Fonds consists of materials created or collected by Directors of Cortes Electoral Area during their terms of office. Because outgoing Directors may turn their current files over to their successors, the papers of one Director may contain materials generated during a previous term.
Fonds includes minutes of Cortes Advisory Planning Commission meetings; minutes of Regional Board and committee meetings with related background material; records of public hearings; correspondence; community plans and by-laws with associated planning material; licenses for the use of foreshore and crown land; and materials relating to island issues such as parks, aquaculture, forestry, garbage disposal, recycling and water quality.
Fonds is arranged into sous-fonds based on accession of records and contains four sous-fonds: Linda Gagnon, Regional Director; Ralph Nursall, Regional Director; George Sirk, Regional Director; and Jeanette Hiebert, Regional Director.
The Regional Director of Electoral Area I (Cortes Island) was the elected representative to the Regional District of Comox-Strathcona (RDCS), one of 28 regional districts in British Columbia. The RDCS covered an area of North Vancouver Island and surrounding islands which included the municipalities of Campbell River, Comox, Courtenay, Cumberland, Gold River, Sayward, Tahsis and Zeballos, and 10 rural Electoral Areas. Initially enabled by the Municipal Act of 1965, Regional Districts act as a regional government over issues affecting their entire region. In the absence of incorporated municipalities, they function as the "local" government for rural areas by providing planning and land use regulations, and facilitating the delivery of services such as garbage disposal, fire protection and house numbering. Cortes Island was designated Electoral Area I when the RDCS was formed in 1968, and was the smallest electoral area in both population and size. In 2008 the RDCS was split, and Cortes Island became Area B in the newly-formed Strathcona Regional District.
Cortes was represented on the RDCS by one Director, elected for a three year term, who appointed an Alternate Director and an Advisory Planning Commission (APC). From 1968 until 1984, the Cortes Island APC was formed by the elected executive of the Cortes Island Ratepayers Association. The first Director of Area I was George Griffin (1968-1973), followed by Gilean Douglas (1973-1978), Irv Reedel (1978-1981), David Hansen (1981-1984), Bruce Ellingsen (1984-1987), Linda Gagnon (1987-1990), Ralph Nursall (1990-1996), George Sirk (1996-2005) and Jeanette (Jenny) Hiebert (2005-2008).
Custodial History
Material in the Linda Gagnon, Regional Director sous-fonds (Accession 2002.001) was passed on to her successor, Ralph Nursall, at the end of her term. It was donated to CIMAS in 2002 by Ralph Nursall. Material in the Ralph Nursall, Regional Director sous-fonds (Accession 2003.001) was donated to CIMAS by Nursall in 2003 and in 2008 (Accession 2008.001). Material in the George Sirk, Regional Director sous-fonds (Accession 2004.004) was donated to CIMAS by Sirk in 2004. Material in the Jeanette Hiebert Regional Director sous-fonds (Accession 2019.015) was donated to CIMAS by Hiebert in 2019.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of materials created or collected by Directors of Cortes Electoral Area during their terms of office. Because outgoing Directors may turn their current files over to their successors, the papers of one Director may contain materials generated during a previous term.
Fonds includes minutes of Cortes Advisory Planning Commission meetings; minutes of Regional Board and committee meetings with related background material; records of public hearings; correspondence; community plans and by-laws with associated planning material; licenses for the use of foreshore and crown land; and materials relating to island issues such as parks, aquaculture, forestry, garbage disposal, recycling and water quality.
Fonds is arranged into sous-fonds based on accession of records and contains four sous-fonds: Linda Gagnon, Regional Director; Ralph Nursall, Regional Director; George Sirk, Regional Director; and Jeanette Hiebert, Regional Director.
The Gilean Douglas fonds contains records from Douglas's term as Regional Director (1973 to 1978). The Cortes Island Ratepayers Association fonds contains material relating to Cortes' incorporation into the Regional District, and minutes, correspondence and other materials from the APC (1968-1984).
Fonds consists of 49 original photographs from the Michael Manson family, mostly from the early 20th century (1898-1928). The photographs depict the Manson family, logging and farming on Hernando and Cortes Islands, Michael and Jane Manson's Golden Wedding anniversary, and Florence McKay's 90th birthday celebration. The photographs were originally in an album with handwritten captions along with newspaper articles about Michael Manson, Jane Manson and Florence McKay.
