Writer of hand-penned letters, memoirist and longtime qathet resident Beverley Falconer, family name Carrick, grew up with her mom, dad and brother Doug in Townsite as the Powell River Company continually grew around them in the 1930s and 1940s.
Memoirist and author
To those who know Falconer, it wouldn't be a surprise that the avid letter writer finally wrote down her memories in book form. Her recently published memoir titled With Good Company is a collection of photographs and adventurous stories about growing up in Townsite during the challenging times of the Great Depression and World War II. At the same time, she developed a deep love of the natural world that followed her through to her ninth decade.
"My dad was out of work, and after finishing one job he was asked if he wanted to work on the dam in Stillwater up in Powell River," said Falconer. "My dad said yes, because at the time we were all living with my mom's parents in a cramped house in Vancouver."
Early days in Townsite
Her dad was eventually hired by the mill, run by the Powell River Company at the time. The title of Falconer's book is in reference to how the author saw the company at the time.
"They really treated us well," said Falconer. "They had a lot of extra power and provided steam heat for all the public buildings in the Townsite at a flat rate of $2 a month for our electricity. Don't we wish we had that now?"
Falconer wrote in a diary when she was young and when she joined a writing class 10 years ago, she used her diary pages in order to create a memoir of her first two decades living in Townsite.
“I've always liked writing,” said Falconer. “My mom and grandma were great letter writers, and so I wanted to be like them.”
Young writer
She started writing at the age of six and would write letters to her grandma. Falconer also had pen pals, which was a popular pastime for many.
“Later on when I travelled the world; I met many amazing writers,” said Falconer. “I was surrounded by writers and had a roommate who wrote.
“My book began with being awestruck when I was seven years old at my first sight of the walls of Dwight Hall. They were covered with Virginia creeper, which at that time was covered with scarlet autumn leaves.”
Farms and community
Falconer's family lived within walking distance of amenities and was lucky enough to eat with the seasons and support the local farming community, she remembers.
"Powell River has changed, but in a good way," said Falconer. "With more new people coming in and volunteering their time, people seem more open."
Falconer has made many friends over time and gives praise to Powell River Public Library (PRPL) for hosting writing workshops, which is where she started writing her memoir.
Memories of Dwight Hall
With Good Company is filled with stories of adventures in back lanes, misadventures in her home economic class, steamships and seeing giant kokanee salmon.
Falconer said it was in Townsite where she learned to be resilient and a caring community member.
"For a few years I searched for a coloured picture of this vision I had of Dwight Hall with the red blazing leaves on its side," said Falconer. "I couldn't find a photo, so then I wondered if it might be possible to get a painting done. It was possible and Arnold Nouwens produced an image of my memory."
That painted memory became the book's cover and the painting now hangs in Falconer's dining room. She recently gave a book reading and talk at PRPL and her book can be found on its shelves.
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