Burke and Hanneke Corbet

Smooth Sailing

From their apartment on the West Vancouver seafront, Burke and Hanneke Corbet watch cruise ships plying the waters on their way north. It’s a sight that brings back memories of the times they spent on their sailboat, including an epic voyage to Alaska. That trip, which took three and a half months, had its share of adventures. Hanneke recalls waking up one morning on the boat and discovering it was stuck in a huge, thick kelp bed – they had to get into the dingy and hack it out. “That wasn’t the best place to anchor,” she says.

Another special memory is when Burke met Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. The royal couple were in Delta on July 15, 1959 to open the Deas Island Tunnel (now known as George Massey Tunnel). Apparently, Prince Philip wasn’t overly keen about shaking hands with only a lineup of official representatives and asked that they have at least one person who was actively involved in the project. The organizers invited Burke, the youngest engineer to work on the tunnel, who was able to answer the prince’s questions about its construction – a highlight of Burke’s career.

Perhaps it’s no surprise that the British mysteries and dramas on Knowledge are among Burke and Hanneke’s favourites. They also enjoy travel and nature series that transport them to different parts of the world. Donors since 1995, they’ve supported Knowledge throughout the years because they love the progamming so much; in fact, aside from the news, it’s the only station they watch. “From our experience it’s way better than pretty much anything else on television,” says Burke. “Knowledge is certainly worthwhile contributing to.”