The 1950s in Canada were a time of open roads, wild rivers, and wide skies. For a young woman named Arlene Smith, those years meant cameras, canoes, and a deep love for British Columbiaās outdoors. Her photos, taken from around 1951 through the late 1960s, tell the story of a life lived close to nature and full of movement.
By the early 1950s, Arlene was already a familiar face in front of the camera. Her photos from 1953 show her on the water, paddling through blue lakes and exploring the landscapes of British Columbia with ease.
Yohetta Lake in British Columbia drew Arlene in the summer of 1953. Remote and still, it was exactly the kind of place she sought out ā far from the city and surrounded by forest and mountain.
Her time on the water continued at Hammond Lake around 1954. That same year, she was photographed at a campfire in Clearwater, British Columbia, with a fresh catch from the dayās fishing ā a clear sign that her outdoor adventures were hands-on, not just scenic.
John Lawson Park in West Vancouver gave Arlene a different kind of backdrop in 1954 ā groomed, coastal, and scenic. Two years later, she was photographed in Haney, a small community east of Vancouver that she returned to many times over the years.
By 1958, the photos show a young woman at ease with herself. Whether sporting a colorful straw hat or posing near Reddickās Dam in Lytton, Arlene carried a natural confidence that came through in every shot.
December 1959 found Arlene fishing the Alouette River near Haney ā cold weather was no deterrent. That same year, she posed with armfuls of gladiollas in two bright portraits that stood in sharp contrast to her rugged river days.
October 1960 was a particularly well-documented month. At age 26, Arlene was photographed along the Alouette River and in the surrounding autumn landscape multiple times, the golden and orange foliage framing her in nearly every frame.
Around 1960, a red and white swimsuit photo added a lighter, summery side to her growing collection. Then came the summer of 1961 ā Long Beach and the Blackball Ferry route between Nanaimo and Vancouver featured in several photos, showing Arlene traveling the BC coast freely.
By 1962, now in her late twenties, Arleneās photos captured both everyday life and special moments ā including a childās christening and a portrait beneath apple blossoms. Photos from February and March of that year show her dressed for winter, including one striking image of her wearing mink.
A trip to Penticton, BC in June 1963 added another destination to her growing list. By May 1966, at age 32, she was still being photographed ā this time in an orange and white scarf ā and the camera remained a steady presence in her life through 1967 and into 1969.
