Branch 170, B.C. O.A.P.O., was conceived at a preliminary meeting on March 30, 1982, held at the home of Walter and Betty Brigden, with Rollo Boas, O.A.P.O. Provincial President in attendance. There were eleven persons attending. An election of officers took place: President, Betty Brigden; 1st Vice President, Gladys Slingsby; 2nd Vice President, Vera Loxton; Secretary, Moira Timms; Treasurer, Laura Roland; and Directors, Cameron Lesk, Margaret Niell, Nora Craig. It was decided that monthly meetings be held: 1st Tuesday, a social event; 3rd Tuesday, a business meeting.
Rollo Boas spoke to the group on the three "Is" of pensioners - Independence, Integration, and Involvement. The first general meeting of Branch 170, O.A.P.O., was held April 20,1982, at the home of the Brigdens. The first general meeting of the Branch to be held in the new club rooms in the basement of Fulford Community Hall was on Tuesday, September 20, 1983. These club rooms are rented from the Fulford Hall Committee for the price of $1.00 per year, plus a monthly payment of $50.00 to cover hydro costs.
Here is a write up by Norah Craig, Charter Member of Branch 170, about the early days of the Branch:
The first meeting of our O.A.P.O. Branch 170, was held at the home of Walter and Betty Brigden. There were about eight interested seniors attending. After this, our meetings alternated between the Brigden’s home and the home of Muriel and Cameron Leask. As membership grew, it was realized that other arrangements would have to be made. The Fulford Hall Committee was approached to see if club rooms could be fixed up in the basement of the Hall. Under the supervision of a certified builder and very good friend, Ken Adshead, a work crew was formed.
Every Saturday and Wednesday morning at 8:30 a.m., all volunteers met at the hall, and Ken usually allotted new jobs to workers or jobs previously assigned were continued on. Mostly the ladies mixed up paste and seamed and taped the dry wall. Next day, it was sanded. It was hard work but very rewarding. It was surprising, when everyone got really into it, how many professional, although retired, electricians, plumbers and very excellent handy men we had among the crew.
The result of all this effort is an entrance hall, two lovely rooms with kitchen, and two wash rooms. One of the rooms was large enough to accommodate a shuffle board, carpet bowling set-up, bridge tables, and bingo games. The other room was fitted with a pool table.
Achieving a place of our own was a lot of fun and a lot of work, with a bonus of happy memories
To finance this renovation, the Branch applied for and received a grant of $10,000 from New Horizons.
In 1988, Branch members once again donned work clothes to construct a wheelchair access to the meeting rooms. Branch 170 has been involved in community activities together with Branch 32, Ganges, (e.g. the Salt Spring June Sea Capers Parade, and the August Fulford Day celebration, by organizing, supplying and operating a pie stall). Delegates have attended many Regional meetings and Provincial conventions.
Meetings have been enlivened by local speakers, notably local RCMP on home and personal security, and a representative from the S.S.I. Earthquake Emergency Awareness Group. Recently, Wil Holland came to speak on the occasion of a Regional meeting hosted by the Branch. The tenth anniversary was celebrated in 1992 with an excellent dinner and special guests.
In April 1989, the Branch honoured two Charter members, Betty Brigden, and Gladys Slingsby, as Life Members. In March 1997, Evelyn Lee, a Charter member was honoured by the Branch as a Life Member. In July 1999, Bessie Kilgour, a Charter member, was honoured by the Branch as a Life Member. At the Christmas dinner Dec. 2003, Elsa Drummond and Margaret Baker, were honoured by the Branch as Life Members. Betty Brigden and Bessie Kilgour have since passed away.
The Branch 170 Club Rooms have provided a focal point for seniors and others in the Fulford Harbour area to meet and socialize. As to be expected, membership dwindled over the years with the deaths of active members. In 2000 one of our members, Hedvig Marie Andersen, passed away and bequeathed her house and property to the Branch. From proceeds of the sale of the property, a third room was built, and new members have been attracted to activities now possible in the expanded facility. The Branch enjoys a good relationship with the landlord, the Fulford Hall Committee, and looks forward to more years of service to the community.
