Karen Bowker:
CLASS OF 1969
Nanaimo District Secondary SchoolClass of 1969
Nanaimo, BC
Karen's Story
PAST: Born in Vancouver, B.C. Adopted at the age of 8 by a Nanaimo couple. Very shy child and a quiet student. Grew up in the farming area. Developed a strong love for music and dogs but never had a dog until I was a teenager. Until then my only pet was Kelly, a Kildare that I hatched in an incubator and raised. Reunited with my sister who was adopted by a family in Courtenay. I met my dearest friend, Judy, in highschool. I think we were friends in a past life too. Continued education as a medical secretary at Malaspina Colllege with night school classes in medical and dog related subjects. Married a logger and had 1 girl and 3 boys. Moved the kids out of the logging camp so they could get involved in the usual youth groups. I was also very involved with the kids activities sometimes taking on an executive position. 4H was a big part of their lives --rabbits, horses, goats. Never thought I'd learn to milk a goat. I learned how to competively train dogs. Also got involved with the SPCA in their pet therapy programme. I got so involved with the dogs that I became an obedience instructor for 2 kennel clubs. Working with Vets at an emergency clinic, for tame and wild animals, satified my hunger for "dog knowledge" and got me fasinated with "body language". The Vets worked on a rotation basis so I had lots of brains to pick. One Vet introduced me to the world of cats. My clinic job, and the wealth of information available to me, came in handy when I did SPCA school classroom presentations. The schools were in the Nanaimo and District area and were about being kind to our pets and playing safe around stray dogs. I did around 50 presentations a school year. This programme is called Humane Education. In 2000, the BCSPCA honoured me by naming me Volunteer of the Year for Nanaimo and Districts. Judy and I started Gentle Giant Kennels to breed and promote the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog. In 2001 I left all this behind and made a major move to the north-west end of Vancouver Island to be with my husband at his work place. The children were all grown up, on their own and doing fine. It wasn't long before I had my hands on the dogs again. I joined a club, started training classes and grooming. In 2002 we opened a pet service business with a satelite veterinary clinic. It also served as a containment area for stray, adoptable, and wild animals. We had a pregnant dog brought in for adoption. She had her 11 pups at the shelter. The young mother was too young to accept the responsibilities of a mother so I was their mother for 8 weeks. I then dewormed, vaccinated, and had them all "fixed" before placing them in their new homes. Our closest vet is 1 1/2 hours away. What a noisy trip to the vet that was! Recently we closed our store for health (mine)and other reasons...Expand for more
. Our daughter and her husband gave us a grandson in 2007. We couldn't wait for his arrival and apparently he couldn't either. He was born 5 weeks early. Everything went fine. PRESENT: I'm still doing the pet service, except boarding - but from the house. I do groomings and sell supplies. I even do toenail trimming housecalls. For about 5 years now, I've been writing a pet advise column for the newspaper. It helps solve pet problems, spotlights breeds, gives recipes and tips. I also have sections for "New Kid on the Block" and "The Rainbow Bridge". We run a birthday section and send out birthday presents.
FUTURE; Recently I discovered that I have a half-brother and sister. I also found out that my love for music and dogs is something that I come by naturally. My father played the dolbro and his brother played the guitar. My 1/2 sister is in Prince George and my 1/2 brother is in Vancouver. A get together is planned for this summer. Our 40th high school reunion is this fall. Also my husband's 1/2 sister is coming to Canada, from England, for a first time visit. We are also planning a cruise to Alaska. Between visits, dog seminars and dog shows, our downstairs will be getting a facelift. I'm looking forward to having more time with the grandson, dogs and new home. UPDATE-- April 11/2015. Still doing the dog things. Have added baking cakes for a local restaurant to my list. These days I'm doing it solo. My husband, Bruce, was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer on December 30, 2011. He passed away on June 12, 2012. Three months before he passed, he was able to meet someone very special to me--my birth mother. After all these years, of looking, I get a call from the Canadian Adoption Registry telling me hat they had a hit on my file. My half sister had spotted my posting and wanted to meet me. It seems that all these years my birth mother was in the Courtenay area when I thought that she was in Vancouver. It seems that where I thought that there were 4 of us siblings, it turns out that in actuality, I have 12 full and 1/2 siblings out there. One 1/2 brother passed away several years ago and another 1/2 brother just last year passed away with Cancer. Today I am appreciating my family and friends a lot more. Making new friends and learning to fly solo. Originally I didn't want to move to Gold River but now, how can I ever entertain the idea of leaving here. This beautiful Swiss like village is full of the friendliest people with loving, warm open arms. At the drop of a hat they will hold a bake sale fundraiser to help out someone in need. At the end of the sale it is no surprise to find $2,000 - $12,000 in the donation can. This is one of best places to retire. We have excellent senior activities and fast medical care.
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