Excerpt from page 53 of "B.C.'s Inland Empire" by Erskine Burnett associated with this image: Here we met Dick Blackburn, a well-established farmer, who reached this district fifty years ago and looks good for at least another fifty. Born in Ontario he moved with his family first to Prince Albert and then to Kelowna, where Dick was one of the pupils in the first school opened there by Mayor Sutherland. His first job was with George Heggie on the Stepney Ranch and he rode the range with Dick Neil of Vernon. We camped out for the night on the river bank at his place. His home lies in a grove of trees close to the water. A true pioneer who has a great and abiding faith in the future of this part of the Shuswap Valley if only the right kind of men will come and develop it. Though most of the best timber has been logged off, the soil is still there and much of it is very good. He is well-known as announcer and time-keeper in horse races and stampedes.
