Who is this guy ?
Who is this Mysterious Unmasked Man?
He’s been around a few generations, trying to attract the attention of people and avoid the attention of government. There’s a trick to it. He has been a newspaper editor, columnist, politician, diplomat, police commissioner and playwright. His television series Cariboo Country was a national favorite in the early days of television. One of his books, Smith and Other Events, won the Spur Award for Western fiction in the United States. His name is on a bronze plaque at the entrance of Vancouver Public Museum.
A few statistics: Born 1923 in Chicago, raised in Nova Scotia, briefly in the Royal Canadian Air Force as aircrew trainee, invalided out, later trained as Merchant Navy radio operator. A newspaperman in British Columbia since 1945. Elected Member of Parliament, Liberal, for Coast Chilcotin in 1968, retired by popular demand in 1972. Had been chairman, B.C.Government Caucus, secretary National Caucus, Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, member Special Committee United Nations, Raconteur Scientific and Technical Committee NATO Parliamentary Group and Canadian representative Organization of American States. Credited with Canadian initiative in establishing Arctic Pollution Control Zone; later commissioner with special attention to public complaint system of British Columbia Police Commission.
Married twice, four children, eight grandchildren.
Now partially retired with homes in Fort Langley, B.C. Big Creek in Chilicotin and Teacapan in Sinaloa, Mexico. Likes hunting, bird dogs, fishing, reading and travelling. He drinks, smokes and gambles but none with any regularity and it can be said he has no bad habits.
Next year the B.C. Forest Service will be celebrating 100 years. They are soliciting items for publication on their Website-items of personal and historical interest.
While at Alexis Creek, my staff, wives, and I started, among other events, a Trapshoot in 1972. The first had teams from the Williams Lake, Alexis Creek, Tatla Lake Ranger Districts and teams from the newly created Cariboo Forest District. It has been held every year since, as a Winter Doldrums Beater, and has become the longest running R&R event at the same location if FS history!
At the first Shoot, we created a “trophy” which was presented to the shooter with the least number of birds hit. It was the “142nd Fastest Gun in the West” trophy and was what we dubbed a Petrified Cariboo Alligator Egg mounted on a wooden dowel and stand. This “Egg” was inspired by one of your columns citing the reason the Cariboo Alligator became extinct. As I remember, the Alligator became extinct as a result of the Department of Highways filling in all the mudholes along Hwy 20 where the Females laid their eggs!
Is this correct? And, if so, may I have your permission to use it in my submission to the Centennial Committee about the Trapshoot?
Thank you for your patience in finding out what my “something to say” was!
I hope this finds you in good health.
In re-reading what I sent I find I neglected to say that the “Egg” was a rock shaped like an elongated egg! During my stay at Alexis Creek there was no shortage of these to be found along Hwy 20 before it was paved!
Superfrog:
I am the current organizer of the Trapshoot. I would like to contact you so we could work on the BCFS 100 year celebration submission. I have written/published, photographic, and personal accounts of the Trapshoot here in Alexis Creek. I look forward to working with you!
can you let me know how to get Cariboo country ??? I just emailed the CBC but if you have a way I can buy them Id be thrilled out of my mind!!
THANK YOU!!
Ok Just saying , I cannot for the life of me understand why there are not about a million posts on this sight!!! What is happening here in our land that there are no comments on all these articles?? Its not the same is it?? And in all likely hood it wont be again. But really!!??? Where are all my fellow backswoods hoser cariboo cowgirls and boys and why are they not rallying around this site and connecting?
Is it the thought police??
ARG!
In 1973, Paul was on my Canlit reading list in Grade 13. We read Breaking Smith’s Quarter Horse and I still have my copy (in Ontario in 1974 we had to buy our English text books). In the winter of 1974, a pure white stray cat showed up at the back patio door and, being catless at the time, and it being pretty crappy weather outside, we gave him shelter from the storm. He came in the door, crossed the room, jumped onto the sofa, turned around, laid down and started to clean himself off. He seemed inclined to stay and since the position didn’t look to involve outside work or heavy lifting he let us know he’d take a position if it were offered. We named him Smith after Paul’s character. He had a long and comfortable life and, to my knowledge never did a lick of work in his fourteen years.
Why on Earth, is there no way to share this to Face Book? Is it that Mr. St. Pierre is too much like his characters and treasures his privacy? What a well-kept secret! At least to us Americanas anyway… you Canadians have a National Treasure sittin’ right under your noses! You are so fortunate!