WELCOME TO THE COMMUNITY: Volunteering runs in this Aldergrove family

Langley is made up of a series of neighbourhoods or “communities,” some that were developed in the past few decades, while others enjoy long, rich histories, some reaching back to the mid to late 1800s. In this neighbourhood feature package, the Langley Advance Times introduces its readers to a few individuals who call these various areas of town home, talk about why they settled here, and address a little history about their neighbourhoods. Hope you enjoy this package.

Brenda Haid says she has unintentionally become the “family historian” through her volunteer work with the Alder Grove Heritage Society (AGHS).

Her family name can be found in local records as far back as the 1950s, when her grandparents Charles Haid and Mary Zubick moved to Aldergrove in 1950 with their six children (Marie, Wilfred, Norman, Dawn, Betty, and Doreen).

Initially, the Haids were going west from Manitoba with the goal of settling in New Westminster. With six hungry children, they stopped in Aldergrove, at the Blue Bird Cafe, for a meal.

Following a conversation with a local bank manager, Charles was offered a small house across the street near Buckerfield’s for rent. The manager also needed some carpentry work done and, as that was Charles’ expertise, he offered a month’s free rent to the family in exchange. Charles soon began taking on more jobs until the family’s stay became permanent.

He soon opened a cabinet-making shop called Haid’s Custom Woodwork, on 272 Street, where the Haids lived until 1951 when they purchased a small home on Fraser Highway.