Adherents of the iconic Peetz reel will be saddened to learn that Wendy Taylor recently lost her brave battle with cancer. Wendy was the second of three daughters of Boris Peetz’s oldest child Ola; while neither Wendy nor her mother were directly involved with Boris’s company, Wendy had a keen interest in her grandfather’s legacy of fine, durable fishing tackle. Her passing has taken from us a unique link with salmon fishing history on the West Coast.
From its beginnings around 1925, the little Peetz factory on Johnson Street in Victoria produced not only reels, but also huge quantities of patented lead weights, swivels, and several types of salmon lures. With several changes in ownership, the company continued with an ever-expanding range of products, always led by the flagship Peetz reel. Unfortunately its future is in doubt, as Peetz Outdoors Ltd. has, for the moment at least, closed its doors. For those interested, keep an eye on their instagram account here.
Wendy and her husband Doug were among the first to welcome my wife and me when we arrived in Victoria in 1978. They introduced us to new groups of people, invited us to gatherings at their home, and fired our enthusiasm for salmon fishing in the then productive Saanich Inlet. They inspired me to write a history of the family company, resulting in the publication of “Peetz, a reel for all time.” Both Wendy and Doug provided invaluable “insider” information and encouragement for the project.
Wendy leaves her own legacy of love and enthusiasm for life. She will be missed.
Douglas Pollard is the author of
