EDITORIALThe success of the first edition of the Newsletterhas been overwhelming. We have receivedfavorable comments from B.C. pensioners whoare virtually spread across the continent. It isobvious the Newsletter fills a need, judging fromthe comments received from a variety of readers,including some Bankers who have yet to retire,others who retired recently and those who retiredsome years ago.

Those who initially received the first edition werequick to pass copies through cyberspace to otherswhom they thought would enjoy reading thestories. This is exactly what we had hoped wouldhappen.

We are in debt to those who provided stories. Thefuture success of this venture will depend on yousending in your stories and autobiographicalinformation to be included in future editions. Inshort “Thank You” for your flattering commentsand encouragement.

Kay Jiles has been elected President of The Lower Mainland

Pensioners’ Association for the thirteenth consecutive year.

Congratulations Kay- well done!!

BRITANNIA BEACH - By Leo Fornari

Years before there was ever a branch in Squamish, the Bank

had an office at Britannia Beach. The only reason for this

unit was to provide service to the employees of the mine

operated by Britannia Mining and Smelting Co. Ltd. Up

until 1956 the only access to Britannia Beach was by boat.

In 1956 the “outside world” was linked to Britannia when a

rail line operated by the Pacific Great Eastern Railway from

North Vancouver to Squamish was completed. Then in 1958

the Sea to Sky Highway was opened.

The Branch in Britannia consisted of a rather small building

which included two sleeping rooms at the back. These

rooms were “home” to Ken Moir, the Manager and Don

Gore, the Accountant/Teller/Junior Clerk, etc.etc. In April

1957 I was sent to Britannia Beach to relieve Don Gore who

was going on three weeks vacation.

In addition to operating the “main” Branch, there was also a

sub-branch at Mount Sheer. The picture showing the “cages”

illustrate the entire width of this office. Access was by way

of lifting the front counter, opening the gill/door followed by

lifting the back counter. Travel to this townsite was on a

narrow, twisting, gravel road several miles up the mountain

in Ken Moir’s Austin A40, except on pay days. On those

days we needed to take up a huge amount of cash and

therefor journeyed to Mount Sheer in a small bus operated

by the mining company. Incidentally, I believe all, or at least

part, of the Mount Sheer office is now located at the

RBC PENSIONERS’ NETWORK

BRITISH COLUMBIA CELL

email <RBCPENSIONSERSNETWORK@SHAW.CA> VOLUME 1 ISSUE 2 - JULY 2006

Leo Fornari

Burnaby Village Museum. The cash was contained in a

metal box and sitting on top of the currency was a revolver.

Yikes! Fortunately, there was never a need to consider using

the pistol, which was good as I had no idea how to use one. I

was not certain of Ken’s prowess at using the revolver

either.

EDITOR’S NOTE

Fred J. Schwab was appointed Manager when Britannia

Beach became an independent branch in 1950. Previous

to that, and for 27 years, it operated as a sub of

Vancouver branch. It was a natural that Fred should be

appointed Manager for he, for many years, travelled

from Vancouver to Britannia on the Union Steamships

“Lady Cynthia” on mine pay days. Fred remained as

Manager until 1956 and was followed by Ken D. Moir

who Managed the unit until the branch became a sub to

Squamish in 1958.

It was rumored that Fred Schwab (a bachelor), being an

excellent poker player, was consistently able to

supplement his meager salary by engaging in the

ongoing poker game in Britannia.

BILL MACLEAN’S MEMORIAL SERVICE

Those who were unable to attend the service celebrating

Bill’s life will be pleased to note that a very fitting tribute

was given at the Richmond Presbyterian Church on May 17,

2006. Along with many others the following RBC

Pensioners were noted to be in attendance: Wally MacKay,

Stan Crookston, Alice Carfrae, Don Reed, Dennis Becker,

Don Steele, Charlie Merrick, Jim MacNaughton, Lillian

Pollock, Dave Lattimer, Phil Ford, Jack McDonald, Ralph

Zelmer, Jim Walker, Jack Nicolson, Lorene Vickberg.

Apologies to any we may have missed. Many of the

pensioners were accompanied by their wives.

Everyone has a gun story. Send them in to

RBCPENSIONERSNETWORK@SHAW.CA

Does anyone remember this signature?

