Mission Community Archives
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BLAST FROM THE PAST 1967 Holiday Decorations Municipal Hall on First Avenue In 1967 animated yuletide figurines, trees, lights and garland were used to decorate the municipal hall on First Avenue. Decking out the downtown for the holiday season was a part of an initiative by the merchants to attract holiday shoppers to Mission which was endorsed by the two local governments at the time - the Corporation of the Town of Mission City and the Corporation of the District of Mis...sion. The former municipal hall shown in the posted image still stands today. Currently vacant, it last housed the restaurant, Martin’s Downtown. You may purchase a digital or custom-size reproduction of this image by messaging or emailing Archivist Val Billesberger: [email protected] #WhyArchivesMatter #ILOVEMISSION #MissionBC #blastfromthepast

HISTORICAL TRIVIALITIES Cedar Street More Than a Century Ago Taken over 100 years ago, the posted image from the Carl Klenk collection shows today’s Cedar Street when it was just a wagon trail. Visible on the right is the residence of Edward James Abbott. ... Edward arrived in Mission with his wife Charlotte and three children, Mina, Ira and Cephas in 1895 and the following year, he built the house which still stands today at the corner of Cedar and Cherry Street. The area was known as Cedar Valley and it was claimed as one of the earliest places settled in Mission District, as several old pioneers located here before the C.P.R. was built." (SOURCE: Mission City and Mission District by the Board of Trade, 1929-30) You may purchase a digital or custom-size reproduction of this image by messaging or emailing Archivist Val Billesberger: [email protected] #WhyArchivesMatter #ILOVEMISSION #MissionBC

BLAST FROM THE PAST The Gift of Mentoring Deborah Handley (1959 - ) A resident of Mission for the past 23 years, Deborah is a gifted musician who is an inspiration to all who know her. In the year 2000, Deborah joined a group of singers that evolved into a women’s only community choir called the Serenata Singers. Within 3 years, she was made director of the choir and has held that position ever since. The Serenata Singers is based on the belief that everyone can sing;... requiring no auditions and no experience. A choir member mentored by her recalled in 2019: "I first met Deborah about 20 years ago in her capacity as a teacher. I was part of a small group of women who knew nothing about singing, only that we wanted to learn to sing. Deborah was brave enough to volunteer to teach us. Deborah was patient, kind and understanding with us. We met once a week and after our first year our progress was amazing, thanks to Deborah's skill as a teacher and the humour and laughter we had at practices. Eventually I joined Serenata Singers and continue to learn and enjoy singing. Serenata Singers under Deborah's guidance is not just about singing. It provides 'down time' support and friendship for women, away from their busy schedules and daily stresses. We sing in a supportive happy atmosphere and leave our cares behind." Another member elaborates: "This ain't no ordinary choir!" "These ladies have style and you don't expect this kind of talent outside of Vancouver. How much fun we have even though the music is challenging. We are never made to feel pressured or uncomfortable by Deborah." (SOURCE: Paths & Pathfinders: Women of Mission Program) Deborah’s musical talents, creativity and initiative resulted in the establishment of a Hospice/Threshold Choir bringing comfort to both residents and family. She also started the Mission Folk Music Festival Choir which is literally built upon the idea of community by welcoming anyone in attendance to join, rehearse and perform alongside complete strangers. Deborah’s boundless dedication, infectious laugh and incredible spirit has an impact on all those who cross her path! #WhyArchivesMatter #ILOVEMISSION #MissionBC #blastfromthepast

Mission under Blanket of Snow, 1965 Mission was transformed into a winter wonderland for the holiday season in December of 1965 how many of you remember? Snow began falling on Thursday, December 23 and by December 29th, the local newspaper reported an accumulation totalling 15 inches! High winds created serious drifting problems throughout the Mission area. According to an article published on December 29th, municipal and provincial road crews were working from early mo...rning to late at night in an effort to maintain the roads. Drifting snow required east-west roads to be cleared repeatedly. The article also warns: Short reprieve but more snow forecast for today. (SOURCE: Fraser Valley Record) The posted photograph was taken on the north side of First Avenue just past the corner of James Street looking east. You may purchase a digital or custom-size reproduction of this photograph or postcard by messaging or emailing Archivist Val Billesberger: manager@missionarchives.com #WhyArchivesMatter #ILOVEMISSION #MissionBC

