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RBC PENSIONERS’ NETWORK

BRITISH COLUMBIA CELL

Email RBCPENSIONERSNETWORK@SHAW.CA VOLUME 3 ISSUE 3 – JULY, 2008

HEAD OFFICE SECURITY CONCERNS Horst Kuehnel, Senior Vice-President, Archival Systems who is also responsible for back-up names and email addresses, as well as to provide an alternate system of distribution for the Newsletter, has reported from his office in Kelowna, a serious concern regarding possible security problems. Mr. Kuehnel is concerned with the proliferation of identity theft and intrusions into corporate data bases. He believes it important that a position be created at Phantom Publications to guard against any infiltration that could possibly occur. Phantom Publications have been interviewing candidates for the position of Vice-President, Security Services. The mandate for this position includes the installation of safeguards to the corporate computer system, but also to take positive deterrent action against any perpetrators. The mandate allows the placing of armed guards around the Kelowna Head Office building to insure no undesirables are allowed to access the Executive 7th floor. Pictured below is one of the short-listed candidates. He claims to be a RBC Pensioner but has no evidence to substantiate this claim. Mr. Kuehnel has asked us to display his picture to determine if any of our readers can identify this individual and provide some form of background reference.

Tell us who uses this signature.

Many of you will remember Jack Brewer and if you do, a Jack Brewer story will come to mind. Jack is retired from the Bank but is active as Vice- Chair of the Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant Local Health Integration Network (HNHB LHIN) which is involved in community care. In this picture he is speaking to the Rotary Club in Burlington, Ontario, about aging.

SUNDRY INFORMATION Most of you properly recognized the signature of Earl Archibald depicted in the last Newsletter. The only reader who identified the mystery branch as Vancouver, Marpole was Bob Walch. There must have been others who knew the answer, but did not email the Newsletter. We really appreciate readers communicating with the Editor telling us whether or not you enjoy the publication and providing some interaction with respect to the content, particularly in identifying the signatures of pensioners and mystery branches. No one was able to place the list of Staff Officers/ Personal Officers recorded in the last Newsletter into proper chronological order. We were hoping someone would be able to do this because the Editor was unsure. Would anyone like to try and put this fine lot into the correct sequence? **************************************************** What the blond said when told she was pregnant – “How do I know it’s mine.”

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This is the mystery branch. A hint - the picture was taken in 1951. A prize will be awarded to the first reader to provide positive identification. **************************************************** BOB CRAIG REMEMBERS A HOLDUP In 1954, Burnaby, Kingsway & McKay branch was my first introduction to armed robbery. Three masked and armed bandits entered the branch and made off with a substantial haul. There were shots fired within and out of the branch and the thieves took- off with RCMP in hot pursuit. Ed Bowser was the Manager and Chuck Linton the Accountant. Not the best organized plan. The getaway car was left idling unattended. When the robbers fled the bank, a passer-by seized the opportunity to run into an adjacent hardware store and grabbed a hammer. He raced out and threw it at the bandits passing by. The store owner chasing him to recover same hammer suddenly found himself facing gunfire from the fleeing bandits. He wasn’t injured, but the store front took a couple of bullets. The robbers didn’t pause in their escape. All three jumped into the back of their getaway car and took a few precious moments before they realized one of them should be up-front driving. Off they raced down Willingdon Avenue, with a BC Tel. truck in hot pursuit. So were the RCMP, but the BC Tel. truck was in the way, travelling at high speed and lurching from side to side. The unintended consequence was to shield cops from robbers. A few miles later, the driver of the getaway car lost control and landed in a ditch. The ringleader was shot in the foot running away, but still managed to make it into the bush and hide. The other two surrendered straight away. The escapee was soon tracked down with the aid of a police dog and all three served time. The maximum sentence ever handed down, at that time, for the leader, was 20 years and 25 lashings, or vice versa. When he was ultimately paroled he opened an account at Burnaby, Kingsway & Walker branch where the Manager, Chuck Linton, was one of his former victims. They became friendly enough to exchange pleasantries like “Is this visit for business or pleasure.”

