T.D. Shorts: A Unique Pioneer

Captain Shorts was an interesting character. He had a scruffy beard that often had tobacco stains in it from all his pipe smoking and tobacco chewing. Shorts was an independent man who operated by his own rules. For example, he would often hold a grudge against people who offended him. If someone in Kelowna annoyed Shorts, he would not make a stop there at all, even if he had freight for other Kelowna people. Shorts was not impressed by wealth. Rich or poor, he treated everyone the same. In 1891, Lord Aberdeen, the new owner of the Coldstream Ranch outside of Vernon, wanted Shorts to take him from the north end of the lake to Kelowna. Unfortunately for Lord Aberdeen, Shorts and his crew were attending an all-night dance at the first Vernon Fall Fair. Shorts told Aberdeen that he was not travelling that day, so Aberdeen had to find another boat to take him to Kelowna. A person might think that Shorts would have been unable to stay in business very long with his carefree attitude. But that was not the case. Captain Shorts maintained his freight boat business for nearly ten years.