Where and when did it all begin? Who started it and why? These were some of the questions we may have asked when we joined the Club and they are the same questions being asked by some of our newer members. By searching our files and archives and with considerable help from Walter Sills, our club Historian and Louis Savard, our Associates Director we hope to answer some of the above questions.

There is no fixed date when the concept of the Vancouver Transportation Club came into being nor is there one individual who is credited with the concept. Like most organizations similar to ours, the concept of a club probably originated after many individuals consumed a number of beverages on numerous occasions at one or more of their favourite spots. These gatherings became the fertile ground where the Vancouver Transportation Club seed would germinate, take root and blossom into the club we know today.

What we do know is that in late 1951 or early 1952 a group of shippers and carriers did meet at Ken Barton?s place for the sole purpose of forming a transportation club. The template they would use would be similar to the Transportation Club of Seattle. The seed had been planted and on February 21, 1952 our forefathers met once again at the home of Ken Barton with Oz Crawford acting as Chairman, the Vancouver Transportation Club seed took root. There would be three more organizational meetings (March 6th; 23rd; and 27th) before this brave little seed would send up its first shoot. That brave little shoot made its appearance on April 16th, 1952.

This very first general meeting of the Vancouver Transportation Club was held at the Georgia Hotel. The executive as suggested by Jack Killam, a Sales Representative from Seattle for the Chicago Northwestern Railway was as follows:

At this first meeting the Club also set forth its objectives:

1. To foster and promote shipper and carrier co-operation in transportation.

2. To promote sociability and friendship among its members.

3. To effect sound transportation polices through the study and discussion of all questions relating to all phases of transportation.

4. To inspire those in traffic work to the importance and dignity of their profession.

Membership in the Vancouver Transportation Club is open to all representatives of transportation industry, namely: steamship lines, railways, airlines, trucking, forwarding companies and those individuals who are actively engaged in the transportation field. Applications for membership are review by the Board of Directors for their suitability and eligibility.

The first general meeting was attended by forty charter members. The membership fee for resident members was $10.00 per year and non-resident members paid $5.00. Our current membership fee is $80.00. Currently we have 240 members. In the past our membership has been as high as 413 members.

The original Rocket was built by the Sheet Metal Workers, Local 280 to commemorate Vancouver?s 1936 50th Jubilee celebrations and as a symbol of the future and of technological progress. It was the Grand prize winner in the 1936 P.N.E. Jubilee parade. Soon after the parade, the Rocket was rebuilt on a more permanent basis and was sited at the old Vancouver International Airport Terminal where it was a landmark for 37 years. It was removed in 1973 to make way for other construction. With the advent of the new terminal, the Rocket was put into storage at B.C.I.T. and subsequently became very badly deteriorated. In early 1985 Denny Boyd wrote a column in the Vancouver Sun wondering if anyone would be interested in taking on the job of restoring this project.

In July 1985 there began a joint venture of the Sheet Metal Workers Union, Local 280 and the Vancouver Transportation Club.

The project was completed, displayed on a Expo 86 site and after Expo; it was donated to the City of Vancouver on October 19th, 1986 to celebrate the City?s Centennial year of one hundred years of growth. It is presently on display on a plaza at the S.W. corner of the Cambie Street Bridge. It is worth the time to stop and take a look at the Rocket. Some time in the future, it will be interesting to see what was sealed in a time capsule in the Rocket.

The VTC has a model of the Centennial Rocket and we some times have it on display at our monthly meetings.

Honorary Life Members

Under our constitution there is a special class of membership, which is the Honorary Life Member. In the history of the club we have bestowed this honour only upon five members. To qualify for this special class of membership, a person must have or continue to perform valuable public service in the transportation field. Honorary Memberships are appointed by the Club?s Board. The Honorary Member is entitled to full Club privileges but may not vote or hold office.

Our five Honorary Members are:

Oz Crawford
Reg Elmer
Louis Savard
Walter Sills
Jim Kohnke

In this our 50th year we would like to add the following individuals to this special class of membership:

*Ted Anderson
*Jack Lucas
Jim Ratcliffe
Cyril Smith

The Executive Secretary

The position of Executive Secretary did not exist prior to 1960. The functions of the Executive Secretary were performed by the elected Secretary/Treasurer. Reg Elmer held his position from 1952 until his election as President in 1958.

The role of Executive Secretary evolved to include a means through which we could maintain a sense of continuity within the Club. Each year the members of the Executive change, some move up, some move on. The continuity that was established by Reg during his tenure as Secretary/Treasurer would be the foundation for the position of Executive Secretary as well as the role model for future Executive Secretaries to follow. Reg Elmer was appointed to this position on April 7th, 1960 and held this position until his retirement in February of 1975.

Since the creation of the Executive Secretary position, only eight individuals have held this position. Let us introduce you to Reg?s successors.

Alex Scoten of the Vancouver Board of Trade was appointed March 1st, 1975 and continued in this position until December 31st, 1975, at which time Hal Williamson took over these duties. On March 1st, 1979 Louis Savard was appointed and was aided by Esther Johnson during his first few months. Thereafter Louis assumed all responsibilities and with the help of his wife, Kaye, held this position until February 28th, 1986.

Don Stebbing filled the position from March of that year until August of 1986 when Ken Martin was appointed. Ken held the position as Executive Secretary from September 1, 1986 until February 28, 1998. Bev Brown was appointed to the position and held it until October 14, 2000. On April 15th, 2001 Suzette Galloway was appointed and held this position until March 31st, 2007. Our current Executive Secretary is Frank Siemens who assumed this position April 1st, 2007

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