1993 to 1995 | 1996 to 1998 | 1999 to 2001
By Jane Pinkerton
The FVLC was formed in February, 1990 when Dick and Shirley Gardiner contacted all llama owners they knew of in the Fraser Valley. As a result of this meeting the first Executive was formed, which was
President Dick Gardiner
Vice-President Vern Drader
Treasurer Bob Hilton
Secretary Jane Pinkerton
Newsletter Brian Pinkerton
To the best of our knowledge and memory, the following people attended this meeting:
Vern Drader
Ralph and Gail Estensen
Dick and Shirley Gardiner
Bob and Pat Hilton
Mary Hudson
John Otava
Anne and Tanya MacDonald
Brian and Jane Pinkerton
Marie Seabrook
Judi and Darrel Smith
Kelly Walker
Our first club llama walk was held in March, 1990 at the Matsqui Dike. We had a display at the Sheep and Wool Fair and Agrifair and members participated in the Maple Ridge, Mission and Mt. Lehman Parades. Pat and Bob Hilton hosted our first two-day clinic in July when Cathy Crisman of Kalama, Washington talked and showed slides on Showing and Grooming on the Saturday with Packing and Carting on the Sunday.
The very first club function was a llama hike in March along the Matsqui Trail on the banks of the Fraser River. This area is now part of the Trans-Canada Trail.
Members participated in the first PNE llama show which was the first llama show in B.C. Dick Gardiner was responsible for arranging this show, Judy Hyder gave a clinic on showing before the show and Lyn Hyder was the judge.
The club had a display booth at the Sheep and Wool Fair held in the Exhibition grounds in Abbbotsford. In the photo on the right, young Troy Estensen is confidently manning the booth.
The border was suddenly closed to the importation of camelids into Canada in August of 1990. A number of people who had purchased animals in the United States and hadn’t yet brought them up found that they were not allowed to import them.
Other llama owners that joined the club in 1990:
Wilf and Carol Bing
Donna and Terry James
Ken and Rebecca Lavell
Mike and Linda Loynes
Gerlinde Pfenniger
Kathy Wilson
Our first annual meeting was held at the Flourishing Restaurant in Langley when new officers were elected for 1991.
The new executive, as elected at the first annual meeting were:
President Bob Hilton
Vice-President, Jan. - June John Otava
Vice-President, July - Dec. Brian Pinkerton
Secretary Kelly Walker
Treasurer Marie Seabrook
Newsletter Brian Pinkerton
A permit system from Agriculture Canda came into effect requiring llamas and alpacas to have a permit in order to be moved, including to shows, sales and even walks and parades.
At Agrifair the club had a small display with two llamas. The llamas were not allowed in the buildings because of an unfounded TB concern. In later years we had about eighty llamas on display and in the show.
In August, a Cathy Crisman clinic on grooming, showing and driving was held at the home of Bob and Pat Hilton. Members of the club agreed to form a committee to organize the 1992 CLA Conference to be held in White Rock, B.C. in October, 1992.
The club participated in several parades and walks, the Sheep and Wool Fair, display at Agrifair and the PNE Show.
In September we had a beautiful day for our hike at Buntzen Lake as you can see in the photo on the right when the participants gathered on the beach for a group photo.
Members who joined the club in 1991 include:
Olaf Hansen
Clint and Erin Moore
Peggie McRobbie and Tim Weiler
Marilyn and Don Ross
Wayne and Terri Wiebe
The annual dinner meeting was held January 14, 1992 at the Langley Best Western. The new executive was elected, being:
President, Anne MacDonald
Vice-President, Judi Smith
Treasurer, Mike Loynes
Secretary, Darrel Smith
The newsletter was taken over by Judi and Darrel Smith who still do this job today. The club brochure, designed by Brian Pinkerton was available early in 1992 for distribution.
Agrifair, headed by Bob Hilton and Neil Wilson the club had its first llama show and private treaty sale. Members attended the Sheep and Wool Fair and the Pacific National Exhibition, chaired by Anne MacDonald had its first team challenge.
Llamas, being still unusual in these days, always attracted a crowd, as this llama in the photo on the left has at the PNE.
A pot luck supper was held in the summer at Judi and Darrel Smith’s with a demonstration on training by Krys Van Arem who trained under Betty Barkman.
As always, several hikes and parades were attended by members.
The first llama walk was held in White Rock to advertise the upcoming conference, when a sweat shirt with the conference logo on it was given to the mayor of White Rock.
As you can see in the picture on the right, there were a lot people and llamas involved in the White Rock walk. A little further along, in the business area, there were many more spectators.
The Canadian Llama Association Conference was held at the Pacific Inn in White Rock, with Pat Hilton as chairperson and Jane Pinkerton as Secretary with many club members on the different committees. This was one of the best attended conferences with a most impressive list of speakers including Murray Fowler, Bill Franklin, Jim Ferguson, Kay Patterson, our own Ralph Estensen, and trainers Marty McGee and Betty Barkman. The logo, designed by Clarence Wells of the Tsimpshian Port Simpson Tribe, is now used as the FVLAC logo. The theme of the conference was “The Spirit of the Llama”.
The following members joined in 1992:
Roy and Sonnet Chalmers
Bill Chase and Derry Walsh
Angela Gojevic and Wynn Gorman
Trev and Rose-Ann Lewis
Vern and Denice Lillies
Tony and Connie Seale
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