PENSIONER IN DISTRESS

We have learned that Jack Duggan has suffered a stroke and

is being cared for in the UBC hospital. Jack retired

December 31, 1984 as Manager Security, Western Visa

Centre, Vancouver, B.C. His wife Deirdre has told us that

Jack has now only very limited verbal skills and the future is

not clear. Anyone who would like to inquire about Jack’s

progress or offer assistance can telephone Deirdre at

(604) 263-5372

JACK HOBBS - MEMORIAL SERVICE

A celebration of Jack=s life was held at the Quilchena Golf

and Country Club in Richmond on Thursday June 29, 2006.

Jack had been a long time member of Quilchena as well as

the River Club in Richmond.

Jack=s longtime friend Doug MacArthur was Master of

Ceremonies. Remembrances and anecdotes were given by

members of both clubs as well as from Terry Cable, Senior

Manager, RBFG Leasing for Western Canada.

Retired and past employees of the Bank in attendance were

Terry Watkins (Nanaimo), Ron Unger (Kelowna), Bruce

Jagger, Bill Lee, Sandy MacKay, Rand MacNeill, Jim

Ranta, Larry Slipec and Larry Tong.

That’s Leo in the cage - Mount Sheer

A typical “Ivor Johnson” Bank Revolver

D.A. (Dave) LattimerCompiled by C.W. Merrick

Dave was born and raised in Langley, B.C. and started at

the RBC Langley Prairie branch in July 1947. (Martin

Knudson was branch Manager). Also on staff were

stalwarts such as Bob Corlett, Len Larmon, “Verse” Martin,

and Harvey White.

After all these years, and many

adventures along the way, Dave still

recalls his “big” cash shortage

(remember those days…(?), where in

error he “gave out” a bundle of

quarters ($100) instead of a bundle

of nickels ($20). He then had to

“reimburse” the bank at $8.00 per

month/for ten months. (I’ll bet all of

us “ex-Tellers” still remember our

various “cash shortages” and how

we then had to reimburse the bank).

Dave’s first transfer was to

Chilliwack branch (Guy Kerwin was

the Manager); reported in Sept. 1949. (Staff included Bill

Frazer, Acct.; Don Morris and Cec Bartlett.) Dave paid $75

monthly room and board, but had to pay in two installments

each month, as one payday (13 or 28 ) didn’t cover it…th th

Next came Port Alberni (1951) with Alex Armstrong as

Manager. At this point in Dave’s relentless drive to become

RBC president, he and his long-time love, Leona Shaw,

decided to get married (Dave was 23 and Leona 19). In

those illustrious days, to get married you had to get the

Bank’s permission beforehand (true!!!) and at that time, had

to have an annual salary of at least $1,400 PA for the Bank

to “allow” you to get married. Unfortunately, Dave was

making (only) $1375 PA, so the Bank turned down his

request to get married!! (At this point, Leona was working

at Garvin Ice & Fuel in Langley…but to “help ease the

pain”, Lorne Jordan, Mayor or Port Alberni, gave Leona a

job as a bookkeeper in Port Alberni – so at least she got to

P.A.).

In 1952, Dave’s annual salary was increased to $1450 PA,

however, for whatever reason(s), before actually getting

married, Dave had to travel (from Port Alberni – via dog

team and then ferry etc.) to District Headquarters in

Vancouver (old Hastings & Granville location) and

present/discuss “his intentions” with (then) B.C. District

Staff Officer Mr. B.J. (Bev) McGill. “Approval granted”

and Dave and Leona got married in April 1952 (to this day

Leona will never forgive B.J.McGill for all the

“runaround”…).

After Port Alberni, Dave transferred to Victoria, Douglas

St. branch in Feb. 1953 as 1 Asst. Acct. (Reg Wilde,st

Manager; Don Darling, Acct; Graeme Gerrie, 2 Asst.nd

Acct.). At one point, to help make ends meet, one month

Dave and Graeme got together and acted jointly as branch

janitor(s) – and split the $150 PM bonanza!!

Then in 1955 came Dave’s transfer to Vernon, B.C. as Acct.

