Meet our Relatives - Christopherson Branch

Sigurveig 'Veiga' Christopherson Dawe
Sigurveig 'Veiga' Christopherson Dawe, the fourth child and oldest daughter of Sigurdur and Carrie, was born in 1884. Veiga graduated from Baldur High School, then completed her teacher’s training at Winnipeg Normal and Brandon Collegiate. Veiga’s first school was at Hola, in Argyle., ^[12]

Grund 1884 at 8 mos. old, Caroline said; "Little Sigurveig is very fair and has big blue Eyes.", ^[33]

She moved to British Columbia prior to WWI and continued a very successful teaching career in Mud Bay, New Westminster, and in Prince Rupert, where she met and married Thomas Dawe in 1922. Veiga and Tom moved to Veiga’s family home in British Columbia in 1927. Into the late forties, Veiga continued to do sub- stitute teaching. She took a very active part in P.T.A. and served two years on the Surrey School Board. Tom and Veiga are cherished for their love of neighbours and particularly children.Veiga passed away in 1963, predeceased by Tom in 1960., ^[12]

Veiga and Thomas, or Tommy as he was known were married 28 Sep 1921 at Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada.

There is a great private family letter, whereby Veiga decribes in vivid detail of when she went away from Ytranes to teach. She taught, just as her mother had done, Veiga went to New Westminster. There is one letter describing a vivid event where the group of men met regarding the new teacher; Veiga.
Veiga was a substitute teacher, according to Ed Fader, "at the Crescent School just up the road from where she lived in Crescent Beach. Her house was located just south of the Crescent Beach/Ocean Park border – actually the house was in Ocean Park. People of Ocean Park collected their mail at Crescent until the post office at Ocean Park was built in 1921." Grund Homestead in Manitoba was also a Post Office.

The Ladies Auxiliary to the Crescent Beach Fire Department. The first meeting of the auxiliary was held on September 2, 1947, in the home of Alice M. Copp. The fifteen founding members present at the meeting were: Alice M. Copp, Veiga Dawe, Sheilagh Barrington-Foote, Susan A. Adams, Elsie M. York, Doris Currie, Gertriude Currie, Joan M. Williams, Margaret Weatherburn, Emmie Rawden, Ada Goodyn, B.M. Sandbrook, L. Lindsay, R. Greggor and M.Currie. At the time there were also fifty-four Associate members. The mandate or purpose of the auxiliary was to help with funding for the purchase of furniture, dishes, and other necessities for the fire hall, with the do-all clause of to help the firemen in any manner possible. During 1948, the auxiliary purchased fire coats and boots for the volunteer firemen. In 1949 to 1950, they helped construct and furnish living quarters at the rear section of the fire hall. At a meeting held June 12, 1950, Veiga Dawe made a motion that the Ladies Auxiliary purchase an E & J Inhalator for the fire brigade. On July 26, 1952 an E & J Inhalator, Resuscitator, Aspirator was purchased at a cost of $647. This unit was held in the Crescent Beach Drug Store, available to firemen during emergencies. Veiga passed away 02 Aug 1963 and Carrie moved into the homestead. Read this story by Lorne Pearson.
Visit Veiga's Individual page


IMG_SCAN_2366
Grund Homestead - Veiga is center.
This photo was almost completely washed out!
L-R: Unknown, William, Johni8p[----------
Kjartan, Veiga, Unknown, Child: Halldor son of William
The picture in the background is of a house. Have not seen in before.
Courtesy of The Sig & Hank Christopherson Collection