Al Kent, at our June 5 general meeting, brought forward a plan for members to participate in a tour and visit of the old Bamberton Cement facility.  Al suggested that we would enjoy this tour on July 29 and he proposed that the Chapter could cover the fee for the bus tour at Bamberton. The entire plan was approved by membership at that meeting.

The Bamberton Historical Society has brought together all of the history of this industrial plant and Maureen Alexander heads up this non-profit society.  She runs this society and the public tours from the plant manager’s old house. 

The plan was flexible for our trip on July 29.  Al had suggested that some members may want to travel on the 11 a.m. Brentwood Bay ferry and others could travel the Malahat. The easy outing brought out 25 Chapter people and 12 cars. The only requirement was to be at the Bamberton site well before our scheduled bus tour and to bring a picnic lunch.  Both of these were simple requirements!

The guided bus tour included a walkabout and our expert guide lived there as a boy so the information was clear and full of personal experiences.  There are no family houses remaining but we could clearly see the rock fences and the footprint where the houses were located.

 Most of us enjoyed an excellent video that was produced and is played at the museum site.  And for those who missed the full video and for members who did not travel on this outing, Paul Taylor has a copy and this will be shown at a future Chapter meeting.

Most of us have memories of the area when the cement plant was operating and we can recall the dusty white and grey forest around and above the plant.  Living there would have brought a few extra family challenges, such as not being able to hang the wash outside without gathering a lot of dust and keeping the family car in the garage that was included with every house. Looking at the site today was impressive with a brilliant forest and the ground carpeted with wild flowers.

A great outing, Al, and a chance to view the site that was once a fully operational cement plant and will soon be a mix of light industrial and a major housing development.