Affleck, Robert Dalton “R.D.”

Robert Affleck was born on February 1, 1893, in Lanark Township, Ontario. He married Doris Conran-Smith. He died May 4, 1970 in St. Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC.

Academics

Affleck taught at Hedley School prior to coming to Princeton in July 1928, when he accepted the position of joint principalships of Princeton High School and the Princeton Public School (in addition to teaching duties at the high school). He was given a raise in 1930. In 1934, he was teaching chemistry, physics, algebra and Latin.

The Similkameen Star reported on September 1, 1932, that he had spent the summer at university working on his Bachelor of Arts degree.

He received an appointment from the provincial government to assist with grading of entrance papers in Victoria during the summer of  1929 and the family spent the summer in Victoria. Later, in June 1934, he was appointed assistant examiner of high school papers.

He organized night classes for local working men two nights a week (November 1930). In March 1934, over sixty men had enrolled in series of free lectures on mining and mineralogy provided by the British Columbia Department of Mines. Two lectures were given each week by Principal Affleck. He was paid $5.00 per lecture [source?].

Sports Interests

In December 1928, he agreed to coach the Princeton junior hockey team and was still involved with junior hockey in 1930. 

Both Robert and Doris Affleck were members of the Princeton Badminton Club (1929) and he was a member of the Princeton Basketball Club (1930).

He was on the executive committee of the  Similkameen School Annual Track Meet Association (1930) continuing his work with the Association from his time in Hedley (1926).

 Affleck was secretary of the Princeton Athletic Association in 1930, 1931 and was credited with the Association’s success in 1932. He was also instrumental in organizing the organization’s Christmas Eve Dance (1932).

He was also an avid fisherman (1928).

Community Involvement

He was elected to the Princeton Board of Trade in January 1929. That same year, he was listed as an insurance agent for Imperial Insurance in the January 3, 1929, issue of the B.C. Gazette (as reported in the Similkameen Star, January 24, 1929). 

In January 1930, he was elected secretary of the Princeton Volunteer Fire Fighting Association. When this effort failed, he was elected to the executive of the newly formed Princeton Volunteer Fire Prevention Society in February 1932. The goal of these two organizations was to raise funds for the Princeton Fire Brigade. 

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R.D. Affleck was principal of Princeton schools from 1928 until his resignation in 1936. The Affleck’s left Princeton in August 1936 after he had taken a position at University Heights High School in Vancouver. 

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Fun fact: In March 1929, he purchased a 1928 Ford Model A Tudor from Maurice Wright, selling his car to Dave Taylor, employee of the Similkameen Star.