![]() Norah Craig |
![]() Elsa Drummond |
![]() Gladys Slingsby |
![]() Evelyn Lee |
LIST OF EXECUTIVE, 1982 PRESIDENT: 1st VICE PRESIDENT: 2nd VICE PRESIDENT: SECRETARY: TREASURER: DIRECTORS: | (elected March 30, 1982) Betty Brigden Gladys Slingsby Vera Loxton Maira Timms Laura Roland Cameron Leask Margaret Niell Norah Craig |
LIST OF EXECUTIVE, 1983 PRESIDENT: 1st VICE PRESIDENT: 2nd VICE PRESIDENT: SECRETARY: TREASURER: DIRECTORS: TELEPHONE COMMITTEE: | (elected March 30, 1982) Betty Brigden Gladys Slingsby Vera Loxton Margaret Folstad Laura Roland Norah Craig Jack Stibbards Appointed: Val Gyves, Norah Craig, Dorothy O'Sullivan |
LIST OF EXECUTIVE, 1984 PRESIDENT: 1st VICE PRESIDENT: 2nd VICE PRESIDENT: RECORDING SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE SECRETARY TREASURER: DIRECTORS: |
(elected November 15, 1983) Betty Brigden Marion Andrew Vera Lowton ? Margaret Folstad Lillian Horsdahl Dalziel Laura Roland ? Norah Craig ? Jack Stibbards ? |
LIST OF EXECUTIVE, 1985 PRESIDENT: 1st VICE PRESIDENT: 2nd VICE PRESIDENT: RECORDING SECRETARY TREASURER: DIRECTORS: |
(elected November 20, 1984) Cameron Leask Evelyn Lee Louisa Adshead Gladys Slingsby Nell Bushby Bessie Kilgour, Walter Brigden, Quentin, Wilson, Bob Scott, Ken Adshead |
LIST OF EXECUTIVE, 1986 PRESIDENT: PAST PRESIDENT: 1st VICE PRESIDENT 2nd VICE PRESIDENT TREASURER: RECORDING SECRETARY: CORRESPONDENCE SECRETARY: DIRECTORS: HALL REPRESENTATIVE: |
(elected December, 1985) Cameron Leask Betty Brigden Evelyn Lee (1 year) Louisa Adshead (1 year) Nell Bushby (1 year) Gladys Slingby (1 year) Mary Benn (2 years) Barbara Burrowes (2 years) Mike Beach (2 years) Dorothy O'Sullivan (2 years) Bob Scott (1 year) Walter Brigden (1 year) Ken Adshead |
LIST OF EXECUTIVE, 1987 PRESIDENT: 1st VICE PRESIDENT: 2nd VICE PRESIDENT: SECRETARY: TREASURER: DIRECTORS: |
(elected November 4, 1986) Evelyn Lee Elsa Drummond (one year only) Robert Scott Gladys Slingsby Mike Beach Marion Andrew, Muriel Leask (3rd director still to be found) |
LIST OF EXECUTIVE, 1989 PRESIDENT: 1st VICE PRESIDENT: 2nd VICE PRESIDENT: SECRETARY: TREASURER: DIRECTORS: |
(elected November 15, 1988) Jack Stibbards (2 years) Bob Scott (1 year) Barbara Burrowes (2 years) Muriel Leask (1 year) Elsa Drummond (2 years) Dorothy O'Sullivan (2 years) Margaret Folstad (2 years) Bill Baker (1 year), Bunny Fischer (1 year). Nell Bushby (1 year) |
LIST OF EXECUTIVE, 1990 PRESIDENT: 1st VICE PRESIDENT: 2nd VICE PRESIDENT: SECRETARY: TREASURER: DIRECTORS: |
(elected November 21, 1989) Jack Stibbards (1 year) Bill Baker (2 years) Barbara Burrowes (1 year) Margaret Baker (2 years) Elsa Drummond (1 year) Lillian Horsdahl (2 years), Nancy Patterson (2 years), Laura Roland (2 years), Margaret Folstad (1 year), Dorothy O'Sullivan (1 yr.) |
LIST OF EXECUTIVE, 1994 PRESIDENT: VICE PRESIDENT: SECRETARY: TREASURER: DIRECTORS: |
(elected November 16, 1993) Barbara Burrowes (1 yr.) Evelyn Lee (2 yr.) Dorothy O'Sullivan (2 yr.) Bill Baker (1 yr.) Gladys Slingsby (1 yr.), Raymond Perks (1 yr.), Mona Warren (2 yr.), Val Gyves (2 yr.), Margaret Baker (2 yr.) |
LIST OF EXECUTIVE, 1995 PRESIDENT: VICE PRESIDENT: SECRETARY: TREASURER: DIRECTORS: |
