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.
Pupils on road outside the Manson's Landing school fence.
Left to right: Nicol Manson, Rose Manson, George Marquette, Charlie Housley, Mabel Hawkins, Gwen Manson, Alice Marquette.
Pupils on road outside the Manson's Landing school fence.
Left to right: Nicol Manson, Rose Manson, George Marquette, Charlie Housley, Mabel Hawkins, Gwen Manson, Alice Marquette.
"Young Hopefuls" in front of the Manson's Landing school (then known as the Cortez Island School).
Front row: Ethel Tiber, George Marquette, Wilena Smith (later Mrs. Dick Thompson, Quadra), Nicol Manson.
Mid-row: Katherine Marquette, Mrs. Mary Marquette, Rose and Anna Manson (Middleton).
Back row: Alice Marquette & her grandmother, Mrs. Anna (August) Tiber.
"Young Hopefuls" in front of the Manson's Landing school (then known as the Cortez Island School).
Front row: Ethel Tiber, George Marquette, Wilena Smith (later Mrs. Dick Thompson, Quadra), Nicol Manson.
Mid-row: Katherine Marquette, Mrs. Mary Marquette, Rose and Anna Manson (Middleton).
Back row: Alice Marquette & her grandmother, Mrs. Anna (August) Tiber.
"Buds & Blossoms". Ethel (daughter of Henry Tiber) and Veronica (daughter of August Tiber) holding bouquets. The picture was taken not far from the Manson's Landing school (then known as the Cortez Island School).
"Buds & Blossoms". Ethel (daughter of Henry Tiber) and Veronica (daughter of August Tiber) holding bouquets. The picture was taken not far from the Manson's Landing school (then known as the Cortez Island School).
Pupils standing at back of Manson's Landing log school (see three windows on road side of school).
Back row, L to R: Arthur & Marjorie Hayes, Anna & Rose Manson, Miss Katherine Lettice ("a very fine teacher"), Nicol Manson.
Middle row: Darrel Thompson, Jack Hayes, Florence Hayes, Wilena Smith, unknown, George Marquette, Ethel Tiber, Betty Hayes.
Front row: Arthur & Marjorie Pickles, Helen Marquette, Bernadette Petznick, Dorothy & Nora Hayes.
Pupils standing at back of Manson's Landing log school (see three windows on road side of school).
Back row, L to R: Arthur & Marjorie Hayes, Anna & Rose Manson, Miss Katherine Lettice ("a very fine teacher"), Nicol Manson.
Middle row: Darrel Thompson, Jack Hayes, Florence Hayes, Wilena Smith, unknown, George Marquette, Ethel Tiber, Betty Hayes.
Front row: Arthur & Marjorie Pickles, Helen Marquette, Bernadette Petznick, Dorothy & Nora Hayes.
Schoolboys seated on a stump at Manson's Landing school - Nicol Manson, Jack Hayes behind George Marquette, Arthur Hayes behind Colin Thompson.
Sitting below - Arthur Pickles.
Schoolboys seated on a stump at Manson's Landing school - Nicol Manson, Jack Hayes behind George Marquette, Arthur Hayes behind Colin Thompson.
Sitting below - Arthur Pickles.
Students in the Manson's Landing school yard.
Front - seated: Veronica (Babe) Tiber, Nora Hayes, Florence Hayes.
Standing, L. to R.: - Betty Hayes, Alice Marquette, Marjorie Hayes, Ethel Tiber behind Florence.
Seated on stump: Dorothy Hayes, Helen Marquette, George Quimby, Jack Hayes, in front of George Marquette & Nicol Manson.
Students in the Manson's Landing school yard.
Front - seated: Veronica (Babe) Tiber, Nora Hayes, Florence Hayes.
Standing, L. to R.: - Betty Hayes, Alice Marquette, Marjorie Hayes, Ethel Tiber behind Florence.
Seated on stump: Dorothy Hayes, Helen Marquette, George Quimby, Jack Hayes, in front of George Marquette & Nicol Manson.
