Community Spotlight: Living Well with COPD – A Conversation with Allan.

Poplar: Allan, thank you so much for taking the time to share your story. Can you start by telling us a little bit about yourself?

Allan: I'm Allan, a retired truck driver living in Trail, BC, with my wife Helen—we’ve been married 45 years. We raised three kids—two daughters and a son—and we’re now proud grandparents to a 10-year-old grandson and a 6-year-old granddaughter. I’m enjoying retirement, learning to live with COPD, and trying not to let it slow me down too much.

Poplar: You’ve had such a full and adventurous work life. Can you walk us through your career?

Allan: Sure. I spent close to 35 years driving trucks across Western Canada and the U.S., hauling everything from produce to liquid oxygen and even Kokanee beer from the Creston brewery. It was a life on the move—lots of places seen, but never for long. Eventually I got tired of the road and moved into heavy construction, working on the Waneta Dam project near Trail. After that, I joined the pipeline industry. I helped build natural gas lines around Surrey, Coquitlam, and Burnaby—yep, I was one of those folks tearing up the roads! Later I worked up north near Prince George and Vanderhoof on the Coastal gas link line to Kitimat, and finally on the Trans Mountain line in the Chilliwack and Abbotsford area. I retired completely in August 2022.

I liked pipeline work. The money was good, and I got to drive a huge variety of vehicles—pickup trucks, semis, even big off-road articulated rock trucks through mud that sometimes came up to the truck’s belly.

Poplar: That’s quite a journey! How do you spend your time now that you’re retired?

Allan: Helen and I love to travel in our trailer. Most trips are nearby these days, but in 2023 we did a cross-country trip—it was a dream of ours. We met great people, visited museums, and truly fell in love with Newfoundland and Labrador. Two weeks on The Rock was not enough time! I also love fly fishing. You’ll often find me out on my inflatable pontoon boat, floating on a lake or river. Helen used to come out with me on her own boat too, until arthritis in her hands made it tough.

I also have a passion for vintage aircraft, especially WWII fighters and bombers. On our travels, we visited small-town museums dedicated to the Commonwealth Air Training Plan and early bush planes. We also stopped at some amazing sites—the Canadian Museum of Human Rights and the Mint in Winnipeg, the Terry Fox Memorial in Thunder Bay, and Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

Poplar: When were you diagnosed with COPD, and how did that come about?

Allan: I was officially diagnosed in late 2022. It wasn’t a surprise—I’d been a smoker for over 50 years. I’d tried quitting many times before, but I started cutting down in my final year of work. I got down to half a pack a day, then started smoking just half a cigarette at a time. I allowed myself four full cigarettes a day and kept a water bottle nearby to help fight cravings.

By the time we left on our cross-Canada trip in May 2023, I was almost done with smoking. I brought four packs with me—and never touched them. I officially quit on May 20, 2023. I still used nicotine lozenges for a few weeks after, but only when I really needed to. I didn’t follow any standard quit plan, but the goal was simple: just stop. And it worked.

Poplar: How has COPD changed your day-to-day life?

Allan: Even though my COPD is considered “mild,” I definitely feel it. Climbing stairs or scrambling up a riverbank leaves me out of breath, so I have to plan easier routes. I started walking regularly—first 30 minutes a day, then up to 6 km. That really helped my fitness. I also joined exercise and breathing classes through Poplar and BC Lung.

Unfortunately, I had a setback this spring. I tripped in a hole while helping my daughter fix my grandson’s trampoline and broke three ribs and cracked two more. That stopped my walking routine for a while, but the breathing techniques I learned helped me a lot during recovery.

Poplar: What kind of support or resources have made a difference?

Allan: Honestly, the support has been incredible. Our Better Breathers group here in the Kootenays, led by RT Kelly MacGillivray, has been a big part of that. The Poplar support groups, inhaler workshops, and exercise classes have taught me so much—not just about physical health but about staying positive. BC Lung’s webinars have been packed with helpful info too.

What’s made the biggest difference is the people—folks like you, Tina and Jenna, Maureen and Jill from BC Lung. You’re all so upbeat and encouraging. That energy lifts me up. It helps me believe I can still live a good life, and that I’m not in this alone.

Poplar: What advice would you give someone who’s just been diagnosed with COPD?

Allan: First, take a breath—literally and figuratively. You’re not alone, and this isn’t the end of your life. Start by learning everything you can. Get a Respiratory Therapist. Find a support group. Learn about your inhalers—how to use them, what they do. Know the warning signs of a flare-up. Get an action plan in place.

The more you know, the better prepared you’ll be. And the less likely you’ll end up in the ER. I always say: information is the key to living with COPD. Here in BC, we’re lucky to have great resources—use them!

Also, be willing to adjust. We use a propane fire bowl instead of a smoky campfire. I wear a mask when doing dusty work. I check the Air Quality Index daily—especially during fire season and when planning camping trips — and I always carry my inhalers and rescue meds.

Poplar: You’ve really taken ownership of your health. Any final thoughts you’d like to share?

Allan: Just this: Living with COPD takes effort, but it doesn’t mean your life is over. With the right support and information, you can live well. Surround yourself with positive people, learn what works for you, and keep doing the things you love—even if you have to do them a bit differently. That’s what I’ve done, and it’s made all the difference.

Poplar: Thank you, Allan. Your story is inspiring, and we know it will help others feel less alone and more hopeful. 

If you’ve been diagnosed with a chronic lung condition and are looking for support, reach out to us at 236-361-3480 or email us at poplar@poplarpulmonary.com to book your free 15-minute Welcome Session. We’re here to help.