Where is Connie Thurber? 43-year-old mystery solved!
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43-year search for Powell River’s Connie Thurber (nee Bryde) ended on Saturday, November 3 when she was presented with a medal that she did not know she had won in 1969! In 1969, Connie was a student at the University of British Columbia (UBC). She played volleyball for UBC and the Calonas of Vancouver. That year, the Calonas won the 1969 Canadian Women’s Volleyball Championship held in Fredericton, New Brunswick. This historic match went point for point against the Calgary Flames and finally finished after five games with the Calonas winning the match and the title. Connie was an important member of the 1969 Calonas volleyball team. After this great win, Connie was asked by the coach to continue training and playing for the PanAmerican Games team in 1971. Because of leg injuries, Connie retired at that point and went about the next part of her life and did not remain in touch with the team.
Stars in 1969: Stars in 1969: Connie Thurber (fourth from right) and the Calonas volleyball team that won the 1969 national championship.
Connie missed the Civic Medal presentation which was held well after the title win but teammate (and manager) Marg Harris saved Connie’s medal, hoping that one day their paths would cross. The Vancouver Civic medal is a prestigious medal and is awarded to individuals or groups who bring honour and recognition to the city of Vancouver.
Connie would probably still not know about the Vancouver Civic Medal had it not been for a series of coincidences beginning with fellow team member Maureen Fishleigh (former resident of Powell River) and Marg Harris being reunited after 35 years. When these former teammates got together via a mutual friend, Maureen told Marg that Connie was liv-
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Powell River Living • december 2012 •
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