Fonds consists of records of Friends of Cortes Island Society and includes meeting minutes, administrative documents, correspondence, notes, and publications created by FOCI between 1996 and 2001. It comprises 15 files arranged into 9 series; original order has been maintained.
Friends of Cortes Island Society, also known as FOCI, registered as a society in 1990, with the mandate of protecting the physical environment of Cortes Island and adjacent land in the context of ongoing and proposed residential and industrial development.
FOCI "exists to monitor and preserve the health of local ecosystems, and to provide educational programs that foster a greater understanding of the natural environment". Their purposes are as follows:
To identify environmentally sensitive areas, particularly on Cortes and neighbouring islands.
To monitor and protect wildlife and the safeguarding of its natural habitat.
To promote the protection of the forests, lakes, streams and critical watersheds and the enhancement of fish stocks where appropriate.
To promote the study and preservation of the cultural heritage and historical landmarks of the area.
To provide educational programs that relate to ecological understanding and appreciation of the environment.
FOCI has worked with many local and provincial organisations, most notably Cortes Ecoforestry Society (CES). Other colleagues include Linnaea Farm Society, Southern Cortes Community Association, Whaletown Community Club, BC Parks, Environmental Youth Team, the Cortes Island Museum & Archives Association, and EcoAction Community Funding Program.
Custodial History
Records were donated by Sarah Downey, on behalf of FOCI, on 27 August 2013.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of records of Friends of Cortes Island Society and includes meeting minutes, administrative documents, correspondence, notes, and publications created by FOCI between 1996 and 2001. It comprises 15 files arranged into 9 series; original order has been maintained.
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.