BLAST FROM THE PAST The Gift of Mentoring Doreen Black (1914-1990) Citizen extraordinaire Doreen Black (1914-1990) is most remembered for her outstanding dedication and struggles in support of hockey. When the Black family moved to Mission in 1965 and Doreen discovered there was no ice hockey arena in Mission, she became one of the driving forces to get an arena built. Her tremendous efforts were finally rewarded in 1969 when Mission opened its first ice rink.... Once the new facility was operational, Doreen founded a preschool learn to skate program in Mission and began coaching many of the young players as they were introduced to the game. By 1980, she held two sessions a week for approximately 40 children ranging in age from toddlers up to five years old. Three years later, Doreen now known as Mission’s Mother of Minor Hockey’ added to the many awards she had already received for her work in the community by being named Good Citizen of the Year by the Mission & District Chamber of Commerce. Norma and Mart Kenney, the award presenters, noted how Doreen’s accomplishments had been enjoyed, admired and respected by....hundreds of Mission parents spanning a period of 20 years and that she had had an impact on more young men in this community than other person. (SOURCE: Fraser Valley Record, March 2, 1983; January 1980 and September 10, 1980) #WhyArchivesMatter #ILOVEMISSION #MissionBC #blastfromthepast

HISTORICAL TRIVIALITIES The Poole Family Business On July 2, 1987 Craig Poole opened Swing Optical in the building formerly Kinnee Crafts Store on First Avenue. An Optician with 25 years of experience and a passion for customer service, Craig stated: We can provide the best quality eyewear for the customer’s dollar because of the low overhead we have with a downtown location. He was further able to capitalize on his client services when his wife Deb joined the business ...and together they made a special point of knowing their customers. (Source: Fraser Valley Record, December 9, 1993). Chosen as Mission’s favorite spot for eyewear many times, the Poole family successfully operated the award-winning business until 2006, the year that Craig died. In November of that year, the Mission Downtown Business Association and the District of Mission honoured his memory with the dedication of Craig Poole Lane located between the Gold Bin and Akasaka Japanese Restaurant on First Avenue. Taken 10 years after the store first opened, the posted photograph includes Craig (centre back) and Deb standing beside him. If you or anyone you know can name the other individuals, please message or email Archivist Val Billesberger: manager@missionarchives.com #WhyArchivesMatter #ILOVEMISSION #MissionBC

HISTORICAL TRIVIALITIES Memories of 1973 Summertime Fun Dating back to the summer of 1973, the posted photograph shows local youth diving off the dam to enjoy the cool waters of Stave Lake. Ken Hood a lifetime resident of Mission and an Archives volunteer recollected looking at the posted image ... August 1973 was the summer after my high school graduation. Preparations for attending B.C.I.T. come September had been made so I still had some time to enjoy the great outdoors. Where did people head to cool off? Stave Falls Dam. However, not everyone would leap and yell to the taunting of the crowd. Some of us choose to hike north along the shoreline in order to reach the log booms. Less dangerous but just as refreshing. In addition to prompting memories, the photograph documents how much the dam has changed since 1973 as a result of the repairs and upgrades completed that included the removal of the decorative lamp posts. #WhyArchivesMatter #ILOVEMISSION #MissionBC

BLAST FROM THE PAST Picture This! Former St. Paul’s Anglican Church, 1986 Harriet Hussey, pioneer postmistress (1918-1949), and her husband Charles, who owned and operated a general store in Steelhead donated land and financed the construction of a church in Steelhead. Dedicated by Archbishop de Pencier in 1933, St. Paul’s Anglican Church was located on the northwest corner of Cardinal and Dewdney and served residents for many decades. ... On Christmas eve of 1954, St. Paul’s Anglican Church was filled to capacity for a carol service at which the choir of All Saints’ Anglican Church in Mission sang. The newspaper article about the event included a note about how a local resident ran a line from his home so the church which had no electricity could have lights. (SOURCE: Fraser Valley Record, January 5, 1955) In February of the following year a special meeting was held by Reverend G. Pattison for the purpose of establishing a committee who would work with him on the affairs of the little church. At it a building fund was established to cover the cost of needed repairs to the church. (SOURCE: Fraser Valley Record, February 16, 1955) What happened in the months and years that followed has not yet been fully documented. If you or anyone you know has information about or photographs of the church, please message or email Archivist Val Billesberger manager@missionarchives.com The posted photograph by local photographer Noel Hall (1930-2017) was taken in May of 1986, a few months before the Mission Volunteer Fire Department was given permission to use the structure for firefighting practice. On August 12, firefighters from Stave Falls No. 2 put the building ablaze and worked various types of extinguishing equipment and firefighting methods. (SOURCE: Fraser Valley Record, August 20, 1986) #WhyArchivesMatter #ILOVEMISSION #MissionBC #blastfromthepast

