Friday, December 13, 2013

1944 Continues

On September 11, 1944, the first childcare centre was set up for the children of soldiers.

Four days later, a new product called contact lenses arrived in Vancouver.

On September 18, Vancouver born Peggy Middleton was named the most "beautiful girl in the world". We know Peggy by the name of Yvonne de Carlo.

On September 30, the B.C. Federation of Labour was formed.
September 30 was also the day that B.C. Bearings Ltd. was incorporated in Vancouver. Robert A.S. MacPherson founded the company.

On October 21, a Seaforth Highlander from Vancouver, Private Ernest Alvia "Smokey" Smith won the Victoria Cross for bravery in action in Northern Italy. Smokey died on August 3, 2005 at the age of 91.

1944 was the year that tighter rationing on gasoline began.

Local Doukhobors held a prayer vigil on courthouse steps in support of the 13 of their brethren that were imprisoned in Oakalla.

A 1944 forest fire raged down Black Mountain in West Vancouver, scorching seven square miles and finally stopped 300 yards above Eagle Harbour.

Surrey teachers asked for a raise. Their students who were working in war industries over the summer were making more than the teachers who worked all year!

In Richmond, Les Gilmore harvested 900 bushels of potatoes per acre, the highest yield per acre in Canada.

In 1933, the City of North Vancouver went into receivership and in 1944, they finally emerged from that.

The Malahat was wrecked in 1944. During the prohibition in the U.S., this ship was known as the "Queen of Rum Row" and during her heydey, she often sailed with over 60,000 cases of liquor on board.


Thanks to the History of Metropolitan Vancouver website for the information on 1944. 

This is going to be my last entry of 2013, unless something happens that I want to report on. I want to thank all my readers for reading and commenting on the Vancouver Vagabond.

I plan a lot of changes in my life for 2014. I should have two books published - the fiction is the sequel to Missing Flowers entitled A Little Poison and my first non-fiction, On The Right Side, My Story of Survival and Success. I am also looking at a career in motivational speaking. My website will be getting a major overhaul during the Christmas holidays.

The Vancouver Vagabond will continue of course. I will see you on January 6, 2014. Until then have a happy and safe holiday. May all your dreams come true.

I hope you find the beauty around you.



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