Since arriving in the Comox Valley in 1947, Herb Bradley was instrumental in teaching kids how to swim and ski, and helped bring the Vancouver Island Skiing for the Disabled Society (known today as the Vancouver Island Society for Adaptive Snowsports or VISAS) a national reputation for the calibre of skiers it trains.
Bradley was born in Bonnie Doon, a suburb of Edmonton. He was one of seven boys and three girls. He attended Rutherford school and stood out as one of the top athletic performers in all fields. “His activities were many and varied, but in all fields his tremendous natural ability and strength of character and sheer determination always ended with the rest of the pack looking his way for leadership, even in the earlier days,” George Hobson wrote in 1960.
After finisihing school Bradley worked in a sash and door factory. He also worked at a mill, about 100 miles outside of Edmonton. After completing a swimming instructors’ course at the YMCA, he became a lifeguard where, under the guidance of one of Canada’s finest swimming coaches, he blossomed into a leading swimmer.
Then the war came, and Bradley enlisted in the navy, went to Halifax for basic training, and was shipped off to sea. After switching to physical training he met his future wife, Blanche, who was to play an important – albeit silent — role in Bradley’s life of volunteerism. When the war ended Bradley started working for the Edmonton board of education.
He left that job in early 1947 and moved to the Comox Valley, having been employed by George Hobson as the first full-time recreational director for the Courtenay Recreational Association — a post he held for 27 years.
“He put emphasis on the individual achievement and taught (kids) to persevere to reach their goal,” said Don Dunne. “His broad interest and personal involvement in sports, such as canoeing, hiking, swimming and gymnastics were brought to the CRA. He also brought arts groups and seniors’ groups into the fold.”
In 1969 Bradley’s job changed to Parks and Recreation superintendent. Later he assumed duties of area manager for the Mt. Becher Ski Development Society. He was also the first chairperson for the Comox Valley Winter Carnival in 1964.
“It’s true Herb has been around for a long time but, someone once said, ‘the measure of a life, after all, is not its duration but its donation.’ Using that criteria, Herb Bradley is a very big man indeed,” Dunne said. “Rumor also has it that Herb was a fair skier,” he added, to a room full of laughter. “Because of a large number of skiers taught by ski clubs and the Herb Bradley Ski School, Mt. Washington had a ready clientele when it opened on Dec. 15, 1979.”
Herb Bradley died May 29, 2003. He was 84 years old. Herb was predeceased by his wife of 58 years, Blanche, and by six brothers and two sisters. He is survived by his son, Brick, of Merville, one sister, Vera, of Victoria and many nieces and nephews.
It is important to also honor Blanche, who died suddenly on Sept. 29. Blanche Bradley worked with the Courtenay Recreational Association as a volunteer for 15 years before taking on a paid job as secretary for a few years. She worked alongside Herb at Forbidden Plateau, running rentals and selling lift tickets.
“A lot of our members were not aware of the large amount of work Blanche did for our society,” Dunne said. “She worked in the background… she was Herb’s greatest supporter, plus she kept him on track.” Blanche also kept meticulous records and maintained numerous scrapbooks.