BLAST FROM THE PAST The Gift of Mentoring Peggy Staber (1927-1999) The theme for our BLAST FROM THE PAST during the month of November is the Gift of Mentoring. The posts will feature individuals who have empowered others by providing meaningful direction, inspiration and guidance.... In January of 2001, the first Annual Peggy Staber Memorial Juried Art Show was organized by a committee of Mission Arts Council to honour her legacy as one of the most diligent promoters of the arts in Mission. Her contributions are extensive and include: initiating ArtVenture, the Annual Children’s festival, Art After School, art classes for adults, the Christmas Craft Market and the Clown Festival. (SOURCE: Mission City Record, November 8, 2010) A graduate of the Fine Arts Program at Fraser Valley College (known today as the University of the Fraser Valley), Peggy spent 20 years teaching art in Mission and Abbotsford with a special commitment to mentoring kids. Taken in 1974, the posted photograph shows Peggy with young artist Pat White during one her of classes at the recreation centre. #WhyArchivesMatter #ILOVEMISSION #MissionBC #blastfromthepast

SPECIAL POST Meet Me on Main Street Video Presentation First Avenue, a street that traverses the heart of what is known as downtown Mission has a long and storied history. From its construction by a wealthy Vancouver entrepreneur named James Welton Horne to the celebration of the arrival of the Olympic Torch for 2010 Winter Olympics on February 8, 2010, more milestones in Mission’s history have taken place on First Avenue than on any other street. This video features pho...tographs from the Archives dating from the early 1900s to the present that tell the fascinating story of First Avenue, allowing you to see how it has both changed and stayed the same over the last 12 decades. https://youtu.be/YzsnNtHTrC0 Please share this post with others! #BCCultureDays #MissionBC #WhyArchivesMatter #CultureDays2020

BLAST FROM THE PAST The Gift of Mentoring David Fryer (1954-2019) In a 2014 published interview of Mission singer, songwriter and actress Carly Rae Jepsen, she credited two teachers who encouraged her talent and helped her find her mark at centre stage. One of them was David Fryer, a musical educator and director of the music department at the former Heritage Park Secondary. Through his guidance and mentoring, Carly recalled: He taught me so much about different kinds... of music and about harmonies. He helped me discover my voice and the higher register that I never knew I had. (SOURCE: Professionally Speaking, June 2014) Carly Rae Jepsen was one of thousands of students who were taught and mentored by David - an extraordinary musician who shared his passion for music and theatre, enriching their lives of countless individuals. He taught at Mission Secondary School where he started a music program in 1986 and also at Hatzic Secondary where he taught with Paul Cummings to establish a successful program at that school. Following the opening of Heritage Park Secondary he started teaching there and built yet another music program. In 2006, David was honoured by his peers with the Professional Music Educator Award for exemplary contributions to music education in and out of the classroom in the areas of professional, curriculum development and leadership. A beautiful and moving tribute to David Fryer dated September 28, 2019 can be found BC Music Educators' Association written by Tanya, Kathleen and Victoria Fryer. Through the School Archives Program, the Mission Community Archives has acquired many of concert programs that David organized at the schools along with yearbooks documenting his work. The posted photograph was published in the 2007 Heritage Park Secondary Yearbook. If you or anyone you know can contribute photographs and information about David for preservation in the Archives, please message or email Archivist Val Billesberger: manager@missionarchives.com. #WhyArchivesMatter #ILOVEMISSION #MissionBC #blastfromthepast

