In 1939 Irene Kenny joined the Canadian Forces, when she returned to Rio Grande-Halcourt to help run the fur trading business that her father started. In 1952 they moved to White Rock, BC. By 1958, the family had built up three farms and were ranching 8 000 mink of different colours. When Irene’s parents celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary a newspaper article mentions Irene attended with her family from Whiterock, BC. In her father’s obituary, Irene is referred to as Mrs. Ivan Smith. In an article written by Irene Allin, there is mention of her mother’s piano and all of the memories that it brings back. She recalls how her mother would make their home a church, since in that time there were no churches in the area. She reminisces about carting the piano back and forth to the one room school house for the Christmas concerts. In the end of the article, it mentions Mrs. Allin as doing mission work in New Guinea.
- Pioneers of the Peace, 1975, p. 284
- The Daily Herald Tribune, January 20th, 1956
- The Daily Herald Tribune, December 21st, 1973, p. 2