Help from Hudson’s Bay

The year, I believe, was 1948 or 1949. My mom, Hilda Renee, had been hired by the Hudson’s Bay Co. and had been there three weeks.

My dad had been in a terrible work accident. It was now the day before Christmas and they were waiting for a compensation cheque. My mom said: “Don, come in at 3 p.m. when I get my coffee break to let me know if you get your cheque as we have nothing for the kids for Christmas.” There were four of us children.

Dad arrived at 3 p.m. and mom could tell by his face — no cheque. When dad sat down, mom was crying softly and said: “What are we going to do? We have nothing for the kids for Christmas.”

There was a woman sitting at another table and overheard my mom. She went upstairs to the office and told them.

It was now 5 p.m. Mom was putting on her coat and one the employees in the cafeteria said to her: “Hilda, can I see you for a moment?” Mom walked around the partition and there were the managers and staff from the different departments with tree, turkey and all the trimmings for a Christmas dinner plus presents for all of us kids.

They had looked through mom’s application for employment to get the information they needed.

Someone offered to drive mom home as she took the bus to Esquimalt as we lived in Macaulay Camp. I have spoken of this to my kids and grandkids, asking them to step in if they see someone in need and can help. If that woman who overheard my mom had done nothing, what a different Christmas story that would have been for four very young kids.

Jacqueline Westwood Victoria