Here is the text of the first article clipped out of the paper in 1954
Newspaper clipping from July 30th , 1954
The Pitt River Boat Club has been formed, and constitution and bylaws were drawn up at a meeting held July 26 at the home of Mrs. Herbert Nodregen. the club will also obtain a charter. Club was organized by Captain W.E. Benneck of Benneck Water Taxi and Swan Towing. There will be five officers named: commodore, vice commodore, fleet captain, who will have charge of the regatta , secretary and treasurer. It has been pointed out that it is not necessary to be a boat owner to join the club . Anyone interested in developing Pitt River or Lake as a medium for boating is welcome to join. Mrs. Herbert Nordregen, phone 264M, will give further information. It will be a social club, to meet throughout the winter. It is hoped to have men from the navigation school attend the meetings and lecture on boats and boat building. I is also hoped to have members from New Westminister, as the members believe it is not possible to have a yacht club there because of strong currents in the Fraser River. Therefore, the spot on the Pitt River near the bridge is ideal. as a centre for boating on the Lower Mainland. a clubhouse, and moorings for motor boats near the river are included among the tentative plans for the future . The first Regatta will consist of two speed races.
The aims and objectives of the Pitt River Boat Club are:
1) The development and encouragement of amateur yachting and boat handling.
2)The development of seamanship through boating and knowledge of navigation.
3) Cultivation of, and an appreciation of the cruising advantages of the waters of Pitt Lake and the Pitt River.
4) To assist in providing a suitable clubhouse and mooring for the use and recreation of it's members.
A second reason for establishment of a boat club at the Pitt River Bridge is that there has also been a shipyard built there recently for the repair of boats. Persons attending the first meeting of the club were Captain Benneck, Mr and Mrs. Nordgren, Dan LeClere, Wally Steward, Bert Frith, and Miss Beryl Robinson.
you can click on the images to enlarge them
Photo of Captain Benneck 1955
awarding of Life Membership 1969
