Pioneer distributor Larry Holden. Photo by Greg Amos
Long-time Valley Echo distributor Larry Holden delivers both The Valley Echo and The Pioneer. Hes often aided by his wife, Sandy Clark, and returns the favour by helping her business, Canterbury Flowers, make deliveries. He does it all in his black Ford F350 4 x 4. The Radium Hot Pools staff get a big kick from receiving The Pioneer.
I have some people that, as soon as I walk in the building, I have to hand it to them while theyre sitting there having their coffee theyre just regulars who want the paper, he said. Larrys job as distributor is just one of many hes worked during his career. This is perfect; its just what I want, 21 to 30 hours a week. Im semi-retired, I guess.
Pioneer distributor Blair Robinson. Photo by Greg Amos
As a retired condominium owner at Panorama Mountain Village, Blair Robinson approached mountain management several years ago to see if The Pioneer could be brought up to the ski hill. Blair was able to make it happen and has been voluntarily bringing the newspaper to Panorama ever since. A lifelong businessman, Blair spent two decades working in electronic security, mainly for Calgary-based companies. Hes also been a hotel chef and a teacher, and says he doesnt miss working the 70-hour weeks he had in the security industry.
Pioneer distributor Richard Heffernan. Photo by Nicole Trigg
Richard Heffernan has delivered The Pioneer to Cranbrook since 2009. Mr. Heffernan lives in Tata Creek and says some of the residents in the seniors homes in Cranbrook are former Invermere residents who love to keep tabs on their hometown through The Pioneer. They usually check the police report first, with one reader saying she wants to see if anybody she knows is in jail.