And the Manager failed to mention there was no accommodation! ****************************************************

Reg Gant seen recently with his wife Peggy at a Pensioners’ Lunch. ************************************************** NOTICE Copies of back editions of this Newsletter are available electronically from rbcpensionersnetwork@shaw.ca

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LLOYD REINER I joined the bank, on August 1, 1945 as a Junior Clerk, at Waterloo, Ontario. I was right out of High School and was paid the “princely” sum of $900 per annum. Apart from an elderly Manager and Accountant, I was the only male in the branch, which was typical of the Bank in those days. Shortly after, the ex-servicemen started to arrive back, as agreed, to where they enlisted. One such returnee to Waterloo, Ontario, was W.D. (Bill) Henry, whom many of you know rose to the executive ranks. My “junior” days were terminated 7 months later when I was transferred to Harriston, Ontario, a small farming town about 50 miles north of Kitchener/Waterloo, where I assumed Teller responsibilities. I soon learned how to handle cash after 1 or 2 small cash shortages which I had to pay out of my meager salary. Six months later I was on the go again to an even smaller community (pop 500) Thamesford, Ontario - a short distance from London. The next 3 ½ years resulted in 3 more transfers in Southern Ontario to a variety of branches-Chatham, Niagara Falls Center, Trenton - in positions of increasing responsibility. At Niagara Falls Center branch, the boys (there were 3 of us) decided to take the rule book at its word which said the revolvers were to be cleaned and new ammunition installed regularly. Not wanting to waste the old ammunition, we organized a shooting range for target practice in the basement book vault using a Current Account ledger storage binder as a target/backstop. It was at this time, in spring 1950, that I was approached by Personnel about a move to B.C. which I had to decline because of my impending marriage that fall. I always wondered what changes in my career would have resulted had I accepted the invitation to move to B.C. Instead, I was transferred to Trenton, Ontario, my first Accountancy. After only 6 months I was transferred to Goderich, Ontario before my new bride Elaine could join me (we were waiting for completion of a new apartment). We became established there, where we spent 3 years. Our first daughter, Nancy, was born in Goderich. After 3 years we were transferred to Toronto, College and Bathurst and 2 years later to Brantford, Ontario where our #2 daughter Janet was born. On to Sarnia, Ontario where I was Accountant and then Assistant Manager and stayed about 3 years. I was made Manager of the #2 branch in my own home town. We spent a happy 3 years there which produced our 3rd and last daughter, Pam. From there I was promoted to Assistant Inspector on the road in Toronto and subsequently to Senior Assistant under a series of Chiefs- Joe Rogers (deceased), Morrie Morrison and J.B. (Jack) Macdonald. It was a period of firsts for me. I enjoyed my first

Overseas trip on inspections of London, England and Paris, France - which were first inspections by a group of Canadians. Ditto for Nassau, Bahamas. I was asked to lead the first inspection of a Chargex (VISA) Center. It was my special report on that inspection that brought me to an audience with W.L. (Bill) Arthur, Personnel Supervisor

in Toronto. He had a copy of my report on his desk and in discussing it he asked “How would you like to be the new Manager of the Chargex Center?” I asked if I had a choice and he replied “Not really” and that is how I became the Manager of the Toronto Chargex Center in the spring of 1970. I had been critical of a lack of administration, so we put a team together and added this component which worked out well. A year and a half later I was asked to go to Montreal to meet with Joe Broadley, head of International U.S.A. and Canada about a new position to assist a former diplomat

that knew his way around Ottawa and that the Bank hired to promote export financing. I spent 2 ½ years in the job during which I met a lot of intriguing people, both in and outside the Bank. But after awhile I expressed a wish for a change of scenery and when asked by Personnel if I had any preferences, I mentioned Inspection. The interviewer asked if I would be interested in the Inspector’s job in B.C. if it came open. Without appearing too eager, I said yes while looking at a big board on the wall that allowed me to compare positions which indicated a level or two up the ladder. Shortly after I was promoted to Inspector, B.C. and Yukon in Vancouver in September 1974. Then ensued the happiest and best 7 ½ years of my career. With supporting people such as Harvey Fisk and Harry Bensler and a first class roster of men and women, we were able to keep ahead of our schedule and we were always ready to respond favourably when asked to participate in foreign assignments. As a result, many of our crew (both Senior and Junior) were able to travel to exotic locations to assist International Inspection. At about the 5 year mark I was transferred to the Okanagan as Regional Manager, while I was on Inspection in London, England. Learning this only upon my return, I had to remind Personnel that my mobility was restricted due the ill health of my mother-in-law who was living with us at the time and I had to decline the move. I can only guess there were some red faces when the move was rescinded after it had been published. Two years later the same job came up again and with circumstances changed, I accepted after John Cleghorn all but insisted. The early 1980s were challenging times in the Okanagan/ Kootenays Region with loan problems and branch closings. I retired on June 30, 1986 in Kelowna and so came to an end my career of 40 years and 11 months of continuous service to the Bank. Thanks to everybody who supported me over the years.

