Gerry Wellburn: Father of the B.C. Forest Discovery Centre

One of the downfalls of having to work most of the time is the number of lost opportunities. Over the years there have been many.

One I truly regret is not having known Gerry Wellburn, father of the B.C. Forest Museum, today’s B.C. Forest Discovery Centre—100 acres of trees, forestry artifacts and trains on the western shore of Somenos Lake, at Drinkwater Road and the Trans Canada Highway.

Anyone who has visited the BCFDC knows its fascination for adults and particularly for children—where else can they ride a real steam (and diesel) train on the Island? The Christmas trains in open cars under the stars is an experience to be enjoyed and treasured.

As one who grew up beside the CNR tracks in Saanich in the last days of steam, the BCFDC train is a blast from the past.

Back in the 70s when I was still writing weekly historical articles for the Colonist I had an invitation to meet with Gerry and the museum curator, Hall Mackenzie. I can’t remember why other than, probably, Gerry was hoping for publicity for what was then the B.C. Forest Museum.

They gave me a guided tour which impressed me but nothing came of it because I was committed elsewhere.

It was only years later, after Gerry’s passing, that I came to know son Vern to some degree and learned more about his dad’s dedication to forest history.

I’ve visited the Forest Museum/Discovery Centre many times over the years, always with my camera and I’ve shot 100s of photos, viewed the exhibits and ridden the trains, just like any other visitor and tourist. I’ve also done a lot of research into provincial forestry history and invariably the name Gerry (or Gerald) Wellburn would come up.

He was both and historian and an antique collector par excellence. What few people today realize is that he was also one of the best known philatelists in the world, his stamp collection being internationally renowned.

So I’ve finally done some research into the great man himself. I’ll share my findings with you next week in the Chronicles.

* * * * *

PHOTO CAPTION: They say you can tell the real boys by their toys. For Gerald Wellburn, only the real thing would do and his B.C. Forest Museum (today’s B.C. Forest Discovery Centre), is the priceless result. —Author’s Collection