Sous-fonds consists of materials generated or gathered by George Sirk during his term as Regional Director. It includes correspondence; minutes and reports of the Cortes Island Advisory Planning Commission (APC); Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw revision materials; records of foreshore leases and licenses; correspondence on various island issues, and material relating to parks, aquaculture, forestry, treaty negotiations and other island concerns. Sous-fonds is arranged into six series: Advisory Planning Commission; Community Plans and Bylaws; Regional District of Comox-Strathcona: Regional Board; Regional District of Comox-Strathcona: Committees; Rezoning and Development Proposals; Subject Files: Cortes Affairs; Aquaculture; and Treaty Negotiations.
George Sirk was elected Regional Director of Electoral Area I (Cortes Island) in the Regional District of Comox-Strathcona in 1996. He served three terms as Director, from 1996 to 2005.
Custodial History
Material was donated to CIMAS by George Sirk in 2004, prior to his move from Cortes Island to Victoria, BC.
Scope and Content
Sous-fonds consists of materials generated or gathered by George Sirk during his term as Regional Director. It includes correspondence; minutes and reports of the Cortes Island Advisory Planning Commission (APC); Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw revision materials; records of foreshore leases and licenses; correspondence on various island issues, and material relating to parks, aquaculture, forestry, treaty negotiations and other island concerns. Sous-fonds is arranged into six series: Advisory Planning Commission; Community Plans and Bylaws; Regional District of Comox-Strathcona: Regional Board; Regional District of Comox-Strathcona: Committees; Rezoning and Development Proposals; Subject Files: Cortes Affairs; Aquaculture; and Treaty Negotiations.
Part of a series of 5 photographs taken by a couple from Germany who were visiting Hans Dolezol (also known as Hans Croker), who lived in the Round House on the property of Paula Snow (now 1474 Robertson Rd.) during the late 1970s until his death in 1982.
Part of a series of 5 photographs taken by a couple from Germany who were visiting Hans Dolezol (also known as Hans Croker), who lived in the Round House on the property of Paula Snow (now 1474 Robertson Rd.) during the late 1970s until his death in 1982.
Back, L to R: Mrs. J. Nixon, Mrs. R. McLennan, Mrs. Margaret Manson
Middle, L to R: Rose Manson, Anna Manson, Mrs. H. Hague
Front, L to R: Mabel Lowe, Nicol Manson, Eleanor Hague, Jack Manson
Description taken from May Elllingsen Historic Photograph Album p. 75. Although identified on the back as "taken at John Manson's farm", this was taken at the Nixon home on Twin Island.
Back, L to R: Mrs. J. Nixon, Mrs. R. McLennan, Mrs. Margaret Manson
Middle, L to R: Rose Manson, Anna Manson, Mrs. H. Hague
Front, L to R: Mabel Lowe, Nicol Manson, Eleanor Hague, Jack Manson
Description taken from May Elllingsen Historic Photograph Album p. 75. Although identified on the back as "taken at John Manson's farm", this was taken at the Nixon home on Twin Island.
L to R: Kiyoshi Kosky, Justin Stirn, Mike ?, John Shook
Part of a series of 8 photographs which document a clean-up at the proposed Carrington Bay Park site. The squatters' cabin was built in the 1970s, on the east side of Carrington Bay.
L to R: Kiyoshi Kosky, Justin Stirn, Mike ?, John Shook
Part of a series of 8 photographs which document a clean-up at the proposed Carrington Bay Park site. The squatters' cabin was built in the 1970s, on the east side of Carrington Bay.
L to R: John Shook, Justin Stirn, Pierre DeTrey, Kiyoshi Kosky, Cedar DeTrey
Part of a series of 8 photographs which document a clean-up at the proposed Carrington Bay Park site. The squatters' cabin was built in the 1970s, on the east side of Carrington Bay.
L to R: John Shook, Justin Stirn, Pierre DeTrey, Kiyoshi Kosky, Cedar DeTrey
Part of a series of 8 photographs which document a clean-up at the proposed Carrington Bay Park site. The squatters' cabin was built in the 1970s, on the east side of Carrington Bay.
L to R: Cedar DeTrey, Mike ?, John Shook
Part of a series of 8 photographs which document a clean-up at the proposed Carrington Bay Park site. The squatters' cabin was built in the 1970s, on the east side of Carrington Bay.
L to R: Cedar DeTrey, Mike ?, John Shook
Part of a series of 8 photographs which document a clean-up at the proposed Carrington Bay Park site. The squatters' cabin was built in the 1970s, on the east side of Carrington Bay.
Part of a series of 8 photographs which document a clean-up at the proposed Carrington Bay Park site. The squatters' cabin was built in the 1970s, on the east side of Carrington Bay.
