Fonds consists of the records of the Cortes Island Ratepayers Association, an organization of the property owners and residents of Cortes Island from 1963 to 1984. They include administrative documents such as the constitution and membership lists, minutes of CIRA meetings, annual reports, newsletters to members, correspondence and materials related to the provision of services, land use planning and other issues of island concern.
The fonds is composed of the following series: Administrative Documents; Minutes; Financial; Newsletters and Notices; Correspondence; Subject; Community Planning and Land Use (Advisory Planning Commission); Clippings; and Maps and Plans.
The Cortes Island Ratepayers Association (CIRA) was an association of property owners and residents formed in 1963 to "further the development of the island and to have a representative body in dealing with the Provincial government."
The first activity initiated by CIRA was to lobby the provincial government for the provision of electricity and ferry service to Cortes Island. Their efforts met with success. Electricity was brought to the island in 1970 and ferry service from Quadra Island to Cortes Island began in 1969. CIRA also became an important forum for the discussion of other important services on Cortes Island, including roads, fire protection, garbage disposal, water quality, rural mail delivery and library facilities.
As a result of CIRA's efforts to bring electricity to Cortes Island, in 1967 the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Dan Campbell, designated Cortes Island a Local Improvement District. This made Cortes Island into a legal entity for the purpose of negotiating with the province for electrical power. In that same year, Minister Campbell invited CIRA to participate in discussions and committee work on the formation of a regional district level of government.
In 1968, Cortes Island was designated 'Electoral Area I' in the Regional District of Comox-Strathcona (RDCS) with an elected director. Under this system, a Regional Director is elected who in turn sits on the Board of the RDCS. Each Regional Director appoints an Advisory Planning Commission (APC), a committee of island residents who advise the Director on matters of island concern. In 1968, CIRA determined that the elected members of the executive of CIRA would form the APC for Cortes Island. This arrangement lasted until the dissolution of CIRA in 1984. The first zoning by-law was completed in 1970 and an Official Settlement Plan and zoning by-law in 1979.
In 1982, CIRA initiated a court case against Raven Lumber for non-compliance with the Cortes Island Official Settlement Plan and zoning by-law. CIRA won the case upon appeal, but in 1984 an Order in Council allowed Raven Lumber to proceed with their development. The court case had absorbed a great deal of CIRA energy and fund raising effort over a four year period. At the General Meeting in November, 1984 there were no candidates willing to stand for the executive. CIRA was declared inactive at that meeting and was never reactivated.
Custodial History
During the term of the last president of CIRA, the records were kept in the Gorge Harbour Community Hall on Cortes Island. After the dissolution of the CIRA in 1984, the records continued to be stored in the hall. The records were transferred to the Cortes Island Museum and Archives by the Whaletown Community Club (owner of the hall) in 2000.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of the records of the Cortes Island Ratepayers Association, an organization of the property owners and residents of Cortes Island from 1963 to 1984. They include administrative documents such as the constitution and membership lists, minutes of CIRA meetings, annual reports, newsletters to members, correspondence and materials related to the provision of services, land use planning and other issues of island concern.
The fonds is composed of the following series: Administrative Documents; Minutes; Financial; Newsletters and Notices; Correspondence; Subject; Community Planning and Land Use (Advisory Planning Commission); Clippings; and Maps and Plans.
Regional Director of Electoral Area I (Cortes Island) fonds
Gilean Douglas fonds
Finding Aid
File list available
Arrangement
Materials were received in their original file folders, however the files were not in any discernible order. In the absence of original order, materials were arranged by function and subject at the series level and chronologically within series.
Florence (L) and Flossie (R) Manson, twin daughters of Michael and Jane Manson, standing in front of the porch of the Mike Manson home at Manson's Landing. They went to Vancouver in 1915 to take up dressmaking and millinery lessons along with younger sister Gwen (not pictured).
Florence (L) and Flossie (R) Manson, twin daughters of Michael and Jane Manson, standing in front of the porch of the Mike Manson home at Manson's Landing. They went to Vancouver in 1915 to take up dressmaking and millinery lessons along with younger sister Gwen (not pictured).
