Sunday, September 1, 1991 ~ North Shore News - 39 Surprise party sends off rail employee BC Rail’s Eric Drage retires after 30 years on the job AFTER 30 years of racing around the corporate hallways of BC Rail in North Vancouver, Eric Drage has decided to park his mail cart. By Surj Rattan News Reporter The 65-year-old veteran BC Rail employee recently retired from his job as a mailroom clerk at the Crown corporation's head office in North Vancouver. BC Rail spokesman Barrie Wall said Drage has become ani institu- tion at the company, and head of- fice personnel were not about to let him go off into his retirement years without a big send-off. On his last day of work, Drage was told he was needed outside so, the headquarters building. Not mF . thinking anything about it, Drage toe walked ourside only to be greeted 400 head office by about employees. ‘l was very surprised that they did this for me,’’ said Drage. ‘‘I sure didn’t expect it. They were . : pretty sneaky.” _—s : Also waiting outside for Drage ae was a stretch limousine waiting to take him home. “They had a limousine for me and I went home with six good - wt looking girls,’’ said Drage. a fog Wall said it would have been ; . wise on the part of office workers ‘ _ to check the hallways first to NEWS photo Paul McGrath ERIC DRAGE, who recently retired from his job with BC Rail in North Vancouver after 30 years, received a huge send-off from about 400 head office employees on his last day at work. make sure Drage wasn’t drag rac- ing down the corridors with his mail cart, before venturing out of their offices. “He’s an institution, not to wo : mention a traffic hazard, in the ye corridors of BC Rail. He’s ir- reverent, witty and boisterous and, at the helm of his X-Series Mark [V mail cart, just about the fastest pun in the West,"’ said ae, Drage admits he sometimes was a terror on wheels, **I could be a hazard at times with my mail cart, especially com- ing around the corners. It was ray way of getting around and getting the mail delivered in a fast way,"’ said Drage. ‘“‘There was a Jot of mail to deliver.”’ Born in Vancouver, Drage has lived in West Vancouver for about 22 years. He first started at BC Rail as a janitor and has remained a bachelor all of his life. “ve always been a bachelor. | never got married because no good looking women ever came around,”’ laughs Drage. And while he has now retired from his BC Rail job, Drage by no means intends to remain idle. “At the end of next month 1 plan to go for a cruise through the Panama Canal and then up to Florida. Uve travelled quite a bit over the years,’’ said Drage. ‘‘I’ve been to Russia, Spain, Scotland, Turkey, Norway, Sweden and Poland. I normally travel by myself, but I meet a lot of people Wall. WINDSOR HOUSE ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL Ages 5 & Up/ Parent Participation Non-graded Family Groupings foe oe Especially comfortable for tne individualistic and creative child Alternative Program with North Vancouver School District 44 Enrolling now for September TUITION FREE 985:3544 OR 988-1836 = ORTH VANCOUVER YOUTH BAND 4 REGISTRATION © Saturday, Sept. 7 & 14 at Highlands School from 9am to noon — The NV¥.B. is now recruiting young musicians ages 9 to 19 from Beginner (no musical exp.) > to Junior, intermediate and Senior. Bring instrument if possible. For more info, call Ron Smith at 929-3637 or write to PO. Box 54030, Lonsdale West, PO. N. Vancouver V7M 3L5 SHOP ON MONDAY September 2nd LABOUR DAY NOON to 5:00 pm PARK ROYAL SMO P PUN G centTRe Somuch. Soclose. along the way.”’ Drage also has plans for when he comes back from his cruise. Those plans include going back to schooi. “Tl take some courses, maybe political history or cooking. Something to keep my brain going so I don’t turn into a vegetable.”’