Welcome to my 3rd blog in the “O Canada” category and I hope you are enjoying them.

When I was about 7 years old and it was 1966 when my family from Quesnel, British Columbia (BC) to (East) Vancouver, BC. It was my Dad, Mom, my brother and I. It was more than a long long drive, 700 km or so, it was also a huge change from small town to big city.

It was a momentous move and only when I was an adult did I realize how Mom and Dad had barely achieved it on the slimmest of shoestrings. I am sure it was stressful for them but my parents realized it was a “jump” that would lead to a better future for the family.

In 1966 houses could be bought for $16,000 and our realtor even lent us the down payment as my Dad was waiting for his severance pay. Amazing ! Houses seem cheap to us now but wages were also low; in 1966 the average annual income was about $4200 for a individual which would equate to $35,000 in 2020. We had two hungry boys and a german shepherd and at first only Dad was working, albeit that changed quite soon.

I was 7, my brother was 5 and we were blissfully unaware and to us it was a big adventure I suppose. It was months before my parents could afford an actual stove in our new home. Meals were always delicious and homemade and our parents kept growing up special.

We made our own kites with balsam wood and newspaper, and weekly visits to the Hastings branch library remain happy memories.

In the summer we had free swimming lessons at the outdoor pool that were sponsored by the Vancouver Sun newspaper.

In the fall of 1966 I began grade 3 at “little” Begbie – it was the elementary school in the area. (Big Begbie was Sir Matthew Begbie school – named after a famous “hanging judge”)

My teacher in grade 3 was Mrs. McDonald – my first day I had a double detention. ♥ I wasn’t a “bad” student but I got talking twice when I was supposed to be quiet. Fortunately my new friend Ole shared my detention.

Imagine my surprise when on the last day of school when I received a ribbon for “most improved” – Lol.

Spring of 1967 was when I developed a sense of my identify as a Canadian.

My Dad was a genius at finding fun things for us to do that were also free. We often toured visiting ships in the harbor such as destroyers, one aircraft carrier, a Japanese training ship that had sails, an American submarine and more. In 1967 there were one of those opportunities – a special train.

In 1967 I remember standing in the rain at the railway stop in downtown Vancouver – it was a once in a lifetime opportunity to see the Confederation train. LINK

This was a train museum on wheels to share Canada’s confederation birthday of 100 years, I remember I liked it but not much else besides standing in line. LOL

In grade 3 that year all the kids had an opportunity to win gold, silver, and bronze patches for participation. LINK We all wanted Gold of course, but it consisted of doing multiple exercises and to win a gold patch you needed to be Gold at all three competitions. I remember I was Gold at two and Bronze at one so I ended up with Bronze. (oy vey) I was a bit disappointed and I think the events were sit-ups, running jump and standing jump – the standing jump was hardest for me because I was a “shrimp”.

It was also the year of learning the Centennial song which melody still rebounds in my skull and I can sing it along. It was called the CA – NA – DA song and if you listen you will know why – imagine my whole school – grades 1 to 4 all shouting out the words in a tiny gymnasium and we had healthy lungs♥

It was a song sung in a continuous round, and one grade would start first and continue and others would join in. Thinking of those brave patient teachers now, just makes me grin. ha ha

1967 – It meant 100 years for Canada, it was a simpler age now as I look back , and it was the year I identified as Canadian.

♥ Thanks for reading – ♥♥♥ – David

Lyrics are below for your pleasure to sing along 🙂

CA-NA-DA

(One little two little three Canadians)

We love thee

(Now we are twenty million)

CA-NA-DA

(Four little five little six little Provinces)

Proud and free

(Now we are ten and the Territories sea to sea)

(Chorus):

North south east west

There’ll be happy times,

Church Bells will ring, ring, ring

It’s the hundredth anniversary of Confederation

Ev’rybody sing together!