Historic Wabana
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  • Blog - Jan - June 2025
    • Blog Introduction
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  • History
    • Mining History >
      • Time-line of Wabana Mines
      • Boys of Wabana
      • Bridges of Wabana
      • Commuting Miners >
        • Miners Path
      • Company Housing >
        • Housing Introduction & Contents
        • Saddle-Roof Style
        • Gable-to-street style
        • Bungalow Style
        • Bunk & Mess Houses
        • Shacks
        • Staff Boarding Houses & Main Offices >
          • The Staff House
        • Company Family Houses for Management & Staff
      • Company Names Timeline
      • Company Payroll
      • The Company Whistle
      • Dams & Other Mining Water Bodies
      • Fatalities Related to Mining >
        • Accounts of Employee Fatalities
        • Miners' Stories of Accidents
        • Mining Accidents Overview
      • The Messrs. Butler of Topsail
      • Miners Brass / Check / Cheque Numbers
      • Miner's Working Life
      • Mining Equipment >
        • Euclid Trucks
        • Land Rovers
        • Shovels for Hand-Loading
      • Mining Operations >
        • Arthur House Article >
          • Part 1 of "Early History of Bell Island Mines," March 1, 1939
          • Part 2 of "Early History of Bell Island Mines," March 2, 1939
          • Part 3 of "Early History of Bell Island Mines," March 3, 1939
          • Part 4 of "Early History of Bell Island Mines," March 4, 1939
          • Part 5 of "Early History of Bell Island Mines," March 6, 1939
          • Part 6 of "Early History of Bell Island Mines," March 7, 1939
        • F.F. Jardine Articles >
          • Fortieth Anniversary of Wabana Mines, Bell Island
          • Part 1 of "Forty-Fourth Anniversary of Wabana Mines"
          • Part 2 of "Forty-Fourth Anniversary of Wabana Mines"
          • Part 3 of "Forty-Fourth Anniversary of Wabana Mines"
          • Part 4 of "Forty-Fourth Anniversary of Wabana Mines"
      • Mining Terminology
      • No. 2 Mine
      • No. 3 Mine
      • No. 4 Mine
      • No. 6 Mine
      • Patrick Harrison Co.
      • Royalties
      • Scotia & Dominion Piers >
        • Bamafash Pilot Boat
      • Shipping Season at Wabana
    • Bickfordville
    • Businesses >
      • Bank of Nova Scotia
      • Bell Island Co-Operative Co. Ltd.
      • Scotia Ridge Businesses
      • Town Square History >
        • Charles Cohen & Son
    • Churches >
      • Anglican / Church of England
      • Pentecostal Chapel
      • Presbyterian Church
      • Roman Catholic
      • Salvation Army
      • United Church / Methodist
    • Community Organizations >
      • Bell Island Poultry Association
      • Boy Scouts
      • Boys & Girls Club of Bell Island
      • Caribou Athletic Club
      • Catholic Cadet Corps
      • Church Lads Brigade
      • Clift Masonic Lodge
      • Dominion Boat Club
      • Elks
      • Girl Guides
      • Independent Order of Odd Fellows
      • Kiwanis Club
      • Knights of Columbus
      • Life-Saving Guards
      • Lions Club
      • Loyal Orange Association
      • Motor Association
