Pioneering family builds community
“I didn’t finish high school because I already had my Grade 12 courses bookkeeping, shorthand, typing and we needed the money. Besides, all canada goose outlet canada the boys had enlisted so there wouldn’t have been many students in the class,” she says.
Ruth was with the bank for 40 years.
“That was unusual. In those days, you were supposed to work for a few years then get married. Married women weren’t allowed to work at the bank,” she says.
When Ruth did marry, at age 50, canada goose outlet Canada Goose Outlet online she continued to work at the bank. Marriage with Herb Fisher was happy but brief.
When he died after only four and a half years, Ruth returned to live in the family home.
I’m writing about canada goose clearance Ruth Fisher in recognition of Heritage cheap canada goose Week, which just passed.
When I interviewed her sister, Canada Goose Jackets community activist Dolly Cartwright, for this column in 2012, meeting cheap canada goose uk Ruth was a bonus. She allowed me to add her name to the future profile file.
Ruth, Dolly and their sisters Bea and Nora descend from three pioneering West Vancouver families. The Boyds and the Robinsons are the maternal line.
On the paternal side were the Nesbitts who brought their farm animals and equipment with them when they arrived from Alberta in 1912.
Dulcie canada goose outlet canada goose black friday Robinson, a teacher at Hollyburn school, married Harry Nesbitt, a driver for the Blue Bus line.
Their cottage across the canada goose outlet store uk street from the Nesbitt family farm in Ambleside was Ruth’s first home.
When Dolly came along in 1927, the family’s new house on the Nesbitt farm pasture was completed with the help of friends and neighbours.
That’s how things were https://www.thebookstop.biz done in the West canada goose outlet new york city Vancouver that was.
During the Depression years, it was known that milk from the Nesbitt dairy was available canada goose factory sale to any child in need.
The Nesbitts felt the Depression’s grip too. Ruth remembers going with Harry to purchase buy canada goose jacket cheap cloth for a new coat.
“I knew when I felt the fabric that we wouldn’t be able to afford it, canada goose outlet nyc so I cut my wishes down,” she says.
The grip relaxed when Ruth brought home her first pay cheque. She contributed to the family coffers and bought young Nora the crayons, colouring books and cut out dolls she missed during the war.
First, however, she went directly to Mrs. Holden’s shop on Marine Drive, home also to West Vancouver’s first, cheap canada goose and unofficial, library.
Ruth, a regular patron, had kept an eye on an antique tea set during her visits.
It now occupies pride of place in the family collection of teacups.
In the same year she joined the bank, Ruth started teaching Sunday school, continuing until just a couple of years ago.
In 2012, for her years of service to St. Christopher’s Church, canada goose outlet reviews Ruth received the Order of the Diocese.
“Ruth Fisher is a tireless worker for the church, much loved and an canada goose uk shop inspiration with her energy and enthusiasm for all aspects of life,” says St. Christopher’s Lorraine canada goose outlet parka McNeight. “She is an all round amazing lady, always quietly doing what needs to be done. She is a master at crochet. Many people have one of Ruth’s angels among their Christmas decorations.
She also makes the best cup of tea hands down!” Ruth will turn 91 canada goose outlet and Dolly 88 this year. Counting from Dolly’s great grandchildren, the family goes back six generations in West Vancouver.
This corner of West Vancouver, where Ruth and Dolly were raised and where they live today, is changing.
The farm is gone and the cottage that was Ruth’s first home will soon be demolished.
In today’s world, it’s not practical to retain such relics.
However, the stories and memories of canada goose outlet in usa the Robinsons, the Boyds, the Nesbitts and others who canada goose jacket outlet built our community into the desirable real estate of today, are worth preserving.