Interview of Jean Campbell by Bernice McGowan and Jill Milton. Jean talks about growing up, meeting Dan Campbell, his political career, moving to Cortes in the 1960s, island life, people and events. (49 minutes)
Interview of Jean Campbell by Bernice McGowan and Jill Milton. Jean talks about growing up, meeting Dan Campbell, his political career, moving to Cortes in the 1960s, island life, people and events. (49 minutes)
Recording of Norm and Lisa Gibbons talking about their experiences at Refuge Cove, recorded by Lisa Gibbons during a museum-sponsored trip to Refuge Cove on the "Misty Isles". See also the digitized photographs from Norm Gibbons' album which illustrate many of the stories in the recording. (Cortes Island Museum & Archives Society fonds, Series 5, File 2)
Recorded by Lisa Gibbons on her iPhone, July 15, 2023
Scope and Content
Recording of Norm and Lisa Gibbons talking about their experiences at Refuge Cove, recorded by Lisa Gibbons during a museum-sponsored trip to Refuge Cove on the "Misty Isles". See also the digitized photographs from Norm Gibbons' album which illustrate many of the stories in the recording. (Cortes Island Museum & Archives Society fonds, Series 5, File 2)
Interview of Dennis Newsham and Ann Dewar by Bernice McGowan and Jill Milton. Frances Guthrie was also present. Dennis and Ann talk about their memories of growing up in Whaletown.
Interview of Dennis Newsham and Ann Dewar by Bernice McGowan and Jill Milton. Frances Guthrie was also present. Dennis and Ann talk about their memories of growing up in Whaletown.
Interview of Julia Rendall by Bernice McGowan and Jill Milton. Julia talks about moving to Canada from England; her experiences in BC and on Cortes Island including her involvement with Cortes ambulance service and aquaculture.
Interview of Julia Rendall by Bernice McGowan and Jill Milton. Julia talks about moving to Canada from England; her experiences in BC and on Cortes Island including her involvement with Cortes ambulance service and aquaculture.
Interview of Paul Kirmmse by Bernice McGowan, Jill Milton and Monika Hoffman. Paul talks about moving to Cortes in 1971; various experiences on the island; the formation of the Redlands land cooperative.
Interview of Paul Kirmmse by Bernice McGowan, Jill Milton and Monika Hoffman. Paul talks about moving to Cortes in 1971; various experiences on the island; the formation of the Redlands land cooperative.
Interview of Trude Albright Sweeny by Bernice McGowan and Jill Milton. Subjects covered include Trude's childhood in Austria; marriage and move to the US; Trude's brother Hans Dolezal (also known as Hans Croker); how she came to Cortes; her marriage to Sedley Sweeny; Trude's Cafe; Cortes projects. (28 minutes)
Interview of Trude Albright Sweeny by Bernice McGowan and Jill Milton. Subjects covered include Trude's childhood in Austria; marriage and move to the US; Trude's brother Hans Dolezal (also known as Hans Croker); how she came to Cortes; her marriage to Sedley Sweeny; Trude's Cafe; Cortes projects. (28 minutes)
This is a recording of a skit to be performed by the Cortes Island Women's Institute, with all four parts read by Lillian Nesling. It is recorded over a music tape.
This is a recording of a skit to be performed by the Cortes Island Women's Institute, with all four parts read by Lillian Nesling. It is recorded over a music tape.
Interview of Brigid Weiler by Bernice McGowan and Jill Milton. The introduction to the interview is on File 1. In File 2 Brigid talks about growing up in Whaletown in the 1950s and 60s, the people who lived there and the location of their houses. (43 minutes)
Interview of Brigid Weiler by Bernice McGowan and Jill Milton. The introduction to the interview is on File 1. In File 2 Brigid talks about growing up in Whaletown in the 1950s and 60s, the people who lived there and the location of their houses. (43 minutes)
Interview of Emilie Hansen by Bernice McGowan and Jill Milton. Emilie talks about moving to Canada with her husband Gunnar; moving to Cortes in 1961; different properties they lived on; making a living on the island. (41 minutes)
Interview of Emilie Hansen by Bernice McGowan and Jill Milton. Emilie talks about moving to Canada with her husband Gunnar; moving to Cortes in 1961; different properties they lived on; making a living on the island. (41 minutes)
Series consists of CDs containing various Linnaea records,including photographs, of the school activities and productions.
The CDs are stored in the Linnaea CD album; a list of the CDs is available in the album.
These CDs were found in the museum storage room in 2022 with a note saying "Brought by Meinsje, Oct. 13, 2017".
Scope and Content
Series consists of CDs containing various Linnaea records,including photographs, of the school activities and productions.
The CDs are stored in the Linnaea CD album; a list of the CDs is available in the album.
This fonds comprises records of four Cortes Island women's service organizations, including minutes, financial records, administrative records, correspondence, photographs, ephemera and artifacts. It is arranged in four sous-fonds according to the creator of the records: Whaletown Women's Institute (2009.001.1); Whaletown Women's Auxiliary of the Anglican Church (2009.001.2); Cortes Island Women's Institute (2009.001.3); and Island Women's Club (2009.001.3). Related material in CIMAS archives may be found in the Whaletown Women's Institute fonds (1999.002), the Gilean Douglas fonds (1999.001), and the May and Elmer Ellingsen fonds (2007.001).
The Island Women's Club was formed in 2000, when the members of the Cortes Island Women's Institute withdrew from the British Columbia Women's Institute in order to focus their efforts locally. It was the successor to previous women's service organizations on Cortes, local branches of the Women's Institute and the Anglican Church Women's Auxiliary. Activities included awarding bursaries to graduating high school students, contributing to school projects such as printing yearbooks, sponsoring sports teams and building playground equipment, supporting the community halls and organizing memorial teas on behalf of bereaved families. They disbanded in 2016.
