collection F55 - Raymond Gareau fonds

Raymond (Ray) Gareau (1942--) was a mill worker who worked at Fraser Mills for over 35 years.

Raymond Gareau was born in Winnipeg in 1942. In 1945 the Gareau family moved to Maillardville in after Raymond’s father was discharged from the Canadian Air Force. The Gareau family was incentivized to move to Maillardville by the promise of employment at Fraser Mills as well as government incentives for the purchase of a house. A further incentive was the Maillardville area, which had a well-established French Catholic community.

Gareau was educated at several local schools, including private parochial schools, Millside School, Austin Heights School, Como Lake Senior Secondary, as well as Notre Dame High School in Vancouver. He later obtained a Certificate in Business Administration from Eric Hamber Secondary, the tuition for which was provided in part by his employer.

Gareau began working at Fraser Mills as a teenager, on weekends and during the summer. During his employment at Fraser Mills he held a number of different roles, including several supervisory and management positions. After retiring, he started a small consulting company related to forest products.

Gareau was an active member of his community, serving on the board of directors for the Village Credit Union, as well as the Place Maillardville Community Centre. He also served as president of Club Bel Âge.

Gareau married his high school sweetheart, Margaret, who trained as a nurse at St. Paul’s Hospital, and became one of the first nurses to work at Eagle Ridge Hospital when it opened in 1984. The couple have two children, Richard and Robert.