Part of a series of 8 photographs which document a clean-up at the proposed Carrington Bay Park site. The squatters' cabin was built in the 1970s, on the east side of Carrington Bay.
Note the log bulwark in the background designed to stop erosion of the bank.
This is one of five photographs with an accompanying letter brought to the Museum from the Manson's Landing fire hall. The photos were used in a display and have been removed from a paper backing. The letter is in the Small Fonds box.
Note the log bulwark in the background designed to stop erosion of the bank.
This is one of five photographs with an accompanying letter brought to the Museum from the Manson's Landing fire hall. The photos were used in a display and have been removed from a paper backing. The letter is in the Small Fonds box.
Part of a series of 8 photographs which document a clean-up at the proposed Carrington Bay Park site. The squatters' cabin was built in the 1970s, on the east side of Carrington Bay.
Part of a series of 8 photographs which document a clean-up at the proposed Carrington Bay Park site. The squatters' cabin was built in the 1970s, on the east side of Carrington Bay.
One of a series of photographs of volunteers removing the remains of shacks at Carrington Bay when Carrington Bay Marine Park was established.
L to R: Kiyoshi Kosky, Pierre DeTrey, Cedar DeTrey
One of a series of photographs of volunteers removing the remains of shacks at Carrington Bay when Carrington Bay Marine Park was established.
L to R: Kiyoshi Kosky, Pierre DeTrey, Cedar DeTrey
Dr. Dale Anderson's Marine Dental Clinic provided dental services for Cortes Island and nearby islands from 1995 - 2020. The dental office was originally in this sailboat and then moved into the float house clinic at the Whaletown dock (seen at the bottom of the ramp).
Dr. Dale Anderson's Marine Dental Clinic provided dental services for Cortes Island and nearby islands from 1995 - 2020. The dental office was originally in this sailboat and then moved into the float house clinic at the Whaletown dock (seen at the bottom of the ramp).
L to R: Kyoshi Kosky, Justin Stirn
Part of a series of 8 photographs which document a clean-up at the proposed Carrington Bay Park site. The squatters' cabin was built in the 1970s, on the east side of Carrington Bay.
L to R: Kyoshi Kosky, Justin Stirn
Part of a series of 8 photographs which document a clean-up at the proposed Carrington Bay Park site. The squatters' cabin was built in the 1970s, on the east side of Carrington Bay.
"Fred's cat, 1969" on verso.
Fred Reedel was skidding into Strange's Bay in 1969 with this beautiful 40 foot long, 6 foot diameter fir log in the arch.
"Fred's cat, 1969" on verso.
Fred Reedel was skidding into Strange's Bay in 1969 with this beautiful 40 foot long, 6 foot diameter fir log in the arch.
Fonds consists of the personal records of Gilean Douglas which were produced and received during her personal and literary activities. There is some material dating from Douglas's early life, but the bulk of it dates from 1948 to 1993 and directly concerns her life on Cortes Island. Because of Douglas's involvement in the public life of the island, and her interest in local history, her papers contain a great deal of information about the political, community and social life of Cortes Island, particularly the Whaletown area. Fonds is composed of eighteen series: Manuscripts; Correspondence; Literary Records; Regional Director for Area I (Cortes Island); Women's Institute; Women's Auxiliary of the Anglican Church; School District #72; Whaletown Community Club; Channel Rock; Research; "The Log" of the Columbia Coast Mission; Journals and Notebooks; Illustrations and Sketches; Ephemera; Clippings; Maps; Albums; Photographs.
1.9 m of textual records; ca. 2,352 photographic records (1147 prints : b&w and col. - ca. 560 negatives : b&w and col. negatives ; 35 mm and 14 x 11 cm or smaller - 645 slides : col. slides ; 35 mm); 1 cm of graphic material; 8 maps.
Extent
1.9
History / Biographical
Gilean Douglas was born in Toronto, Ont. In 1900. Orphaned at the age of 16, she began to work as a free-lance writer and photographer. Over her lifetime her work appeared in more than 200 publications, often published under pseudonyms (Grant Madison, Armoral Kent and Jill MacLean). Douglas published eight books of poetry and three books of non-fiction, and, from 1961 to 1992, wrote a regular column, “Nature Rambles”, for the Victoria Times-Colonist.
In 1939, following the collapse of her third marriage, Douglas moved from Ontario to an isolated cabin in the mountains near Hope, B.C. Her first two books of nature writing (one published under the name Grant Madison) document her life there. Her cabin was destroyed by fire in 1947 and two years later she moved to a 138-acre waterfront homestead on Cortes Island with her fourth husband, Philip Douglas, (née Major). Her marriage ended in 1953, but she remained there until her death in 1993. Her home at Channel Rock was isolated, with no road access and no electricity. Douglas had a large garden, and supplemented her writing income by selling produce and plants. She was a volunteer Weather Observer for Environment Canada for 33 years, receiving several awards for her service. Starting in the 1960s, her writing centered increasingly on her life at Channel Rock. Her "Nature Rambles" columns and book "The Protected Place" reflect her life on the island.
