THE RIVERBOAT Days Captain and Queen have the distinction of being the first married couple in the roles in five years.
George and Tessie Clark have been named this year’s couple and will be in the parade and at many of the planned events.
“It’s a great honour,” said George Clark.
The Clarks moved from London, England to Canada in 1975, heading first to Vancouver for six months where George took a job before they were transferred to Terrace and the head office of the company Northern Securities.
“We had the intention to stay for a year,” says George, adding that was 30-plus years ago.
When the company went out of business that same year, he bought the travel company he was working for, which was called Terrace Travel at that time.
When it expanded into Prince Rupert and Kitimat, he renamed it Elan Travel.
Tessie worked for the Bank of Montreal, CIBC and the Business Development Bank before she retired.
The Clarks raised their daughter and son here; both left town to go to university and live elsewhere.
But George says they have no intention of moving away to be closer to them.
“We love Terrace,” he says.
Clark has been emceeing the Pacific Northwest Music Festival gala night for 20 or so years now after being asked.
George continues to work and has trying to work fewer days a week but the company is getting busier lately.
For visitors to Riverboat Days, George lets them in on a bit about Terrace.
He and his wife aren’t the only ones who came for a short time and decided to stay.
“The one thing that is amazing about Terrace is our intention was to come here for one year and we never left and it’s surprising how many people say the same thing,” says George. “The people are nice and friendly. It’s nice to raise kids here.”