An Explorer's Guide to Atlin, BC

Dateline: October 24, 2024.

    "Sam" was born in the Province of Calabria [Italy] in 1869, and came to Canada in his late teens. He went to the Yukon during the Klondike stampede, and when he gained his Canadian citizenship on September 16, 1911, was working at Glacier Creek. He came to Atlin in 1927 and worked as a placer miner up the creeks, but health forced him to leave in 1959 and he is buried at the Mountain View Cemetery in Vancouver.

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The Whitehorse Star, Thursday, September 17, 1959

Old Timer Leaves

    Another old-timer has, on the advice of his doctor and friends, gone to live where he can be well cared for. As is well known, Sam Totera or, as he was cristened, Serafino, has been up in Whitehorse for the last few weeks. He will shortly be going to a home for the aged. He is still in good health as far has his 90 years will permit, and can move about under his own steam or, in the case of a hardworking placer miner, under his own hydraulic power.

    He was born in the Province of Calabria [Italy], and came to Canada in his late teens, before the turn of the century. He followed the stampede up to the Yukon. He gained his Canadian citizenship September 16, 1911. He was then working up at Glacier Creek. He does say he made a fortune there but one cannot always tell what lies behind that merry twinkle in his eye. After some years in the North, he left and went to work on the railway and later as a farmer in North Vancouver. In 1927 he came to Atlin and worked as a placer miner up the creeks. He has not worked for many years now as he has been suffering from chronic rheumatism and has been living by himself in a cabin in Atlin. There is a tale that while working up at Graham Creek he cut his foot very severely with an axe. In the severe winter weather he walked from Graham Creek to Taku Townsite. He was then taken by dog-sleigh to Atlin Hospital.

    Father Bobillier spoke very highly of Sam and says that up to the last few years he attended Mass regularly. Then, when he was unable to attend Church, he took the Sacraments in his own home.

    His merry laugh and roguish twinkle will be missed in Atlin and his many friends wish him every happiness in his new abode. If the nurses in the hospital are to be believed, it will not be long before he has made new acquaintances.

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The Sun (Vancouver, B.C.), Tuesday, August 8, 1961

    TOTERA - In hospital, August 5, 1961. Sam Totera, formerly of Atlin, B.C. Requiem mass Wednesday, August 9, at 8 a.m. St. Anthony's Church, 73rd and Montcalm, Rev. Father Oliver, celebrant. Remains resting at KearneyFuneral Directors Chapel, 1096 W. Broadway.

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The Whitehorse Star, Thursday, August 24, 1961

    Atlin, August 17. Word has been received by our Government Agent, Mr. Tom McKinnon, of the passing of Serafino (Sam) Totera at the Provincial infirmary, Marpole, Vancouver, B.C. A native of Italy, Sam came to Canada before the turn of the century and later became a Canadian citizen. He spent a few years in Dawson, Yukon, and in the Sixty-Mile area, before moving to Atlin. At the time of his death Sam was ninety-two years of age. Before leaving Atlin to enter the Infirmary in September, 1959, Sam had been ill for some time but would stand at his door and greet all passers-by with a little joke and a very hearty laugh which made the day a bit brighter for us all.