During her years on Cortes Island, Douglas took a leading role in community affairs and local politics. She held office in several community organizations and acted as a school trustee. As a member of the Women's Institute, she held local, district, provincial and national office, edited a book on its history, and was awarded a Life Membership in 1989. Douglas was a member of the first Cortes Island Advisory Planning Commission and represented Cortes on the Regional Board of Comox-Strathcona as Alternate Director from 1968 to 1973 and as Director from 1973 until 1977.
List of Book Publications:
1952 Now the Green Word (Wings Press, Mill Valley, Ca.)
1953 Poetic Plush (The Story Book Press, Dallas, Texas)
1953 River For My Sidewalk (by “Grant Madison”; J. M. Dent & Sons, Toronto, Ont.)
1954 The Pattern Set (Quality Press, Montreal, Quebec)
1959 Modern Pioneers (a history of the Women's Institute, ed. by Douglas; Evergreen Press)
1967 Seascape With Figures (Prairie Press, Iowa City, Iowa)
1973 Now In This Night (Harlo Press, Detroit, Mi.)
1978 Silence Is My Homeland (Stackpole Books, Harrisburg, Pa.)
1979 The Protected Place (Gray’s Publishing, Sidney, B.C.)
1982 Prodigal (Harbour Publishing, Madeira Park, B.C.)
1984 River For My Sidewalk (by Gilean Douglas; Sono Nis Press)
1985 Kodachromes at Midday (Sono Nis Press)
1992 Seascape With Figures - Poems Selected and New (Sono Nis Press)
Custodial History
Upon Douglas’ death in 1993 her papers were gathered from her house by her literary executor, Gillian Milton. Douglas’ will directed that her papers and photographs be turned over to the University of British Columbia (Douglas’ primary beneficiary), after being examined and used for literary purposes including publication or biography. Accordingly, Milton inventoried the records, and with Andrea Lebowitz made use of them for a biography and anthology of the writings of Douglas, "Gilean Douglas: Writing Nature, Finding Home" (Lebowitz and Milton, Sono Nis Press, 1999). The textual records were turned over to University of British Columbia Library Rare Books and Special Collections in December 1999; the photographic records in 2002. By agreement with UBC, the records and photographs which have to do primarily with Cortes Island were turned over to the Cortes Island Museum and Archives Society (Manson's Landing, B.C.) in 1999.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of the personal records of Gilean Douglas which were produced and received during her personal and literary activities. There is some material dating from Douglas's early life, but the bulk of it dates from 1948 to 1993 and directly concerns her life on Cortes Island. Because of Douglas's involvement in the public life of the island, and her interest in local history, her papers contain a great deal of information about the political, community and social life of Cortes Island, particularly the Whaletown area. Fonds is composed of eighteen series: Manuscripts; Correspondence; Literary Records; Regional Director for Area I (Cortes Island); Women's Institute; Women's Auxiliary of the Anglican Church; School District #72; Whaletown Community Club; Channel Rock; Research; "The Log" of the Columbia Coast Mission; Journals and Notebooks; Illustrations and Sketches; Ephemera; Clippings; Maps; Albums; Photographs.
Gilean Douglas fonds at the University of British Columbia Library (Special Collections)
Cortes Island Ratepayers Association fonds
Gorge Harbour Community Hall fonds
Whaletown Community Club fonds
Whaletown Women's Institute fonds
Regional Director of Electoral Area I (Cortes Island) fonds
Copyright
Copyright for Douglas's published writings is held by the University of British Columbia. Permission to use Douglas's manuscripts for publication purposes must be obtained from the University of British Columbia or from Gillian Milton, literary executor for the estate of Gilean Douglas.
Arrangement
Wherever possible, Douglas’ system of arrangement has been retained, and original groupings of material have been maintained. Other material has been arranged according to type.
Part of a series of 8 photographs which document a clean-up at the proposed Carrington Bay Park site. The squatters' cabin was built in the 1970s, on the east side of Carrington Bay.
Part of a series of 8 photographs which document a clean-up at the proposed Carrington Bay Park site. The squatters' cabin was built in the 1970s, on the east side of Carrington Bay.
Part of a series of 8 photographs which document a clean-up at the proposed Carrington Bay Park site. The squatters' cabin was built in the 1970s, on the east side of Carrington Bay.
Part of a series of 8 photographs which document a clean-up at the proposed Carrington Bay Park site. The squatters' cabin was built in the 1970s, on the east side of Carrington Bay.
