Dear Canimites,
More than a few are wearing purple fingers and a smile, as the Saskatoons ripen and the first pickable Huckleberries appear. Fishing has been good in Mahood and Canim, so has the swimming, tubing and BBQing. Ah summer!
Au Revoir, Al
People were saddened by news of the passing of Al Bradshaw in Chilliwack late last month. Al and wife Joyce purchased Minac Lodge on Canim Lake and packed their three young children here from Vancouver in 1971.
In the hands of the outgoing couple, the lodge and its restaurant became a hub for the community.
The Canim Lake Community Club was formed there, and the Lodge became the focal point for weekly cribbage play, crafts, community dinners on every occasion, ice carnivals and Halloween fireworks. These activities continue today.
Don and Jean Reynolds bought a neighboring lodge in 1972. The two families became close life-long friends, the children attending the Eagle Creek School together, then Forest Grove and 100 Mile House.
Don says ‘Al was a part of my everyday life. I could count on him, especially when things got difficult. When Jean and I were laid up for six weeks, he and Joyce took care of our three children as if they were their own.’
Al was a founding member of the Lions in Forest Grove, and with Joyce as his strong right arm, served as secretary for many years.
Ron Lister worked with Al on many projects. Al was a ‘great talker’, says Ron. We had a joke that ‘if it wasn’t for Joyce, he’d never get anything done’.
But do things he did.Encouraged by many, Al ran for CRD Area H rep and served for the next 22 years.
Joyce says he took particular pride in his involvement in the Ruth Lake campsite, and in assisting the Forest Grove, Hawkins Lake and Canim Lake fire departments to form and grow.
A grant he arranged purchased the first truck for Canim Lake.
Al was also instrumental in getting the library system going, shepherding its development for six years from a seat on the board.
He was a great supporter of local industry and initiative. As CRD director he was instrumental in getting natural gas out to Buffalo Creek and Forest Grove. He also served on the 108 Airport Commission.
Others just say that he was a master at gently smoothing the way for people through whatever CRD process they were dealing with.
Al Bradshaw, a man for others.
Ponderosa rises
Wolfgang and Karin Martens have brought their resort back from calamity. Two weeks before the July long weekend, heavy rains on the mountain above sent a torrent of water and rock rubble down the creek that runs through the resort.
As the creek bed filled with stones, the water spilled over, carrying a heavy load of rocks and mud through the resort, even burying the lakeside picnic tables up to their seats.
Now the green grass thrives in those same campsites, a row of RVs park in the sun, and children play on the beach and in the clear waters.
Wolfgang thanks Kingsgate for their tremendous commitment to the clean-up, as well as friends Martina and Michael Dopf who worked with their equipment to restore the property.
Artists shine
Helen Kellington of Hawkins Lake, Brenda Bolton of Mahood and denise swift of Canim all have paintings in the Cariboo Artists Guild 33rd Art Show and Sale. The show will continue through August and is well worth the stop at the Parkside Gallery.
That’s all for now. Until next time here’s wishing you many blessings.