Photograph of four young women, Margaret Copland, Violet Stoney, Muriel Cunliffe (teacher at the Whaletown school) and Joyce Allen, seated on a bench against the front of the freight shed on the Whaletown wharf. Posters advertising the Vancouver exhibition and a dentist can be clearly read on the side of the freight shed.
Photograph of four young women, Margaret Copland, Violet Stoney, Muriel Cunliffe (teacher at the Whaletown school) and Joyce Allen, seated on a bench against the front of the freight shed on the Whaletown wharf. Posters advertising the Vancouver exhibition and a dentist can be clearly read on the side of the freight shed.
Fonds consists of textual records generated by the Whaletown Women's Institute organized into seven series: Minutes, Financial Records, Administrative Records, Reports, Projects, Correspondence and Notes.
The Whaletown Women's Institute (WWI) began in 1920 as the Friendship Circle. In 1923 it became a branch of the Women's Institute, a community service organization for women with the goals of fostering the skills of rural women, improving their lives and works, and celebrating their achievements. During its years of activity, the WWI was very active in working for local improvement. Some of their projects included initiating a library service, donating books to the school, arranging for regular visits of a doctor and dentist, hosting an annual Christmas party and providing gifts for all the Whaletown children, maintaining the cemetery, fund-raising for a school playground, financing firefighting equipment and installing an emergency telephone network. The WWI was disbanded in 1963.
Custodial History
These records of the Whaletown Women's Institute were held by Gilean Douglas, a past officer in the WWI and author of a history of the Women's Institutes in Canada. Upon her death, they went into the possession of her literary executer, Gillian Milton, who turned them over to the Cortes Island Women's Institute. They were subsequently returned to her custody, and donated to CIMAS.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of textual records generated by the Whaletown Women's Institute organized into seven series: Minutes, Financial Records, Administrative Records, Reports, Projects, Correspondence and Notes.
Series consists of incoming and outgoing correspondence generated during Douglas's residence on Cortes (1949-1993) and covering subjects of primarily local interest. Before the advent of telephone service in 1968, island residents communicated extensively through the Post Office, and much of this correspondence consists of notes and letters from Douglas's neighbours. Subjects covered include daily life, community activities, B.C. and Cortes Island history and Douglas's health concerns.
Series consists of incoming and outgoing correspondence generated during Douglas's residence on Cortes (1949-1993) and covering subjects of primarily local interest. Before the advent of telephone service in 1968, island residents communicated extensively through the Post Office, and much of this correspondence consists of notes and letters from Douglas's neighbours. Subjects covered include daily life, community activities, B.C. and Cortes Island history and Douglas's health concerns.
Sedley Bell-Irving Sweeny (November 29, 1917 - December 19, 2013) was born in England. He graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada with a commission in the Royal Engineers and went on to serve in World War II with the 8th Army from El Alamein onwards, then in Sicily, Italy and Greece; he was awarded Military Cross for valour at the Garigliano River crossing in Jan.'44.
He married Diana Game in 1941 and they had three daughters: Nicola, Terry and Robin. He retired from the army in 1957, bought a farm in Wales, and for the next thirty years devoted his energies to sustainable land management, self sufficiency and, increasingly, the welfare of marginalized people. With Diana, he managed an orphanage for Tibetan refugee children in Simla, India, on behalf of Save the Children Fund, subsequently founding The Society for Training in Rural Industries and Village Enterprises, through which he provided instruction and practical experience for Tibetan family groups on his farm.
Sedley returned to BC in 1985, divorced and single again. At age 71 he rowed to Cortes from Vancouver, where he met and married his second wife, Trude Albright, in 1989. Sedley was a Self Sufficiency advocate promoting a Cortes wide vision of cooperation and skill sharing. He and Trude were involved in many Cortes community initiatives including an emergency first aid and ambulance service; the Friends of Cortes Association; the Cortes Ecoforestry Society; the Cortes Earmark Book of islander skills; and The Cooperation For Cortes Self Sufficiency. Many of the associated activities happened at Trude's Café. A skilled boat-builder, he converted a fishing boat into a junk-rigged yacht, and he also instructed Cortes youth in boatbuilding and sailing.
Sedley died at home at the age of 96 and is buried in the Whaletown cemetery.
Custodial History
There is no accession record; fonds has been given an arbitrary FIC (Found In Collection) number based on the date of processing.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of writings by Sedley Sweeny, including a book, "The Challenge of Smallholding", and two photographs of his sailboat, "Wild Rose".