BLAST FROM THE PAST Picture This! Mission’s CPR Station, 1989 Constructed in 1909 by BC Mills, Timber and Trading, the former CPR station on Railway Avenue shown here in 1989 played an important role in the development of the community, serving as a major transportation centre that literally put Mission on the map. As many as 30 trains a day stopped at the station, including passenger trains from Montreal, St. Paul, Seattle, Agassiz and Vancouver.... A year after this photo was taken, the Canadian Pacific Railway closed the station and slated it for demolition even though the building was structurally sound. However, in 1991, the former station was saved through the federal government’s Heritage Railway Stations Protection Act. Damaged by fire in 1993, the Kinsmen Club of Mission acquired the old station for purposes of restoring and re-purposing it. However, on January 25th, 1999 the iconic building burned down due to arson. (SOURCE: Heritage Places | Mission, BC Website) The posted photograph was taken by local photographer Noel Hall (1930-2017) who called his business Picture This! #WhyArchivesMatter #ILOVEMISSION #MissionBC #blastfromthepast

HISTORICAL TRIVIALITIES Cedar Valley Road Improvements, 1964 In 1964, a joint project was undertaken by the former Corporation of the District of Mission (1892-1969) and the Corporation of the Town of Mission City (1922-1969) to improve what is known today as Cedar Street. ... Aptly named at the time, Cedar Valley Road ran partially alongside a deep ravine that created a major dip and blind spot south of the Mill-Beals intersection (known today as 14th Street). Due to the high volume of traffic, the roadwork was undertaken to eliminate these hazardous conditions. A total of 8.41 cubic meters of material was used to fill the area that was 137.1m long by 15.24m wide and 3.65m high at the centre. The project cost $12,000. Since the road was both a secondary highway and an inter-municipal boundary road, the BC Highways Department covered half the cost and the remaining portion was equally shared by the two local governments. (SOURCE: Fraser Valley Record May 13, 1964). The posted photograph was taken in May of 1964 looking north-west up Cedar Valley Road. You may purchase a digital or custom-size reproduction of this photograph by messaging or emailing Archivist Val Billesberger: manager@missionarchives.com #WhyArchivesMatter #ILOVEMISSION #MissionBC

HISTORICAL TRIVIALITIES A CALL TO ARMS, July 3, 1944 Mission, BC Canada officially entered the war on September 10th, 1939, only six days after Britain declared war with Germany. In May of 1941, a national recruitment strategy for the army was launched by the Minister of Defence with a goal to enlist 32,000 individuals over a two month period. ... On Thursday July 3, 1941, James Layton Ralston, the National Minister of Defence actually visited Mission and read out from the steps of the Municipal Hall on First Avenue A CALL TO ARMS which in part read: WHEREAS Liberty is threatened throughout the world by the force of Tyranny and WHEREAS Canada of her own free will is pledged to fight for freedom by the side of Britain and WHEREAS the security and the welfare of every man, woman and child in Canada and of free peoples everywhere depend on Victory and WHEREAS victory cannot be assured without the keep of every Loyal Citizen of This Dominion Now Be It Known That there is urgent need for stout hearted men to volunteer for Active service in the Canadian Army. Therefore, Canada sends out a -----Call To Arms------ and charges all true Canadians to heed and to help. Given at National Defence headquarters, this First Day of July in the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and forty-one and in the seventy-fifth year of confederation. The posted photograph was snapped by pioneer businessman J.L. English during the historic event, preserved with many others in the Archives. Due to the pandemic, Remembrance Day in Mission will be observed virtually this year. Tune into the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 57 Mission’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/Royal-Canadian-Legion-Branch-57-Mission-63357826891/) November 11 at 10:45 a.m. to watch a live stream of their important ceremony from your home. #WhyArchivesMatter #ILOVEMISSION #MissionBC

HISTORICAL TRIVIALITIES Mission in the 1930s According to a 1934 business directory, the population of Mission, excluding: the outlying areas of Hatzic, Stave Falls, and Steelhead was only 1300. What is impressive are the variety of amenities, businesses and services located in the downtown main street a commercial thoroughfare for more than two decades. For example, there were numerous groceterias including Overwaitea and Safeway; a movie theatre, cafes, feed stores, a... department store, meat markets, car dealerships and repair garages, and hotel accommodations. The posted image from the Carl Klenk collection housed in the Archives shows some of the businesses near the junction of today’s First Avenue and Grand Street. Included on the left is the Mission Tire Store which was opened in 1924 by Andrew Russell Graham a year after moving from Scotland to Mission. In his newspaper ads he claimed to be the Fastest Tire Service in Mission. (SOURCE Fraser Valley Record, August 9, 1928). ON FRIDAY, October 16th, a video on the storied past of First Avenue will be published on our YouTube channel. Watch for details.. #WhyArchivesMatter #ILOVEMISSION #MissionBC

