Clarence was born in Idaho, raised in Manitoba, joined the army in Ontario, lived in Calgary, settled in Edmonton and travels internationally with Friendship Force. These diverse landscapes have contributed to the development of a big-picture view of our society and our responsibility to make the world a better place.

Clarence married Delma, the love of his life, in a log church in Manitoba. They had three children, Derek, Karen and Lisa. Seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren rounded out the family. Sadly, Delma passed away at age 65.

Clarence and Delma joined the Unitarian Church of  Edmonton in 1960. Active as President, Sunday school teacher, Endowment Fund Committee Chair, Congregational Relations member and several other committees, Clarence contributed long hours and expertise to the UCE and was a part of advancing many important social causes.

Unitarianism provides a stimulating environment to encourage free thought, commitment to social justice and a challenge to speak one’s mind. These values fit with Clarence’s view of the world and to this day he is a strong, involved social activist with a clear view of his role in relationship to the rest of the world.

Here are excerpts from an article Clarence wrote about his early years, entitled:

Joys of Being an Activist.
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We lived in three towns in northern Manitoba – Fisher Branch, Ashern and Pine Falls. As a pre-teen I used to travel through the countryside with Dad (a pharmacist) in his Ford Model T. Anyone familiar with this car knows it was well suited to the roads back then with ruts that would smother many of the cars of today…

I don’t remember how news reached us about work in a wood camp at Minnitaki Lake, Ontario that saw me getting off the train in the early morning hours at a spot where a few people departed for this camp. It was run by a Finnish family who had about 50 workers at that time cutting logs for a pulp mill. I was hired as a so-called bull cook and hauled water on a skid drawn by a horse named Nellie.

My associate Tommy was a Yugoslavian chap. He had three front teeth that were dramatically displayed when he smiled, which wasn’t very often. I soon realized that innocent-looking Tommy had another side when things went wrong, such as the two barrels of water upsetting. He went into a rage, damning those “Bolsheviks, crazy Communists”. I am sure things weren’t rosy during his growing-up years.

After several months on the job and comforted with a few hundred dollars to take home, I learned that Dad planned to move his business to Pine Falls, where there was work to be had, and outside of the company town it was felt that there was a need for a drugstore.

So there we were, facing off to the lake – the highway was between us and the lake. With Dad’s many medicinal preparations, all his invented cold remedies, fly sprays, skin salves and so on, I became a Fuller Brush man. It was great fun calling on town people and farmers. It was nice to be invited to stay for lunch or dinner… I was fortunate to travel on a Model A, Victoria Coupe. I got rid of the rust by painting it with aluminum paint; thereafter, I got called the Silver Streak.

My early recollection of anything resembling spirituality came via a United Church minister (Dr. Lane) as a Sunday school teacher. I was given material for class use which I found revealing, but it was not until Dr. Lane asked Dad and Mom if they would allow me to go with him to a church on the Indian reservation some 100 miles north that I experienced something spiritual. The gravel road was fine for half the journey, then all hell broke loose when we reached the mud road. The old McLaughlin zigzagged left to right except straight ahead. Amazingly we reached the church in time, where the local greeted us in disbelief.

This was my greatest spiritual experience. I reasoned that there had to be divine intervention. This feeling has never left me. Especially in troubled times, there was always this feeling of greater forces at work if we but believe that to be so.

The Second World War was still raging and I felt a yearning for engagement. I was underage, but lied about my age and spent the next year at Camp Borden, Ontario in the tank corps where my hearing was affected…

In my later years I met a girl from Neepawa whom I later married. We raised three children and now have seven grandchildren, all reasonably situated and in good health.

I worked for what I consider to be the finest financial company, bar none. We were real family… Now retired 15 years, I feel that it has been a transfer of interests to advocacy work through groups exposing the many social ills besetting us, such as health care, water issues, low-cost housing, deregulation and so on. I feel the finest vehicle for this work has been S.A.L.T., the Social Action Liaison Team, a non-profit organization of about 40 war horses.

I am proud of my 40 years with the Unitarian Universalist Church in Edmonton where I served in most positions from board president to teaching Sunday school. As well, my association with the Rotary Club for over 30 years has allowed me greater exposure to good works…

My greatest wish is that more people become involved in politics and religion to do what they can to help those less fortunate. It is amazing what the feeling of fulfillment can do to your mental health and well being.

Clarence and his wife Delma.

[Interviewed in 2009]
Photos courtesy: Collection of C. Collins