Edgar Dunning grew up in the newspaper business, having started out in his father’s newsroom over 80 years ago as a printer learning to set type by hand one letter at a time.
That was in Ladner, B.C., a community in Delta which is a suburb of Vancouver, where Dunning’s father, a printer and publisher, founded the Delta Optimist newspaper in 1922. Dunning bought the Optimist in 1940 and worked there as editor, publisher, and then co-publisher until he sold it in 1980.
However Dunning, who turned 100 on Jan. 7, continues to write his weekly “Wandering” column—which he began in the early 1950s—for the newspaper, covering community issues, book reviews, true stories and anecdotes, as well as historical facts about the region.
In honour of his birthday, the City of Delta has named its municipal museum community archives, to be opened later this year, the Edgar Dunning Archives.
The announcement was made during a special presentation at municipal hall on Jan. 4 by Dunning, who regaled listeners with humorous stories of past Delta councils and politicians.
“I can’t find words enough to express my appreciation, my joy,” Dunning said. “Thank you very much, it’s overwhelming.”
Mayor Lois Jackson, who has described Dunning as “Delta’s living treasure,” listed the veteran newsman’s numerous contributions to the community, including being a founding member of the Delta Historical and Museum Society, the Kinsmen Club of Ladner, and the Delta Community Band Society.
He was also editor of the Pacific region edition of the CBC radio program Neighbourly News for 26 years.
In a special tribute at the B.C. Legislature, Delta South MLA Vicki Huntington called Dunning an “amazing gentleman.”
“In his columns and articles Mr. Dunning continues to recount the rich history of Delta as he witnessed it since his arrival in Ladner in 1922,” she said. “Most towns have archives for their historical records. In Delta we have Edgar Dunning.”
Dunning, who some have fondly dubbed Mr. Delta, lives on his own and still drives. He used a typewriter to write his columns up until 10 years ago, when he replaced it with a computer.
On CBC Radio’s B.C. Almanac, Dunning said one of his brothers—“the athletic one in the family”—died at 59 while another brother who was always worried about his health lived to be 92.
He said he has “no idea” how he has lived to be 100.
“I used to get drunk periodically. I smoked cigarettes for years and years. I don’t know. I asked my doctor that the other day—he didn’t know either.”
That was in Ladner, B.C., a community in Delta which is a suburb of Vancouver, where Dunning’s father, a printer and publisher, founded the Delta Optimist newspaper in 1922. Dunning bought the Optimist in 1940 and worked there as editor, publisher, and then co-publisher until he sold it in 1980.
However Dunning, who turned 100 on Jan. 7, continues to write his weekly “Wandering” column—which he began in the early 1950s—for the newspaper, covering community issues, book reviews, true stories and anecdotes, as well as historical facts about the region.
In honour of his birthday, the City of Delta has named its municipal museum community archives, to be opened later this year, the Edgar Dunning Archives.
The announcement was made during a special presentation at municipal hall on Jan. 4 by Dunning, who regaled listeners with humorous stories of past Delta councils and politicians.
“I can’t find words enough to express my appreciation, my joy,” Dunning said. “Thank you very much, it’s overwhelming.”
Mayor Lois Jackson, who has described Dunning as “Delta’s living treasure,” listed the veteran newsman’s numerous contributions to the community, including being a founding member of the Delta Historical and Museum Society, the Kinsmen Club of Ladner, and the Delta Community Band Society.
He was also editor of the Pacific region edition of the CBC radio program Neighbourly News for 26 years.
In a special tribute at the B.C. Legislature, Delta South MLA Vicki Huntington called Dunning an “amazing gentleman.”
“In his columns and articles Mr. Dunning continues to recount the rich history of Delta as he witnessed it since his arrival in Ladner in 1922,” she said. “Most towns have archives for their historical records. In Delta we have Edgar Dunning.”
Dunning, who some have fondly dubbed Mr. Delta, lives on his own and still drives. He used a typewriter to write his columns up until 10 years ago, when he replaced it with a computer.
On CBC Radio’s B.C. Almanac, Dunning said one of his brothers—“the athletic one in the family”—died at 59 while another brother who was always worried about his health lived to be 92.
He said he has “no idea” how he has lived to be 100.
“I used to get drunk periodically. I smoked cigarettes for years and years. I don’t know. I asked my doctor that the other day—he didn’t know either.”
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