VIA Rail Canada Pensioners' Association
Association des Retraités de VIA Rail Canada

British Columbia and Alberta Colombie Britanique et Alberta

---

....Executive....

	President - Harold Basaraba Harold started his thirty two year old railway career in Edmonton Alberta with CN Rail in 1954 and retired from VIA Rail in 1986. He served with both CN and VIA as waiter, steward, sleeping car conductor and from 1980 to retirement in 1986 as service manager. He served his fellow employees for five years as chairperson for the Canadian Brotherhood of Railway Transport and General Workers. Harold is one of the longest serving president of any of VIA Pensioners Chapters and held this position for the last fifteen years. Prior to this position he was first vice president of the association. He is the third president of the BC and Alberta Chapter. Harold was born in Edmonton, where he lived, until moving to Vancouver in 1956. He now resides with his wife in Coquitlam BC. Harold loves to travel and visit the casinos as a past time. His other passions are playing the stock markets.
	1st Vice President - Frank Trybuck Frank had a lustrous career with both CN and VIA Rail. Originally from Athabasca, Alberta, he settled in Vancouver.  Frank served as waiter, porter, steward waiter, sleeping car conductor and service manager.  He also served his fellow employees in the Canadian Brotherhood of Transport and General Workers.  Frank held various offices with the union, serving as recording secretary, local chairman, and president.  Upon retirement he served as president of the BC & Alberta chapter of the pension association and now serves as first vice president.  Frank loves to travel and visit the various casinos.  He also shares an interest in politics.
	2nd Vice-President - George Anderson George joined CN rail in 1965 as an electrical worker [electrician] at CN’S Fairview roundhouse in Halifax N.S.  In 1973 he was transferred to Moncton, N. B.  His duties while in Moncton were as foreman at Gordon Yard Diesel Shop and also served as Mechanical inspector at CN’S Atlantic Regional offices.  In 1997 he was transferred back to Fairview Roundhouse as Shop Foreman in Halifax, where he continued to work until transferring to VIA Rail as mechanical Inspector.  He served VIA as mechanical Inspector until he was promoted to Senior Mechanical Inspector and then as the first Director of Maintenance at Halifax’s Ocean Terminal Maintenance shops.  George was instrumental in having the Halifax shops build, by withstanding some opposition from some of VIA’S executive members at headquarters. In 1989 he was transferred to Vancouver were he served as Vancouver Maintenance Centre Director untill retirement in 1993.  George was a member of a five member team that wrote VIA’S first maintenance schedule for car and motive power in Montreal.  In private life George has served his communities as Scoutmaster, President of home owners, Minor hockey coach and hockey coach coordinator.  He resides with his wife in Surrey B.C.
	Secretary Treasurer - Dorothy Jones Dorothy is from Montreal and now resides in Vancouver.  Her career was largely in part served in the comptroller’s office, at various accounting jobs, she also served as ticket agent and at the time of retirement was a senior relief clerk.  Dorothy served with both CN and VIA Rail.  She loved to hike in and around BC.  She has an invested interest in minor hockey and supports her nephew who coaches, along with two great nephews who play.  She is a long time serving secretary / treasurer of the BC and Alberta association.
	Social Chairman - Lou Lawrence Lou is an outstanding member of BC /Alberta association, serving the association as social chairman.  He originally came from Fredericton, New Brunswick and now makes his home in New Westminster, BC.  Lou started his career in Vancouver and served with CN and VIA Rail. During his career he served as porter, waiter and conductor.  He served his fellow employees as secretary of the Sleeping Car and Porters Union.  Lou loves boxing and was a participator in younger years.  He turned professional in Vancouver and in 1968 held the title of Middle Weight Champion of Canada.
	Health & Welfare Chairman - Mozart Mimms Mozart comes to us from Allensville, Kentucky, USA and now makes his home in Vancouver.  His career spanned both Canadian Pacific and VIA Rail.  During his employment he served as sleeping car porter, porter instructor, platform inspector and service manager.  He served his fellow employees as chairman of the grievance committee and president of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters.  Mozart loves all sports but admits that baseball, football. basketball and hockey are his favorites.  When relaxing he listens to jazz. sacred, classical and country & western music.  If he does not answer his door you will find him in his beloved garden.

Click here to return to the National Home page