Showing 107 results

The Whonnock Memorial Hall Society was incorporated on December 15, 1975. On December 1, 1981, the name of the society was changed by special resolution to Whonnock Community Association (WCA). The Association carried out a historical project in 1985, prompted by the 1980 celebration of the 90th anniversary of the Whonnock school, an occasion which brought many former residents of Whonnock together. The intention of the WCA was to produce a booklet on the history of the Whonnock community with an emphasis on the establishment of postal service in the area. Funding for two summer student research positions was provided by Challenge '85, British Columbia/Canada Summer Employment Program. The target date for the booklet was the 100th anniversary celebration in 1990. Although the manuscript was not completed nor the book published, the research data and materials were saved and preserved by the WCA.

The Mission Women's Institute was established in 1910. Its first activity was sending blankets and parcels to soldiers serving overseas in World War I. As the chief organizer of the civilian war effort in Mission, MWI also made thousands of jars of jam, knitted garments and packed tobacco for men overseas. The MWI sold patriotic buttons and organized concerts and a play to raise money for the overseas aircraft fund and hospitals. It formed the first public lending library in Mission and brought the first public health nurse to Mission to start the first baby clinic. It organized the first tag day to start the building of Pleasant View Home. It participated in numerous fundraising efforts and community movements to establish and maintain the Mission Memorial Hospital. In 1925, it donated a new bandstand to the Mission City Community Brass Band. In 1945, it made five quilts for Russian relief. It regularly made donations to the Red Cross and the Salvation Army. It held baby contests and an annual flower show for at least fifteen years, the fifteenth show being in June 1931. In 1918, it donated fruit and vegetables to the Rescue Home in Vancouver. In 1921, it offered night classes in sewing, dressmaking, millinery and bookkeeping. In 1949, it made donations to the Queen Alexandra Solarium Junior League, Conquer Cancer, and the Mission Film Council. Affiliated with the Agricultural Board, it often used the Agricultural Hall for meetings and other gatherings. It was funded by a small annual government group. The purpose of members was to serve "home and country". After 85 years of existence, members voted on October 23, 1995 to go into abeyance. MWI funds were donated to Mission Transition House children's program

The Mission Memorial Centre Society was incorporated in 1973 to promote and coordinate social services in the District of Mission. The Society operated the Mission Memorial Centre, previously the Mission Memorial Hospital building. The Society was dissolved in 1989.

Mary Bryant (1959- ), a native of Mission, was raised on a dairy farm in Hatzic. The second of three children, she became actively involved in 4-H at age 6 and raised Ayrshire dairy cows. At age 15, Mary was introduced to the idea of flying during Career Days at school and with the support of her family, she started her training. In 1977, prior to graduating from high school, she obtained a private pilot license and the following year, a commercial one. Mary joined the military in 1981 and became one of the ten women selected over a 3-year period for a new program to train pilots. Earning her wings in 1983, she became the second woman in Canada to fly helicopters. Over the next 9 years, her assignments included search and rescue operations in Ontario and British Columbia and a peacekeeping tour in the Sinai Desert, Egypt. She retired from the military in 1991 and flew the air ambulance in southern Alberta. In 1993 Mary moved back to B.C., returning to her roots and family farm, and began flying for Interfor helilogging. She retired from flying permanently in 1995 and pursued a career as a business manager and consultant until 1997 when her two daughters were born.

William Alphonse Slack (1856-1902) and his wife, Mary Anne (1865-1931) were pioneers of Hatzic in the District of Mission. Originally from Hagersville, Ontario, they arrived in December of 1898 with four of their five children: Delbert (1888-1917), Gladys (1889-?), Clifford (1890-1941), Geraldine (1892-1981), and Grace (1895-1967). Their eldest daughter Irene (1886-1963) remained in Ontario with her grandmother, Elizabeth (nee Walton) Slack, to complete her schooling.

