Folder labelled Bee Islets Growers Corporation Financial Statement Year Ended December 31, 2007 containing three CD's labelled "A History of Cortes Isl Shellfish," "Misty Isles Oysters," and "Oyster April 06"; printed photographs of shellfish farming; Cortes Women in the Shellfish Industry; laminated photographs from Misty Isles Adventures. And Cortes Island shellfish features printouts from www.cortesshellfish.ca
Folder labelled Bee Islets Growers Corporation Financial Statement Year Ended December 31, 2007 containing three CD's labelled "A History of Cortes Isl Shellfish," "Misty Isles Oysters," and "Oyster April 06"; printed photographs of shellfish farming; Cortes Women in the Shellfish Industry; laminated photographs from Misty Isles Adventures. And Cortes Island shellfish features printouts from www.cortesshellfish.ca
Info on Carrington Bay history and early settler homesteaders from late 1800s onward; scans from Whaletown to 1930 album; scan of location for Department of Energy, Mines and Resources, 1945; park brochure; clippings about Carrington from 1982-2014; excerpt from interview with Clarence and Etta Byers, 2001; notes from exhibit curation (labels, photo captions, etc); excerpts rom June Cameron's Destination Cortez; topographic map of Green Mountain; emails about exhibit; printed photographs for exhibit. Keywords: drowing, Island Timberland, Coulter Bay, stream keepers
Info on Carrington Bay history and early settler homesteaders from late 1800s onward; scans from Whaletown to 1930 album; scan of location for Department of Energy, Mines and Resources, 1945; park brochure; clippings about Carrington from 1982-2014; excerpt from interview with Clarence and Etta Byers, 2001; notes from exhibit curation (labels, photo captions, etc); excerpts rom June Cameron's Destination Cortez; topographic map of Green Mountain; emails about exhibit; printed photographs for exhibit. Keywords: drowing, Island Timberland, Coulter Bay, stream keepers
Series consists of clippings related to issues concerning Cortes Island, including ferry service and electrical power, building codes and the CIRA vs Raven Lumber court case.
Series consists of clippings related to issues concerning Cortes Island, including ferry service and electrical power, building codes and the CIRA vs Raven Lumber court case.
Series consists of CIRA general correspondence and APC general correspondence, as well as CIRA correspondence on specific issues, including ferry service, electrical and telephone service, the Regional District system of government, medical services, parks, wharves, environmental concerns, tax assessments, log dump and beach salvage, predators (wolves and cougars), oyster poaching, the road network, garbage collection and disposal, historic sites, library services, emergency response and policing, and the Raven Lumber subdivision proposal and ensuing court case.
Series consists of CIRA general correspondence and APC general correspondence, as well as CIRA correspondence on specific issues, including ferry service, electrical and telephone service, the Regional District system of government, medical services, parks, wharves, environmental concerns, tax assessments, log dump and beach salvage, predators (wolves and cougars), oyster poaching, the road network, garbage collection and disposal, historic sites, library services, emergency response and policing, and the Raven Lumber subdivision proposal and ensuing court case.
Writing, emails and excerpts with info on early homesteaders, early postmasters, the first post box in Cortes Bay, Frabjous Bay/Frabjous Day, The Columbia Coast Mission, and the Rendezvous. Map of lots with some names of early homesteaders near Cortes Bay. Old postcard of Cortes Bay
Writing, emails and excerpts with info on early homesteaders, early postmasters, the first post box in Cortes Bay, Frabjous Bay/Frabjous Day, The Columbia Coast Mission, and the Rendezvous. Map of lots with some names of early homesteaders near Cortes Bay. Old postcard of Cortes Bay
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.
Written info on Carrington Bay and Coulter Bay with info from late 1800s; info from Doris (Houghton-Brown) Henderson on Cortes Island early history, late 1920s. Ian and Mary McMillan's island in Coulter Bay listing, early 1950s. Info about Rendezvous Rock in Coulter Bay, 1953, from CIMAS photo albums. Excerpt from The Columbia is Coming!, Doris Anderson, 1982. Clippings from WNE with info on Coulter Bay, 1982-1992. Typed transcript of written letter from Mary McMillen to Doreen Thompson, undated.
Written info on Carrington Bay and Coulter Bay with info from late 1800s; info from Doris (Houghton-Brown) Henderson on Cortes Island early history, late 1920s. Ian and Mary McMillan's island in Coulter Bay listing, early 1950s. Info about Rendezvous Rock in Coulter Bay, 1953, from CIMAS photo albums. Excerpt from The Columbia is Coming!, Doris Anderson, 1982. Clippings from WNE with info on Coulter Bay, 1982-1992. Typed transcript of written letter from Mary McMillen to Doreen Thompson, undated.
