Autumn 2026 | Issue No.21
qMAS Quarterly A quarterly newsletter with updates on museum goings-on and history tidbits!
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Reunited in London - 2 Open Hours - 5 qMAS Giftshop- 6 A Recipe from the Archives - 7 Haunted Walking Tours- 8
What’s new? The summer season has come to a close at the qathet Museum & Archives! This year, the Forestry Museum was open from June through the end of September, and we welcomed a fantastic number of visitors throughout the summer. Thank you to everyone who stopped by, explored our exhibits, and helped make this season such a success! As we head into the winter months, our annual Haunted Walking Tours of Townsite are wrapping up for the season. If you’ve been hoping to join us for a spooky stroll through Townsite’s history, there’s still time, but spots have been going quick!
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qMAS | Autumn 2025| Page 2
Click on me
Reunited in London ...
by Devan Gillard
Reunion of Powell River Soldiers |1967.1.5585-4
The Beaver Club Located at Trafalgar Square in London, the Beaver Club offered Canadian Soldiers serving overseas during the Second World War a welcoming place to relax while on leave. There, they could read a newspaper from home, enjoy a warm meal, and have their clothes mended by local women. The Beaver Club acted as a Social Center for Canadian servicemen and women. The Beaver Club stood in contrast to Rainbow Corner, located just a short distance away. Established by the American Red Cross, Rainbow Corner was a recreation club for American soldiers, featuring an arcade, pool tables, and a snack bar. Both clubs organized dances, theatre parties, and sightseeing tours. However, the Beaver Club offered a much more homelike atmosphere, complete with a post office and a barber shop.
qMAS | Autumn 2024 | Page 3
The 1942 Powell River Reunion The Beaver Club was an ideal gathering place for Canadian soldiers serving overseas who were fortunate to receive leave. In 1942, 72 servicemen from Powell River came together at the club for a historic reunion. Organized by Corporal Bert Schon, the reunion was made possible with the assistance of the Powell River Company, which wrote letters to the commanding officers of overseas units requesting leave for the Powell River soldiers serving in their unit. Once reunited, these servicemen marched through London, visiting many of the city’s famous landmarks before returning to the Beaver Club for a banquet.
London Reunion 1944 | 2007.50.N03069
According to the Powell River Digester, the gathering was the first reunion of its kind organized by a Canadian community.
Pages from the guest register for Beaver Club reunion, London, July 26, 1942 | 2007.50.N01960
The 1943 Powell River Reunion After the success of the first reunion, organizers planned another gathering in 1943. The Powell River Company sent out letters to approximately 250 Powell River servicemen and women overseas, hoping to bring them together in London on May 22nd.
London Reunion 1944 | 2007.50.N03068
Unfortunately, delayed invitations thwarted these plans. For many, the invitations arrived too late to arrange leave, forcing the reunion to be postponed.
qMAS | Autumn 2024 | Page 4
The 1944 Powell River Reunion Undeterred by the failed 1943 reunion, the Powell River Company renewed its efforts to organize another London Reunion. On January 23, 1944, over a hundred Powell River men and women serving in the armed forces gathered at the Beaver Club. This time, the Powell River Company worked with CBC to have the event filmed. The resulting 20minute film, titled Reunion in London, was brought back to Powell River and screened at the Patricia Theatre. The response from the local community was remarkable. Three consecutive screenings were arranged to accommodate an audience of more than 1,000 people, allowing residents back home to share in the reunion and catch a glimpse of their loved ones serving overseas.
London Reunion 1944 at Trafalgar Square| 2007.50.N03072 Sources Bell, B. (2024, December 22). Rainbow Corner, the Beaver Club and wartime London. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cnd0g9yggkeo Powell River Digester August 1942 Powell River Digester September 1942 Powell River Digester April 1943 Powell River News, May 27, 1943 Powell River Digester March 1944 Powell River Digester April 1944
qMAS | Autumn 2025 | Page 5
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qMAS Giftshop Get your Christmas gift this Christmas season at the Museum & Archives! Canadian Jade Pendants $37.00-84.00 Pendants made from Canadian Nephrite Jade
Memories of the Mill $35.00 Bringing together memoirs written by residents, long-time mill workers, students, and more, Memories of the Mill, is an anthology that looks back at the impact of the paper mill on Powell River and how it how it touched many lifes.
qMAS | Autumn 2025 | Page 7
A Recipe from the Archives . . . The Powell River Cookbook, 1941
Delicious Pumpkin Pie 1 pint pumpkin 1 pint milk 4 eggs 1 large cup of sugar 1 cup chopped dates ½ teaspoon cinnamon ¼ teaspoon ginger ½ teaspoon salt Dash of nutmeg Heat the milk and add the dates. Stir until no longer lumpy. Pour this over the other ingredients. Pour into unbaked pie crust while hot. This makes two medium-sized pies.
qMAS | Autumn 2025 | Page 9
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4790 Marine Avenue Powell River, BC V8A 4Z5 Wednesday- Sunday 10:30 am - 5 pm
info@qathetmuseum.ca 604-485-2222 www.qathetmuseum.ca