A Driving Force—Ray Sampert

A Driving Force

Ray Sampert

From a young boy riding the street cars along Jasper Avenue for a nickel to driving motorhomes across Canada with his wife, Ray has always been enthralled with cars and trucks. His love is still evident today from his time that he spends volunteering for the Antique Society in Leduc, Alberta and the fact that he still has his driver’s license at the age of 92.

A mischievous Ray and his younger sister grew up on a farm in northern Alberta. His grandparents immigrated from Russia and his father was one of 5 sons that inherited the land they settled on and made into their home. Climbing trees, taking the horse cutter the one mile to school in the winter and doing chores on the mixed farm kept Ray busy. His main job was to take the milk from the cows and drop it off at the cheese factory in Bruderheim which played a vital role in the development of the community and surrounding farmers.

Ray was always fascinated by cars as his grandfather owned one in the early 1900’s. When the family moved into Edmonton and lived near Jasper Avenue, he would ride his bike around the paved roads. One day he saw an advertisement for a delivery boy and soon he was pedalling his way about the streets making money. Over the years, there were many jobs from helping at harvest with threshing and loading sacks of grain by hand at the farm. After his father’s passing, Ray kept his dad’s place and eventually built a home there with his wife. They stayed there 20 years.

Ray knew his wife for many years before they got married because their mothers were good friends. A month after they were married, Ray went to Peace River for work and she “held down the fort” in Edmonton. Eventually they bought and managed a hotel in Big Valley. When Ray’s father passed away, they took in a little puppy, named him Snuffy and he became not only possessive of the bar space, but of his owners as well. Ray recalls one evening when he was dancing with a lady, other than his wife. Snuffy came over and nipped her in the heel and then left the dance floor. When the Health Inspectors came for a visit, they saw how the Shepherd-Lab cross temperament was suited to guarding the place and wasn’t a bother to the patrons.

The couple eventually sold the hotel and moved to Edson and managed a car wash. From there they went into the Mini Storage business. As a young man, Ray had many other adventures as well. His career working on tug boats, hauling freight across North America and moving rigs allowed him to see much of the country. When he lived in Peace River, he even acquired his pilot’s license. Other trips took the couple to Hawaii and throughout the States as they took in many truck shows. They would also fly to a destination and drive coaches and limos back to Alberta. They used these as holidays when they weren’t enjoying the sun in Hawaii or Mexico.

Ray has led a quiet life. He wishes he would have traveled even more, but he loves to help people and his advice to the young is to get some sort of education. His wife was very musical and Ray wished he had been but maybe in his retirement he just may take up trombone lessons. In the meantime, he enjoys watching sports, driving and going on his computer or having his neighbor bring over delicious meals that last him a few days so he doesn’t have to cook too much.