Custodial History
After they disbanded, records of the Whaletown Women's Institute and the Whaletown Women's Auxiliary passed into the hands of the Cortes Island Women's Institute and its successor, Island Women's Club, who donated them to CIMAS in 2009. The organizational records created by the Island Women's Club were donated to CIMAS in 2018.
Scope and Content
This fonds comprises records of four Cortes Island women's service organizations, including minutes, financial records, administrative records, correspondence, photographs, ephemera and artifacts. It is arranged in four sous-fonds according to the creator of the records: Whaletown Women's Institute (2009.001.1); Whaletown Women's Auxiliary of the Anglican Church (2009.001.2); Cortes Island Women's Institute (2009.001.3); and Island Women's Club (2009.001.3). Related material in CIMAS archives may be found in the Whaletown Women's Institute fonds (1999.002), the Gilean Douglas fonds (1999.001), and the May and Elmer Ellingsen fonds (2007.001).
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).
Series consists of cassette tapes of interviews with residents of Cortes Island and nearby islands, of recordings of events which occurred on the island, and of musical performances by island artists and groups. Twenty-six of the tapes are interviews about the history of the island and early settler families done by Oonagh O'Connor for the Cortes Island Seniors' Building Society in 1995. Other interviews were recorded by museum volunteers gathering information for exhibits.
In 2017 the 54 cassette tapes in the collection at that time (along with 21 cassette tapes from Fonds # 2007.001: May and Elmer Ellingsen, 1 VHS tape and 1 mini-DVD) were digitized with a $1,000 grant from the Terry Reksten Memorial Fund, administered by Friends of the BC Archives. There are three components to each item: the original cassette tape, an electronic .wav file preservation master made from the original tape, and an .mp3 access file. The electronic files are stored on archival quality CDs as well as on a dedicated hard drive and the .mp3 files are available on the Museum and the Archives computers.
Series consists of cassette tapes of interviews with residents of Cortes Island and nearby islands, of recordings of events which occurred on the island, and of musical performances by island artists and groups. Twenty-six of the tapes are interviews about the history of the island and early settler families done by Oonagh O'Connor for the Cortes Island Seniors' Building Society in 1995. Other interviews were recorded by museum volunteers gathering information for exhibits.
In 2017 the 54 cassette tapes in the collection at that time (along with 21 cassette tapes from Fonds # 2007.001: May and Elmer Ellingsen, 1 VHS tape and 1 mini-DVD) were digitized with a $1,000 grant from the Terry Reksten Memorial Fund, administered by Friends of the BC Archives. There are three components to each item: the original cassette tape, an electronic .wav file preservation master made from the original tape, and an .mp3 access file. The electronic files are stored on archival quality CDs as well as on a dedicated hard drive and the .mp3 files are available on the Museum and the Archives computers.
Storage Location
Cassette tape boxes 1 and 2
Geographic Access
Cortes Island
Related Material
2007.001 - May and Elmer Ellingsen fonds
2009.001 - Island Women's Club
File contains genealogical information, photocopies of pictures, notes, and a CD labelled "Logan Family Photos" (2006.001.040 - stored in CD/DVD Album). Includes a photocopy of a World War I Diary of Dennis Walker.
File contains genealogical information, photocopies of pictures, notes, and a CD labelled "Logan Family Photos" (2006.001.040 - stored in CD/DVD Album). Includes a photocopy of a World War I Diary of Dennis Walker.
Sous-fonds consists of records created or collected by Jeannette (Jenny) Hiebert during her term as Regional Director. It includes minutes of APC meetings, correspondence, records of public hearings, records related to bylaw and zoning changes, parks, aquaculture, and forestry issues, and material about the impending division of the Regional District of Comox-Strathcona into two separate districts.
Jeanette (Jenny) Hiebert served as Regional Director for Area I, Regional District of Comox-Strathcona, for one term, from 2005-2008
Custodial History
Donated to CIMAS by Jenny Hiebert in 2019.
Scope and Content
Sous-fonds consists of records created or collected by Jeannette (Jenny) Hiebert during her term as Regional Director. It includes minutes of APC meetings, correspondence, records of public hearings, records related to bylaw and zoning changes, parks, aquaculture, and forestry issues, and material about the impending division of the Regional District of Comox-Strathcona into two separate districts.
File contains two catalogs of the "Curiouser & Curiouser" exhibit in the Cortes Island Museum, 2019/2020, curated by Christian Gronau.
Modelled loosely on the fabled cabinets, boxes, rooms and chambers of the Renaissance, this exhibition was an invitation to reawaken the unreserved and almost childlike interest and curiosity of age when Europeans shook off the shadows of the Dark Ages and awoke to the fascination of the external world. When people of intellect and time to spare went (for better and for worse) in search of adventure, discovery and illumination, to all the corners of the Earth. They came back with stories full of wonder and brought back specimens full of mystery and promise. Their curiosity changed forever the ways in which humans look upon the world.
File contains two catalogs of the "Curiouser & Curiouser" exhibit in the Cortes Island Museum, 2019/2020, curated by Christian Gronau.
Modelled loosely on the fabled cabinets, boxes, rooms and chambers of the Renaissance, this exhibition was an invitation to reawaken the unreserved and almost childlike interest and curiosity of age when Europeans shook off the shadows of the Dark Ages and awoke to the fascination of the external world. When people of intellect and time to spare went (for better and for worse) in search of adventure, discovery and illumination, to all the corners of the Earth. They came back with stories full of wonder and brought back specimens full of mystery and promise. Their curiosity changed forever the ways in which humans look upon the world.
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.