Florence Manson McKay was born Jan. 21, 1900 to Michael and Jane Manson. Michael Manson was the first person to pre-empt land on Cortes Island, a quarter section on Gunflint Lake (present-day Linnaea Farm). Florence married Ervin McKay in 1918. They moved to Hernando Island in 1921 and Ervin worked with extended family members logging there and on Cortes Island. Florence and Ervin had two children: Etta (b. 1918) and Hazel (b. 1920). In 1929 the McKays took over Michael Manson's original pre-emption on Gunflint Lake, where they farmed until retiring in 1950. They moved to Courtenay, turning the farm over to daughter Hazel and her husband Ken Hansen. Florence was widowed in 1978 and returned to Cortes to live with Ken and Hazel, who had sold the farm but kept 16 acres to live on. Florence passed away in 1995.
Custodial History
Florence McKay gathered the photographs and her daughter, Hazel Hansen, compiled the album and wrote the captions. The album was donated to CIMAS by Hazel's son, Albert Hansen, in 2004.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of 49 original photographs from the Michael Manson family, mostly from the early 20th century (1898-1928). The photographs depict the Manson family, logging and farming on Hernando and Cortes Islands, Michael and Jane Manson's Golden Wedding anniversary, and Florence McKay's 90th birthday celebration. The photographs were originally in an album with handwritten captions along with newspaper articles about Michael Manson, Jane Manson and Florence McKay.
Michael and John Manson's parents, John and Margaret Manson, and some of their children.
Back row, L to R: Barbara and Margaret.
Centre row, L to R: John Manson, Margaret Manson and Robina.
Front row, L to R: John and William.
Michael and John Manson's parents, John and Margaret Manson, and some of their children.
Back row, L to R: Barbara and Margaret.
Centre row, L to R: John Manson, Margaret Manson and Robina.
Front row, L to R: John and William.
Portrait of Michael and Jane Manson and their children.
Back row, L to R: Robina, Michael Manson, Wilfred,Ethel.
Centre row, L to R: Margaret, Hazel, Jane Manson.
Front row, L to R: Florence, Gwendoline, Flossie.
Robina and Ethel, and Florence and Flossie were sets of twins.
Portrait of Michael and Jane Manson and their children.
Back row, L to R: Robina, Michael Manson, Wilfred,Ethel.
Centre row, L to R: Margaret, Hazel, Jane Manson.
Front row, L to R: Florence, Gwendoline, Flossie.
Robina and Ethel, and Florence and Flossie were sets of twins.
Michael Manson with four of his daughters standing with forest in the background (same background as photograph 2004.001.005).
L to R: Ethel, Mike Manson with his hand on shoulder of Flossie, Gwen, Hazel
Michael Manson with four of his daughters standing with forest in the background (same background as photograph 2004.001.005).
L to R: Ethel, Mike Manson with his hand on shoulder of Flossie, Gwen, Hazel
Rose (L) in overalls and her cousin Florence standing with a dog standing by trees at the John Manson home, Sunny Brae farm.
Rose was the daughter of John and Margaret Manson; Florence was the daughter of Michael and Jane Manson.
Rose (L) in overalls and her cousin Florence standing with a dog standing by trees at the John Manson home, Sunny Brae farm.
Rose was the daughter of John and Margaret Manson; Florence was the daughter of Michael and Jane Manson.
Feeding the hens. Children, L - R: Etta McKay, Dorothy Manson (smallest), Hazel McKay. Florence McKay is in the shadows on the porch of the small "house on the hill" at Stag Bay, Hernando Island. This is the house originally built by George Freeman ca. 1915.
Feeding the hens. Children, L - R: Etta McKay, Dorothy Manson (smallest), Hazel McKay. Florence McKay is in the shadows on the porch of the small "house on the hill" at Stag Bay, Hernando Island. This is the house originally built by George Freeman ca. 1915.
Florence and Rose Manson, cousins, posing in the limbs of a blossoming cherry tree at Sunny Brae farm. John Manson's first house and a picket fence are in the background. Florence was the daughter of Michael and Jane Manson; Rose was the daughter of John and Margaret Manson.
Florence and Rose Manson, cousins, posing in the limbs of a blossoming cherry tree at Sunny Brae farm. John Manson's first house and a picket fence are in the background. Florence was the daughter of Michael and Jane Manson; Rose was the daughter of John and Margaret Manson.