SPECIAL POST HERSTORY: Extraordinary Women of Mission Video Presentation HERSTORY: Extraordinary Women of Mission is a celebration of the legacy of those honoured through the Paths & Pathfinders: Women of Mission Program which was established by Archivist Val Billesberger in 1996 to facilitate the preservation of local women’s records and acknowledge their diverse achievements, hopes and dreams. Now in its 25th year, the program has documented the lives of 111 women. ... Hear their stories and be inspired by this video production sponsored by Valley Tech Production Group of Mission BC. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHFnH5wIO04 Please share this post with others! #BCCultureDays #MissionBC #WhyArchivesMatter #CultureDays2020

SPECIAL POST PASS IT ON: Caring for Your Family Records Video Presentation Everyone has their own unique life story which is documented through the records created and collected during one’s lifetime, including correspondence, family videos, photographs, diaries, scrapbooks, and birth certificates. In this digital recording, Archivist Val Billesberger provides a brief introduction on preventative measures for managing and preserving family records including: proper handlin...g, storage tips, and ways to ensure your family legacy is passed on to future generations. https://youtu.be/bfutPOrCObQ Please share this post with others! #BCCultureDays #MissionBC #WhyArchivesMatter #CultureDays2020

BLAST FROM THE PAST Picture This! Ruskin Dam, 1988 The site of Ruskin Dam today looks a lot different than this one taken in the summer of 1988. In 2012, BC Hydro commenced on a multi-year project to upgrade the dam and powerhouse which included, reinforcing the right bank to manage seepage, the installation of six new piers and five new spillway gates, the seismic upgrading of the powerhouse, and a new switchyard. Completed in May of 2019, the six year project cost $74...8 million. Titled Ruskin Dam from 1500 Feet the posted photograph was taken by local photographer Noel Hall (1930-2017) who called his business Picture This! #WhyArchivesMatter #ILOVEMISSION #MissionBC #blastfromthepast

HISTORICAL TRIVIALITIES Silver Creek Park, 1964 In July of 1960, the Honourable Earle C. Westwood, BC Minister of Recreation and Conservation, advised Reeve W.R. Jack of the former Corporation of District of Mission (1892-1969) that he had been appointed to serve as the chair of newly formed board to manage Silver Creek Park on Dewdney Trunk Road near Steelhead. (SOURCE: Fraser Valley Record July 27, 1960).... Designated Class C, the 40 acre parkland adjacent to the Mission Municipal Tree Farm allowed for its immediate local development. Over the next several years, the improvements to the park included creating a shallow lake by damming the original pond used by a pioneer mill in the area, constructing a picnic shelter and establishing a parking lot area. Known today simply as the Mill Pond, the area forms part of the Mission Municipal Tree Farm. The posted photograph was taken in May of 1964 looking south towards Dewdney Trunk Road. You may purchase a digital or custom-size reproduction of this photograph by messaging or emailing Archivist Val Billesberger: manager@missionarchives.com #WhyArchivesMatter #ILOVEMISSION #MissionBC

SPECIAL POST Meet Me on Main Street Video Presentation First Avenue, a street that traverses the heart of what is known as downtown Mission has a long and storied history. From its construction by a wealthy Vancouver entrepreneur named James Welton Horne to the celebration of the arrival of the Olympic Torch for 2010 Winter Olympics on February 8, 2010, more milestones in Mission’s history have taken place on First Avenue than on any other street. This video features pho...tographs from the Archives dating from the early 1900s to the present that tell the fascinating story of First Avenue, allowing you to see how it has both changed and stayed the same over the last 12 decades. https://youtu.be/YzsnNtHTrC0 Please share this post with others! #BCCultureDays #MissionBC #WhyArchivesMatter #CultureDays2020

SPECIAL POST OUR SCHOOLS’ LEGACY DISCOVER how Mission evolved from one-roomed school houses in the 19th century to the many elementary and secondary schools of today which offer a more diversified and inclusive curriculum to enrich the learning experiences of students. https://youtu.be/4bRs2SXrEdo... Please share this post with others! #BCCultureDays #MissionBC #WhyArchivesMatter #CultureDays2020

