“BULLETS INSTEAD OF BREAD”
DUGAS, John Allan of Nanaimo BC passed away Oct 16th at 5:46 am at the age of 93. Al was born to Walter Dugas and Theresa Dugas (Arsenault) of Alder Point Nova Scotia in the year of our Lord 1917. He spent the end of his time with his dear wife, Sallyjean Dugas (Connor), in their home. Al is survived by three sons: Dan Dugas, Empress, Alta, Bob Dugas (Barbara) Courtenay, BC, and Gerry Dugas (Dinorah) Burnaby, BC and daughter-in-law Diana. Al was predeceased by wife, Patricia Lillian Dugas (Sloan) on August 28, 1995 sisters: Genieve Gillis, Marguerite O’Shea, Gertrude Walker, Melita Bungay and brothers: Justin Dugas, Reginald Dugas, and Gregory Dugas.
Al has 10 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
Al left Nova Scotia at the young age of 15 and “rode the rails” across Canada to Vancouver and was later part of the Great Depression, Relief Camps, and the historical “On to Ottawa” trek of 1935. The trekkers were corralled in Regina by police with machine guns and had the message delivered by the then Prime Minister R.B.Bennett, “tell the boys we’ll give them bullets instead of bread.”
Al was very fond of boating, camping and travel. He always had many stories and jokes to share and even in his later days had an amazing memory for names and details. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him.
The family and friends of Al are having a celebration of life on Sunday Oct. 24th at 3511 Osprey Outlook in Nanaimo from 1:00 to 4:00p.m. Bring or send (bobdugas2010@hotmail.com) your favorite Al story or joke. For further information call Diana Dugas at 250-756-1920. In lieu of flowers please make your donation to the Nanaimo General Hospital Emergency Room Fund.