A look into the past

30 YEARS AGO – February 9, 1993

Virtually impossible to change the time zone in northeastern B.C, a Fort St. John city councillor says. Jack Keough struggled for almost a year to bring the time question to a vote, but to no avail. The issue was finally dropped at a council meeting after only three municipalities responded to the city’s call for input by saying they weren’t interested. “It was always an issue that had been put on the back burner,” Keough said. A search by city hall staff found that all municipalities in the area would have to agree a change was needed before a plebiscite could be held. If even one opposed, the issue could proceed no further. “Even to proceed to the next step, requires unani- mous consent,” Keough said.

45 YEARS AGO – February 10, 1978

The great friend of so many, Duncan Cran, died at the age of 86. Cran was born in Paris, Ontario, and early in life moved with his banker father to British Columbia where he spent his childhood years at Ashcroft and furthered his education in Aberdeen, Scotland. Prior to the war, he was in the onshore logging business with his brother Robin in upper Vancouver Island. During the war he served with the 88th and 25th Battalions in France, Belgium, and Germany. Duncan was awarded the military service medal.

In 1930, he was moved to the Peace

River country as a surveyor and homesteaded next to the Bennetts just west of Deep Creek. Through the years Cran, who was a lifelong member of the Corporation of BC Land Surveyors, surveyed much of this country including Golata Creek, Boundary Lake, Red Creek, Cache Creek, and Halfway River areas and named among other places Flat Creek.

Cran selflessly and actively served this community as a life member of the Royal Canadian Legion; for over 30 years he was a member of the Hospital Board and an indefatigable bedside visitor; chief organizer of Red Cross Society activities and blood donor clinics; charter member of the Friendship Society, and founding member of the Senior Citizen Society.