Barbara Latkowski
Caledonia Courier
Terry Houghton arrived in Fort St. James 30 years ago from Terrace, B.C.
As a teacher, he was ready to take on a new challenge at the only school in town, Fort St. James Elementary Secondary School.
“At that time, the school went from grades 1-10 and there were only 180 students,” Houghton said.
Shortly after his arrival, Houghton also met his future wife-to-be, Margaret-Anne who was also teaching at the school.
“Our first date was at a school dance. We were chaperones,” Houghton said.
And the rest was history. The couple are celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary this year. They raised four children in Fort St. James, have five granddaughters and one grandson.
“Our grandson is the fourth generation to live in Fort St. James,” Houghton said.
For Houghton, teaching was always more than just a job.
“We taught all of our children. But all of the children that I’ve taught over the years, it’s so exciting to see them grow up, get careers and get married,” Houghton said.
With a love for the great outdoors, Houghton has spent many years fishing, trapping and hunting in and around Fort St. James.
And in 1969, he began dog sledding.
“I bought a pup for $10 from Jim Gagnon. He told me that when the dog grows up, he’ll make a great sled dog. Larry Erickson, a trapper, also lent me two dogs and after three days I was hooked,” Houghton said.
Since retiring, for a while, Houghton and his wife ran an outdoor business that offered canoe trips and five day expeditions on dog sleds.
“I used to guide hunters for 3-4 years and as for fishing, I used to say that if I didn’t fish once every day, something was wrong.”
Today, Houghton is happy looking after the animals on his farm. He and his wife also volunteer for the Friends of the Historic Park and Seniors Helping Seniors in Fort St. James.
“It’s all about the people in Fort St. James,’ Houghton says.
“You can’t be lonely here.”
