Optical Factory
Optical Factory was an eyeglass retailing business operated in the 1990s at Arthur Square in downtown Port Arthur (Thunder Bay), by a husband-and-wife team of optometrists, Bruce Allan Johnson and his wife, Dorothy Johnson.
Their daughter Stephanie Sherlock (nee Johnson) was a news anchor in Thunder Bay and once filmed a TV ad for them, in about 1998, narrating it with her voice, already familiar to Thunder Bay audiences and at the end revealing that she is their daughter.
Bruce died in 2008. As of 2019 Dorothy lives in Victoria, along with her daughter Stephanie.
Dorothy and Bruce would often make little adjustments to Michael Currie's glasses. They were very friendly and personable.
Dorothy and Bruce had three children: Cassandra, Andrea, and Stephanie.
Sources
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/chroniclejournal/obituary.aspx?n=helvi-johnson&pid=174131998
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/chroniclejournal/obituary.aspx?n=bruce-allan-johnson&pid=174130458
Bruce Allan Johnson
Johnson Son, husband, father, brother, grandpa, friend. Bruce Allan Johnson died on November 4th 2008 holding hands with his loving wife and youngest daughter after a short and courageous battle with cancer. Born and raised in Port Arthur, Bruce followed in his father's footsteps, becoming an optician. He married the love of his life, Dorothy, in 1967 and together they raised three daughters. Bruce and Dorothy also enjoyed many years in business together operating Optical Factory in Thunder Bay. Bruce enjoyed everything Northwestern Ontario has to offer. An avid outdoorsman, many a day was spent duck hunting and fishing in the Whitefish Lake area. An accomplished trumpet player, Bruce had a passion for music. He was a voracious reader and also enjoyed playing cards, cooking, entertaining guests, watching car racing, making lists and most of all spending time with his granddaughters Emma, Alyson, Lucy and Piper. Bruce was predeceased by his father Donald and nephew John. He will be forever loved and missed by his mother Helvi; his wife Dorothy, daughters Cassandra (Shayne, Emma and Alyson), Andrea and Stephanie (Jim, Lucy, Piper and bonus granddaughter Noele Barry); sister and brother-in-law Katherine and Barry Todd and family; brother-in-law Phillip and Norriette Parry and family; sister-in-law Jane Parry; and numerous cousins. A celebration of Bruce's life will be held on Saturday November 22nd, 2008 from 1 to 3 pm at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 5. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Victoria Hospice and Palliative Care Foundation (victoriahospice.org or by calling 250-952-5721) or Ducks Unlimited (ducks.ca or by calling 1-866-384-DUCK) would be appreciated."
-- (no date, but sometime after 2008) It is with great sadness that we announce the death, in Victoria, B.C. , of Helvi Johnson nee Narvanen, aged 89. Helvi was born in Port Arthur and lived there for 60 years. She found delight in everything life had to offer. She loved her family and made lifelong friends whose lives she touched with her joie de vivre, her beautiful smile and her sense of humour. She derived great pleasure from music and nature, especially animals. Helvi was predeceased by her husband Donald her son Bruce and her grandson John Todd. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Katherine and Barry Todd and her daughter-in-law Dorothy of Victoria; her granddaughters: Cassandra Korolenko, Karen Sheets, Andrea Johnson, Stephanie Sherlock, Amy Todd, Laura Todd and their families; her eight great-grandchildren; her niece and goddaughter, Audrey Lassila and many nieces and nephews. She is cherished by her family and friends and her spirit and love of life will live on in all of us. For those wishing to do so, a donation in Helvi's memory may be made to the Victoria Hospice, 1514 Fort St. Victoria, B.C. V8S 5J2 or an SPCA. Kathy and Barry Todd"