AndrewTom.com

Andrew's been living in Moricetown ALMOST his whole life ::sigh:: but hey, it's home.  For all those who already know Andrew, they'd agree that he's definately busy with work and helping others.  There are so many affiliations that Drew's involved in, here are just a few:

• Moricetown Food Bank Society
• Moricetown Youth Council
• Moricetown Healthy Living Committee
• Moricetown Place Society
• Moricetown Health Centre and much more.

Apart from being involved with leadership groups, Andrew's taken an active role in his community through volunteering and being a role model.  There are so many aspects of his line of work, from peer counseling to fundraising - Andrew has accomplished many goals, but with those came obstacles which he faced head on with confidence, the willingness to learn and a passion of working for others.

Copyright 2006 - Andrew R. Tom
Source: www.andrewtom.com/biography.htm

Moricetown Falls

Andrew was raised in a small community about 30 km west of Smithers, located in North West British Columbia.  Home is where your heart is - that's what Andrew believes and its what he has adapted to these past years.  Small communities have both its downfalls and benefits, close friends - real enemies, victims of gossip - fighters against racism, advocates of healthy living among other things.

One could only truly know and understand the realities of living on a reserve.  Most off-reserve residence believe everything they hear in the media.  Moricetown has been labeled as the place where people get stabbed!  Sorry to burst your bubble, but those incidents took place in Moricetown, but it wasn't the local people who committed the crimes!!  Andrew remembers not feeling comfortable inviting his out-of-town friends over to visit, he was affraid that their parents would stereotypically catagorize Moricetown as a bad place to raise kids, work and live.  Over the years, Andrew's friends have outgrown those fibs and realized themselves that Moricetown is home to many wonderful people who are more than happy to invite others into their homes for a traditional style meal.

During a regular summer day, you could find several fisherman casting lines at Idiot Rock.  Campground attendants could be found scrambling around the RV Park cutting grass, cleaning washrooms, collecting garbage and visiting guests.  Local men and woman are often seen fishing at our world famous Moricetown Falls (Above) gathering fish for their families and friends.  Smoke floats into the air as Smoke Houses operate all summer long by elders and their grandchildren.  Summer is out and students are either working as Summer Students or playing baseball in preparation for the Annual Sports Days which takes place every year in early August.

As summer swifts by, leaves change colors and parents take their children shopping for school supplies and clothes.  The theme of retail switch from Summer BBQ's to Halloween and Back-to-School.  Andrew's favorite time of year is Halloween because you can most likly hear of his Prince George Halloween stories!  That's for another day though...

Andrew comes from two very large families, both of which contain members he hasn't even met yet!  But his immediate family members, whom he loves and adores are:  Father Richard, Mother Marlene, Brother Gerald and Sister Wendy.

There's the maternal side, the Alfred's.  The Alfred family has been known for their ability to stick together, than again all families are like that so we should be causious of what we say in here ::wink::  Andrew's mom is Marlene, daughter of Andrew and Mary Sarah Alfred.  **Andrew was named after his late Grandfather, Andrew Alfred.  Andrew's aunts, uncles and mother from eldest to youngest include: Predeceased Uncle who couldn't live long enough to be named, Kathleen Gummow, Marlene Tom, Michael Alfred, Blanche Alfred and Marvin Alfred.  Cousins...let's not go there!  You all know who you are, I don't have to list you otherwise I'd run out of webspace!

Paternally, Andrew's father comes from the Tom family.  Richard is the son of Joseph and Mary Sarah Tom.  **Andrew's middle name is Richard, after his dad.  Now this is a huge family, brace yourselves!  Andrew's uncles, aunts and father from eldest to youngest are as follows:  Kate Forsythe, Rita David, Fred Tom, Patty Tom, Rose-Mary Hogan, Michael Tom, Victor Tom, Richard Tom and Herb Johnson.  Again, there are countless cousins, many of which I have not met yet so we'll leave it at that and if you're related to me and we don't exactly know eachother - I hope you sign my guestbook! ::grin::  Thanks!