The family rented and farmed property on the banks of the Hatzic slough. In July 1901, their seventh child, Lloyd, was born and in 1902, Alphonso died suddenly from pneumonia. Left a widow with seven children to raise, Mrs. Slack sent for Irene from Ontario and set forth to provide for her family. In 1903, Mary Anne purchased an acre of land in Hatzic and built the Slack family home. In 1908, she went into partnership with a Mr. A.B. Catherwood and began operating the Hatzic General Store and Post Office. She held the position of post mistress until shortly before her death in 1931. Mary Anne was able to supplement the income for her growing family by providing lodging on the upper floors of the store for men and in her family home for women. She also sold farm and dairy products including: fruit, cheese, and butter. Mary Anne's eldest son, Del, was killed in World War I on March 13, 1917. Her remaining sons, Cliff and Lloyd, married and settled in Hatzic. Cliff managed the store with his mother. Following her death, he carried on as postmaster until just before he died in 1941. Lloyd, nicknamed "Duke", became the proprietor of the Hatzic Home Service which he operated until his retirement in 1957. He and his wife, Christine (nee Davidson) had five children. With the exception of Gladys who moved away following her marriage to Don McGillvray of Nanaimo, Mary Anne's daughters remained in the area. Geraldine settled in Dewdney with her husband Gibson Morrison and raised their three children. Grace resided on Hatzic Island where she and her husband, Howard Hall, operated a fruit farm. Irene got engaged to a Mr. Parker, a CPR employee, who was fatally injured by a horse. She subsequently married James ("Jay") Michie (1873-1946) in 1913. Mr. Michie settled in Hatzic in 1906, where he operated one of the earliest sawmills in the area with a Mr. C. Manual. It was eventually sold and in 1910, Mr. Michie became the Dominion Express Agent at Hatzic. In 1912, he purchased property on Hatzic Island and began to cultivate fruit trees. Following Mr. Michie's appointment as the "Provincial Liquor Vender" in 1920, the Michie's moved to Mission City where there three daughters, Helen (1913- ), Edna ("Eddie") (1916-1940) and Mary Ellen ("Mary") (1920-1990) lived to adulthood. Two of their daughters, Helen and Edna, were May Queens. Mr. Michie was a member of the Canadian Legion Branch 57 (Mission City), the BPO Elks Lodge No. 30, Mission City and District Board of Trade, the Pioneers' Association, the Caledonian Society (a charter member) and the Mission and District Agricultural Association. Irene was a member of the Hatzic Women's Institute and, after 1920, the Mission City Women's Institute.

When plans were initiated to construct the first community hall in Hatzic, Irene travelled the district by horseback to collect donations of money and labour for the project. She was also an active member of the Anglican Church and, in the early 1900s, received a camera in recognition of her outstanding service. She became an avid photographer and developed most of her own film. In October of 1940, their eldest daughter, Edna, died. Edna's husband, Gordon Topham, a naval officier, was serving on the HMCS Prince Rupert and so Irene and Jay raised their infant grandson, Garry James (1939- ) for the next several years. In October of 1946, Mr. Michie retired as the Provincial Liquor Vendor and a month later died suddenly at seventy-three years of age. Mrs. Michie continued to live in the family home in Mission City until her death in 1963.

The Pacific Cooperative Union was established in 1932 to help farmers process and sell their fruit. The cooperative's members, many of Japanese descent, came from throughout the Fraser Valley. The Cooperative established its main plant in Mission, B.C., first processing berries and later vegetables and jam. The Cooperative ceased operations in 1973 and was formally dissolved in 1984.

Evelyn M. Kowal is the daughter of Florence Inglis (1925-1997) and Andrew Russell Graham (1922-1973), both of Scotland.

Louise Fowler (nee Constantine) was born in 1930 and was the 7th of 8 children. She lived in Silverdale from approximately 1942 to 1949 and she attended Mission Central High School. Louise moved to Mission in 1949.

James (Jimmy) Gunn was born in New Westminster. He worked for the Motor Vehicle Branch of the B.C. Provincial Police and was transferred to Mission City in 1945. Gunn was active in a variety of community service and sports groups and headed a project under the auspices of the local Rotary Club to construct the first public swimming pool in Mission. He is most noted for being the founder of the Mission City Soap Box Derby, an annual event which ran from 1947 to 1973.

Nicomen Island Women's Institute was established in 1947 and served Nicomen Island in the Fraser River east of Mission.

The Mission and District Garden Club was established in 1965 to provide education in horticulture and to exhibit garden produce.

Harry Vogel is a retired engineer in Mission, B.C., interested in local history. He was a member of the Construction Committee for the Rites of Passage Exhibition, which portrayed the history of Japanese Canadians in the Mission area.

