About Grandpa

From: “Mr. Jack Greenwell”
Date: November 4, 2006 2:54:54 AM EST
Hi everyone
Here is an article from the Lake Cowichan Gazette and Cowichan Leader about my dad, Archie Greenwell. I have corrected a few mistakes inside the square brackets.
Jack



Archie Greenwell sits down after walking 56 kilometres in the 2002 Great Lake Walk. Photo Courtesy of Greenwell Family.

By Doug Marner
Lake Cowichan Gazette

Nov 01 2006
The man many consider the grandfather of unionism at Cowichan Lake has died.
Archie Greenwell was 94 years old when he passed away Saturday night.
Greenwell, who was born on March 3, 1912 in Extention [Extension], B.C., moved to Cowichan Lake in 1936, when he got a job at Rounds southwest of Honeymoon Bay, and was immediately involved in a “strike in the woods,” as he put it, and he became quite active in the union.
He used to hike to the various logging camps in an effort to organize the workers. “He walked the whole width and length of the Cowichan Lake area,” [and much of Vancouver Island] said daughter-in-law Sylvia Greenwell of Youbou, who is married to Archie’s son William. “He used to sneak into the camps at night. He said he was shot at a few times.”
He became full time secretary-business agent for IWA Local 1-80 in 1939, but left the post when the headquarters moved to Nanaimo in 1943.
Sylvia said he was carrying on a family tradition, of sorts, because his father Archibald and grandfather John were also active in unions.
Greenwell began working for the village in 1944, first as a clerk, then an outside employee and a commissioner before becoming an alderman. He and wife Mary’s house was the village office for 6-1/2 years. He became the first freeman of the town. He was also a school trustee, including board chairman [26 years straight as Chairman].
Archie was active in other ways as well, including helping found the Co-op Store in 1950 and he was the store’s manager [from 1955] until 1977. He was a member of the Elks since 1945, including a stint [almost the whole time] as the club’s secretary-treasurer, and he was a founding member of the Credit Union [and a director for 15 years].
He also helped with Lake Days and minor baseball.
In 2002, Greenwell gave the Great Lake Walk instant credibility when he walked the 56 kilometres at age 89 [90].
His wife Mary died in 1985. Greenwell is survived by his 92-year-old sister Mary Williams of Delta, children Bill, Carol, Arlene, Marilyn and Jack, as well as 15 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren.
A service will be held on November 25 , 1-4 p.m. in the seniors’ centre [55 Coronation St].
The family is establishing the A.B. Greenwell Bursary Fund, Box 40 care of Lake Cowichan Secondary.


Comments

One response to “About Grandpa”

  1. Archie Greenwell is still an inspiration to people like myself who are unionized.