      • Royal Canadian Legion, Br. 18
      • Society of United Fishermen
      • Sporty Few
      • Syrian Benevolent Society
      • Tennis Club
      • Wabana Literary Institute
    • DOSCO News (CJON Radio)
    • Education >
      • Anglican Schools >
        • Academy - St. Augustine's
        • St. Aiden's
        • St. Mary's School
        • St. Stephen's School
      • Boys Home & Training School
      • Methodist / United Church
      • Roman Catholic Schools
      • Salvation Army
      • Vocational Education
    • Electric Power
    • Entertainment >
      • Wabana Little Theatre
    • FIRES >
      • St. Augustine's School Fires
      • Staff House Fire
      • Town Square Shops Fires
    • Health >
      • Company Surgery
      • Death Practices in the Mining Years
      • Doctors Timeline
      • Epidemics in the Mining Years
      • Hospital
      • Midwives
      • Red Cross >
        • Junior Red Cross
    • Lance Cove
    • Maps & Diagrams >
      • Insurance Plan of Wabana 1954
    • Military Activity >
      • Military Service Other Than WWI & WWII
      • World War I
      • World War II >
        • Caribou Sinking-Bell Island Connections
        • NFLD Militia
        • Torbay Airport/St. John's Airport
        • U-Boat Attacks >
          • Ratcliffe Winn's Story
        • WW2 Veterans
        • WW2 Veterans Group Photos
    • Monuments & Murals >
      • The Murals Project History
      • Brian Burke Sculptures
      • Lance Cove Seaman's Memorial
    • Municipal Government
    • Operation Toxin
    • Parsonsville / Freshwater
    • Population Statistics
    • Postal Service
    • Settlement of Bell Island: Fact & Folklore
    • Sports - A Brief History >
      • Arena History
      • Bowling
      • Curling - Men's >
        • Women's Curling
      • Tennis
    • Telephone Service
    • Timeline of Amenities, Public Services & Utilities
    • Today in the History of Bell Island
    • Transportation >
      • Beach Tramway
      • Ferries & The Tickle >
        • Elmer W. Jones
        • Ice in The Tickle
        • Kipawo
        • MANECO
        • S.S. Mary
        • Timeline of Ferries & Freighters
        • Tragedy in The Tickle 1940
      • Transport & Shipping Companies
      • Motorized Vehicles
    • The Women of Wabana, Part 1: Women's Work & Social Life
  • Publications
    • Arthur House Article
    • The Book of Newfoundland >
      • "Bell Island Was Exciting For a Growing Boy"
    • Books About Bell Island
    • Early History of Bell Island
    • F.F. Jardine Articles
    • "Where Canada's Iron Comes From"
    • "A Mine Dead - A Town Stricken"
    • Morris, I.C.
    • Newfoundland Quarterly >
      • "Bell Island," V. 1, No. 1, July 1901
      • "Belle Island Boyhood," Part 1, V. 85, No. 2, Fall 1989
      • "Belle Island Boyhood," Part 2, V. 85, No. 3, Winter 1990
    • Newspapers (Bell Island) >
      • Bell Island & Conc. Bay Reporter
      • Bell Island Examiner
      • Bell Island Miner (Newspaper)
      • Bell Island Miner 1965
      • Bell Island Reporter
      • Bell Island Times
      • Bell Islander
      • Wabana Druggist
      • Wabana Star
      • Wabana Weekly
    • Notes on Belle Isle by Mrs. B.B.E.
