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RBC PENSIONERS’ NETWORK

BRITISH COLUMBIA CELL

Email RBCPENSIONERSNETWORK@SHAW.CA VOLUME 4 ISSUE 4 – OCTOBER, 2009

EDITORIAL

There have been some problems at Phantom

Publications in Kelowna. Firstly, the economic downturn

has placed some unusual pressures on Management. The

Union is adamant that lower revenues generated by the

Company should not reflect in the pay scale of their

members.

Surprisingly, the Union suggested that if Senior

Management could not deal with the problem properly,

they will, in fact, make an offer to purchase the company

replacing Management with Union Organizers.

This, of course, was a proposal that completely surprised

Management. A meeting of The Board of Directors was

called immediately wherein, after several hours of

deliberation, they decided to ask the Union to make an

offer.

An offer of 6.3 million dollars has now been received. A

questionnaire has gone out to all stakeholders asking for

their reaction to a Union owned operation.

We would be interested to learn the reactions of our

readers to the proposal. The results of which will be

forwarded to the Management of Phantom Publications.

L/R Mike Finch and Harry Dodyk seen at the Central

North Island RBC Pensioners’ Luncheon in Nanaimo on

April 23rd

, 2009.

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Tell us about this signature.

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Who can identify this Branch? (Circa 1946)

SUNDRY INFORMATION

No one was able to tell us that the mystery signature was

that of Al Perley.

Bill Gilbert was the first to identify the mystery branch as

Vancouver, Fairview ( 7th

& Granville) followed by Garry

Vallance. The building is still there.

Incidentally Garry Vallance reported an error in the

Editorial in the July Issue. He claims he only hired the Marine

Biologist (Bunny) for the one night. She then went on to a

career as the wardrobe assistant for the Vancouver Canucks.

(See page #2.)See page #2.

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100TH

ANNIVERSARY – VANCOUVER,

COMMERCIAL DRIVE & FIRST AVENUE. By Alphonse Deboise

I travelled from Kelowna on August 7th

specially to

attend this celebration and picked-up Charlie Merrick to

accompany and direct me to the branch. Fortunately I

had brought some information from our files at

Phantom Publications about the two earlier branches.

As we

proceeded up

Commercial

Drive, we found

both locations

still in existence.

I photographed

these to add to

the extensive

files of Bank

premises held In

Kelowna.

The first

branch was

opened in 1909

at 1050

Commercial

Drive under

Manager A.W.

Sprague and was

called

Vancouver, Park Drive. We found the original building,

which now houses Tony’s Deli.

The Bank’s second branch was located at 1575

Commercial Drive and is now a Home Hardware. It was

renamed Grandview Branch and later became

Commercial Drive and Gravely. Charlie told me he was,

at one time, the Accountant.

The third and existing office was opened on October

6th

, 1972 with the infamous Raymond Mitchuk as

Manager.

We met the very personable Branch Manager, Chris

Torne and Rita Zucchetto, Manager Client Care, who

told us she has been serving the Bank’s Clients for some

29 years.

During our visit, we also met Geoff Wood, a former

Manager who enjoyed seeing some of his clients

of years back.

The office was decorated in a festive mood and had many

interesting displays about the early days of banking. We

enjoyed these and the friendly staff who served cake, cookies

and coffee.

The Lower Mainland Pensioners Association Golf Tourney

Doug Bell reported that the September 9th

tournament at

The Guildford Golf & Country Club was rained out. Forty Five

golfers turned out but because of torrential rain, only one

foursome finished 18 holes. No prizes were awarded. Doug

hopes to see everyone again for the Spring Tournament in

June.

Charlie Merrick remembers good times at the Grandview Pub

The First RBC Branch on Commercial Drive

Theresa (Terry) Merri ck seen at a West Vancouver Pensioners’ luncheon

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CROFTON, B.C.

By Bob Young

Crofton is a small coastal town in a tranquil setting. A

scenic locale, it is situated midway between Chemainus

and Duncan and is the B.C. Ferry terminal to Saltspring

Island North. Access to Crofton is via Westholme Road,

East off the Vancouver Island Highway.

