Memories & Musings
September, 2021

Myrna Strom

By Leona Keraiff

Myrna Strom’s 23 years of community service as a school trustee started in the Crawford Bay Community hall almost 50 years ago. She attended a community meeting where Creston School Board officials were in attendance. The possibility of grades 11 and 12 being moved from Crawford Bay was a hot topic. Myrna was spurred to attend and to investigate what she had heard through the local grapevine. With two young sons at home, the thought of them not being able to finish school here was unsettling to say the least, so she had an agenda as she walked into the hall that evening.

“I remember that there were three of us who were interested in running for office, Alice Bruce and someone else who’s name I can’t recall. By the end of the meeting I was shocked to discover I was now a trustee! I also recall holding a picket sign at a rally and when I went to my first meeting at the Board office in Creston, the photo with me in it was hanging there. There were three meetings a month and I never missed one because I was worried about the high school kids being moved to either Kaso or Creston. I felt like a policeman in the beginning. It was a big responsibility. Not long after, the situation was resolved. I enjoyed my time and I learned a lot.”

As many others recollect, floor hockey and badminton were popular in the hall despite its small and crowded size. Myrna remembers a time before the new school gym was built, that two engineers from Vancouver were hired by the school board to inspect the hall. She happily shared with me that ”they deemed the hall to be safe, sound, dry and free of rot.”

Myrna also told me about the local T.O.P.s (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) chapter that has existed here for approximately 45 years and hosted several New Year’s potluck dinner/dance events. To ensure everyone got home safely, food was served after midnight’s celebrations. Buzz Buchannan of Nelson played “canned” music, ie: tapes of waltzes and other dances of different tempos on a tape deck. There were speakers of course and the hall was “jam packed”.

Money raised helped the group to buy a scale.

Myrna chuckled when I asked if her sons, Glenn and Calan might have sung in any Christmas concerts in the hall. “Definitely no singing, but they were probably in a play”, she said.

Lastly we discussed the much remembered Fall Fair. Myrna was involved both as an organizer of the event and as a participant. She was the Baking Aggregate Champion one year and still cherishes the fancy bowl she received. Her Mom Edith Little, entered her crocheting which garnered her much recognition also. “It was a huge event in the hall.” Myrna stated.” I was a Convener for the Tea, helped with programs and planning and got the judges who usually came from Creston or Nelson.  There was always lotsa help.The Tea was a social event often held in the small hall then later in the school gym. School girls served the tea and donated goodies out of the hall kitchen. People chatted while seated at card tables. A lot of fun for a dollar or two.”

Myrna told me she was not much of a gardener, so entering the flower categories to choose the largest blooms was not in the cards for her, however, she had a brainstorm one year to create a “mini flower event” where wildflowers and petite containers could be showcased.  Success again, for a brief time.

Many thanks for your decades of service, Myrna.