2019 | the-last-whistle

Once again here I am standing under the welcome sign advertising the latest reunion. This is number 15 at the Mesachie Lake Community hall.

Thanks again to the Cowichan Valley Regional District for being the best to work with over all these years, we couldn't have done it without you.

2019 Reunion

Bob Coates enjoying a coffee before the festivities start.

Don and Lorraine Coates having a good time

Al Stone on the left and Don Gordon catching up since last years reunion.

Annie Padjen enjoying the very old photographs of Wilmer Gold.

Here is a great photo of dad and daughter Holt Gold and Gwen Gold. Holt is the son of the famous photograher Wilmer Gold and Gwen is Wilmer's granddaughter.

Very old friends from the early Mesachie days are Lorraine Coates and Georgie Grant.

Lloyd Smith and friend Christine Tanner signing in. Lloyd was an electrician for many years in the mill.

Barry & Barbara Harsent came all the way from Vernon to attend. Barbara grew up in Mesachie Lake.

One of the display tables showing the history of Hillcrest in photographs.

Gordon Gold is a grandson of Wilmer Gold. Here he is with lady friend Janice.

I received this e-mail from Linda Coates when I inquired to the idenity of the "delightful young lady

Thanks for the great photo. I'm sure our daughter, Debra Dahlgren, next to Linda in photo on left, would love to hear that she is a 'delightful young lady'. She turned 54 this year, and soon to be a grandma herself.

Debra is our younger daughter. Her sister, Lorraine Auger, is the woman in the blue.

This year was the first time they attended the Hillcrest Reunion. They found it very interesting and welcoming.

Old time friends from the early Hillcrest Sahtlam days are Dick Pollock on left and Bill Keserich.

What a great photo of Parlad and Kanjit Dhut. Welcome.

Ann Adamschuck ( Turko) found her wedding photograph in a collection of Wilmer Gold's old photos.

Mike and Barb Stone having a good time. Mike is a grandson of founder Carlton Stone.

Gayle Gold checking out a display table. Gayle is a granddaughter of Wilmer Gold.

Gordon Parlee bought two books of 'The Last Whistle". One for him and one for sister Doris. Their father worked as a logger at Sahtlam Hillcrest.

Standing from left loggers Al Lundgren, Bob Vessey and Walter Bell talking over old times.

A big welcome to Walter and Theresa Cooke. Walter drove logging truck in the woods for years.

Annie Padjen (Willis) and Jim Young enjoying themselves. Jim worked in the boiler room and Annie's father was a blacksmith.

Here is a fantastic photo of brothers John (on left) and Bill Turko. Long time residents of Mesachie Lake and millworkers for years.

Organizers of the Hillcrest reunions for the past 15 years, Cec and Joyce Ashley. Cec worked in the planer mill.

Bikar Mann and son Jason Mann. Bikar and his family come out every year to the reunions. Bikar was a lumber grader.

Manjit Mann and Al Stone having a catchup. Manjit is a son of Bikar Mann and Al is a grandson of founder Carlton Stone.

Rocky Bradford checking in. Welcome Rocky.

Display table for the Discovery Museum, The Discovery Museum is taking donations for the boiler restoration of the 25 Ton # 1 Shay Locomotive that Hillcrest used to own and is now on permanent display at The Discovery Museum. Hillcrest Employees donated close to $500.00 to help in the restoration. Way to go guys, thank you.

Sharron Sweeney, co-ordinating the diplay table for the #1 Shay Locomotive donations. Sharron is a volunteer for the Discovery Museum in Duncan.

Several of the people who attended warming up before lunch.

Three old friends, From L: Ian MacInnes, Lloyd Smith, and Dick Pollock. All three had deep connections dating back to the earliest Sahtlam Hillcrest days.

Another great photo of Wilmer Gold's son and grandchildren. From L: Gordon Gold, Gwen Gold, Jim Young, who was married to Evelyn Ashley ( aunt to the Gold children) Holt Goild and Gayle Gold.

So much history in this photograph: From L: Rocky Bradford, Ann Adamschuck (Turko) Betty Turko, John Turko, Bill Turko, Dave Berry and Maryanne Anderson.

Cec Ashley and Don Gordon giving the before lunch speeches.

Eary arrivals registering in, Don Gordon on the left as official greeter welcoming them.

Some old friends catching up on the latest news.

Everybody is having a good time.

A great photo of the Mann family talking with Neil Dirom, former manager of the Youbou Sawmill.

An absolutely fantastic photo of four ladies with deep ties to the early Mesachie Lake community. From L: Theresa Cooke, Sandra Berry, Georgie Grant and Lorraine Coates.

Some of the 75 attendees enjoying catching up on the latest before lunch. On the left is Oke Anderson and his wife Alice. Oke was a planerman at the mill.

Part of the crowd lining up for the catered luncheon.

Cec having a good old fashioned chin wag with the Turko brothers, John and Bill.