BLAST FROM THE PAST Picture This! New Longhouse Opened, 1995 On February 25, 1995 a great celebration was held to mark the officially opening of a new longhouse at what was then known as Hatzic Rock, a significant indigenous archaeological site saved from housing development in 1990. ... Attended by 160 invited guests, the event featured spindle whorl dancers wearing traditional cedar bark clothing, singers, drummers and speeches. Chief Steven Point appointed BC’s 28th Lieutenant-governor in 2007 stated at the event: This shows tremendous community effort. The posted photograph was taken by local photographer Noel Hall (1930-2017) who called his business Picture This! #WhyArchivesMatter #ILOVEMISSION #MissionBC #blastfromthepast

BLAST FROM THE PAST Picture This! Mission’s CPR Station, 1989 Constructed in 1909 by BC Mills, Timber and Trading, the former CPR station on Railway Avenue shown here in 1989 played an important role in the development of the community, serving as a major transportation centre that literally put Mission on the map. As many as 30 trains a day stopped at the station, including passenger trains from Montreal, St. Paul, Seattle, Agassiz and Vancouver.... A year after this photo was taken, the Canadian Pacific Railway closed the station and slated it for demolition even though the building was structurally sound. However, in 1991, the former station was saved through the federal government’s Heritage Railway Stations Protection Act. Damaged by fire in 1993, the Kinsmen Club of Mission acquired the old station for purposes of restoring and re-purposing it. However, on January 25th, 1999 the iconic building burned down due to arson. (SOURCE: Heritage Places | Mission, BC Website) The posted photograph was taken by local photographer Noel Hall (1930-2017) who called his business Picture This! #WhyArchivesMatter #ILOVEMISSION #MissionBC #blastfromthepast

HISTORICAL TRIVIALITIES Intersection of Horne and First Avenue, 1909 This 1909 image taken at the intersection of Horne and First Avenue shows dramatically how much the streetscape has changed over the past one hundred and eleven years. Known as Washington Street at that time, First Avenue was simply a low level dirt track flanked half-way to Welton on the north side by an elevated wood plank sidewalk. The wetlands it crossed over were in part located on the present site ...of Tom Hortons, Lloyds Cleaners, Arnold’s Shoe Repair and Bee Thai Restaurant. The large two-story department store across street had just been built by pioneer merchant Merrill Desbrisay. Bearing his name, the new store was the third premises occupied by him. The previous one can be seen fronting on Horne Street. Built for Mary Ann Trethewey in 1891, this building was her second store and post office. When she retired in 1896, the building was sold to Mr. Desbrisay. #WhyArchivesMatter #ILOVEMISSION #MissionBC

SPECIAL POST MISSION CULTURE DAYS Virtual Event ANNOUNCEMENT Launch of ONLINE Digital Repository The Mission Community Archives has launched their highly anticipated online digital repository!... NOW you can START exploring and discovering information housed in the Community Archives pertaining to Mission schools, organizations, people and more via the web through a new searchable online database. Many archival holdings have not been included in the database yet as we have a substantial backlog of undescribed materials. While adding content will be ongoing, you may inquire about our other holdings by contacting the Archivist. You can access the site at https://searcharchives.missionarchives.com/index.php/ On the homepage there is link to TWO instructional videos on YouTube: 1. Getting Started: How to Navigate the Mission Community Archives Online Digital Repository - an instructional video providing a general introduction to the website set-up and its features. 2. Browsing & Searching Mission Community Archives Online Digital Repository Made Easy - a tutorial video on how to do your own browsing and searching within the database, including how to save your searches. Please share this post with others! #BCCultureDays #MissionBC #WhyArchivesMatter #CultureDays2020

SPECIAL POST PASS IT ON: Caring for Your Family Records Video Presentation Everyone has their own unique life story which is documented through the records created and collected during one’s lifetime, including correspondence, family videos, photographs, diaries, scrapbooks, and birth certificates. In this digital recording, Archivist Val Billesberger provides a brief introduction on preventative measures for managing and preserving family records including: proper handlin...g, storage tips, and ways to ensure your family legacy is passed on to future generations. https://youtu.be/bfutPOrCObQ Please share this post with others! #BCCultureDays #MissionBC #WhyArchivesMatter #CultureDays2020

SPECIAL POST OUR SCHOOLS’ LEGACY DISCOVER how Mission evolved from one-roomed school houses in the 19th century to the many elementary and secondary schools of today which offer a more diversified and inclusive curriculum to enrich the learning experiences of students. https://youtu.be/4bRs2SXrEdo... Please share this post with others! #BCCultureDays #MissionBC #WhyArchivesMatter #CultureDays2020

