Dear Canimites,
A heavy snow falls as I write, loading the trees with a beautiful burden. The canoe, tucked in the shelter of the deck, knows its long rest has come.
In the night sky above, the familiar winter constellations are making their appearance. Orion (The Hunter) still brandishes his club at Taurus (The Bull), while the Gemini twins Castor and Pollox keep a discrete distance above and behind the action.
Canis Major, Orion’s hunting dog, appears over the eastern horizon five hours after his master, his nose the brightest star in the sky Sirius. Massive Jupiter rules the night, however, the bright planet now to the right of Orion.
Cariboo Canim Lake Ranch
John and Aldina Grimard of the Lower Mainland have purchased part of the old Cariboo Canim Lake Ranch at the east end of the lake at the mouth of the Canim River.
The ranch ceased active operations in the early 1970s, so it has been hard to find details of its history. However, longtime locals tell stories about its first owner Bob Fish, and the visits of American movie stars, such as John Wayne and Bing Crosby. It seems United States President Herbert Hoover also stayed there, leaving his mark in the name Hoover Bay.
The notables would fly in, landing on the 3,500-foot airstrip, sometimes in DC-3s, which they would then park in the hangar. John says the cabins that once housed the stars are now either entirely dilapidated or have been burned. All that is left of John Wayne’s cabin is the concrete pad and a chimney.
Fish was a businessman from California. It is said he owned the operation three times, selling it and then buying it back at a lower price.
He traded for supplies with George Kellett at the store of the Shangri-La Resort at the west end of the lake, making the 50-kilometre round trip in an inboard launch.
The Grimards have 10 children, six boys and four girls. They plan to build an all-season residence there for the family and have begun clearing land to do so.
People news
• Ashley Johnston, granddaughter of Hoover Bay cottagers Jim and Betty Anderson, was in the area interviewing some residents recently.
She works for the provincial government in Victoria as a User Experience Specialist in the Ministry of Labour, Citizen’s Services and Open Government. She felt it important to get out of the city and into a rural area to find out how folks go about accessing government services and what improvements might made. Ashley says the Hoover Bay property is a “locus” for three generations of her family to gather and enjoy themselves.
• Young Tyson Mastin, the Vicar of the Lutheran Church in town, has been giving the regulars a run for their money in weekly Canim crib play. In fact, he came out on top a few weeks ago.
Tyson is a ‘country boy’ raised in Blue Earth, Minnesota where the land is flat and crib is king. Last week, however, the tables were turned, as Doug McGregor taught him some of the finer tricks that come only with the wisdom of time.
The group would like to see even more players. Call Margo for information at 250-397-0016.
Calendar
• Ladies Luncheon, Dec. 4 at 1 p.m. at Yummer’s.
• Community Club meeting, Dec. 6, 10 a.m. at Margo’s Cabin.
• Cribbage, last play for the year, Dec. 11, 7:30 p.m. at Margo’s Cabin.
• Bachelor Bake at Jean Reynold’s, Dec. 13, 1 p.m.
• Christmas Dinner of the Community Club, Dec. 17, Forest Grove Legion, starting at 5 p.m. with dinner at 6. Call Jean at 250-397-2773 to book.
That’s all for now. Until next time here’s wishing you many blessings.