Joe Warshawsky
My family dates back to the1900s in this valley. I am of eastern European decent. My mothers side came from Hungary and settled in Michel, then Morrissey, and finally in West Fernie. My great grandfather was placed in the Morrissey interment camp and my mothers’ father came from Ireland and he was a guard. My fathers’ family came from Poland, my grandfather and his brothers were military people who served with the English and came to Canada. My grandfather then settled in Hillcrest, Alberta and came to Fernie around 1910. The house I currently live in was purchased by my grandfather in 1928. My grandfather had some money left and placed it in the home bank and when the depression started he was soon bankrupt. My forefathers were employed in mining, and the lumber industry. I followed that same path and carried a lunch bucket. My wife family settled in Coal Creek and West Fernie. When we got married in 1978, we settled in Hosmer and then purchased a home at 951,7th avenue in 1987. We then moved into our present home after a lengthy renovation. We raised our family of 4 between Hosmer and Fernie. Diane and I enjoyed sports growing up and encouraged our children to do the same. We encouraged our children to be involved and contribute to our community. Half of our children settled in Fernie and now raise their children here because of the quality of life. Our grandchildren now represent the sixth generation here. I have been parts of organized labour most of my life; i.e. IWA in the wood industry, UMWA in the Kaiser era of mining along with being a member of Mine Rescue Team. I decided in my mid twenties to go to LCC to take a pre-apprentice program for automotive repair. I then worked in automotive repair shops, dealerships, and even tried to be my own boss and opened up a mobile auto repair. In the mid eighties I when to work for the Department of Transportation and Highways. I completed my work life there of twenty-nine years from the highways sector. 28 years of my life was devoted to the BCGEU at this worksite till I retired
- Helped organize the first slow pitch league in Fernie (1974)
- Helped create a Junior Forest Warden program and charter in Hosmer for youth 8-16 years. (1983)
- Coached youth soccer in Fernie (1986-1990)
- Volunteered and helped with Fernie minor hockey teams (1994-2000)
- Appointed as chair of OH&S committee for twenty years (1993- 2013)
- Helped with the first mixed ball league in Fernie, 6 team league (1988)
- President of Fernie and district art council (1998-2001) appointed to Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance council a delivery agent for CBT (2001-2003)