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W.J. (WALLY) MACKAY Compiled by Norm Bradshaw Having known Wally for many a year, I was only too pleased to be asked to interview him and record highlights of his remarkable career. Born and raised in Victoria, Wally entered the Bank at Victoria, Fort & Cook Sts. branch and then, like the rest of us, was transferred every 12/18 months- working at Victoria, Hillside & Quadra;Vanc.7th & Granville; Nanaimo and Terrace. Along the way he met and worked with Doug Henley, Al Grant, Ernie Tierney, Les Bonar, Jack Smith, Dave Mungham, Denis Becker and Al Nick to name a few. It was at Terrace, B.C where Wally met his future wife Millie. They were married in 1953 and their daughter Jeune was born there. Terrace has a lot of fond memories, although he says excess funds was not one of them! From there he was moved to Branch Inspection in Vancouver (carrying the bag) and recalls working with Jack McDonald, Dave Christie, Jim Walker and Dick Pook- as well as many others. In '59 he was appointed Accountant at Kelowna- followed by the same post at Victoria Main a year later. Here he met Al Parno. Then it was off to Vancouver, Broadway & Cambie branch as Asst. Mgr.-the late Ed Bowser was the Manager-and he recalls Jack Nicolson was also there. During Wally’s stay in Kelowna, the branch received a very rare perfect routine inspection!! Later he was promoted to Sr. Inspector working with Peter Briscoe and Don Steele to name a couple, while terrorizing the B.C. branches! Following this he was made Manager, Victoria Douglas & Pandora branch, working with Doug Bell, Ted Bradshaw and others. This branch had never reached its full potential, but by the time Wally left their figures had reached record levels. His last BC branch inspection was conducted by Don Steele and Wally says he doesn’t know what Don had to say about him but shortly after, he was transferred to Head Office in Montreal as Asst. Supervisor, Lending (Quebec District)working alongside Les Irvine & John Clarke. After a few years he was made Mgr. of Saint John, N.B. branch and then Supervisor, New Brunswick branches. Then came a move to Halifax where he was District Mgr., Retail Banking, Atlantic Provinces. A short time later he was on the move again and became A.G.M. Alberta South, working with Blake Ashforth. In 1979 he received his first International appointment when he was moved to London, Eng. as V.P., Middle East & Africa. His next position was that of V.P., Global Energy & Minerals,

Europe, Middle East & Africa again working out of London. As you can imagine both jobs required extensive travel throughout Europe, Scandinavia, the Arab states and Africa-while calling on clients, prospects and correspondent banks, all of which meant extensive absences from home. Wally returned to Head office in 1982-(still in Mtl.) as V.P.,

Commercial Lending and shortly after, became Sr.V.P., Lending, Commercial Banking & National Accounts. As the name implies, this involved dealing with the larger credit accounts and required contact with senior executives and some Directors. 1984 saw the MacKay’s again packing their bags as they were off to Melbourne, Australia where Wally assumed the post of Deputy Managing Director and Board Member of a partnership known as National Mutual Royal Bank. Hal Wyatt & Glen Tibbatts also spent time here before the Royal sold their interest. Wally’s last move came in 1987 when he returned once again to H.O.(now in Toronto) as Sr.V.P., Lending - Risk Management (remember all those large accounts we had who were hurting, to say the least) & worked with Brian Gregson, Terry McDermid and others from B.C. who at that time were in various segments of the lending field.

Finally an end came to the countless moving and Wally's retirement came in 1989 when he and Millie returned to his birthplace in Victoria, B.C. He's the first to readily acknowledge his career would not have been the same had his wife and daughter not have been so supportive and gone along with all the moving, travelling, absences from home etc. Norm's note-while this profile is a little long, Wally had such a diversified career as he went from "Junior Clerk" to the Executive ranks and I wanted to cover as much as possible because many lost touch with him when he left B.C. Also, I take the blame for not mentioning the many, many bankers he worked with in so many different places. ***************************************************

A group of Managers at the Kamloops Bull Sale some years ago. L/R Bob Travis, Harley Stonnell, Len Kozar, Bob Stewart, Karl Gustavson, Rollard Frazee.