BLAST FROM THE PAST Mission Artists Noel Hall (1930-2017) Following his retirement as a professor of Business Administration at UBC in 1982. Noel Hall moved to Mission to live on a property he had purchased in 1959. He left an indelible mark on the community through his leadership, serving as an active volunteer, a member of the District of Mission Council, and Chairman of the Board of the University of the Fraser Valley.... He also took up a new hobby photography. In 1994 he explained the reason I was greatly impressed by the natural beauty and the wonderful views and scenes revealed at almost every turn in Mission. I decided to photograph the pictorial charm I’d discovered here and which seemed taken for granted or overlooked by others. (SOURCE: Fraser Valley Record, January 26, 1994). Taking his hobby seriously, Noel vested much time and energy into photography, learning from his mistakes. His photographic interest soon expanded to include capturing everyday life and special events in Mission. When he moved to Vancouver in 1999, he decided to preserve his photographs in the Mission Community Archives to ensure their availability in the future. The donation included 30,000 color prints and negatives as well as several dozen framed enlargements. Archivist Val Billesberger accepted the donation on behalf of the community thanking Noel for his stunning, visual record of contemporary Mission and its people. NEXT MONTH, Blast From the Past will feature Noel Hall photographs. #WhyArchivesMatter #ILOVEMISSION #MissionBC #blastfromthepast

BLAST FROM THE PAST Picture This! New Longhouse Opened, 1995 On February 25, 1995 a great celebration was held to mark the officially opening of a new longhouse at what was then known as Hatzic Rock, a significant indigenous archaeological site saved from housing development in 1990. ... Attended by 160 invited guests, the event featured spindle whorl dancers wearing traditional cedar bark clothing, singers, drummers and speeches. Chief Steven Point appointed BC’s 28th Lieutenant-governor in 2007 stated at the event: This shows tremendous community effort. The posted photograph was taken by local photographer Noel Hall (1930-2017) who called his business Picture This! #WhyArchivesMatter #ILOVEMISSION #MissionBC #blastfromthepast

HISTORICAL TRIVIALITIES The Big Flood of 1894 The largest flood of the Fraser River ever recorded dates back to the 19th century. During the spring freshet in 1894, the rising waters of the river overflowed its banks for a period of 33 days, forcing the majority of homesteaders and the original business district on the Mission flats to flee to higher ground. The peak of the flood’s high water mark was an unbelievable 25 feet 8 inches! ... River steamers the Gladys, Transfer, Rithet, William Irving, Courser along with the snag boat Sampson rescued families, possessions and animals from the flooded regions from Agassiz down. Christina Munro who settled in Mission in 1887 recalled in 1944 CPR trains were unable to pass through Mission for six weeks. Some of the homesteaders who did not vacate their homes on Mission Flats had to use small boats as a means of transportation. The current was so strong that the local boats could not make head way. (SOURCE: Fraser Valley Record July 20, 1944) The posted image was taken by George W. Edwards who travelled by boat up and down the Fraser to photograph the devastating flood. The Mission Community Archives houses an album of his images comprised of 24 images. You may purchase a digital or custom-size reproduction of this photograph by messaging or emailing Archivist Val Billesberger: manager@missionarchives.com #WhyArchivesMatter #ILOVEMISSION #MissionBC

SPECIAL POST MISSION CULTURE DAYS Virtual Event ANNOUNCEMENT OUR Schools’ Legacy Tune in for the MISSION COMMUNITY ARCHIVES Culture Days Virtual Event Kickoff at 11am on YouTube TODAY!... This year Culture Days celebrations are month long and so each week a special video presentations by the Mission Community Archives will be launched on YouTube between September 25 and October 24th. Today’s event is titled: Our Schools’ Legacy READ MORE about event today with the YouTube link to it and the other online video presentations on the homepage of our website: www.missionarchives.com #BCCultureDays #MissionBC #WhyArchivesMatter #CultureDays2020