In the 60’s the town’s business section was contained

in three blocks on the main street. The chief businesses

were: our branch, CIBC, a small hotel, a motel, post

office and a grocery store. The town’s population of 250

was comprised mainly of mill workers, employed by the

B.C. Forest Products Pulp Mill, and their families.

B.C.F.P., a major client of the Bank, began operations in

1956. Coincidentally, our branch opened at that time

with Bob Corlett as Manager.

The first time I heard of Crofton was in January, 1964

when I was at Vancouver, Main & King Edward branch.

That day, the Manager, Art Toomer, called me to his

office and whispered on the Q.T. “Harry Weatherill

wants you to Manage Crofton branch and would like to

speak to you.” Needless to say, I was pleased to get a

Management position but clueless as to where Crofton

was. However, I wasn’t going to let Mr. Weatherill know

that and expressed my gratitude when answering his

call and being told of my promotion. After our

conversation, I was eager to find out the town’s location

and I asked Art but he didn’t know either. I wondered –

was it in B.C.? North of Mayo? Where? So I phoned

Personnel and when told that it was on Vancouver

Island, I was relieved and very happy.

When moving my family into the area, we were

unable to find housing in Crofton or Chemainus but

thankfully Dave Pollock, Manager of our Duncan branch,

found us a great house to rent in Duncan.

I replaced Archie Campbell as Manager. Once settled into

the job. I didn’t take long to appreciate the town. It was a

close-knit community in a rural setting. As an example, one of

our customers, who lived a few blocks down the way from our

office, had a ranch where he bred horses. His family frequently

rode their horses into town to do their banking and would tie

them up to the branch’s hitching post! Our staff looked

forward to these visits.

Due to the town’s small population, there was little activity

and the branch was relatively quiet. We rarely saw or had

dealings with outside businesses or residents because of our

rather isolated location. So, when visited by Bank Personnel

we were pleased to see them. While we normally did not look

forward to an Inspection, we did enjoy a visit by Mr. Bradish

and his team. He was a pleasant individual and told us stories

about, and his love of, Barbados where he had been posted

prior to his move to B.C.

We were also especially pleased to have had a visit from

Doug Gardiner, B.C District General Manager, who was very

generous in his comments about the branch.

I enjoyed my two years at Crofton branch. It was a good

experience. My family and I have fond memories of our years

in the Cowichan Valley. It is an area which is ideal for outdoor

activities. During our time there we met and made lifelong

friends and consider it to be our favorite place, and will always

be grateful to the Royal Bank for having given us the

opportunity to live there.

I was transferred in November 1966 to manage the new

Nanaimo, Northbrook Mall Branch and Al Muir became

Manager of Crofton.

ALICE HUGHES- MEMORIAL SERVICE

For those who knew Alice, you will be pleased to note that a

celebration of her life was held at the Victoria Drive

Community Hall, in Vancouver, on Saturday, July 18th

, 2009 at

11:00 am.

Among many others, retired Bankers in attendance

Included: Ellen & Jim Brodie, Jan Hayes, Alice Carfrae, Leo &

Jo Fornari, Ron & Julie McWilliams, Jack McIntyre, Barb

Reynolds, Derek & Barb Smith, Gary Stowe and Lorne &

Martha Switzer.

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ELLEN BRODIE AND THE ROYAL BANK OF CANADA

I joined The Royal Bank on January 5th

, l949 in Nanaimo, B.C.

as a Junior Clerk. The manager was R.H. Mawhinney, Weir

Muir was the Accountant and Bob Corlett was the Assistant

Accountant. Before long I was promoted to Teller.

In 1950 I requested a transfer to Vancouver. I packed my bags

and left Nanaimo on April 30th

and reported for work on the

Monday at Vancouver, Hastings and Homer Branch. There I

was a Current Account Teller. The Manager was a Mr. James.

Don Stewart was the Accountant and Ed McDormand the

Assistant. Ed Lovick was also an Accountant during my stay at

that branch. Mr. James was replaced by Dick Dove.

