40 YEARS AGO: Close to 150 people came out to pay tribute to Roy and Sally Sallows at an informal reception in the Wells Gray Inn, marking their 50th wedding anniversary. Master of ceremonies for the event Bob Collision read congratulatory messages to the Sallows from then Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, the Governor General Ed Shreuyer, Premier Bill Bennett and MLA Claude Richmond. Taped greetings were played for the couple, as well as a biographical play performed titled “The Meeting, The Courtship, The Wedding.” Roy became the first “Hydro man” in the Clearwater area.
35 YEARS AGO: An increase in the minimum wage to go into effect Feb. 1, 1987, raising the rate from $3.65 to $4 per hour for those over 18, and an increase from $3 to $3.65 for those under 18.
The District’s latest claim-to-fame will be a brick engraved with the words “Love” Clearwater, B.C., located on the pathway in Calgary’s new Olympic Plaza. The City of Calgary, the host of the 1988 Winter Olympic Games, set up a brick purchasing program to help fund their Olympic Plaza. Such a brick was bought by Chiara Alexander to honour Clearwater.
30 YEARS AGO: Clearwater Andrea Foulkes had an unusual house guest five days before the Christmas holidays, a full-grown golden eagle, which was brought to her care by conservation officer Frank Richter. The bird had collided with a car near the drinking fountain north of Barriere, taking the windshield clean out. After it was noticed the bird was unable to fly, it was brought to Foulkes. Over time, the bird healed, regaining sight in one of its eyes and pacing back and forth as if it was restless.
25 YEARS AGO: Freezing rain and ice as much as three inches thick on long stretches of Highway 5 forced the closure of the only artery through the Valley from Kamloops to Valemount on New Year’s Eve. Clearwater RCMP requested the closure which began at 9:45 p.m. and lasted for almost 24 hours until the road was deemed safe for travel on New Year’s Day.
20 YEARS AGO: Fourteen hardy souls braved the icy waters of the North Thompson River on New Year’s Day for the 10th annual Little Fort Polar Bear Dip. Three of them came dressed as polar bears and went home sharing the trophy for silliest costume. The large, cheerful crowd of spectators produced a record haul for the Barriere and District Food Bank Society.
15 YEARS AGO: Kampgrounds of America (KOA) honoured the efforts of Bart and Sheena van Dyk, owners of the KOA campground in Clearwater, with the highest accolade the company issues for the second year in a row. The President’s Award is given for outstanding customer service and campground facilities. The couple credited having Wells Gray Park as their backyard is a great start to having happy customers.
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