File contains two letters, written in pencil, to "Mother and Dad" by "Freddie" (surname unknown) on July 9, 1942 (7 pages) and July 13, 1942 (5 pages). Freddie was aboard the mission ship "John Antle", based in Whaletown with Canon Alan Greene, and writes of his experiences as part of the mission patrol. Places visited include Redonda Bay, Alert Bay, Rock Bay, Surge Narrows and Cortes Island settlements.
Donated by Bill Bartlett, of the Gerald Wellburn Philatelic Foundation, Victoria BC, in 2021. The letters were part of a stamp collection given to the Foundation. Bartlett recognized the connection to Cortes Island and mailed the letters to the Museum.
Scope and Content
File contains two letters, written in pencil, to "Mother and Dad" by "Freddie" (surname unknown) on July 9, 1942 (7 pages) and July 13, 1942 (5 pages). Freddie was aboard the mission ship "John Antle", based in Whaletown with Canon Alan Greene, and writes of his experiences as part of the mission patrol. Places visited include Redonda Bay, Alert Bay, Rock Bay, Surge Narrows and Cortes Island settlements.
File contains executive and general meeting minutes, as well as related correspondence, agendas and bulletins. Of particular interest is correspondence pertaining to the availability of medical care on Cortes Island.
File contains executive and general meeting minutes, as well as related correspondence, agendas and bulletins. Of particular interest is correspondence pertaining to the availability of medical care on Cortes Island.
Sous-fonds consists of records created by the Whaletown Women's Institute. It is arranged in seven series: Minutes Series, Financial Series, Administrative Records Series, Reports Series, Correspondence Series, Projects Series and Ephemera Series.
The Whaletown Women's Institute was formed in 1920 as the Friendship Circle, became a branch of the Women's Institute in 1923, and disbanded in 1963. During its years of activity, the WWI actively worked for local improvement. Projects included initiating a library service, donating books to the school, arranging for regular visits of a doctor and dentist, hosting an annual Christmas party and providing gifts for all the Whaletown children, maintaining the cemetery, fund-raising for a school playground, financing firefighting equipment and installing an emergency telephone network.
Custodial History
Records were donated to CIMAS by the Island Women's Club in 2009.
Scope and Content
Sous-fonds consists of records created by the Whaletown Women's Institute. It is arranged in seven series: Minutes Series, Financial Series, Administrative Records Series, Reports Series, Correspondence Series, Projects Series and Ephemera Series.
File consists of materials pertaining to the Community Preventative Dental Clinic including dental records, parental consent forms, patient lists and financial statements and correspondence.
File consists of materials pertaining to the Community Preventative Dental Clinic including dental records, parental consent forms, patient lists and financial statements and correspondence.
Series contains records related to work on the Manson's Landing Community Hall in the 1960s, a major expansion and renovation project completed in 1982, and an expansion to add a medical clinic in 1988. It includes plans, grant applications, payroll records, financial reports, receipts, and correspondence.
25 files of textual material
4 photographs : col. ;
2 architectural drawings
Scope and Content
Series contains records related to work on the Manson's Landing Community Hall in the 1960s, a major expansion and renovation project completed in 1982, and an expansion to add a medical clinic in 1988. It includes plans, grant applications, payroll records, financial reports, receipts, and correspondence.
Series consists of records relating to the SCCA-sponsored Dental Clinic and includes correspondence, permission forms, patient lists, dental records, financial reports and records, and yearly summaries.
Series consists of records relating to the SCCA-sponsored Dental Clinic and includes correspondence, permission forms, patient lists, dental records, financial reports and records, and yearly summaries.
Fonds comprises records of the Southern Cortes Community Association. It includes minutes and agendas of meetings, correspondence, financial records, administrative and legal documents, and reports on projects and activities.
Original groupings of documents in files have been maintained with the exception of general correspondence, which has been grouped by date.
Files have been arranged into eleven series: Minutes; Financial records; Administrative records; Correspondence; Events; Newsletters; Dental clinic project; Show Business; Manson's Hall renovation; Ephemera; and Committee minutes and reports.
The Southern Cortes Community Association (formerly known as the Manson's Landing Community Club) is a Registered Charity incorporated in 1956 under the Societies Act. The object of the society is to promote services and programs of a recreational and/or educational purpose within the community.
A primary responsibility is operating and maintaining Manson's Hall, a center for Cortes community activities. The original Hall was built in 1922 on land donated by Frederick Froud. A major expansion and renovation project completed in 1980 added space for the post office, playschool, cafe, offices, a pottery studio and a library to the original hall. A further expansion in 1986 added space for a medical clinic.
