PORTELANCE | the-last-whistle

PORTELANCE FAMILY

LEO PORTELANCE

Here is a classic photo of the filing room at Sahtlam Hillcrest in 1940. This photo is in Robertha Pascoe (Poretlance) book "CAMP PEOPLE".

From left: Ed Portelance, Johnny Cuillet, and Leo Portelance.

Leo started at Hillcrest in 1933. He was head filer at the time and when the mill moved in 1943 Leo continued as head filer when his brother Neil joined him. Leo was quite an inventor, he devised the ice saw which made it possible to cut through frozen logs without snaking off the wheel. Another of his ideas was the cross cut saw which cut a smooth edge on the big timbers. (prior to this the saws cut a jagged edge) you could write with a pencil on the end. Leo stayed with the company until it closed in 1968. Leo was born in 1899 and died in 1971.

ED PORTELANCE

Ed worked at the Sahtlam mill with his brother Leo. Ed was an accomplished musician who played the 12 string guitar. He used to come to my home and play at parties. Ed was quite a jewellery maker and he made me a tip clip out of a silver spoon which he hammered flat and then cut out my name "CEC" on it. This was over 50 years ago and I still have that old tie clip. Ed eventually went to work at the then fairly new Crofton Pulp mill in Chemainus.

NEIL PORTELANCE

This photo was taken of Neil after Hillcrest closed down and Neil was now working at Crofton Pulp mill. Neil worked at Hillcrest with his brother Leo until it closed in 1968.

Here is a great photo that I took at the 2008 reunion. It shows five generations of Neil Portelance's family.

Bottom left is Neil's wife Leona and daughter Carol standing directly behind. To Carol's left is Neil's granddaughter and great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.