Dennis Craig of Port Alberni has led had an interesting and varied life over the past 86 years.
Born in Carrot River, northern Saskatchewan in December 1939, Craig's family, like most families in those days, had very little and were “farm subsistent” because, in a sense, the 1940s were really an extension of the so-called “Dirty 30s”.
“I was born just after Canada had declared war on Germany. That makes me a “War Baby,” said Craig. His father went overseas in 1942 and came back in 1946. Upon his return home, he saw that there were other ways to live and contacted a friend who had a car dealership in Port Alberni, B.C. In 1948, when Dennis was eight and a half years old, the Craigs moved to the Alberni Valley. He was subsequently enrolled at Eighth Avenue School.
In 1952 he attended ADHS (Alberni District High School). The following year, the family moved to Ucluelet where his father had purchased a machine shop and marine service. This allowed Dennis, now 13, to get involved in the workings of the shop and the related fishing industry.
“Eventually, I learned to run the machinery and did some of the outboard motor repair work. We also did much of the local car and truck repairs.”
From 1956 to 1958 he attended Qualicum College Boys School and was also in the cadet corp (Canadian Scottish). “In 1958 I was part of the 100-man honour guard for the opening of the B.C. Parliament. Our cadet corp did an honour guard for Prime Minister Diefenbaker. I later joined the Canadian Army (regular) with the Royal Canadian Army Engineer Corp (1961).”
While serving his country, he was posted in various places across Canada from both coasts and into the high arctic. He also spent a year in Egypt on the Gaza Strip. In 1965, he and another engineer and he installed a desalination plant at a Swedish Army camp on the Red Sea. While there, he took a trip to Mount Sinai and climbed it to the top. He adds that he also stayed in St. Catherine’s Monastery there and saw the burning bush.
During his time stationed in the Middle East, Craig had the opportunity to visit the holy land and the West Bank and he swam in the Dead Sea. On another trip, he adds, he toured Beirut and Lebanon, including the Baal Bek ruins and the Limestone cavern of the Dog River.
"The military trained me in many trades from motor vehicle, diesel and heavy-duty equipment mechanics. I was also trained to provide maintenance support for the underground bunkers (government safety locations in case of an attack on our country); water and waste water treatment, electrical generation, pumping systems and fire suppression and other maintenance trades. I also have a fourth class stationary engineer ticket.
"The civilians who built the bunkers, pleaded with the government that they should have the jobs. This left the Army trained people in limbo (too many people in the trade) which meant no available promotions. I then switched trades to become a \opographical surveyor / photogrammetrist (map maker).
"I left the service to further my education in 1968. From Malaspina College and BCIT, I graduated as a Mining Technologist in 1972. That year, the B.C. government changed hands and the new administration made it difficult for the mining industry. The companies left for the Yukon and to Chile. I was again in limbo. I wanted to stay in B.C.”
In 1972, he ran a float plane charter service in Tofino. He was also an agent for PWA Airlines for their route from Vancouver, Tahsis and Tofino. A plane crash forced his boss to sell the air service so he placed him as the manager of his grocery store in Tofino. He ran the store for two years until he sold the business, at which time he was hired by McMillan Bloedel as a warehouse supervisor. He started at Cypre Division, north of Tofino and then to Kennedy Lake Division in Ucluelet.
He then transferred to Kelsey Bay Division in Sayward and then he was requested to go to Powell River Division. He transferred to Alberni Pacific Division in 1988 but left in 1992 on long-term disability. He served for four years as an alderman in the village of Sayward.
Craig's busy working life has also allowed him to develop interest in assisting community groups, such as his association with the Boy Scouts of Canada, first as a young practitioner and later as a Sea Scout Beaver Leader, Cub Pack leader, Boy Scout Troop and District Commissioner for the north area of the Sunshine Coast.
Craig was one of the three people who formed the Alberni Valley Old Time Fiddlers. He is a member of the Royal Canadian Legion. “I am a proud 51-year member of the Royal Canadian Legion Br. 293.”
He had been an active square dancer for many years and served as the caller for the Haymakers Square Dance Club. He has been a member of the Golden Oldies Car Club since 1999 and served as secretary for 23 years.
In Powell River, along with square dancing, he also did round dancing (two-step and waltzes) as well as clog dancing. “In 1989, I formed a Clog Dancing club called the Valley Cloggers which went on for many years. I am also a 36-year member of the Upper Vancouver Island Caller Teacher Association.”
Craig was married in 1974 and raised two children. "I now have seven grandchildren," he said proudly. “My wife and I parted after 20 years. I now have a wonderful partner for the last 30 years.”
Orlando Delano writes the Valley Seniors column monthly for the Alberni Valley News.
