On June 27, 2015 at the Piazza Colombo on Rossland Avenue, as part of Trail's Festa Italiana, retired teacher John D'Arcangelo launched his illustrated book, A Trail to Remember ($20) that contains more than 150 stories about the City of Trail gathered from residents and former residents. It was published by ball hockey enthusiast John 'Deke' D'Arcangelo at age 68 with the assistance of the Trail Historical Society and businesses in Greater Trail that provided assistance. D'Arcangelo was assisted by Sarah Benson, director of Trail Museum and Archives, and Trail Historical Society president Jamie Forbes, who helped him edit the collection. Any revenues were promised to the Trail Historical Society.

Due to his passion for ball hockey or "shinny," D'Arcangelo was honoured with the 2013 B.C. Sports Hero Award for floor-hockey. The East Trail native has organized ball hockey games for most of his life starting from his youth, every week in the winter months, then more formally from a neighborhood parking lot to the Cominco Gym, the MacLean School in Rossland, Central School, the Armouries, Field House and eventually Trail Middle School gym. As of 2015 when the book was published, the "Sultan of Shinny" was still organizing a weekly contest at the Kootenay-Columbia Learning Centre.

John earned a BA in History from the University of Victoria in 1970.

[Liz Bevan photo]

BOOKS

A Trail to Remember (The Trail Historical Society, 2015) Retail Price: $25.00 9780969030553

[BCBW 2017]