Adriaan Pieter van Stolk

Adriaan Pieter van Stolk (1900-1984) emigrated to Canada from Netherlands in 1937, eventually settling in Terrace, BC. Operated a greenhouse business growing tomatoes. grapes. Married Enid Waite of Alberta in 1939. Served in WW 2 as Senior Dutch Officer (achieving the rank of Major) in Ontario, Suriname and London, returning to Terrace after the war. Moved to Quadra Island, BC in 1959 and finally to Victoria BC in 1969. Raised 3 children and 2 foster children during the years 1940-70. Was a collector of First Nations art and admirer of Emily Carr's paintings. He deeply loved nature, the "wilds of Canada", as he often said. Several other Dutch immigrants were sponsored by him in the 1940s and 50s. His friends respected him as a true gentleman with great knowledge and integrity. "Pit", as he was known by his Dutch family, passed away at his home on May 30 1984.