(replacing Reg Gilmour). Alf Howlett was Manager (Ross

Cantley also on staff). At that time Dave drove an open

Austin Healy and one day blew a tire/replacement cost a

whole $19…Tire shop owner told Dave he could “charge it”

and, so as luck would have it, Dave’s name then included on

company’s list of Accts. Receivable. A portion of

company’s credit line based

on percentage of receivables

etc., so Manager Alf Howlett

then saw Dave’s name on

month-end list, hit the roof

and made Dave pay off

outstanding balance, and then

had “revised” list of

receivables prepared (those

were tough days!!!…)

Then transferred to

Vancouver, Granville and

Davie branch (1975-1961),

replacing Ray Lougheed as

Acct. (Ernie Tierney, then

Ralph Burns as Mgr.). Dennis Becker was Asst. Acct.

In Feb. 1961, Dave transferred to Hazelton, B.C. as Mgr.

(replacing Don Steele). Dave was advised of his transfer

noon Friday – to report to Hazelton the following Monday.

Both Dave and Leona loved Hazelton (including all aspects

of “Northern” life) and they still have friends there. During

their Hazelton stay, Dave and Leona were introduced to

Northwest Coast Indian art, K’san traditions and culture etc.

In Feb. 1963, Dave transferred to Squamish as Manager

(replacing Larry Urquhart). Branch then located in The

Chieftain Hotel building. (Dave advises Squamish is “a real

party town”…).

On May 1966, Dave was transferred to Port Alberni as

Manager (2 stint in P.A.), replacing Jack Hilts.nd

Then transferred to Prince Rupert as Manager (replacing

Jack Dunsmore) in April 1970. At that time, Prince Rupert

branch operated a sub-branch at Kitsault, B.C. (top-end of

Alice Arm).

In March 1974, Dave was transferred to B.C. District Credit

Floor (replacing Frank Seisling) and worked with Don

Steele, B.C. Credit Supervisor. November 1974 saw Dave

transferred to B.C. District’s new “Market Development

Dept.” (with Bill McFaull as Supervisor). Dave then joined

the Vancouver East Region as Manager, Marketing

Services.

In Feb. 1980, Dave replaced Len Kozar as Manager,

Burnaby Main branch. During Dave’s tenure, Burnaby

branch re-located to its present location west of Willingdon.

Dave then retired from the Bank as Manager, Burnaby Main

on June 30, 1987.

L/R- Ken Bromley, Doug Bell, Len Huber & Don

Bradwell

GOLF TOURNAMENT

By Doug Bell

One of the events sponsored by “The Lower Mainland

Pensioners’ Association” is a golf tournament. These events

are played twice a year, usually in June and September. This

year the spring tournament was held on May 31 at thest

Grandview Golf Club near Custer, Washington.

These tournaments started in the 1990’s and since 1997 have

been played at the Grandview Golf Club. The American

venue allows the Association to keep the green fees at a

reasonable level.

The June tourney is played for the Jack Nicolson trophy and

in September it’s the Dave Lattimer trophy along with the

Barb Reynolds trophy and the Myrna Phillips trophy. The

Bank generously donates $500 in prizes, for each

tournament, from The Royal Rewards Catalogue.

Nigel Brewis ran the tournament for several years. In 2001

Doug Bell took over the responsibilities. There are several

other volunteers who help with the organization: they are

Len Huber, Bruce Waldref, Dave Jenks, Denis Fontaine and

Charlie Merrick (“the official photographer”).

A Charlie Merrick Special

Harold Henson’s Memorial Service

For those who knew Harold you will be pleased to note

that a celebration of his life was held at St. Philip’s

Anglican Church, in Dunbar, on Saturday June 17 .th

Harold’s son Michael gave the Eulogy and provided an

extraordinarily sensitive insight about the life of his

Father. Among many others, retired Bankers in attendance

included; Charlie Merrick, Don Steele, Margaret Cowan,

Marion Thurston, Walter Penner, Murray Williams and

Dave Christie.

The winners of the September 2005 event were:

Ken Bromley – Mens’ low gross.

Liz Waldref – Ladies’ low gross.

Marie Smith – Ladies’ low net.

The May 2006 winners were:

Ken Bromley – Mens’ low gross.

Don Bradwell – Mens’ low net.

Liz Waldref – Ladies’ low gross.

The next tournament will be held at the same location on

Wednesday September 13, 2006.

For more information please contact Doug Bell at 604-986-

1080 or Len Huber at <lenbevh@shaw.ca>

L/R Dave Jenks and Bob Stitt misbehaving in Palm

Springs.