots that the straps of the tool kit buckled to. Inside the kit were a few important tools that would save you from having to walk the last half of your route if you had a break down. The bicycle wrench was a truly amazing invention, rivalling the Swiss army knife for its versatility. The wrench had seven or eight different sized hexagon and square cut outs that could loosen or tighten any bolt on your bike and usually had one or more tabs to be used as a screw driver. Most guys carried a small can of 3-in-1 oil in their pouch and maybe a pair of pliers. I always had wire cutters to cut the copper wire that held the paper bundles together when they got tossed off the truck. But a vital addition to the tool kit was the puncture repair kit. They came in metal tins in various sizes and shapes marked Dunlop or Goodyear and if you had a flat at the corner of Carvolth and New McLellan you were a long way from home. Even if you did have the courage to knock on someone’s door and ask to use the phone, nobody was going to jump in the car andd come to get you. You would take the tool kit off, flip
says
■ FEBRUARY 2015 ■ Published by THE LANGLEY TIMES
the bike up so it rested on the seat and handlebars and undo the nuts holding the wheel to the frame. The front one was easy, but if it was the rear, you had to contend with the chain. Next you had to pull the tube out. Good bikes had a bicycle pump attached to the lower bar of the frame. After you pumped up the tube you had two options, you could put the tube up to your face and spin it until you felt the air coming out or you could hold it in a puddle and watch for bubbles. Once the hole was found, you buffed it with the small rasp in the puncture kit, let the glue dry for a minute then put on the patch. After you ran your fingers around inside the tire to check for anything sharp, you put it all back together, pumped it up, bolted it on and went on your way. Today, if the professionals break down in the French Alps, they don’t phone Mom; they just grab a new bike and carry on. Maybe for my next lesson, I’ll discuss how to get your pants leg out of the bicycle chain. I can’t believe my buddies and I survived our childhood without cell phones. At least that’s what McGregor says.
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