Marie Poirier

Marie Poirier was born on Feb 11, 1922, in the village of Port Daniel, on the Gaspé peninsula of Quebec, the sixth of eleven children born to Wenceslas & Alice Poirier.

Though Marie was called 'Marie' by everyone after 1944, she was called 'Maria' when she was born. Marie used to tell the story of how her mother had dutifully chosen several names for her, and told Wenceslas of these names. However when her father reached the church to register her birth he could not recall the names Alice had mentioned. Needing to make a decision, he noticed a calendar with a rendering of Saint Maria, so he chose 'Maria' as the baby's name. This explains why Marie had only one given name, whereas all her sisters had at least two given names. Interesting as well is that all of Marie’s sisters have the name 'Marie' as one of their given names.

In the mid 1920's Wenceslas and Alice decided to move to the west, where they planned to begin a new life for their family. Due to the difficulty in settling such a large family in a strange new area, they elected to make the trip in three stages. In July of 1927 Wenceslas departed for Lac Magloire. In late 1928 he was joined by Eugenie, Aurore, Florence, Patsy and Lucienne.

In February of 1929, when Marie was seven, Alice and her four other children (Cecile, Adrien, Lucia and Ronald) made the seven-day trip from Port Daniel to Edmonton. Though life was hard for the Poirier family following their arrival in the Falher area, it created conditions that brought the family together, forging bonds that would last all their lives. Marie became fast and lifelong friends with Cecile L'Heureux, who would later marry Marie's brother Adrien.

For excellent stories and information about those times we recommend reading the book "My Cherished Memories", written by Marie's brother Adrien Poirier in 2003.

Nick Taylor

Nicholas (Nick) Brian Taylor (born Nikolay Onyschuk) was born April 5, 1919 in the small Ukrainian village of Mundare, Alberta, approximately 50 miles east of Edmonton. Nick was farm raised and grew up during the depression years between the First and Second World Wars when hard work, hardships and doing-without were facts of life; a banana was something seen only in stores, and seldom, maybe once a year, you got to eat one. A trip to Edmonton was a multi-day excursion with the evenings spent sleeping under or on a wagon. Nick remembered, as a young boy, trying to keep warm between two adults who somehow always managed to keep the blanket high above him.

Nick's early school years were in Norma, Alberta, then on to North Star School in Landonville where he finished grade 8 in 1933. Despite the hardships encountered during the depression Nick had still managed to skip two school grades – a remarkable achievement. Although the family moved to Whitford in 1937, Nick had preceded them in 1936 to enable his attendance at the Manawan School, where grades 9 and 10 had finally become available locally. Completing grades 11 and 12 though required Nick to travel seven miles, twice a day, to and from High School in Willingdon. Nick persevered and graduated in 1940. Then he was off to Edmonton in 1940 to attend ‘Normal School’, as it was then called, which was the present-day equivalent of teacher’s college. The first year curriculum required two months of practical experience in teaching, so in May and June of 1941 Nick went to the Equity School, near Sexsmith, Alberta, for his teaching practicum, but he did not return to Edmonton to complete the second year.

Nick & Marie

In July 1941, Nick was beckoned by the lure of more money offered by the U.S. Army at the then northern-most railhead of the Northern Alberta Railway (NAR), which was also the beginning of the Alcan (Alaska) highway at Dawson Creek, BC. It was there, in January 1944, while working in the parts department of the U.S. Army Depot, Nick and Marie met. Marie, along with two of her sisters, had journeyed, by rail from their home in Falher, 140 miles west to Dawson Creek, and found employment in the Mess Hall set up to feed the personnel working at the railhead. After a short whirlwind courtship, Nick and Marie were married in Marie's hometown of Falher, on June 14, 1944.

With the closure of the railhead center in the fall of 1944, Nick and Marie moved to New Westminster, BC, coincidental with the move of Tom and Annie Peniuk, to a location where jobs were reported to be readily available. Although jobs were plentiful, Nick experienced difficulty obtaining lucrative employment. During this time Nick pursued various endeavours, including picking fruit, selling Familex household products and venturing via ferry to Duncan, BC, to work at the Duncan Poultry Co-op. Nick’s search for a meaningful and lucrative occupation and the difficulties he experienced while trying to reach this goal were due to the ill feelings towards people of Ukrainian descent, a fall-out from World War II. Numerous jobs, and having a larger family to support with the arrival of their first son Roy Raymond Taylor, (birth name Onyschuk) on November 28, 1945, ultimately resulted in a heart rendering decision to change his name. This was eased somewhat by the fact that his birth father was no longer in the picture, and both Nick and his brother Stan were able to change their names in February 1947, under the Change of Name Act of British Columbia, from Onyschuk to Taylor.