Students standing among the bean poles in the Manson's Landing school garden. Miss Lettice's sister (visiting) is in the background by the corner of the school.
Students standing among the bean poles in the Manson's Landing school garden. Miss Lettice's sister (visiting) is in the background by the corner of the school.
Group photo showing Manson's Landing school students sitting on and standing next to a huge log near the school.
Front row, left to right: Betty Hayes, Nicol Manson, Jack Hayes, Alice Marquette, Marjorie Hayes.
Centre left to right: Florence Hayes, Ethel Tiber, Dorothy Hayes, Nora Hayes, Helen Marquette, Veronica Tiber.
Back Row left to right: George Quimby and George Marquette.
Group photo showing Manson's Landing school students sitting on and standing next to a huge log near the school.
Front row, left to right: Betty Hayes, Nicol Manson, Jack Hayes, Alice Marquette, Marjorie Hayes.
Centre left to right: Florence Hayes, Ethel Tiber, Dorothy Hayes, Nora Hayes, Helen Marquette, Veronica Tiber.
Back Row left to right: George Quimby and George Marquette.
Photograph taken at the wedding of Dorothy Hayes and Bill Illman.
Back, left to right, Jack Hayes, Bill Illman, Dorothy (Hayes) Illman and Alice Hayes.
Front, flowergirls Nerine Hayes (Art and Mary Haye's daughter, left) and June Griffin (George and Marjorie Griffin's daughter, right).
The picture was taken outside the Manson's Landing church. Manson's Hall can be seen on the left and Manson's Landing school is on the right. (Photograph from the Hayes family.)
Photograph taken at the wedding of Dorothy Hayes and Bill Illman.
Back, left to right, Jack Hayes, Bill Illman, Dorothy (Hayes) Illman and Alice Hayes.
Front, flowergirls Nerine Hayes (Art and Mary Haye's daughter, left) and June Griffin (George and Marjorie Griffin's daughter, right).
The picture was taken outside the Manson's Landing church. Manson's Hall can be seen on the left and Manson's Landing school is on the right. (Photograph from the Hayes family.)
Identity key to group photograph taken at Manson's Landing in 1911.
1. Eugene Paulson 2. Mrs. E. Paulson 3. Rose Manson 4. Lennard Hawkins 5. William (Bill) Hawkins 6.Hazel Manson 7. Mrs. Margaret (John) Manson 8. John Manson 9. George Freeman 10. Robina Manson 11. Florence Manson 12. Herbert Hawkins 13. Beatrice Hawkins 14. unknown 15. Mrs. George Quimby 16. George Quimby 17. George Quimby Jr. 18. Veronica Tiber 19. August Tiber 20. Mrs. August Tiber 21. Frederick Froud 22. Alice Marquette 23. Miss Kathleen Richards (teacher) 24. Frank Petznick 25. Anna Manson 26. Mabel Hawkins 27. Flossie Manson 28. Mrs. Fred Hawkins 29. Mrs. Gertie (Tom) Lambert 30. Tom Lambert 31. Bob Smith 32. Andy Hemorach 33. Nicol Manson
Identity key to group photograph taken at Manson's Landing in 1911.
1. Eugene Paulson 2. Mrs. E. Paulson 3. Rose Manson 4. Lennard Hawkins 5. William (Bill) Hawkins 6.Hazel Manson 7. Mrs. Margaret (John) Manson 8. John Manson 9. George Freeman 10. Robina Manson 11. Florence Manson 12. Herbert Hawkins 13. Beatrice Hawkins 14. unknown 15. Mrs. George Quimby 16. George Quimby 17. George Quimby Jr. 18. Veronica Tiber 19. August Tiber 20. Mrs. August Tiber 21. Frederick Froud 22. Alice Marquette 23. Miss Kathleen Richards (teacher) 24. Frank Petznick 25. Anna Manson 26. Mabel Hawkins 27. Flossie Manson 28. Mrs. Fred Hawkins 29. Mrs. Gertie (Tom) Lambert 30. Tom Lambert 31. Bob Smith 32. Andy Hemorach 33. Nicol Manson
