At 83 Jack Morrison is a philosopher and historian. Looking into his own family story years ago kindled into a passion a spark of historical curiosity that had always been with him. Nearly 20 years of active membership with the Okanagan Historical Society since then has given him a superlative grasp of the people and events that shaped this valley.

"I was always an avid reader when time permitted," he said, "but I don't like novels or TV. I've learned a tremendous amount more since joining the Society. It's amazing what you can learn. I'm writing on my wife's father's family right now. He was a master tailor from England. It's been a long search. I keep digging and writing letters."

Morrison has written articles for the Courier about the grandfather who emigrated from Scotland and was hired by Lord Aberdeen to manage the Guisachan Ranch in Kelowna in 1895 and about his maternal grandparents named Maxwell who settled in the Rutland district in 1910. They were a combination of memory and research. "You don't ask questions when you're young," he said. "There are too many other things taking your attention."

He was also intending to write a history of the automotive industry in Vernon when he joined the society, but that is one that has yet to be written. "Life becomes a matter of choices and these days it takes twice as long to get half as much done," he observed.

Morrison has spent his life in the valley. His father was a logging contractor, which meant lots of moves when he was young. He lived at various times at Kelowna, Winfield, Oyama, White Man's Creek, Killiney, Caesers Landing, Coldstream, Vernon and Joe Rich in temporary quarters, as his father went after yellow pine on the lower reaches that was used for making boxes for apples and other produce. Once he attended three schools in one year.

From being different because of his mobile lifestyle, Morrison, an only child, became even more so when his parents separated and he lived with his father. He was living on the primarily British Westside at the time and attending school at Ewing's Landing. According to him, the attraction of the Westside "was strong pioneer British influence. They were intent on escaping the strong government influence of metropolitan life. They would sooner die in a cabin in the hills than take a nickel from the government."

"Dad had two or three logging operations going. We might leave on a Friday after school and come into town to the Kalamalka Hotel for the weekend. Paddy Murphy was the proprietor. We had breakfast in the dining room then Dad was busy during the day.

There used to be a group waiting for the pub to open and I'd talk to them. Nick's Candy Kitchen was across the street. I'd go over there and have an ice cream soda with Nick and join my father later in the morning."

Morrison was taught to use the cross-cut saw, the double-bitted axe and the broad axe and to drive a team of horses, but he was not made to work. He remembers the men in the bush being like the brothers he didn't have. "My love was for machines and that's where I ended up," he said.

He began working at 17 as a mechanic, joining the Air Force in 1942 where he served as a flying instructor, and returning to mechanics after the war.

He met Frances in grade nine. Her grandfather had come to Canada in 1890 and the families knew each other. They were married when he was 21 and had 10 children. He was not brought up Catholic, but he respected her "beautiful and strong faith," which gave him confidence that she would never leave as his mother had.

Morrison remembers a German lady on the prairies who had 14 children telling him that "if our families, communities and provinces are to prosper we need children and we need to support them." This is what he did. They lived in a big farmhouse on two acres with a big garden, from which they put up 1000 jars of pickles and fruit. "We were too busy wiping bums and noses to get into trouble," he laughed.

Frances also taught kindergarten and started Beavers in Vernon. Friends and relatives were always around and helping out. "That's what family and community is and what we tried to build," he said.
In 1961 Morrison opened Sun Auto Parts with partners Orville Watson and Jack Thomson of Thomson Auto Supply in Kelowna. Watson and Morrison purchased Jack Thomson's share in 1968 and in 1975 Morrison bought out Watson. Today the business is Tri Star Engine Rebuilders and is owned by son John Morrison and daughter Barbara Kasnik. "It was never a hardship to get up and go to work," he said. "I still go down two times a week and putter around and do things."

Morrison lost his wife two years ago. His youngest daughter has been assisting him with research projects and domestic needs at the house he built 40 years ago. There are frequent visitors and family events. There were four great-grandchildren born last year and four weddings to come this year. He is glad that he stayed in his community instead of going to Arizona, like a friend did who "is now home alone, with no community left."

2006-05  Lynn Dewing