ORLANDO DELANO
Special to the AV News
Derek McGregor has many stories to share of the old Alberni Valley that are always interesting to hear and pass on to the new generations.
McGregor was born in Port Alberni “a few years ago,” he jokes. His father came from Salmon Arm and ran a gas station on 10th Avenue for a few years. It was one of almost 40 gas stations in the Alberni Valley at the time. McGregor’s mother, whose parents were Fred and Gertrude Brand, was born in the Alberni Valley.
“Think this,” McGregor says with a grin. “Gertrude Street and Johnston Road: Gertrude Brand, née Johnston!”
When McGregor’s grandparents first came to the Alberni Valley, people could drive oxen as far as Polly’s Point. Gertrude’s father was one of the early Alberni Valley amateur photographers.
“Some of his pictures are in the museum collection with no credit, as part of the deal mom made to donate them,” McGregor explained.
He adds that the cameras are still in the family, as is a piano. His grandparents had “Brand’s Hall” on Southgate Street, where they played piano on Saturday nights and pushed it over to the church next door for Sunday’s Services.
McGregor also recalls his younger days when he and other kids went ice skating on Sproat Lake and the Redford Ponds, as well as at the top of the Hump. “Now all we got is the arena,” he said.
His working life started around 1961 with a company that got him to join the Jaycees, or the Junior Chamber of Commerce.
“Their policy was to get contacts and a strong desire to volunteer,” said McGregor. “Thus, I got involved in setting up car shows, demolition derbies in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Some of the most fun was working on the go-kart racing on the Second Avenue and Kingsway area.”
For his involvement in the event, McGregor and his wife Pat received a commendation from Mayor Ken McRae.
“Another great memory was sharing a hot tub with Gillian Trumper, Mayor of Port Alberni at the time,” he said. “We were with Community Futures in those days.”
McGregor’s involvement in his community is vast, from working at Western Motors and serving the forest industry, as well as other companies and individuals, by supplying auto parts and general equipment to rebuild motors, generators and a number of pieces of equipment to being a member of the BC Federation of Labour and representing the IWA at various conventions. He also held a membership in the automotive association. McGregor was also an active volunteer member of the Alberni Valley Community Foundation, a local organization whose goal is to provide grants to help fund local projects.
In the early ‘80s, McGregor left Western Motors and started his own business with Mike Lawler at what is now M&D Auto Parts, located on Southgate at Margaret Street. This was a company he owned and managed until his retirement in 2002. This business, still in operation in the same place, was sold to his son and other partners by forming a type of co-op partnership.
With the recent forest fire near Cameron Lake, which has affected the west coast communities’ access this summer, including, of course, Port Alberni, McGregor also has a story to share about the so-called Horne Lake connector.
“In the early ‘60s, a group of five or six of us would hang out together,” he recalls. “One day we decided to go to Qualicum via Horne Lake. We all piled into a Volkswagen van owned by one of our parents, and proceeded to go past the golf course to meet up with the access road for the power lines coming into Port. We followed the poorly maintained ‘road’ for a while, then the road got really rough. The van started jumping up and there was a bang. The rear end transmission lost all gears except low. We had to turn around and head home.”
After a discussion, the group decided to get McGregor’s 48 Chev and go again. However, the new route started at Coombs Country Candy, heading straight up to the old lookout, past McBrides’ sawmill, over to Lacey Lake, then along the old logging roads to Horne Lake caves.
“Some trip!” McGregor recalls. “Lots of washouts and ungraded stretches. For a customized car it was a challenge. However, we did finally make it, and to prove it, the dash of the car had fingernail scratches for some time after.
“Thanks ‘Twerp!’ The new connector via Horne Lake would be welcome, if just for the memories.”
McGregor has seen numerous changes in the Alberni Valley over the years.
“Unfortunately, we have lost many jobs in the forest industry, so now we are trying to boost tourism as a way of bringing out the beauty of our surroundings as well as helping our economy,” he said.
“We should improve the promotion of this beautiful natural area we live in more extensively.”
A few years ago, after seeing what was done in Chemainus with murals on the buildings, he thought it was a good idea to enhance the look of our own city and do the same here. So, as a member of PACES, he initiated the project of painting murals in various parts of Port Alberni.
These days, McGregor keeps active by taking part in activities at the Sunshine Club, playing golf and by volunteering at the Alberni Valley Bulldogs games. He says he has met many fine people in this community while volunteering, starting with his time as a leader with the Boy Scouts, and other organizations he has served throughout the years.
Orlando Delano writes Valley Seniors once a month for the Alberni Valley News.