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It’s common knowledge in rural communities that in times of crisis,
people’s generosity shines through. I recently had the chance to
experience that generosity in the northeastern British Columbia logging
village of Topley.
I was on the final leg of a two-week assignment when my old reliable
car, Goldie, as she was affectionately named by my children, broke down.
I managed to lurch into Topley, a small town on Highway 16 between
Houston and Burns Lake late one evening. Like an oasis in a desert was
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the Topley Garage. I couldn’t believe my good luck.
It has been several years since garage owner George Watson repaired
cars. He concentrated instead on fixing the trucks that haul logs out
of northern B.C. and keep the province’s economy moving. George agreed
to look at my car and through years of experience, common sense and
farmer logic, deducted a fuel problem.
The problem didn’t have a simple solution. He fashioned a new fuel line
out of some copper pipe he found in the shop, but an electronic fuel
component, no longer built, was a harder fix. It would be at least two
days before he could get parts.
George and his wife, Pauline, welcomed me into their home, made me a
bed in their children’s old room, gave me food, cut short their time at
a friend’s funeral to get me on the road and turned away work on
logging trucks to make me mobile.
Through their stories I met their children, who have moved away from
Topley, learned of their life raising a family and watched videos of
mountain goats on a nearby mountain.
At the garage, I met the other people who call Topley home. The narrow
valley is home to a few farms where cattle graze on the valley floor,
but most people rely on the struggling logging economy.
One local even brought me a recent copy of The Western Producer as
evidence of his loyalty. Each day they would return for a visit and an
update on my car repairs.
By the third day, George had fixed Goldie and I was on my way, feeling
sad to leave the community that welcomed me.
Two weeks ago I had never heard of Topley, B.C. Now I will never forget
it.
But Goldie wasn’t easily fixed and before I reached Prince George the
problems started again. I crept into the city and left my car with a
garage to deal with later. It wasn’t a fond farewell.
When I got off the Greyhound bus in Edmonton, I went straight to the
local car dealership and bought a new car.