Michael and Jane Manson seated in the centre of a large family group at their Golden Wedding Anniversary in front of the home they had built at Manson's Landing.
Back row, L to R: Percy Renwick holding his son, Fraser Campbell, Flossie Kenny, George Freeman, Hazel Herrewig, Dave Renwick (Jane's brother)
Middle row, L to R: Liz Renwick, Mrs Hurren, Mike Manson, Jane Manson, Mary Anne Renwick, Margaret Manson, Tom Renwick standing (Jane's brother)
Front row, L to R: Harold Smith, Hubert Smith, Gwen Campbell holding Calvin with Thelma just in front, Ethel Hurren, Eileen Kenny in foreground in front of flowers, Robina Freeman, Flo McKay with Hazel just in front
Michael and Jane Manson seated in the centre of a large family group at their Golden Wedding Anniversary in front of the home they had built at Manson's Landing.
Back row, L to R: Percy Renwick holding his son, Fraser Campbell, Flossie Kenny, George Freeman, Hazel Herrewig, Dave Renwick (Jane's brother)
Middle row, L to R: Liz Renwick, Mrs Hurren, Mike Manson, Jane Manson, Mary Anne Renwick, Margaret Manson, Tom Renwick standing (Jane's brother)
Front row, L to R: Harold Smith, Hubert Smith, Gwen Campbell holding Calvin with Thelma just in front, Ethel Hurren, Eileen Kenny in foreground in front of flowers, Robina Freeman, Flo McKay with Hazel just in front
Florence (Manson) McKay, ready to cut her 90th birthday cake at a party held at the Manson's Landing Community Hall. A news clipping accompanying the photograph provides details of Florence's life and family.
Florence was born to Michael and Jane Manson at home in Union Bay, January 21, 1900. Florence married Ervin McKay, a fireman with the Vancouver Fire Department. In 1929, Michael Manson turned his farm at Hague Lake over to Florence. Florence and Ervin lived there until they retired in 1950 and moved to Courtenay. The farm was turned over to their daughter Hazel and her husband Ken Hansen. Florence was widowed in 1978 and returned to Cortes to live with Hazel, who had sold the farm (subsequently renamed Linnaea Farm) but kept sixteen acres to retire on.
Florence (Manson) McKay, ready to cut her 90th birthday cake at a party held at the Manson's Landing Community Hall. A news clipping accompanying the photograph provides details of Florence's life and family.
Florence was born to Michael and Jane Manson at home in Union Bay, January 21, 1900. Florence married Ervin McKay, a fireman with the Vancouver Fire Department. In 1929, Michael Manson turned his farm at Hague Lake over to Florence. Florence and Ervin lived there until they retired in 1950 and moved to Courtenay. The farm was turned over to their daughter Hazel and her husband Ken Hansen. Florence was widowed in 1978 and returned to Cortes to live with Hazel, who had sold the farm (subsequently renamed Linnaea Farm) but kept sixteen acres to retire on.
Fonds consists of sixteen photographs depicting people and scenes, primarily of the Manson's Landing area. Identification was provided by Fred Brooks Jr. in an interview with Cathy Jenks.
Alethea and Frederick (Fred) James Brooks Sr. and their two sons, Frederick (Fred) Earl, Jr. and Bob, lived on Cortes Island from ca. 1941 to 1944, near Manson's Landing. Fred Sr. logged in Cortes Bay and employed two of the Hawkins boys, Bill and George.
Fred Jr. attended grades three to six at Cortes Island school before the family moved to Pender Harbour. Some of the names he recalls are: the Christiansen kids (Robert, Jim, and a sister), the Tibers on the west side of Cortes Island, and the Jefferys of Smelt Bay.
Custodial History
Fred Brooks Jr. gave the photographs to Cathy Brooks of Pender Harbour Living Heritage Society, who facilitated the donation by collecting the photographs, donation form and information from Brooks and sending the materials to CIMAS.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of sixteen photographs depicting people and scenes, primarily of the Manson's Landing area. Identification was provided by Fred Brooks Jr. in an interview with Cathy Jenks.