Programs include sponsoring a licensed playschool, a Parents & Tots program, a Summer Youth Recreation Program, a thrift store, and the annual Cortes Day at Smelt Bay. Manson's Hall is a venue for the Cortes Seniors Society's programs, and for group meetings, entertainment events and a variety of regular wellness and exercise activities led by local residents. The Hall houses the post office, a community kitchen, a thrift store, and a playschool. Over the years, it has provided space for many services to start, such as the Cortes Health Centre, North Island College and Cortes Community Radio. The SCCA also owns and manages the Manson's Landing cemetery, and provides space for the Strathcona Regional District's skate park.
Custodial History
Records in Accession 2001.001 were kept at their homes by various Board members. When an office was opened in Manson's Hall, the records were consolidated and then donated to CIMAS by Cathy Cambridge on behalf of the SCCA.
Records in Accession 2007.001 were in the possession of May Ellingsen and were donated to CIMAS in 2007 by Andy and Susan Ellingsen.
Scope and Content
Fonds comprises records of the Southern Cortes Community Association. It includes minutes and agendas of meetings, correspondence, financial records, administrative and legal documents, and reports on projects and activities.
Original groupings of documents in files have been maintained with the exception of general correspondence, which has been grouped by date.
Files have been arranged into eleven series: Minutes; Financial records; Administrative records; Correspondence; Events; Newsletters; Dental clinic project; Show Business; Manson's Hall renovation; Ephemera; and Committee minutes and reports.
Fonds consists of material generated by the Cortes Island Seniors' Building Society and includes meeting minutes, administrative records, research materials, correspondence, ephemera, maps, plans, and publications of the Cortes Island Seniors' Building Society, as well as some records of the Cortes Island Old Age Pensioners' Organization. Fonds is arranged into twelve series, following the original order of the records.
An accrual in 2023, described as Series 12, contains meeting minutes, correspondence, etc; arranged in chronological order (original order).
In 1987, members of the Cortes Island Old Age Pensioners' Organization incorporated the Cortes Island Seniors' Building Society (currently known as the Cortes Island Senior's Society) with the following stated purposes:
(a) to operate a facility where persons aged 65 years or older, or persons between 55 and 65 years of age who are in need, can improve their health through physical and other acitivity;
(b) to operate a residential housing facility for such persons;
(c) to carry on social activities incidental to the above purposes, but not to own, operate or manage a social club.
The records of the Cortes Island Seniors' Building Society provide useful insight into their process of envisioning the future of seniors' housing on Cortes Island.
Custodial History
Donated by Ruth Zwickel on behalf of the Cortes Island Senior's Society in 2013. An accrual was donated by Elinor Harwood on behalf of the Cortes Island Seniors' Society in 2021.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of material generated by the Cortes Island Seniors' Building Society and includes meeting minutes, administrative records, research materials, correspondence, ephemera, maps, plans, and publications of the Cortes Island Seniors' Building Society, as well as some records of the Cortes Island Old Age Pensioners' Organization. Fonds is arranged into twelve series, following the original order of the records.
An accrual in 2023, described as Series 12, contains meeting minutes, correspondence, etc; arranged in chronological order (original order).
Slide of the Weiler sisters (L to R: Chris, Sarah, Johnny and Brigid) seated at the kitchen table in the Weiler home. May Niche, the public health nurse, is standing beside the table, which holds a carved pumpkin.
Slide of the Weiler sisters (L to R: Chris, Sarah, Johnny and Brigid) seated at the kitchen table in the Weiler home. May Niche, the public health nurse, is standing beside the table, which holds a carved pumpkin.
Photograph of a First Aid class taught by Mary Weiler in the Whaletown clinic. Amy McKenzie is bending over a "patient"; Diane Hansen is at far left, with other women seated along the wall.
Photograph of a First Aid class taught by Mary Weiler in the Whaletown clinic. Amy McKenzie is bending over a "patient"; Diane Hansen is at far left, with other women seated along the wall.
Photograph of a First Aid class taught by Mary Weiler; there are two beds with "patients" being attended by women. Hazel McCoy and Diane Hansen are seated far left; other women are seated along the walls.
Photograph of a First Aid class taught by Mary Weiler; there are two beds with "patients" being attended by women. Hazel McCoy and Diane Hansen are seated far left; other women are seated along the walls.
