My Journey to Canada: Part 4.......by Balwant Sanghera
Living and working in small communities in Canada’s north has its own charms and challenges. Hudson’s Hope was no exception. As soon as the Bennett Dam was complete and operational, the town population began to decline. Soon, the town was back to its normal size. However, a few years later, another dam was under way nearby. The first dam was initially called the Portage Mountain Dam as it was in the Portage Mountain range. However, soon after its completion, it was renamed W.A.C. Bennett Dam after the premier of B Cat that time. The second dam, built a few years later downstream, was called the Peace River Canyon Dam. It also brought back some life and prosperity to Hudson’s Hope. Now, a third dam on the Peace Rive-Site C Dam-between Hudson’s Hope and Fort Saint John is under construction. Thus the Peace River has become famous for its dams. Incidentally, the Peace River country is reported to have vast oil and gas reserves. Also, some of this region’s soil is considered to be very fertile for farming.
The winters in this part of BC were unusually very cold and harsh.However, the global warming and huge reservoirs behind the Bennett Dam have made this area relatively warmer now. The summers were usually very warm. Also, the daylight hours in this part of BC are a lot longer during the summer months. For shopping, we would go to Dawson Creek and Fort Saint John. Dawson Creek is the Mile 0 of world famous Alaska Highway. Occasionally, we had our teachers' conferences in these towns where teachers from all over the Peace region would get to-gether for professional development etc. During winter months the blowing snow would really give one a good taste of the northern winters. This small community inspired me, like many others, to get actively involved in the community. I became actively involved with the local community association and the local teachers’ association. This spirit of contribution to our communities has inspired me all along.
Early in the school year, to my surprise, I was elected vice president of our District (Portage Mountain) Teachers’ Association. At Christmas time, our president, Doug Green, moved to Kelowna. On the urgings of my colleagues I agreed to take over as president. I served in this position till I moved to Lillooet in 1973.During my and my family`s stay in Hudson`s Hope for five years, we always felt included, appreciated and respected. The driving in the north especially during the winter months is another challenge. However, the challenges get pushed back when one looks at the positives like beautiful scenery, no traffic, ample and diverse wildlife and a lot more. I still remember travelling to Fort Saint John one February on icy roads to Fort Saint John to attend a teacher’s conference with some of my colleagues. We saw 23 moose either on the road or standing or walking along the road. The abundant and diverse wildlife in the north is just amazing.
While living and working in communities like Hudson`s Hope one becomes very aware of the vastness of this country and inter- connection and interdependent of people on each other. It makes one proud of Canada and the wonderful people who have made it as one of the most open, inclusive, multicultural and multilingual countries in the world. This small community of some 1,100 residents tucked away in the foothills of the Rockies in northern British Columbia gave my family and me so much love; respect and recognition that I felt quite at home.I still remember my first trip.. At the end of August, 1968, when I checked in at Vancouver International Airport for my flight to Hudson’s Hope to begin my teaching career there, the Pacific Western Airlines rep at the counter turned to me and said:” Mr. Sanghera, you are going to God’s country. Enjoy it.” He was right. It really is. I thoroughly enjoyed myself living and working in the amazing Peace River region for five wonderful years. It has been more than 47 years since my family and I moved south. However, the Peace River Region still has a very special place in my heart.
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Balwant Sanghera, The writer is a retired school psychologist and community activist
b_sanghera@yahoo.com
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