    • Our Bell Island Budget
    • Place Where the Sun Rises
    • Submarine Miner >
      • Submarine Miner, V. 1 # 1, June 1954
      • Submarine Miner, V. 1 # 2, July 1954
      • Submarine Miner, V. 1 # 3, August 1954
      • Submarine Miner, V. 1 # 4, September 1954
      • Submarine Miner, V. 1 # 5, October 1954
      • Submarine Miner, V. 1 # 6, November 1954
      • Submarine Miner, V. 1 # 7, December 1954
      • Submarine Miner, V. 2 # 1, January 1955
      • Submarine Miner, V. 2 # 2, February 1955
      • Submarine Miner, V. 2 # 3, March 1955
      • Submarine Miner, V. 2 # 4, April 1955
      • Submarine Miner, V. 2 # 5, May 1955
      • Submarine Miner, V. 2 # 6, June 1955
      • Submarine Miner, V. 2 # 7, July 1955
      • Submarine Miner, V. 2 # 8, August 1955
      • Submarine Miner, V. 2 # 9, September 1955
      • Submarine Miner, V. 2 #10, October 1955
      • Submarine Miner, V. 2 # 11, November 1955
      • Submarine Miner, V. 2 #12, December 1955
      • Submarine Miner, V. 3 # 1, January 1956
      • Submarine Miner, V. 3 # 2, February 1956
      • Submarine Miner, V. 3 # 3, March 1956
      • Submarine Miner, V. 3 # 4, April 1956
      • Submarine Miner, V. 3 # 5, May 1956
      • Submarine Miner, V. 3 # 6, June 1956
      • Submarine Miner, V. 3 # 7, July 1956
      • Submarine Miner, V. 3 # 8, August 1956
      • Submarine Miner, V. 3 # 9, September 1956
      • Submarine Miner, V. 3 #10, October 1956
      • Submarine Miner, V. 3 # 11, November 1956
      • Submarine Miner, V. 3 #12, December 1956
      • Submarine Miner, V. 4, # 1, January 1957
      • Submarine Miner, V. 4, # 2, February 1957
      • Submarine Miner, V. 4, # 3, March 1957
      • Submarine Miner, V. 4, #4, April 1957
      • Submarine Miner, V. 4, #5, May 1957
      • Submarine Miner, V. 4, #6, June 1957
      • Submarine Miner, V. 4, #7, July 1957
      • Submarine Miner, V. 4, #8, August 1957
      • Submarine Miner, V. 4, #9, September 1957
      • Submarine Miner, V.4, #10, October 1957
      • Submarine Miner, V.4, #11, November 1957
      • Submarine Miner, V.4, #12, December 1957
      • Submarine Miner, V.5, #1, January 1958
      • Submarine Miner, V.5, #2, February 1958
      • Submarine Miner, V.5, #3, March 1958
      • Submarine Miner, V.5, #4, April 1958
      • Submarine Miner, V.5, #5, May 1958
      • Submarine Miner, V.5, #6, June 1958
      • Submarine Miner, V.5, #7, July 1958
      • Submarine Miner, V.5, #8, August 1958
      • Submarine Miner, V.5, #9, September 1958
      • Submarine Miner, V.5, #10, October 1958
      • Submarine Miner, V.5, #11, November 1958
      • Submarine Miner, V.5, #12, December 1958
      • Submarine Miner, V.6, #1, January 1959
      • Submarine Miner, V.6, #2, February 1959
      • Submarine Miner, V.6, #3, March 1959
      • Submarine Miner, V.6, #4, April 1959
      • Submarine Miner, V.6, #5, May 1959
      • Submarine Miner, V.6, #6, June 1959
      • Submarine Miner, V.6, #7, July 1959
      • Submarine Miner, V.6, #8, August 1959
      • DOSCO World
    • Victor Southey Article
  • People
    • A
    • B >
      • The Messrs. Butler of Topsail
    • C >
      • Chinese Community
    • D
    • E
    • F
    • G
    • H >
      • Sherry Hawco-Delanty
      • Harry Hibbs
      • Alvin Hussey
      • Maxwell Hutchings
    • J >
      • Jewish Community >
        • Cohens of Bell Island
        • Goldstone Family
    • K
    • L
    • M
    • N
    • O
    • P
    • R
    • S >
      • Yvonne E. Saunders
    • T >
      • Adrian Taylor, 1918-1944
    • V
    • W
    • Y
  • Extras
    • Amazing Coincidences
    • Animal Stories
    • The Brighter Side - Poem
    • Buried Treasure
    • Calendar Customs >
      • Bonfire Night
      • Christmas
      • Easter
      • Hallowe'en
      • Labour Day
      • Memorial Day / Canada Day
      • Remembrance/Armistice Day
      • St. George's Day
      • St. Patrick's Day
      • Thanksgiving
      • Valentine's Day
      • Victoria Day
    • The Great Fossil Mystery
    • Jail Break
    • Personal Experience Stories >
      • Dave Careless: "A Rough Day at the Office"
      • Dave Careless "Around the Block"
      • Dave Careless: "Dogs & Cats of Wabana"
      • Dave Careless: "Five Minutes for Fighting"
      • Dave Careless: "My Travels on Ore Carriers""
      • Dave Careless: "November 22nd, 1963"
      • Dave Careless: "Wabana Memories, 1958-1966"
