Bruce (Bohaychuk)
My mother was given up for adoption as an infant in 1947 – my grandparents Max and Phyllis Bruce adopted her. (In 2012 we discovered my mother’s biological parents, and that she is Métis.)
The Bruce‘s are remembered and cherished for the amazing people they were. They rest at Valley View Memorial Gardens in Surrey, BC, Canada. There is a lovely headstone and a special bench marking their long marriage.
Bohaychuk
The Bohaychuk family came from Vegreville – a town in central Alberta, Canada. It is on Highway 16A approximately 103 km east of Edmonton, Alberta’s capital city. It was incorporated as a town in 1906.
The Bohaychuk family are Ukrainian. So my mother was raised with Ukrainian customs.
Then she met my grandpa Max. He delivered milk, by horse drawn carriage. They lived on Vancouver Island, BC Canada. My grandfather Max was actually born in Mundare, Alberta, Canada. It is approximately 70 km (43 mi) east of Edmonton.
My grandmother was born Phyllis Jackson, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. She was a saleslady in Victoria when they married.
They were married May 8th, 1943 in Victoria, BC Canada.
At the time, Max lived at 2310 Wark Street, Victoria. Phyllis lived at 3121 Earl Grey Rd, Victoria.
September 8th, 1945 changed they officially changed the last name from Bohaychuk to Bruce.
Eventually they adopted my mother Joan in 1947 in Duncan BC, Canada. And then they adopted my aunt Susan in 1954. Phyllis was unable to have children of her own due to having an abortion in the 1940s – due to a failed first marriage to an abusive drunk.
By 1948 Max Bruce worked for Andrew Sheret Limited, and eventually owned shares of the company. He was always a kind and generous man. He loved Dobermans, and they had many over the years.
Max eventually built houses, all over the Vancouver area and a cabin up at Cultus Lake. (See 8mm film info below for addresses and locations below.)
VANCOUVER, BC
The Bruce family is in Vancouver by 1948 with a listing at 1003 Coml (I have yet to locate this address.)
In 1949 they are listed at 3018 South Cambie Street, Vancouver.
In the 1950-1955 my grandparents owned “rental rooms” in the property located at 1139 Barclay Street in downtown Vancouver, BC. I found old Greater Vancouver listings – snippets below.
My mom has memories of the large old mansion that my grandparents rented rooms out of. This are some pictures with the building in the back. It is gone now, an apartment tower exists on the property that seems to have been built in the 1970s. (See Skyline.)
From the look of the building, it appears it was much like the historical Barclay Manor.
1954 Listed at 6840 Gladstone Street
In 1954-1955 Max & Phyllis are listed as owning 1139 Barclay and 6840 Gladstone Street, which I believe my grandfather built. The house is gone now, but I found this old photo of it.
In 1954 they adopted my aunt Susan.
1958 to 1971 – Vancouver Homes
Then my grandfather Max built many houses, the family moved a lot around Vancouver, BC. The following are some of those locations.
1958-60 Listed at 661 W 26th Ave
This house is still standing and looks lived in by the Google search.
1960 Listed at 5429 Heather Street
This house is still standing and looks well loved from the Google search.
1961 Listed at 7958 Yukon Street
This house is gone, and a large condo strata complex is there now.
1962 Listed at 1242 West 49th Ave
The house is gone, it looks like a larger home now takes up several lots where it once stood.
1964 Listed at 570 West 49th Ave
From the Google image it looks like this place is probably going to be turned into condos.
1967 Listed at 458 West 44th Ave
From the Google image it looks like this place is probably going to be turned into condos.
1971 Listed at 496 West 37th Ave
For now this house is still standing, it appears to be a duplex.
I have 31 8mm film reels from these locations to develop in to modern format. That could have some amazing video of places like Disneyland and Zoos. Stay tuned. This is where I obtained the house addresses of all the places they lived between 1958 and 1967.
My mother met my father in high school in South Cambie area of Vancouver in the 1960s in high school.
The 1970’s
My grandfather and dad built a cabin on Cultus Lake together. My dad (an engineer) designed the roof and layout. Location: 608 Mountain View Rd.
Move to SURREY, BC
Max retired early and the family moved to a home at 14229 Trites Road, in Surrey, BC in 1977.
My mom and dad divorced and in the early 1979 – my mom met a widowed man that lived on the same road, and fell in love with him. His name was Bronco Horvath.
Theodore’s Steak and Schnitzel House
My uncle Victor Kanuka owned a restaurant for a time – until it burnt down in a fire in 1981. That is me and my brother and dad at the restaurant after a day at the White Rock Sandcastles Festival.
It was an old landmark restaurant in Surrey history formerly known as Tara’s but my uncle had called it Theodore’s Steak and Schnitzel House. He reopened another version of the restaurant in Langley after the fire. My aunt Susan divorced him and went on a wild adventure with many various bikers. So the children were better off raised by my grandparents.
1983 Amble Green
Not long after that my grandparents moved in 1983 to Amble Green area of South Surrey, and my grandparents raised my 2 cousins and they lived with them full time in the 80s.
This is there house in Amble Green (13234 17a Avenue) of South Surrey. They went on many adventures in that motor home and let my dad borrow their boat for vacations.
1995 South Surrey
In 1991 eventually moved to 14989 21st Avenue South Surrey.
Sadly my grandpa Max fought lung cancer for many years until he lost the battle in 1993.
In 1995 – I was married in that backyard.
Phyllis lived in her home alone until the end – a fierce matriarchal woman. She had always been a homemaker, and made the most amazing Christmas feasts. She loved Boston Terriers and they had many over the years. Not only did she raise 2 adopted children, she and my grandfather also raised my 2 younger cousins. My grandmother continued to raise my cousins, and live in the home.
She stayed there until she was 92, and passed away in 2011.
Memorials