Doris Ogle was born in Port Hammond and moved to Mission in 1920. She worked as a nurse at Mission Memorial Hospital until 1934, when she married Sydney Salsberry, who was later killed in action in World War II. She married Phillip Swift in 1950 and since that time has lived in Abbotsford. She was active in a number of community women's groups.

Doris Hills (nee Grinsted) was born in England and moved to Cedar Valley near Mission, B.C., in 1929. Hills worked for the Chilliwack Progress newspaper, taking leave during World War II to serve in the Royal Canadian Air Force Women's Division.

The Building that houses Hatzic Middle School was established as a Junior Secondary School in 1972, and then as a Secondary School in 1988. Hatzic became a Middle School in 2017 for students in Grade seven to nine. part of Mission School District #75, Hatzic Middle School is a comprehensive school offering strong programs in academics, applied skills, fine and performing arts and athletics. Hatzic Middle School offers a Hockey Academy to its students, which is structured and dedicated not only to training and developing players to reach the next level in the sport, but also to support the academic and citizenship potential of every athlete.

The building that houses École Heritage Park Middle School was officially opened in October 1996, and operated as Heritage Park Secondary School until 2017 when it became a middle school. The school is operated under the Mission School District #75. The mission of École Heritage Park Middle School is to empower all learners to strive for success, and the school envisions an environment where everyone feels safe, included and valued as partners, where all learners are engaged, empowered and motivated, and where accomplishments are celebrated. École Heritage Park Middle School shares its location with the Clarke Theatre and a University of the Fraser Valley campus. The fine arts program uses the Clarke Theatre to showcase music, drama, and dance programs.

Was originally established as a Junior Secondary School in 1972, and then as a Secondary School in 1988. Hatzic Secondary emphasized "high student achievement" and had specialized programs in electronics and technical training as well as a two-year integrated Humanities program and peer counseling.

-Hatzic Secondary became a Middle School in September 2017 for students in Grade 7 to 9.

-SEE Hatzic Middle School for years (2017-)

Part of the Mission School District #75, Heritage Park Secondary opened in 1996 and its primary focus was individualized and personalized learning. It had specialized programs including video production, musical theatre and stagecraft, along with programs for students with disabilities and a fitness and exercise management program. Students with disabilities will be helped through a training program for aides.

-It became École Heritage Park Middle School in 2017

-SEE École Heritage Park Middle School for dates (2017-)

Part of Mission School District #75, École Mission Central Elementary’s present day building was opened in 1990. The original Mission Central School was built in sections between 1911 and 1913, and housed both primary and secondary students – this school was Mission’s first High School. Due to the construction of the Junior-Senior High School in 1952, Mission Central became an elementary school the same year and served as such until it was demolished in 1989. École Mission Central Elementary is dual track offering both an English program and French Immersion for its Kindergarten to Grade six students. The school has goals in literacy, numeracy, and social responsibility, and offers programs to achieve these goals such as Peer Counseling.

Part of Mission School District #75, Fraserview Elementary School opened temporarily in 1978, but was officially opened in March 1980. The mission of the school was to develop confident, responsible, literate students that possess a love of learning and skills necessary for a changing society. Although Fraserview Elementary was closed in 2008, the building is now used for Fraserview Learning Centre – an alternative secondary school with students from Grade seven to twelve.

Part of Mission School District #75, Cedar Valley Elementary School was opened in 1923 in one of Ferndale Elementary’s previous buildings located on the corner of Cedar St. and Dewdney Trunk Rd. Cedar Valley Elementary School was closed in 1989, and the students and teachers moved to their new location at Albert McMahon. Cedar Valley School then became an alternative school. The school offered an Ecological Studies Program which focused around the environment and developed a partnership with the community, businesses, and government agencies. Students in this alternative program worked on the Silverdale Creek Estuary wetlands, and built a one kilometre trail and large concrete salmon sculpture there. This program also caught its members up on academics they missed out on. Cedar Valley School was closed following the conclusion of the 2006/2007 school year.

Part of the Mission School District #75, West Heights Elementary was first established 1958 and works to encourage students to develop the knowledge, skills, and attributes of a lifelong learner and strive for personal excellence within a respectful, tolerant environment. Although West Heights Elementary teaches students from Kindergarten to Grade six, Strong Start is also offered at the school – a program for preschool aged children and their parents that prepares the children for kindergarten and supports family literacy.