Myra (Wright) Nadeau was born in 1933 in Whangarei, New Zealand; a northern city by the sea and about 80 km north of Auckland.
Her husband, Glen Nadeau was born in Quesnel in 1929. As a young man, working as a movie projectionist, he was tired of long snowy Canadian winters so he decided to take a working holiday in New Zealand. Glen arrived in Auckland, New Zealand in 1958 and got a job in a paper bag factory. After a serious car accident his doctor recommended an outdoor job that included a great deal of exercise so he became a mailman for the local post office.
When Glen arrived in New Zealand, Myra happened to be away working in Sydney, Australia as a school teacher. Upon her return to New Zealand she found herself in need of a date for a formal ball. Friends introduced her to the tall Canadian from Quesnel, B.C. They attended the ball together, dated, fell in love and married on March 24, 1962.
In less than a year Mr. and Mrs. Nadeau were back in Canada and living in Quesnel.
Glen found work at the Supervalu grocery store and in 1966 he was transferred to the Supervalu store in Prince George. Myra continued to teach in both Quesnel and then Prince George.
Before leaving Quesnel, the couple had their first child. Together they raised two boys, Dr. Brian Nadeau (Gale), a Doctor of Psychology, now lecturing at two colleges in Vancouver and Kent Nadeau (Sandy) a specialist at P.G. Surg-Med Ltd. here in Prince George. The boys gave Glen and Myra four wonderful grandsons.
In 1970, Glen renewed his movie projectionist license and went back to work in his craft. A Motion Picture Projectionist License was required to operate any motion picture projection apparatus or any similar connection, in any place of assembly, or in any private or public building. The original reason for this regulation was the necessity for safety precautions for the use of nitrate prints. The law required projectionists to be formally trained to handle them in order to ensure public safety.
Then along came improved technologies in the industry and the Federal Government deregulated the projectionist union and many people lost their jobs. Fortunately for Glen, he was ready to retire and the deregulation did not affect him. He retired in 1991.
Throughout her teaching career, Myra taught at Central Fort George, Hart Highland and Quinson Elementary Schools specializing as a learning assistance teacher. She retired in 1993 after 40 years of teaching children from kindergarten to Grade 7 in Australia, New Zealand and British Columbia. Myra said, "My teaching career has been a challenging and rewarding experience."
Myra also retired and the couple travelled to numerous world-wide places that included Turkey, Greece, Egypt, Jordan, India, Chile, Patagonia, the Falkland Islands, Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil (including 1,000 miles of the Amazon River), Hawaii, Tahiti and the Cook Islands.
Many other trips were planned but Myra's ill health made it no longer possible for them to travel. Glen recently and suddenly passed away in August of 2014.
Myra loves drama, theatre work and singing. In her early years she was trained for an operatic career which did not materialize. Myra was taught by the same teacher, Sister Mary Leo, who trained the New Zealand operatic soprano Kiri Te Kanawa, a well known and a highly successful international opera star.
Myra continued to sing throughout her life as an active member of the Alex Murray Singers, St. Michaels and all Angels Anglican Church Choir and the Cantata Singers, of which she also served as president.
Myra says, "I am now 81 years old. Both the loss of my voice and my inability to play the piano due to age has been a difficult adjustment. I now enjoy listening to music produced by others, joining friends in games of cards and visiting with family and friends."
Myra and Glen Nadeau enjoyed raising their family in Prince George. Their life here was been busy and rewarding. Myra believes that they were privileged to be part of a Prince George that has developed into a caring, multi-faceted, engaged community.
April Anniversaries: 65 years for Eric and Christena Benwell, 62 years for Joe and Sophie Chartrand, 51 years for Armand and Doreen Denicola, 57 years for August and Loretta Thibault, 52 years for Greg and Alice Friend, 52 years for John and Anne Hiebert, 50 years for Hans and Roberta Johansen, 49 years for Derek and Ester Swanson, and 14 years for Leonard and Mary Duperron. April birthdays that I know about: Bruna Valentinis Nadalin, Donna Bosnich, Clasina Van Adrichem, Patrick Stapleton, Fern Roberts, Judith Elmquist, Lois Boone, Ken Stahl, Lillie (Khin Sein) Sein, Laurie Rustad, Barb Endean, Frank Porter, Spence Baker, Patsy Patterson, Joan Millns, Gertrude Lansing, Diane Duperron, John Frenkel, Lothar Hirt, Charlie Burkitt, Joyce Burkitt, Shirley Green, Terry Carter, Marion Watt, Shirley Gratton, Sandra Dingwall, Hilliard Clare, Allen Soltis, Angie Hoksbergen, Lloyd Clay, Stan Cook, Mary Ellen Duperron, Joan Frechette, Joyce Grantham, Avril Barr, Sandy Moseley, Robin Earle, Marvin Wilson, Sharon Talkington, Gert Lefebvre, Beverley Horne, Kathy Balcom, Sharon Ford, Dorothy Wood, Anne Crawford, Carol Zogas, Alice Friend, Jim Sweeney, Glen Horning, Rene Joly, George Kivi, Merdo Boaiak, Bob MacPhee, Rosemary Burns, Andres Norum, Ginny Parsons, Art Carter, Leona Nyberg, Margaret Cosh, Beatrice Rabocz, Roderick Herd, Grace Spears, Harold Hewlett, Peter Norman, Ellen Loughery, Maxine Valpy, Edwina (Babs) Watt, Iris Peters, Joyce Allen, Joan Andres, Dianne Wanless, and Darlene Wainwright.