A second son, Roger Dennis Taylor, was born on March 10, 1947 in New Westminster, BC. In 1948, under contract with Watkins Products for the Dawson Creek territory, Nick and Marie moved - lock, stock and barrel - back to Dawson Creek. This move was prompted by Nick's previous experience with the independence he felt during the period he was selling Familex Household products, and the need to support their growing family. Nick was quite successful with this endeavour and in five years was able to progress from renting to building and owning his own home. During this time he also developed a passion for photography and all the family enjoyed fishing. Family picnics, were a frequent occurrence.

However, change is inevitable. Watkins Products had developed their home products and sales to cater to people who were tied to their homes and farms by distance and lack of transportation. Over the years Nick found that people were purchasing vehicles and now could commute to towns to purchase products. This resulted in the market drying up, and with it Nick's income. So in 1953, Nick left Watkins Products and commenced employment with Scott Fruit Company, a produce wholesaler in Dawson Creek.

At the same time, Nick and Marie were beginning to feel the constrictions of living in a then rapidly expanding town and made a major decision to relocate and purchase farmland somewhere in the surrounding area. Nick's employment as a Watkins salesman had provided him the opportunity to become acquainted with all of the surrounding communities. One in particular that looked attractive to Nick and Marie was the small but very friendly Sudetan German community of Tomslake. As luck would have it, a half section was available, and in 1954 Nick and Marie and their two sons, Roy and Roger, then eight and seven respectively moved to the country and a new life.

At the time of purchase, buildings on the farm consisted of an old log barn, two granaries, a shed, a two-room house (shack) and an outhouse. For the four summer months of 1954 the family lived in that old shack without power while Nick and Marie, with considerable help (interference) from the boys, built a house. Everything went well and their new home was ready to move in, just in time for Roy and Roger to start school at Tomslake Public School in the fall, Roy in Grade four and Roger in Grade two. For the remainder of the year Nick commuted daily to Dawson Creek, a distance of twenty-one miles, to continue employment with Scott Fruit Company.

During the following year the family built two chicken houses and within two years had 2000 laying hens. Cleaning the eggs was the after-school responsibility of the boys. Nick also raised sheep and did some grain farming even managing to squeeze in some time for fishing and photography. Although Marie was kept very busy, tending to livestock and performing the inevitable household chores, she still found the time to sew and to nurture a huge vegetable garden.

Chores on the farm were a fact of life, however, Nick and Marie, like everyone else, always found the time on Saturday nights to go to the Community Hall and dance to the music of the Neubauer Orchestra, which was one of the best in the area. The friendliness of the Sudetan people made it very easy for Nick and Marie to become good friends with many. Prior to Dawson Creek’s population growth it was not uncommon, during the family Saturday shopping trips to town, for both Nick and Marie to exchange greetings with a great many other people who were also in town for their weekly replenishment trip. In short time they became part of the community, participating in many of the clubs and organizations. Nick was active in the choir, the library and the PTA. Both Nick and Marie helped to start the local 4H movement in 1959 and were also leaders; Nick with the Poultry Club and Marie a co-leader with the Sewing Club.

For the next 10 years, Nick and Marie provided for and raised their family, which had expanded to six with the births of two daughters, Carol Joyce Taylor on November 10, 1955 and Sandra Diane Taylor on September 24, 1958. This period was interspersed with Nick's part time and later full time work in Dawson Creek to supplement the farm income during the winter months and dry spells.

In 1964, reacting to rising farming costs and diminishing returns, Nick joined the British Columbia Department of Transport as a Weighmaster, choosing to lease his land to local farmers who were able to work it in conjunction with their own. He worked at the weigh scale at the BC/Alberta border in Tupper, BC until late 1965, when a leg injury and the requirement for rehabilitation necessitated a move to the lower mainland. At that time Roy had since left home to pursue a career in the Army, leaving Roger, Carol and Sandra to experience a new adventure with their parents.

In June 1966, after selling the farm, the family moved to Delta, BC, where Nick continued to work for the provincial government at the weigh scales on the Pattulo Bridge. Although Carol, and especially Sandra, found the transition from a four-room schoolhouse in Tomslake to the large schools of the city to be somewhat overwhelming, they did manage to adjust quite well. There was also some adjustment to the small city lot compared to the 320-acre farm. However, it wasn't long before the whole backyard was transformed into a garden.

This was also a relaxing and comfortable time for Nick and Marie. Eight-hour workdays and plenty of leisure time replaced the long hours and hard work associated with the farm. With Nick's parents and all but two of his siblings living in the lower mainland, it was great to be around family again. Conditions could not be better for their next special event; on June 14, 1969, Nick and Marie, in the company of a great number of relatives and friends, celebrated their 25th Wedding Anniversary at the home of Nick's brother Stan and his wife Mary, who graciously opened their home for the occasion.

