Askew’s had been a significant name on the Shuswap landscape since 1929 when R.B. (Dick) Askew purchased a meat and provision store from the Palmers, a pioneer family in the Salmon River Valley. They also acquired the Salmon Arm abattoir and stores in Revelstoke, Salmon Arm and Chase.
Business got off to a shaky start in Salmon Arm. Soon after opening, a fire destroyed the store– including a granite counter, and a cooler chilled with ice cut from the Lake! But in 1931 the company was re-established in a new location under the name of Salmon Arm Meat and Produce Co. Ltd.
Many changes took place over the years: The stores in Revelstoke and Chase were closed, and others were established in Vernon and Kamloops. When Dick Askew died in 1951, his son Lloyd (the eldest of 8 children) closed the Vernon operation, and took over management of the Salmon Arm store.
In the mid-1960s, Lloyd and Malkins (his major supplier) struck a deal with Marathon Realty and opened a new supermarket “Askew’s Shop Easy”. In 1980 the name of the business was changed to Askew’s Foods. By this time a new store had been built in Armstrong. Lloyd began to talk “retirement” in 1988, so his daughter, Karen Angove undertook to manage the company. Lloyd never did really retire, however, and was in on initial discussions with Karen, Brian Hoshizaki (Armstrong), and Ron Daniel to build another store in Sicamous. Sadly, Lloyd died before that store was completed.
Lloyd, strongly supported by wife Dorothy, was the driving force behind the solid and very significant support and resources that the Askew family has given back to their community. They were Foundation Founders, and over the years have involved themselves in hundreds of community projects.
Dorothy Askew – October 12, 1921 to November 2, 2009
Born in Kamloops, raised and educated in Revelstoke, Dorothy Askew knew that the only career she ever wanted was nursing. She trained at the Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster and in 1944 came to nurse at the old Salmon Arm hospital (site of the present-day McGuire Lake Inn). While she had long-term plans to work as a nurse, she met and married Lloyd Askew in 1945 and they raised three children. She only nursed one year as she felt it was more important for her to stay home with her children. However, through-out her life Dorothy maintained and expanded her medical knowledge. She was the extended family expert on such matters and her knowledge and advice will be greatly missed.
Dorothy has been an active member of and donor to many organizations in Salmon Arm. She was a long-time member of First United and the UCW. She could always be relied on to provide baking and assist at church functions. She particularly enjoyed her volunteer work with the Red Cross, loaning medical equipment to community members.
She has seven grandchildren and they brought her great joy. Each of them had a deeply valued and special relationship with her. Dorothy enjoyed many summers at with them at the family cabin where she loved to swim, play games and generally enjoy their company. Dorothy was born Oct 12, 1921, the 2nd of five children of James Ernest and Marion Joan Brown. She was predeceased by her parents, sister Jean, brothers Andy and Allan, and husband Lloyd. She is survived by youngest brother Harry, children David (Susan), Colleen (Jack), Karen (Des), and grandchildren Hannah, Chris (Christine), Jennifer (Stephen), Patrick, Claire, Tanis, and Peter. She died in Salmon Arm on Nov 2, 2009.
