In the beginning of July, while telling his father that we were going up to Vancouver, BC to visit some friends, George found out that his great-uncle Dick O'Reilly was living in Ladner, BC.  Up to this point, we thought that Dick and his family still lived in Thunderbay, Ontario.  George got Dick's email address from his father and arranged for us to meet Dick and his wife Margaret while we were up in the area.

Dick and Margaret are both 90 years old (Dick will be 91 in August).  Dick emigrated to Canada from Ireland in 1938, while his second wife Margaret was born and bred in Thunderbay.  We found out while visiting that they had been living in Ladner for 14 years.  Margaret's daughter and family had settled in BC and finally talked them into moving out away from all the snow in Ontario.  Dick still rides his bike and Margaret swims three times a week.  We had a great visit and extended our time with them by going out to dinner.  Dick told us stories about his experiences in WWII.  When I commented that he was one of the many Irishmen who had joined the British Army during WWII, he protested that he had not joined the British Army, he had joined the CANADIAN Army.  That's when I found out he had emigrated in 1938.  He was in a tank battalion and lost the hearing in his left ear during the war.  He was stationed in North Africa and then later in Italy.  Dick has a great way with telling a story.  Margaret also had some wonderful stories about growing up in Thunderbay, Ontario.

George & I plan to visit Dick and Margaret again when next we go up to Vancouver.