True and Fascinating Canadian History
Vet of the Month: October 2011
Reg.# S/0107, Special Constable Edwin Jefferey Bowen
My father was Edwin Jeffery Bowen. He emigrated to Canada in 1957 bringing his wife - Nellie Rosa (nee: Morris) and (us) their 3 sons; Brian E. (14), David E. (10) and Douglas G. (7 years). We settled in Winnipeg Manitoba. Shortly after arriving in Winnipeg, Dad secured employment with the R.C.M. Police as a Special Constable. He was posted as a Bank Guard in the Bank of Canada at Portage and Main -- a post which he occupied until his retirement in 1973.
In earlier years, Dad was single while a member of the British Merchant Navy. Thus, he had spent considerable time visiting and working in Canada. He lived in Vancouver. He worked in the forest skidding logs for the pulp mill in Port Alberni, he was a cowboy on the Gang Ranch in the Merritt area and he worked on the docks in New Westminster.
I recall him telling me stories. One tale was of him walking across the Lions Gate Bridge between Vancouver and today's North Vancouver. In those days, the area was an Aboriginal Reserve and it eventually became the 'British Properties.' He also remembered partying in the Vancouver Hotel shortly after it opened to serve the public. At that time, he said that he lived in a boarding house on Cambie Street on the site of the present day BC Football Stadium.
He returned to England because of WWII was approaching. He planned on seeking a Commission in the British Royal Navy. However, prior to the opening hostilities of WWII, he was involved in a near fatal motorcycle accident that left him crippled with both legs badly deformed. This incident played a large role in him not serving in WWII. At the same time, he was seeking a better opportunity for his 3 sons when he decided to leave his native land.
Dad was openly proud of his service in the Force and he was forever grateful for the chance to serve his new found country, Canada. He became a Canadian citizen, and I recall what he said justprior to leaving the British Isles. He asked me '...what do you think son ... if we go, we aren't coming back you know?"
He often compared the two countries, but he never regretted his decision to come to Canada. He left the UK with $500.00 in his pocket and with the help of some cousins whom they never met, he and his wife established a foothold in this new land. He was 41 years old when he decided tomake this huge move, having sold everything in England just to pay for the boat fare and train travel.
We sailed from Liverpool on the R.M.S. Sythia of the 18-APR-57 arriving in New York city 10 days later. The voyage was delayed by 4 days because of icebergs in the north Atlantic. We boarded a train in New York and entered Canada, changing trains in Toronto and traveling to Winnipeg. We arrived at the CPR Station on North Main Street on the 02-MAY-57 where we were met by my mother's 2nd cousins - Gordon and June Walker. They drove us to their home on Fawcett Avenue in their 1951 Chevrolet.
They accommodated us for 2 weeks, long enough to find an apartment and start school etc. Each of us boys graduated from Daniel McIntyre Collegiate Institute. We 3 boys each married, and collectively we had 8 children. Brian married Norma MacPherson, (formerly of PEI) and they had 3 children - Bradley, Brent, Jana. David married Angie and had 3 children -- Shannon and a twin - the later died at birth and Shawn. Douglas married Beverley Schick and gave birth to Tracey and Jefferey. As the years rolled by, Dad's grandchildren have 8 great grandchildren.
His desire was to return to BC to retire, however, he settled for Edmonton, AB where he spent his last days living with his wife and his son - David.
It's all due to our father, Edwin Jefferey Bowen, that the Bowen family is firmly established in Canada today!
by a son, Brian E. Bowen
October 23, 2011
Greenway Cemetery, Edmonton, AB
