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Their hard work, vision, and values helped shape the community and make Langley the place it is today. Today (Saturday, Nov. 19), they were feted at a celebration held to honour local pioneers and show them how much their contributions are appreciated. Douglas Day was once again hosted by the Township of Langley and the City of Langley at the Langley Events Centre, where hundreds of guests were treated to lunch, entertainment, special presentations, and tributes. “Douglas Day is our opportunity to recognize the long-time Langley residents whose knowledge, ideas, and efforts helped forge our community,” said Township Mayor Jack Froese. “They laid the foundation for our way of life here, and we are grateful for all that our pioneers have done and continue to do,” he added. “Douglas Day has always been a day I look forward to, honouring the men and women who have devoted their lives to the Langleys,” said City Mayor Ted Schaffer. “I would like to thank all of the Langley pioneers for their service to our community, and am happy the Township and the City of Langley can celebrate these long-time residents year after year.” The 2016 Douglas Day celebration also marked the 158th anniversary of the creation of B.C. The day is named in honour of Governor James Douglas, whose proclamation at the Big House in Fort Langley on Nov. 19, 1858, brought the Crown colony of British Columbia into being. The Township of Langley, which is known as “The Birthplace of B.C.,” has been recognizing Douglas Day since the 1920s. The annual banquet has been held for more than 60 years, and in 1946 the celebration of Douglas Day was established by municipal bylaw. While many municipalities in the Lower Mainland celebrated Douglas Day in the past, Langley is one of the few to continue the tradition. To qualify as a pioneer, residents must be 70 years of age or older and have lived in Langley Township or City for at least 60 of those years. This year, there were 18 new pioneers who met that criteria, bringing the total number of Langley pioneers to 346. More than 210 of them were in attendance today. Each year, Douglas Day features a theme, and this year’s event paid tribute to Langley’s historical country stores and pioneer merchants. In the early days, stores in Langley were family-run businesses that acted as focal points for the community, gathering places where people could meet, catch-up, and stock up on supplies for the home and farm. A number of Langley youngsters got their first jobs at these stores, and grocery story proprietors were well known in the community and often served as public figures. The annual Douglas Day celebration is organized with the assistance of a dedicated committee and volunteers. Pioneers honoured at the 2016 Douglas Day event included:
Charlie and Lorraine Allen Benny and Penny Anderlini Bob and Susan Anderlini Albert and Dorothy Anderson Gezina Anderson Muriel Anderson Harvey and Dianne Antonsen Carol Armstrong June Barichello Del Barron David and Lynda Beales Roger Beaulieu Elsie Beggs Duane Benson Bill Berry William Betts Ernie and Sharon Bird Phyllis Bishop Sven Bjorknas Italo and Jackie Bonetti Bruce and Karen Brandow Frank and Chrissie Braun Ed Bregg Joe and Marie Breier Jim and Margaret Brezden Barrie and Beverley Brown Fred Burgmann Myrtle Burnell Norma Carruthers Margaret Carson Allan Cartwright Wilfred and Jeanette Cartwright Bill and Hazel Casey Dick and Betty-Lou Chell Barbara Chiste Ken and Lenore Christensen Lucy Christianson Terrence and Judy Christie Irma Cockett Walter Compton Nadia Cooper Mary Ann Corfe Barbara Cornies Thelma Coward Lorne Dance Hugh Davis