But open roads beckoned, and in the middle of July 1969, Nick and Marie packed up the household once again and, with Carol and Sandra, moved to Valemount, BC, where Nick had accepted a position as head weighmaster of a new weigh scale at Tete Jaune Cache, 12 miles north of Valemount.

The Yellowhead highway from Kamloops to Valemount was still quite narrow and contained many 'bailey bridges' over the numerous streams and rivers. Initially the government sent the 12- by 60-foot trailer, which was to be the family home, up this highway. But due to the restrictions of the bailey bridges the trailer had to be rerouted along the Banff/Jasper highway. This delay, as well as a delay in the initial ordering of the trailer, meant that the family of four had to reside in a 13-foot holiday trailer for about 70 days. It was indeed crowded, but fortunately it was summer, and Marie found it somewhat better after school began in September.

Nick and Marie's intention was to remain in Valemount for about five years, but they liked the area so much that they stayed until retirement and beyond. They both enjoyed exploring the wilderness around the Valemount area, and took the girls on numerous drives and hikes. Though sometimes the two teenagers found these jaunts to be somewhat boring, it helped them to develop an appreciation for the outdoors. Perhaps this also helped to keep the girls out of trouble and become closer to their parents.

The family lived in a trailer court in Valemount for three years and then moved to an acreage beside the Fraser River at Tete Jaune. They stayed there until 1977, when they purchased a house on 8th Avenue in Valemount.

Nick retired from the weigh scales in June 1983, at the age of 64. He later worked for a time as a 'babysitter' some evenings at the local jail. This provided for some amusing tales, but he also discovered certain things about some of the local residents that he never would share with his daughters!

Nick and Marie both enjoyed retirement, but found themselves to be busier than ever. They had always enjoyed fishing along the rivers in the area, but with the purchase of their first little boat around 1975 they began many hours of successful fishing on Kinbasket Lake. Nick kept a record of their fish catches and Marie discovered 101 ways to cook fish. Nick always looked forward to an adventure, and one summer went alone on an overnight boat trip down the lake towards the Mica Dam. This was a trip he had long talked about doing and since his newer and larger boat was equipped with sleeper seats, spending the night in the boat was quite comfortable. Nick’s adventure was somewhat disconcerting to Marie however, as she had no way of contacting him while he was on this trip, and of knowing if he was safe. The trip was successful however, and Nick subsequently made two other trips to the Mica Dam, but on both he was accompanied by a friend!

Coming home one day after fishing, Nick met up with neighbor Mike Osadchuk who was carrying a flask of spirits. Never one to drink much, Nick was however, sorely tempted on this day. He imbibed on Mike’s whiskey and arrived home somewhat tipsy, to put it mildly. He still had a catch of fish to clean but could only find a rather dull paring knife. Marie was not about to give him anything sharper and got a chuckle out of his subsequent struggle with the fish, dull knife, garden hose and the need to remain standing. Although it took longer than usual he did manage to get the job done.

In 1984, with the purchase of a motorhome, Nick and Marie began to travel in the winters to Quartzsite and Yuma in Arizona. Nick developed a passion for his new hobby of metal detecting, and even discovered a gold nugget in the hills around Quartzsite. These winter trips were greatly enjoyed by both, and became a time of exploration and of re-kindling friendships with other ‘snowbird’ friends and relatives.

Summers found them traveling around Canada, exploring the far reaches of the country, visiting friends and relatives, and enjoying the fishing in Kinbasket Lake. For two summers Nick looked after the Valemount Marina at the lake, and for eight winters Nick and Marie continued their trips to Arizona.

Together they shared a love of exploring new places, an enjoyment of playing cards with friends, and an interest in the lives of family and friends, tempered with a deep respect for the privacy of others.

Nick was a very well-read and organized man. He held definite, well-thought-out opinions on many subjects, especially politics, and he relished heated discussions with whoever was game to take him on! While he and Marie were wintering in Quartzite on February 22, 1992, and following a morning of enjoying his favorite hobby of metal detecting, he passed away very suddenly. Nick was only 72, and his untimely passing shocked and saddened everyone who knew him.

For the next ten years Marie continued to reside in Valemount. At home she enjoyed the company of her friends, though whenever the opportunity arose she was fond of traveling, exploring, and visiting her many friends and relatives. Marie had grown up at a time when sewing and gardening were necessities, and many people would have discontinued both endeavors when becoming financially self-sufficient. But Marie truly enjoyed sewing, crocheting and knitting, and growing flowers and vegetables, and her love for these quiet pursuits lasted throughout her life.

Marie celebrated her 80th birthday on February 11, 2002, in the company of her good friends in Valemount. She passed away quietly in her Valemount home on August 8, 2002.

Marie is lovingly remembered as a quiet, compassionate and understanding woman with a heart of gold, who never forced herself or her opinions on others. That's not to say she didn’t have her opinions . . . she certainly did! But only those who knew her well could coax those more profound views out of her.

Prepared October 2006

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