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.