Elva Eleanore (Elliott) Patterson is known in the City of Vancouver as a pioneer in the film industry. She is the daughter of John Hess Elliott, and Nettie Florence (Faris) Elliott of Vancouver.

Elva was born in Wardner, Idaho, USA., and recalled being told by her parents that she had become quite sick at about the age of two. Since there was no hospital nearby, the local First Nations tribe was notified of her illness. The shaman created a special beverage believed to have been made from fruit and berries to give to her. Elva credited this mysterious drink and the tribe with helping to save her life.

By age 3, Elva was well enough to travel, so the family made the trek by horse drawn covered wagon to British Columbia, Canada. After spending some time in the interior of the province, the family relocated to the city of Vancouver in about 1902.

Elva graduated from Vancouver's King Edward high school in 1914 and soon began work as a stenographer for Dominion Exclusive Films, and the Fox Film Corporation of Canada. From her office, located at #508-751 Granville Street, Vancouver, Elva witnessed the onset of moving pictures. She also saw the historic transition from the distribution centres in New York (then the centre of the film industry) to a little known town in California called Hollywood. The Fox Film Corporation, founded by pioneer filmmaker William Fox, merged with Twentieth Century Pictures to become industry giant, Twentieth Century-Fox in 1935.

Elva married Charles Bruce Patterson at the Sixth Avenue Methodist Church (located at 6th Avenue and Fir Street) in Vancouver on July 17th, 1918. The couple had met through their membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge (IOOF). Elva and her husband Bruce raised two daughters, Audrey Elva (Patterson) Brock (1919-2003), and Doreen Nettie (Patterson) Reitsma (1927-2000).

Elva and her husband Bruce lived in New Westminster before moving to the east side of Vancouver. Then, after winning a bond in a draw at the Pacific National Exhibition, the family built a home at 2743 West 29th avenue, Vancouver. Their move-in date was December 15th, 1936. In 1939, with a passion and respect for architecture and landscape, Bruce and Elva Patterson built their next family home at 3578 Quesnel drive, Vancouver. They moved in with their two young daughters on May 7th, 1940. Here, the couple not only built a beloved family home, but also a spectacular rockery garden. Located at the front of the property, the rockery features colourful flowers and shrubs, hand placed retaining walls, as well as meandering stone pathways in order to give the impression that the visitor has just entered an enchanting story book. This rockery is believed to be one of the rarest and most beautiful residential garden features in the city of Vancouver.

Elva gave back to her community through her membership with the International Association of Rebekah Assemblies (IARA) Friendship Rebekah Lodge #52 (Odd Fellows Lodge), and the Order of the Eastern Star (OES) Triumph Chapter #51, (Masonic Lodge). The Quesnel drive house (originally spelled "Quesnelle") was often a hive of activity with various lodge meetings taking place there. Especially during the war years, Elva and her friends held many fundraisers in the city to aid the war effort. From the purchase of wheel chairs for returning veterans, to hospital supplies, their volunteer commitments were very much appreciated. Elva was a charter member of Triumph Chapter #51, and served a term as Worthy Matron (WM). Due to the many decades of service she gave to Vancouver's Friendship Rebekah Lodge #52, she was given the Distinguished Service Award on December 16th, 1964.

Elva enjoyed school and was very good at most academic subjects. She was remembered for being especially good at math. Also, as a young girl, Elva learned to play the piano, and became an accomplished tennis player. She was also an excellent cook, and enjoyed baking specialty desserts and fancy cakes. Elva was known for being feisty, outspoken, and often quick-tempered. But she is also remembered as being kind and dedicated to her family and friends.

In later years, Elva and Bruce built a house in Richmond, BC with their daughter Doreen and her husband Bill. The house was a single-storey ranch style home which allowed Elva's health care needs to be taken care of by Doreen. Their new address was 1056 Finlayson Drive, Richmond, BC, and their move-in date was Friday October 12, 1962-the same date that Typhoon Freda struck the BC coast. Although the storm caused millions of dollars in destruction in the region, the home did not sustain any damage from the storm.

After a long and interesting life, Elva died in 1973 in Richmond, BC at the age of 77.

Biography by Raymond Reitsma