Pender Harbour Living Heritage holds related material from the Brooks family: https://penderharbourheritage.pastperfectonline.com/bysearchterm?keyword=Brooks+family
Back row L-R: unknown except Cal Campbell on R
Middle row L-R: Eleanor Christiansen; ?; ?; Fred Brooks Jr, age 8; ?; Bob Hawkins, Bill Illman?, Frank Hayes
Front Row: Bob Christiansen on R
Back row L-R: unknown except Cal Campbell on R
Middle row L-R: Eleanor Christiansen; ?; ?; Fred Brooks Jr, age 8; ?; Bob Hawkins, Bill Illman?, Frank Hayes
Front Row: Bob Christiansen on R
Binder contains interviews, stories and pictures from Ginny and Bruce Ellingsen, the Lambert family, Dolly (Jeffery) Hansen and Maryann McCoy, with additional historic photographs of Smelt Bay from the early to the late 1900s at the back. It was created as part of the Memories of Manson's Landing Exhibit, curated and mounted by Doreen Thompson.
Binder contains interviews, stories and pictures from Ginny and Bruce Ellingsen, the Lambert family, Dolly (Jeffery) Hansen and Maryann McCoy, with additional historic photographs of Smelt Bay from the early to the late 1900s at the back. It was created as part of the Memories of Manson's Landing Exhibit, curated and mounted by Doreen Thompson.
Binder contains a photocopy of a Province of BC bulletin on how to pre-empt land (1929), and a list of pre-emptions from the records in the BC Archives in Victoria.
Binder contains a photocopy of a Province of BC bulletin on how to pre-empt land (1929), and a list of pre-emptions from the records in the BC Archives in Victoria.
Memories of Mansons Landing 2005 – Central Area – Bridge Hill and Smelt Bay Hill
Binder contains interviews, stories and pictures from Mary and Bill Block, Larry Borland, May (Freeman) Ellingsen, Wilf Freeman, the Froud family, Robbie Graham, Bill Guthrie, Gloria Morrisette, Jean (Reford) MacDonald and Beth (Martin) Slater.
It was created as part of the Memories of Manson's Landing Exhibit, curated and mounted by Doreen Thompson.
Memories of Mansons Landing 2005 – Central Area – Bridge Hill and Smelt Bay Hill
Binder contains interviews, stories and pictures from Mary and Bill Block, Larry Borland, May (Freeman) Ellingsen, Wilf Freeman, the Froud family, Robbie Graham, Bill Guthrie, Gloria Morrisette, Jean (Reford) MacDonald and Beth (Martin) Slater.
It was created as part of the Memories of Manson's Landing Exhibit, curated and mounted by Doreen Thompson.
Memories of Mansons Landing 2005: The Landing and the Lagoon
Binder contains interviews, stories and pictures from Ken Summers, Bert and Victoria Summers, Ann Barton, Hiram (Buster) and Mabel Christiansen, Otis (Christiansen) Coulter, George and Rosemary (Gavin) Hawkins, Bob Martineau and Fred Reedel.
It was created as part of the Memories of Manson's Landing Exhibit, curated and mounted by Doreen Thompson.
Memories of Mansons Landing 2005: The Landing and the Lagoon
Binder contains interviews, stories and pictures from Ken Summers, Bert and Victoria Summers, Ann Barton, Hiram (Buster) and Mabel Christiansen, Otis (Christiansen) Coulter, George and Rosemary (Gavin) Hawkins, Bob Martineau and Fred Reedel.
It was created as part of the Memories of Manson's Landing Exhibit, curated and mounted by Doreen Thompson.
Binder contains interviews, stories and photographs relating to schools in Mansons Landing. It was created as part of the Memories of Manson's Landing Exhibit, curated and mounted by Doreen Thompson.
Binder contains interviews, stories and photographs relating to schools in Mansons Landing. It was created as part of the Memories of Manson's Landing Exhibit, curated and mounted by Doreen Thompson.
This series contains material donated to the Library. It includes memoirs, and research and writings on aspects of Cortes Island social and natural history.
This series contains material donated to the Library. It includes memoirs, and research and writings on aspects of Cortes Island social and natural history.