One of my jobs at H & H was to fill in for Gordon Ostrom in

the cash cage. His job was mostly processing the deposits

from Woodward’s Stores. He also maintained the branch cash

and made up the mutilated parcels, which

were shipped out every week. I can recall

myself and another employee walking

along Hastings Street to the post office

where we mailed the parcel of larger

denomination mutilated bills and then we

went up Granville Street to the express

station where we shipped the smaller

denominations ( 1’s & 2’s). These parcels

were carried under our arms, wrapped in

paper. We didn’t have a gun as we were

too young and wouldn’t have known what

to do with it anyway. I understood at a much later date,

during an annual inspection, that the branch had been

instructed to take a taxi and to do this on different days of the

week. Years later when I thought about it, if anyone had

known what we were carrying, they could have taken the

cash quite easily.

I left Vancouver, Hastings and Homer in 1954 pending the

birth of my son, Grant.

I worked at Vancouver, Hastings & Granville in the late 50’s

with Mr. Arthur Ross, Manager. I’m a little vague on dates but

I later moved to Burnaby, Kingsway and McKay Branch. Rudy

Bourque was Manager and Jack Smith the Accountant. Didn’t

stay there long and back to Vancouver, 685 W. Hastings. I

was a Current Account Teller there and then did vacation

relief in various departments. I always remember Jack

Dauphinee thumping on his desk whenever a pretty young

lady customer came into the branch. It was during this time

that the branch was held up and Ron Compston was shot, but

not fatally. On that particular day, Norma Karikstad was away

(she was in the first cage) and I was in the second cage.

Because Norma was absent, I had a line up therefore the guy

went to the next teller. Lucky for me! That made for a lot of

excitement. I worked with Cec Kennaugh, George Rushton,

Larry Urquhart and Charlie Merrick.

In the mid 60’s I was transferred upstairs to the DGM’s Department

where I worked with Bruce Rogers in the Comptroller’s Department.

Doug Gardiner was the District General Manager at the time.

In 1969 the Bank decided that I could make a Loans Officer. They

were supposed to send me to Vancouver, Granville & Broadway for

training but guess what. Bruce Rogers received notification that I

was being transferred to #3 & Park Branch in Richmond. Cy McRae

was the Manager. McRae was later replaced by Chuck Linton. McRae

had requested an experienced male loans office and he got me. I

had never seen a loan application before. I learned the hard way

but I had a lot of help from the existing Loans Officer, Bob Grossman.

I also got help from Freda Golbourn who was the Discount Clerk and

Sue Hanson (Robertson), Current Account Clerk. Don Gilchrist was

the Assistant Manager but he was soon replaced by Derek Nicholls.

It was Derek that took the time to teach me all about taking

securities. We would both come into the office early for my lessons.

I also worked with Evelyn Rousseau and Clive Schindler, who were

Accountants during that period.

I stayed there until 1973 when they transferred me

as officer- in -charge of the small branch at

Vancouver, Langara College. It was a sub to

Vancouver, Cambie & 57th

which was managed by

Bob Lindahl. Bob would come up to the branch

every Friday for lunch in the cafeteria and check to

make sure everything was going OK. I sure got an

education on Canada Student Loans at that branch.

They closed the unit in 1976.

I was then sent to Montreal, along with a number of other female

employees, for training under the helm of Peter McCaffrey. I was

there for 6 weeks learning the ins and outs of balance sheets etc.

Upon my return I was posted back to Vancouver, Hastings and

Homer Branch to obtain practical experience, under the guidance of

Morris Stewart, before being posted to Vancouver, 25th

& Oak

branch as Manager. I replaced Rene Caudwell. I really enjoyed

working at this branch. I had a great staff and loved the clients.

Don Steele was the Regional Manager, of Vancouver West at the

time.

In either 1980 or 81 I was transferred to Maple Ridge, MeadowRidge

Shopping Center Branch. This branch had only been open for a

couple of years and was growing rapidly. It was understaffed and

we had limited office space. I stayed there until 1983 when I

decided that I had enough of small branch management and

requested a posting as a Loans Officer. I went to Shaughnessy

Street, Port Coquitlam as a Personal Loans Officer/Mortgage Officer.

In December of 1985, with some assistance from Lorne Switzer,

Personnel Officer, I was able to take early retirement. I officially

retired on Dec. 31, 1985.

Since my retirement, my husband and I spend a lot of time traveling

in our 36’ diesel pusher motorhome. We have recently built a new

home in Coquitlam (Maillardville) and are kept pretty busy looking

after it.