      • Al O'Brien: "It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time"
      • Gail Weir: "Ghost & Fairy Stories"
    • Unusual Occurrences
    • Wit & Humour
    • Woman In White
  • Photo Gallery
    • Archibald
    • Artifacts
    • Bell Island Scenes
    • Bell Island Special Housing Assistance Program
    • Bennett
    • Built Heritage >
      • Government Buildings
      • Lighthouse
      • Mine Company Buildings
      • Town Square
    • Careless
    • Case
    • Dawe
    • Hussey-Weir
    • Lawton-Murphy
    • Library & Archives Canada
    • Lindsay
    • Miners & Mining Scenes
    • Northshoremen
    • O'Neill
    • Rees
    • Southey
    • Winter Scenes
  • About This Site
  • Contact Information

PEOPLE OF BELL ISLAND
​S

YVONNE E. SAUNDERS
1942-2022

Created by Gail Hussey Weir
February 2023


​Yvonne E. Saunders (1941-2022): Bank Manager. She was born East #1, Bell Island, on August 22, 1941 to Maggie (nee Rose, 1921-2009) and Eric Saunders (1916-1981), a driller/blaster with DOSCO (see above). She attended Jackson Memorial School and, at age 11, contracted Rheumatic Fever, which left her with a diagnosis of a heart murmur. As a consequence, she was prohibited from playing with children or partaking in any sporting activity. While in hospital in St. John's for two weeks, her bed was located in a ward with the elderly as she was not permitted to be with other children. Because of her illness, she missed six months of school, which resulted in her having to repeat a year. Returning to a classroom of unfamiliar, younger students was difficult. Then when she was 13, her youngest sibling was born. Complications of the birth meant her mother had to spend time in hospital and Yvonne, being the eldest daughter, was thrust into the role of "mother" to her five siblings. She was responsible for taking care of them, cooking meals, baking bread and doing the laundry and house cleaning. The prevailing thought of society at that time was that girls did not need an education because they were only going to get married and would stay home to look after their husband and raise children. Over the next five years, Yvonne struggled to attend school and found it even more of a challenge to find time to study. In spite of everything, she did enter the new St. Boniface Regional High School when it opened in 1958. Another expectation of the times was that when young people reached age 16, they took whatever paying job they could find and would start paying "room and board" to augument the family income, so Yvonne began working part-time at Charles Cohen's dry goods store on Town Square. Between that and helping at home, there was little time for study and, as a result, she did not complete Grade Eleven. Like many of that age and under those circumstances, she left home as soon as possible.

On January 6, 1960, she left the relatively small community of Bell Island, where there was not one traffic light in sight, and went straight to downtown Toronto where, six days later, she was employed by TD Bank at the busy intersection of Bloor and Bay streets, and found herself having to contend with subways, street cars, trolleys, thousands of strangers and many traffic lights. While working there, she attended night courses at the University of Toronto and, over the course of 13 years, moved up through the ranks to work in Personal Loans. While in that department in 1973, she was training a young man who had no previous experience when she discovered that he was being paid more than she was. She decided it was time to change banks and took a job in Commercial Lending with the Royal Bank, where she was treated more equitably. When she was asked to manage a new branch that was under construction in 1977 in the Yorkville district of Toronto, she hesitated at first, before deciding to give it a try.  The Hazelton Lanes branch would cater to both business people and residents. Yvonne did some research on the needs of those in the area and the result was the first branch to offer longer business hours. She and her Administrative Officer had to wear hard hats at work for a long time due to construction until the official opening. The newspaper clippings attached illustrate the novelty of a bank that not only offered extended hours, but also one that was headed by a female manager.
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