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Richmond author recalls juggling family, professional life in post-war Canada

The trials and tribulations of family life across Canada are chronicled in a new book written by 92-year-old Richmond author Patricia Stanyer. Stanyer - who lives near No.
Stanyer
Richmond author Patricia Stanyer, 92. Photo submitted

The trials and tribulations of family life across Canada are chronicled in a new book written by 92-year-old Richmond author Patricia Stanyer.

Stanyer - who lives near No. 1 and Francis roads, but spent 26 years previously in “The Monds” – grew up in PEI and talks about in “A Time to Remember” of life raising a family while working as a teacher across Canada.

“I think older people, particularly, would like this book, those who remember the post-war years and the struggles of pioneer life in various parts of the country,” Stanyer told the Richmond News.

Her latest book is gaining momentum, with a book signing taking place at Indigo in Richmond Centre on the weekend.

Previously, “A Time to Remember” was only available, at $18-20, at Black Bond Books in Ladner and Albany Books in Tsawwassen.

Stanyer, a long-standing educator and writer, began her publishing career in 1981 when she edited her mother’s book, “A Good Time Was Had By All.”

The following year, she published a genealogy of her husband Raymond’s family entitled “Hewers of Stone.”

In 1988, she published a nurse’s story called “Try The Goose Grease.” A venture into publishing sports magazines began with the World Cup soccer tournament in 1993 with her two sons being the chief writers. The venture ended in 1994 when their hockey magazine could not be distributed due to the hockey strike.

Under the company name Tabor Publishing, Stanyer published her brother Reg’s books, “Close To The Heart” and “To The Folks.

In 2005, she collaborated with Reg in a book about their father, “The Legendary Big Jim Pendergrast.”

In all, more than 10,000 books have been distributed and sold by the small publishing company in the past 35 years.

“Because of my better than average education I was able to work at teaching and raise a family of five children. Consequently, we also had extras like trips to ski hills, sports and piano lessons,” she told the Delta Optimist last month.

“When I started publishing I was reminded at bookstores that they could sell more books about British Columbia, therefore I have attempted to describe the areas in which I have lived in the province. I have been fortunate in having had a good husband and children who have accomplished much in their lives. They have encouraged me to write about my life.”

With a file from the Delta Optimist