One-on-one with Peter Grant

Swimming out of the Wilson Aquatic Pool at the Rath Eastlink Community Centre, Peter Grant enjoyed outstanding results at the recent Canadian Masters Swimming Championship in Quebec City. The competition was held in late May at the PEPS pool complex at the University of Laval, with Grant winning four events and being the recipient of four gold medals.

Swimming in the 85 to 89 age group Grant won the 1,500-metre freestyle, the 200-metre breaststroke, the 200-metre backstroke and the 400-metre IM.

Approximately 1,500 swimmers from 75 swim clubs across Canada were represented in the different competitions.

With it being several years since I last interviewed Peter Grant, it was a “one-on-one” — touching on this man’s sizable appetite for competition and looking back at a few highlights along the way.

“I’ve reached the age where a lot of the group I used to swim against have stopped swimming or are deceased,” Grant, 86, of Truro, said. “I wasn’t the oldest swimmer; I met a Chris Smith from Toronto who was 90. It is interesting to meet people from all around the country and all over the world. This is the reason for going to these meets; it is not just about winning medals.”

Grant, who has attended 10 national meets and four world meets, heralded the close-knit Truro group he still swims with regularly.

“There are about seven of us — after swimming, we go for breakfast together. We also go on trips together; much of it is for our health and comradeship.”

Besides his many years of success as a swimmer, Grant had an outstanding background as a skydiver. He made an amazing 581 jumps (from airplanes), winning several skydiving championships in Nova Scotia and competing in two Canadian championships.

“I last jumped five years ago in Waterville,” Grant told me.

Grant was born in Wabana, N.L., the son of a mining engineer. Moving to Timmons, Ont., at a young age, he also spent part of his youth in Vald’or, Quebec. Following high school, at the age of 18, Grant joined the Canadian Navy.

This was followed by working in mines both as a labourer and as a miner. Grant worked in the O’brien Gold Mine and the Signa Gold Mine in Quebec and the Opeimska Copper Mine in the Chibougamau district of Northern Quebec. Later, he worked underground at the Dyno Uranium Mine near Peterborough.

“When I had saved enough money to put myself through university, I attended UNB where I received my bachelor of science in geology,” Grant said.

After working in geology for mining companies in Quebec and Northern Ontario for a period of time, Grant returned to UNB — again to further his education. What followed might be called a “second career,” as Grant later accepted a teaching job in Campbellton, N.B.

You might also say that “Grant struck gold in Campbellton.”

“I met home economics teacher Helen Howe,” said Grant. “Helen and I were married in 1964 in her hometown, Sunny Corner, on the Miramichi.”

Grant’s teaching career would next include teaching five years at the Cumberland Regional Vocational School in Springhill.

“In 1968, we came to Truro; I was recruited to teach at the vocational school. I taught science up until I retired in 1992.”

In looking back, a smiling Grant commented on his interest in sports.

“I was never a very good athlete, but I was interested in sports from the time I was young. My first interest was in swimming when we lived in Val-d’or. At UNB, I played intermural hockey and softball. Locally, I have good memories from the days I played hockey with the Main Brace in the Truro Commercial Hockey League.”

Grant shared a hockey story with me that really “hit home.”

“Workers had to be flown in to work at the Opeimska Copper Mine in the Chibougamau district of northern Quebec,” said Grant. “I worked with and got along well with an Alain Caron, who I believe was from nearby Dolbeau. We played together on a softball team in the summer. Later, when I attended UNB, Alain was playing hockey for Amherst Ramblers. He eventually moved up to pro leagues and played in the NHL. So, I wondered, did you ever come across Alain Caron?”

To Grant’s surprise, I told him I had known Alain Caron quite well, having played professional hockey with him one full season and part of another.

In concluding our recent one-on-one, Peter’s appreciation for family stood out as he shared a couple of sidebars.

“Helen curled at one time in the Truro Business Lady’s Curling League,” Peter said. “Helen was with the first business lady’s team to represent Truro at the provincial finals. It was played in Halifax.”

The couple’s daughter Theresa, who lives in Chelsea, Que., attended CEC, where she ran the 800-metre. At Dalhousie University, Theresa was a cross-country team member; when attending Queen’s University, she was on the ski team.

Peter and Helen’s son Stewart, while attending CEC, swam for the Truro Centurions Swim Team. Stewart later life-guarded at beaches in Nova Scotia and Ontario. Now living in Burma, near Thailand, Stewart teaches all subjects to young native students.

Worth Repeating is a weekly column touching on stories from the past, life experiences and events from the present day. If you have a column idea, contact Lyle at 902 673-2857.