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Leaving Home
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Today |
Roots:
Born, Creston Newfoundland August 6, 1939, a small settlement in
Placentia Bay. Third in a family of 7. This was pre-confederation and not much
money around. I was fortunate to have parents who wanted better for their
children and with much pushing and persuasion I completed high school. Growing
up, I was always impressed by those in the community who got away from the
island to work. Many of them returned for a holiday or winter and seemed much
better off than those who stayed. Their stories about the outside world, their
work and their experiences were very interesting and influenced my own desire to
move away from the Island.
Start of Career:
After joining Canada in 1949
Vocational schools were introduced in NL to teach trades and I selected that
route for a career. The nearest school was in St. John’s at that time and I sent
off an application and was accepted in the Diesel Mechanic class. Sometime
during the first week of classes I was taken into the office where it was
suggested I should switch to Wireless Radio given my level of Education. As with
many of my decisions over the years I did not hesitate to take the advice of
higher authority, removed my coveralls and joined the Wireless Radio Class.
Classes were held in the basement annex of Memorial University that year. The
old British class system was most evident at this time. One rule was that us
trades students must not mix with the University students. (Moral contamination
I guess?). That same year 3 other students whom I graduated from high school
with were students there studying Education. It was a real hoot to violate this
rule and sneak into their dances on Saturday nights.
I obtained my 2nd Class Certificate in Radio in April 1959. At
that time I was told that all positions in the Atlantic Region were filled. I
then made application to all of the other Regions in Canada and in October
received a Telegram from Winnipeg Region. “Position available, if interested,
report Winnipeg Regional Office ASAP. Will reimburse upon arrival". No time was
wasted I borrowed money for the trip, caught a taxi into St. John’s next morning
and departed St. John’s on TCA at 6:30PM and arrived Winnipeg 6AM next morning.
There were lots of stops along the way, it was my first plane trip and I stayed
awake the whole night. Departed the plane, collected my one piece of luggage and
as I had no arrangement made to stay, contacted people I knew from NL who lived
there. They came and rescued me from the airport, offered me lodging and after
breakfast took me down to the DOT on Portage/Main.
Signed on with DOT October 5, 1959 and was sent out to the
Airport for surface weather training and some basic flight operations. This
training was badly needed as we only studied Marine operations during school.
Following this initial training I was assigned to Churchill and traveled there
on the train over a 2 day period. Churchill Marine Aeradio Station was a big
operation in those days with at least 5 operating positions each shift and a
training ground for new Radio Operators going in and out of the Arctic. After 4
weeks I was sent into Baker Lake for a period as a relief Operator. The flights
in and out are well remembered. Going up to Baker we had to sit on the freight
with all our heavy clothes on to keep warm. The flight out following a short
tour of duty was even more interesting, we caught the plane on fire during gas
up on the lake. We managed to extinguish the fire quickly resulting in only
cosmetic damage. The plane was declared fit for travel, we were given the choice
of going out and I being young then did not hesitate and joined those who took
the option of leaving. I remained in Churchill until May 1960 and then went into
Coral Harbor and stayed until May 1961. Coral Harbor was a small camp of men
(19) and we all worked 7 days a week. With none of the present day items (TV/VCR
etc) to pass the time my background in an isolated small settlement NL helped me
greatly.
Fellows who were not used to isolation or did not mix easily had
a difficult time. I elected to come south after Coral Harbor and was assigned to
the Marine Station in Port Arthur ON. Flew out to Winnipeg and took the train
down to Port Arthur. Worked at the Marine Station in Port Arthur and also the
Airport in Fort William until getting married in 1962. Against my wishes the
Regional office sent us off to the Radio Range station in Graham. It seemed they
needed a married operator to occupy a vacant house. I asked to stay in Port
Arthur/Fort William citing I had already spent 2 years in Isolation and my new
bride was not expecting to go there. I was simply told my terms of employment
were to go as assigned and off we went. As you might expect we were not happy
about the relocation. Over the winter a notice was issued from a fellow in
Ontario Region wishing an exchange to Winnipeg Region. I applied, was accepted
and relocated, at our own expense, to Belleville ON and commuted to work at the
Sterling Range Station. Later that year I won a competition for Radio Operator
ll in Ottawa to work at both the Airport and Ionosphere stations. We enjoyed our
stay in Ottawa, made lots of new friends. I went to Night School at Liger
collegiate to further my education.
Our Son came along in June 1965 on the same day I received a
letter of offer for Radio Inspector at the Toronto Field Office. We moved to
Toronto in August 1965 with our 2 month old Son. The next 7 years was spent
working in Toronto District and various stints with the Regional Engineer to fit
out Interference cars and also the first mobile Monitoring Van. Many changes to
the Radio environment took place during that period (FM, Color TV, Cable..) and
the DOC was created as a government department. Many of the promotions were made
during that period with heavy weight on seniority and it was difficult to get
ahead. In 1972 I applied for a management position in the Atlantic Region and
moved to Corner Brook to open a new office there with responsibility for western
NL and Labrador.
We returned to Ontario again in spring of 74 with a promotion to
District Manager of Kingston. Remained there for next 3 years and again
relocated back to Toronto District as Manager. Around 1980 I moved to the Region
to take over the Authorization Section and then in 1981 applied and was
successful in winning the position of Deputy Regional Director, Ontario Region.
The next 12 years were very challenging and most rewarding with increased
delegation to the Regions. I especially enjoyed being part of the Spectrum
Management Operations Committee (SMOC) and the relationships with my colleagues
in the other Regions and Headquarters. With a change of Government in 1993 DOC
was disbanded and Spectrum Operations became part of Industry Canada.
At about that same time my wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer
Disease and was at a stage where she could not be left alone at home presenting
me with a choice of putting her in a home or retiring early. I was lucky as the
Government wanted to downsize its Executive numbers and opportunities came for
retirement packages to those whose job was eliminated. Although my position was
not one of those on the list I pleaded my case to sensitive ears and with the
efforts of senior management a switch was made and I retired in March 1994. I
was able to care for my wife at home until 1999 and then accepted a home for her
in a Long Term Care Centre. Over the next 7 years her condition advanced until
her Death in December 2007.
This spring my new partner and I sold our Condo in Brampton and
purchased another in Peter borough close to the family cottage at Burleigh
Falls. As I compose this for the web site we are spending our first winter in
Zephyrhills Florida. Life is good with lots of activities and friends. This
coming summer Hannah and I will get married during a combined Family get
together in Peterborough. We make the most of our days with all the other
seniors and count our Blessings for such a good life.
Reflections:
I enjoyed my career in the Canada’s Public Service. Tremendous
advances took place during that period. I started at the bottom and advanced to
a level beyond what I expected starting out. People working in the Industry were
dedicated to making it all work and I have no regrets for the choices made in my
career. Retirement allowed me to be a caregiver for my wife and also an
opportunity to volunteer with the Peel Alzheimer Society. During my 10 years
with the Board we established 3 Daycare centers and 1 Respite vacation house.
Having good health and being a “Snowbird” is as one lady said when asked where
she was from, “I am from Paradise NL but living in Heaven.
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