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Vern Frick, who was born before rock ‘n’ roll and admits he didn’t really care for it, has probably been to more rock concerts than you have, including the Beatles and The Rolling Stones shows.

The 80-year-old longest-serving employee of the PNE, who has been on shift as a part-time usher for virtually all the shows at the annual exhibition venues since the summer of 1963, is working his last shift on Labour Day.

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“It’s sad for me to be leaving. Working here is like having a family,” says Frick before his shift Tuesday as public-safety supervisor at the PNE arena, where he’s responsible for tagging and parking the dozens of baby strollers streaming in for the SuperDogs show.

“I have so much love and respect for my fellow workers,” said the grandfather of two, as a co-worker arrives for work and singsongs out to him, “Good morning, Sunshine!”

Frick, who raised his three children with his wife and worked full-time at Canada Post as a carrier and in management, first ushered on Canada Day 1963 at the Empire Stadium, when it was the home of the fledgling B.C. Lions, because “I loved football so much.” That first shift gave him a great view of the action and a $2 bill in wages and his part-time career was born.