1964 was a time of change. The British Invasion hit the music charts with the Beatles first North American #1 Hit "I Want to Hold Your Hand". In the United States, Lyndon Johnson was re-elected President while the country was being torn by civil rights and anti-war demonstrations. Locally the Deas Island Tunnel had been opened in 1959 and would be renamed the George Massey Tunnel in 1967.

Fibreglass boats had been introduced to the masses by the Pearson Triton in 1959, and in 1965 Hull #3 of the legendary Cal 40 would win the Transpac. Reinell and Hourston were building small fibreglass boats and Canoe Cove had introduced its first recreational fibreglass boat, the 36 foot Challenger sedan cruiser, in 1959. The venerable Canoe Cove 41 would not be produced until 1970, the same year as the founding of Catalina Yachts.

By 1964 there were already a number of Power Squadrons in the lower mainland. The late 1950's had seen the foundation of Vancouver, Capilano, Royal City, Alouette, and Norvan squadrons; Langley and Whiterock were added in the early 1960's.

In 1964, a group of boaters primarily from Vancouver Power Squadron and the Richmond Yacht Club founded Fraser Squadron.

Founding members included H.H. Brimble, F.E. Burch, M. Conelley, W.J. Couch, A.W. Curran, W. Davey, R.H. Dodd, L.B. Durant, R.W. Ferguson, D.W. Gunn, A.I.L. McGregor, R. Meggy, H.E. Naylor, A. Paiger, G.H. Siegmund, and A. Watts. The official Squadron Warrant from Canadian Power Squadrons was dated October 1964.

At a November 30th 1964 meeting held at Ladner Police Court Room (thereafter known as the 'Jailhouse meeting') Al Curran was elected as the squadron's first Commander. At the inaugural Meeting, held at the New Quilchena Golf Club in Richmond on January 25 1965, District Commander Bob Thatcher presented the Warrant and administered the Oath of Office to Commander Al Curran.

Herb Brimble was the Past Commander of Vancouver Squadron, and many of the founding members went on to be future Commanders of Fraser Squadron – Art Watts (1965), Tony Paiger (1966), Lou Durrant (1967), Bill Couch (1968), Bob Dodd (1969), and Dave Gunn (1970).

Fortunately, the minutes of most of the early meetings still exist. See 'The Early Years' in the History area of this web site. Pictures of many of the founders have also survived – see "Founding Members'.