Charles Alvin Towriss

TOWRISS, Charles Alvin.  September 7, 1932 - February 21, 2023. Alvin was a self-taught master of many skills and one of the most intellectually curious people you could ever meet. In his lifetime, he was a projectionist, a businessman, a cable television technician, a house builder, a decent billiards player, a golfer, a Rotarian, a Mason, Barb’s right-hand man, a gardener, an always self-critical chef, the best kind of friend to so many, a first-rate problem solver, a scotch aficionado, an ice cream and pasta devotee and all round foodie, women’s basketball supporter, family man, a superior Gramps, and the absolute king of pithy one liners.  His grandkids could be forgiven for having wondered if he might also be a limo driver when he and Barb would pick them up and bring them to Hope for summer holidays in his fancy emerald green Lincoln Continental.  He was well known for his perfunctory (and humorous) letters to the editor of the Vancouver Province newspaper.  Al was also the family’s go-to “Google” before Googling was invented.  Alvin passed away peacefully (but we’re pretty sure he was also somewhat annoyed, as he was not a fan of hospitals at all) in Hope, BC.  He is survived by his daughters Cory and Allison, son in law Mike, grandchildren, Shauna (Keith), Destin (Ryan), Clay (Davina) and cherished great-granddaughter Marlowe.

Alvin spent his childhood years in various mining towns in BC, including the small town of Ymir (population 245).  He returned to Ymir years later to boldly buy a “round for the house” at the local Ymir Hotel – which, due to the lack of bar patrons, cost him less than $1.00. This tickled his frugal funny bone to no end.

When Al was young, the Towriss family moved to Princeton when his father Mel inherited the Capitol Theatre from his own father.  Al curled, played hockey and baseball growing up, rode his bike everywhere, loved to fish and swam in the Tulameen and Similkameen rivers all summer long.  He worked in the theatre until age 18, when he moved to Vancouver to attend UBC.  Family matters called him back to Princeton a year later, where Al became the full-time film projectionist at the theatre. It was there that Al met the love of his life, Barbara Purich, and they were married in 1956.  Barb and Alvin were not only partners in love, but partners in business. While Barb was the public face of the Capitol Theatre, Al was the behind-the-scenes fixer and film projector expert. Ever the hard worker (a trait that he passed down to his daughters and grandchildren), Al concurrently worked days at Ewart’s Hardware to support his young family and then seven nights a week at the theatre. Alvin and Barb made many lifelong friends in Princeton and always talked fondly of the many dinner parties they enjoyed. 

In 1972, Al decided that the beautiful mountains of Hope BC should be no detriment to delivering cable television to the area (they kind of were a detriment, but he was a persistent guy), and he and Barb subsequently moved to Hope and brought cable TV to the town and surrounding area when they opened the Hope Cable Television office.  Over the years, Al made numerous helicopter trips to the Hope mountaintops to adjust his satellite dishes, which always seemed to fail at the most inopportune times (such as when Hope residents wanted to watch the Super Bowl).  Al and Barb met a whole new group of lifelong friends - who became like extended family to their daughters and grandkids - and enjoyed a warm and active social life in Hope. They sold their cable business in 1990 and began to fill their retirement years with many travels to various parts of Europe, China and many warmer destinations.

Soon after settling into retirement, Alvin and Barb took up golf and it quickly became an integral part of their lives. They became members of the Hope Golf Club, participated in the club tournaments and were regular participants in the ‘9 and Dines’ at the club. Alvin developed a passion for the game, he practiced often, enjoyed making clubs, as well as gripping and re-gripping clubs. Aside from their international trips, they also travelled throughout BC, the Pacific Northwest and California with their clubs in tow. Alvin became so proficient at the game that he won the Princeton Senior Open tournament – no small feat for a person who didn’t take up the game until late in life. 

Barb predeceased Al far too early in 2005, but he capably carried on all Christmas traditions (if you knew Barb, she left big shoes to fill in the Christmas department…) and he never stopped reminiscing about their life together, keeping her memory vibrant by sharing the best of their stories with his family. He said many, many times to all of us, “She was so beautiful”.  And she was, both inside and out. 

Al also leaves behind his Whisky Wednesday crew (who cheekily brought WW to his hospital room!), his McDonald’s coffee crew, all his golf buddies, his numerous dinner pals (at 90 years old, he had a far more active social life than the rest of his family combined!), and the many dear friends he and Barb made together.  Our Dad requested that there be no funeral service (he said he hated to be the centre of attention) so if you want to remember him, pour a glass of whisky, think of your best Alvin story, and raise a toast to our beloved Dad and Gramps. He truly was our irreplaceable North Star.              

Vancouver Province, March 16, 2017

“Not a classy term”

From the recent federal to the looming provincial elections, we are bombarded by politicians referring to the “middle class.” I am not sure exactly what middle class means. Maybe it means there are lower-class and upper-class Canadians.

Great Britain has struggled for years to get rid of the class society because it creates division among its citizens. “Middle class” seems to be a term not compatible with Canadian values. I suggest politicians use “middle income” as a better term.

Alvin Towriss, Hope