SPECIAL POST MISSION CULTURE DAYS Virtual Event ANNOUNCEMENT Launch of ONLINE Digital Repository The Mission Community Archives has launched their highly anticipated online digital repository!... NOW you can START exploring and discovering information housed in the Community Archives pertaining to Mission schools, organizations, people and more via the web through a new searchable online database. Many archival holdings have not been included in the database yet as we have a substantial backlog of undescribed materials. While adding content will be ongoing, you may inquire about our other holdings by contacting the Archivist. You can access the site at https://searcharchives.missionarchives.com/index.php/ On the homepage there is link to TWO instructional videos on YouTube: 1. Getting Started: How to Navigate the Mission Community Archives Online Digital Repository - an instructional video providing a general introduction to the website set-up and its features. 2. Browsing & Searching Mission Community Archives Online Digital Repository Made Easy - a tutorial video on how to do your own browsing and searching within the database, including how to save your searches. Please share this post with others! #BCCultureDays #MissionBC #WhyArchivesMatter #CultureDays2020

BLAST FROM THE PAST Mission Artists D|Arts Dean and Christina Lauze Since 1987, Dean and Christina Lauze have owned and operated a diversified leading edge arts company specializing in murals, graphic design, custom sculpturing, fine art and more. In recent years, their son Joshua has worked as their production artist also a versatile artist and amazing drummer. (SOURCE: D|Arts website).... Initially set up in Abbotsford, they moved to Mission where they built a custom designed spacious studio that in 2005 included iron clad doors and windows from a Steven King movie setand three printing presses two of which were procured from the estate of Dean’s mentor Mircho Jakabow (SOURCE: Mission City Record, June 9, 2005) Among their artworks in Mission is an eye-catching beautiful historical mural on the west exterior wall of the Community Archives titled My Home Town." It was painted to commemorate Mission’s 120th anniversary of incorporation. Combining collage and photo assembled from the Archives along with high realism, the mural embodies the unique spirit and historical legacy of our hometown, including some of Mission’s firsts and the life energies of the community (i.e., citizens, economy, infrastructure, cultural events etc.). The posted image taken by Mark Sippola shows Dean Lauze working on the mural in 2013. #WhyArchivesMatter #ILOVEMISSION #MissionBC #blastfromthepast

HISTORICAL TRIVIALITIES Mission City Baptist Church, 1922 In Mission, the first Baptist Church had a small congregation which initially held their services in a tent until they secured sufficient funds to construct their own building in 1924. Pioneer evangelical preachers set up their tent in empty lots around Mission. ... According to local historian Daphne Sleigh, during the summer they pitched their tent on the lot where the post office now stands as shown in the posted image, donated to the Community Archives by the Baptist Church (SOURCE: Mission As It Was, 2017). The photograph dates back to the year 1922 when the Mission City Baptist Church held services in this tent from July 9th to August 6th. You may purchase a digital or custom-size reproduction of this photograph by messaging or emailing Archivist Val Billesberger: manager@missionarchives.com #WhyArchivesMatter #ILOVEMISSION #MissionBC

BLAST FROM THE PAST Mission Artists Flo Erskine (1916-2004) Smile all of the time and look on the sunny, funny side of life too because without a sense of humour you are lost. These uplifting and unpretentious words are Flo Erskine’s guiding principles for life and living. Born in Alberni on December 7, 1916, she grew up in a loving family appreciative of the arts, cultivated by her mother who was a music teacher.... Although music was always a part of her life, it wasn’t until Flo arrived in Mission, however, that she fully developed her inborn talent to play by ear, discovered at the age of 2. After being invited to join a local group called the We Three, Flo went on to play the piano at dances throughout the Fraser Valley building her skills to interpret, improvise and embellish a tune using different instruments. She also joined the Mission Legion Pipe Band (posted image Flo is in the front row, first one on the left) for whom she played the drums for over a decade and was a member of their dance orchestra. Through her musical talent and immeasurable fondness for people, Flo touched the lives of countless individuals as a volunteer performer for seniors in care homes. A member of the Mission Hospital Auxiliary for over 40 years, she played the piano weekly at the Extended Care Unit where she introduced the use of music therapy for residents in the 1960’s. It will get through to people before words will. To see the pleasure it gives them it’s like a miracle. You can find out more about Flo’s life by visiting the Community Archives website page featuring extraordinary women of Mission: https://missionarchives.com//pandp-bi/2005-Flo-Erskine.pdf If you or any one you know can name the individuals in the posted photograph, please message or email Archivist Val Billesberger: manager@missionarchives.com. #WhyArchivesMatter #ILOVEMISSION #MissionBC #blastfromthepast