Alex Balsom was born in Come by Chance and grew up in Clarenville. Alex played hockey with the Clarenville Caribous and was involved in various sports during his childhood and early adult life.
In 1963 Alex left Clarenville and drove to Toronto with a car load of friends just as a lot of Newfoundlanders did in the 60s. In Toronto he worked a couple of months but his Mom and Dad missed him so much they finally convinced him to move back home and go back to school and get a trade. Alex graduated Clarenville College with an Electrical Certificate and went to Corner Brook to work with his Electrical Trade for the following year and achieved his Journeyman’s Electrical Certificate from the Trade School in St. John’s.
Alex then left Corner Brook and moved back home to Clarenville and started a new business “B & S Electrical” with Wayne Smith brother of his wife Delores. Years later Alex built the “Price is Right” building on Memorial Drive and started “Western Tire” (a smaller version of Canadian Tire) for approximately three years. Then he bought the building and business on Memorial Drive from Gerald Duffitt (Duffitt Motors) which was operated mainly as a snowmobile business. This location sold various recreation vehicles, Western Tire products and eventually grew into a car business. Years later he rented this building to Canadian Tire and moved to Balbo Drive in Shoal Harbour and operated a Ford Dealership, sold recreation products and then Foodland for a period of time.
Alex then built a new building on Manitoba Drive, sold the Ford Dealership and rented the building to the new Ford dealership owners. Alex eventually sold the Manitoba Drive building and Balbo Drive buildings and bought the building he now owns on Blackmore Avenue. The Blackmore Avenue business operated a Fitness Centre and pool and currently a newly constructed 34-room hotel. Along with his wife Delores he has two sons Mark (Pam), Matthew (Christie) and grandchildren Alexandria, Emily, Ashley and Avery.
