Mr. Earl Edward Naswell

21 January, 1931 – 6 October, 2020

An excerpt from Judy Hagen’s Hunt for History column in the Comox Valley Record.

Originally published December 20, 2018.

“Christmas is a time to give back, to recognize the gifts that others have given when life threw a curveball. Often a new member of the community sees a need and spreads the joy of the Christmas season with the less fortunate.  Earl Naswell had come from Manitoba to visit his sister, but when he went home he realized this was paradise. As a builder he knew he would find work here.  Later he opened a little coffee shop on Fifth street, here he played his guitar and spoke of his love of Jesus. 

In 1982, he felt that many of his customers had no place to go for Christmas dinner, so he decided to cook one for anyone who would come, not knowing who would arrive on Dec. 25.  He wanted to show the Love of Christ, by example, as he enlisted some of his family (he has seven children), to cook a turkey in their oven and bring it to the Filberg Center.  Like many traditions, it began modestly, but grew and grew, and soon 100 were coming. “