(elected November 18, 1994) Evelyn Lee (2 yr) Jack Stibbards (1 yr.) Dorothy O' Sullivan (1 yr.) Bill Baker (2 yr.) Norah Craig (2 yr.), Mike Beach (2 yr.) Mona Warren (1 yr.), Val Gyves (1 yr). Margaret Baker (1 yr.) |
LIST OF EXECUTIVE, 1996 PRESIDENT: VICE PRESIDENT: SECRETARY: TREASURER: DIRECTORS: |
(elected November, 1995) Evelyn Lee Jack Stibbard Bill Baker Dorothy O' Sullivan Elsa Drummond, Betty Ford, Val Gyves |
LIST OF EXECUTIVE, 1997 PRESIDENT: VICE PRESIDENT: SECRETARY: TREASURER: DIRECTORS: |
(elected November, 1996) Evelyn Lee Jack Stibbard Bob Patterson Elsa Drummond Kathleen Rathwell Nancy Mossop, Mona Warren Betty Ford, Val Gyves |
LIST OF EXECUTIVE, 1998 PRESIDENT: VICE PRESIDENT: SECRETARY: TREASURER: DIRECTORS: |
(elected November, 1997) Evelyn Lee Kathleen Rathwell Elsa Drummond Margaret Baker Nancy Mossop, Norah Craig, Betty Ford. Val Gvves |
LIST OF EXECUTIVE, 1999 PRESIDENT: VICE PRESIDENT: SECRETARY: TREASURER: DIRECTORS: |
(elected November, 1998) Kathleen Rathwell Val Gyves Elsa Drummond Margaret Baker Norah Craig, Betty Ford, Mona Warren |
LIST OF EXECUTIVE, 2000 PRESIDENT: VICE PRESIDENT: SECRETARY: TREASURER: DIRECTORS: |
(elected November, 1999) Kathleen Rathwell To be appointed Elsa Drummond Margaret Baker Gladys Slingsby, Val Gyves, Mona Warren |
LIST OF EXECUTIVE, 2001 PRESIDENT: VICE PRESIDENT: SECRETARY: TREASURER: DIRECTORS: |
(elected November, 2000) Kathleen Rathwell Marion Andrew ElsaDrummond Margaret Baker Gladys Slingsby, Val Gyves, Norah Craig |
LIST OF EXECUTIVE, 2002 PRESIDENT: VICE PRESIDENT: SECRETARY: TREASURER: DIRECTORS: |
(elected November, 2001) Kathleen Rathwell Marion Andrew ElsaDrummond Margaret Baker Norah Craig, Gladys Slingsby, Val Gyves |
LIST OF EXECUTIVE, 2003 PRESIDENT: VICE PRESIDENT: SECRETARY: TREASURER: DIRECTORS: |
(elected November, 2002) Marion Andrew To be appointed Elsa Drummond Margaret Baker Norah Craig, Val Gyves, Evelyn Lee |
LIST OF EXECUTIVE, 2004 PRESIDENT: VICE PRESIDENT: SECRETARY: TREASURER: DIRECTORS: |
(elected November, 2003) Marion Andrew, George Laundry Elsa Drummond Margaret Baker Norah Craig, Val Gyves, Evelyn Lee |
LIST OF EXECUTIVE, 2005 PRESIDENT: VICE PRESIDENT: SECRETARY: TREASURER: DIRECTORS: |
(elected November, 2004) Marion Andrew Florence Laundry Elsa Drummond Margaret Baker Norah Craig, Kathleen Rathwell, Val Gyves |
LIST OF EXECUTIVE, 2006 PRESIDENT: VICE PRESIDENT: SECRETARY: TREASURER: DIRECTORS: |
(elected November, 2005) Florence Laundry Don Stevens John Flannagan Margaret Baker Kathleen Rathwell, Elsa Drummond, Barbara Lyngard |
LIST OF EXECUTIVE, 2007 PRESIDENT: VICE PRESIDENT: SECRETARY: TREASURER: DIRECTORS: |
(elected November, 2006) Don Stevens Emily Hepburn John Flannagan Margaret Baker Elsa Drummond, Barbara Lyngard, Norah Craig |
LIST OF EXECUTIVE, 2008 PRESIDENT: VICE PRESIDENT: SECRETARY: TREASURER: DIRECTORS: |
(elected November, 2007) Emily Hepburn Dee Roberts Patricia Flannagan Margaret Baker Norah Craig -1 year term Joan Byrne - 2 year term 3rd Director - to be named |
Collection: Ruckle Collection
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Collection: Ruckle Collection
Location: Salt Spring Island Archives
Source: Helen Ruckle
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Collection: Ruckle Collection
Location: Salt Spring Island Archives
Source: Helen Ruckle
Accession number: p1050667b