Retiree Stories

Garry Carruthers
Newcomer 1988, Brampton, Ontario

Garry Carruthers started a new career in Campbell River when he moved here in March 1988. He bought himself a little business called Mail Boxes Etc. and has been running it successfully ever since. He was living in Brampton, Ontario when his daughter started working as a nurse in Campbell River. Visiting her here gave Mr. Carruthers a chance to really fall in love with the beauty of it: mountains, sea, the friendliness, and the various advantages to small town life. It has proved to be an ideal place to run a business and eventually retire.

Garry's business keeps him busy, but when he's not working he enjoys the local scenery from the water and the air. He loves to fish here and caught a twenty-seven pounder on his first trip out. A pilot as well, Mr. Carruthers says the scenery here is some of the most incredible he's ever seen. When he's retired officially, he looks forward to flying and fishing to his hearts content.

Before coming to Campbell River, Gary had always lived back East. There are many things he's glad to have left there. He is more than happy to have escaped the bitter cold winters. He describes wading through six inches of salty slush; salt put down by the city seeping into his clothes and rusting out the cars. After dealing with this he has no complaints about the rain or the few brief inches of snow that is the usual extent of a Vancouver Island winter. Another thing he's glad to leave behind is the hours he would spend in traffic, saying happily, "the most traffic I've ever seen here was six cars lined up at a stop light!" He also appreciates drinking better, less chlorinated water and breathing the fresher air.

Besides the beauty and the climate, the simple friendliness and courtesy of the locals is something that left Gary Carruthers no second thoughts about leaving Toronto for Campbell River. It's something that he continues to enjoy. He describes how in Toronto, or any big city, there's a lot of apprehension. He uses the example that if you say hello to someone in an elevator, they think you're going to try to sell them something. "Everyone has their guard up". It's nothing like here where people on the street nod and say hello and you can start up a conversation with just about anyone.

Garry Carruthers is still certain that Campbell River is ideal for retirement. Coming here has been a great move for him. He's continued to enjoy the people, the scenery, and the relief from big city stress. He looks forward to the future when he'll have even more time to enjoy it all.