April 2010 - Kitchener Waterloo Aquarium Society

A P R I L 2 0 1 0another from the South Park Aquatic Study Society. Both clubsinvited me to speak to them. The SPASS had contacted theirsister club in Kingston and they were bussing members to themeeting. I met with Strood first and was delighted to discoverthat the meeting was held upstairs in a pub. Two days later, Itravelled by train, bus and underground (subway) and was metat my final train station by Mrs. Dudley who was holding agoldfish shaped sign with Mr. Ridley printed on it. Once at thehall, I was met by members of SPASS, Kingston, the BritishKillie Association and the Hounslow Aquarium Society. Theyhad prepared a full meal for everyone and the cook, whosename was Mac, was the most obscene, colourful man I had evermet. He had everyone in complete fits during dinner. I wastotally catered to during my stay and talk.I approached Lee with the idea of starting a freshwateraquarium club in Vancouver. There was a marine club but thefreshwater club had folded many years prior. We used theVancouver Aquarium Auditorium and began the VancouverAquarium Study Group (now called the Vancouver AquaticHobbyist Club). I also helped a group of people start a club inAbbotsford but I don’t know if they are still in operation.We moved back to Ontario in 1995. I even brought a 15 gallonaquarium filled half way with some of my prized fish. Oddballplecos and four species of apistos made the four day trip in thetrunk of the car. I had maintained my membership with KWASand even contributed to the newsletter from time to time whilein BC. I was informed that upon my arrival back in Ontario, Iwould be the clubs Vice President. It was so good to be backhome with good friends!In 1999, I was asked to take over the organization of the annualOktoberfish event. This event is so important to our club and itwas very rewarding to put in the work and see the success eachyear.Al with members of SPASSIn 1992, I moved to Surrey British Columbia. I had soldeverything and had sworn that I would not buy anotheraquarium until we purchased a house. It took six months to setup five aquariums in the town house that we rented. It alsodidn’t take me long to buy a membership to the VancouverAquarium and to start volunteering there with Lee Newman. Itwas an awesome experience and really opened my eyes to thebehind the scenes work that goes into a zoo or aquarium. Therewere fire ants everywhere behind the exhibit set ups and thebest memory is when Lee told me I was to clean the glass in the2400 gallon piranah exhibit. I looked for the long pole with thesqueegie but was told that the water gets drained to about 3 feetand you climb into the exhibit with hip waders to scrub theglass. We had a good laugh when I climbed in and discoveredthe water was just above my crotch and I begged him to drainanother foot or so!Robin Day, Dave Boehm and Al Ridley promoting KWASAs for fish that I have kept, I really never specialized inanything for too long. I have kept fish from every continent(with the exception of one) and today I still breed some killies,livebearers and dwarf africans. The fads come and go. Otherclubs come and go. Friends come and go but one thing thatholds us together and keeps the memories fond is the aquariumhobby. - AlVancouver’s Piranah Exhibit from Above 13