Jean Davis Rodney and Ada Deans George and Marge DeGianni Alfred and Eleanor Deglan Wilma Denbraber Daroyl and Evi Dent Alex and Lois Dickson Evelyn Dornan Dietrich and Nettie Driediger Helmut and Karyn Dyck Seward and Joy Easingwood Effie Ebbeson Richard and Lois Edwards Roy English Marilyn Farquhar Dave and Elsa Faulkner Dorothy Ferguson Joe and Florence Fifer Mary Foote Keith and Janet Foss Audree Foster Patricia Frederick Bernard and Dianne Froebel Hilda Frosdorf Roy Fuller Charlie and Arlene Gandy Helen Gardner Peter and Rosemary Genberg Bruno and Shirley Giacomazzi Roy Giacomazzi Jake and Helen Giesbrecht Jarnail Gill June Goin Glen and Marlene Goldsack Mary Gooden Tom Goodyear Victor Gorcak Ethel Graham Betty Granholm Bruce and Nicole Granholm Terry and Joyce Greenfield Eunice Greenwood Alan and Jean Gregson Bob Griffiths Wilfred and Barbara Haid Paul and Joyce Hamilton Hazel Harrower Jackie Hauser Cora Hayward Verna Hickey Gordon and Joan Hill Jean Hope Terry Horne Robert and Maureen Humphrey Wayne and Margaret Humphrey Margaret Hunter Charlie Iberg Norma Jamieson Alice Johnson Eldon and Sandra Johnston Gladys Johnston Rodney and Dorothy Johnston Carel and Lynda Jongs Eugene and Shirley Kaetler John Kelly Alice Kennedy Dan and Jan Kitsul Edward Kosciuk Mary Koziel Helmut and Shirley Kramer Joseph and Loretta Krentz Barry and Marilyn Kristoff Gerald and Anna Larsen Marj Lee Kay Lindquist Hazel Lindstrom John and Donna Linke George Lockerby Diane Logan Percy and Kay Lotzer Albert and Elsie Lundin Gail Lynch Victor and Sheila MacDonald Walter and Jean Makela Wayne and Lynda Markel William Marr Elsie Martin John Masztalar Roy and Vicky Matts Joan Mayo Ted and Marylee McCallum Reid and Jenny McDonald Peggy McGregor Nora McKain Edna McLeod Donna McTaggart Helen McTaggart Genny Milligan Alex and Lucille Minnis Phillip Miskulin Margaret Mitcham Mary Mitchell Diane Moffat Doug and June Moore Beryl Moore Fay Morelli George and Sheree Morelli Vernon and Merrilyn Morelli Margaret Mountain Claud and Darlene Muench Pat Muench Dorothy “Dot” Mufford Joyce Murchison Lurene Music Fred Mutch Bonnie Nelson Dorothy Newcomb Monica Newman Kathleen Nicholas Robert and Melerly Norman Don and Marion Nundal Mary Olafson Clarence and Edith Olson George Omelaniec Sam and Pam Omelaniec Vera Omelaniec David and Sheila Ormrod Betty Oswald Norman and Joyce Paterson Fred and Maureen Pepin Audrey Pihan Barry and Eileen Pihan Bill and Arlene Pike Patrick and Annemarie Plumridge Sue Plumridge Robert and Sharon Poole Edward Powroznik Winnie Price Mary Probert David and Doreen Radtke Jerry Radtke Arlen and Marilyn Randen Molly Reding Dick Rees Don and Lorraine Reimer John and Doris Riedweg Jack Roberts Bernice Robinson Marilyn Rockson Jim and Dawn Ryan Ron and Edna Sawatsky Wilfried Schnabel Roy and Grace Seifred Diana Sendall Norman Severide Jean Seymour Bill and Gail Shields Marjorie Shiell Mike and Betty Skwarok Alfie Smaback Jean Smith George and Janet Southam Wilma Stromsten Doris Stroyan Allen and Gwen Sturn Gerald Tapp Robert and Joan Tapp Al and Marilyn Tecklenborg Phyllis Thomas Bryan and Joyce Trattle Getrude “Toots” Tucker Bill and Mary Twemlow Barry and Susan Vaughan Edward and Mildred Vaughan Ernest Vaughan Harold and Joanne Vaughan Laverne Vaughan Stan Warner Anita Waska Phyllis Waugh Sharon Weatherly Phyllis Wegesser Marie Wenman Wayne and Betty Westby Ray Wiens Fenn and Mary Williams Doreen Willushaw Grace Wilson Lilian Witt Ellen Worrell Shirley Worrell Joe Wrazy Willie and Diane Wright Don Wrightman Ron Yates John and Shirley Yeomans Martha Zado Hazel Zaklan Frank and Leona Zoretic |
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