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.
Cortes Ecoforestry Society (CES) newsletters, 1999-2000. Clippings with info on: CES sustainability initiatives; development of Cortes Community Forest Cooperative (CCFC) in partnership with Klahoose First Nation (KFN); Island Stance; and Island Timberlands, 2005-2012. Copy of "An Assessment of the Cortes Forestry General Partnership (CFGP) of BC, Canada, open case study from UBC, 2020. CES membership form, undated. CCFC membership form and subscription agreement, undated. CCFC pamphlets, undated. Additional keywords: Bartholomew; Hanks Beach; Friends of Cortes Island (FOCI)
Cortes Ecoforestry Society (CES) newsletters, 1999-2000. Clippings with info on: CES sustainability initiatives; development of Cortes Community Forest Cooperative (CCFC) in partnership with Klahoose First Nation (KFN); Island Stance; and Island Timberlands, 2005-2012. Copy of "An Assessment of the Cortes Forestry General Partnership (CFGP) of BC, Canada, open case study from UBC, 2020. CES membership form, undated. CCFC membership form and subscription agreement, undated. CCFC pamphlets, undated. Additional keywords: Bartholomew; Hanks Beach; Friends of Cortes Island (FOCI)
Historical information on Gorge Harbour, people, properties, info dating back to 1898. Clippings with tourist info, proposed Klahoose oyster license, Island Sea Farms aquaculture, and resort upgrades from Dr. Richard and Michelle Glickman, 2007-2019. Gorge Harbour map from Hubert Steghaus, 2008. Floathouse Restaurant menu, 2011. Obituary for Mrs S.E. Corneille, 2016. Info on Gorge Government dock and tree falling, 2017. Gorge Harbour brochures, undated. Poster for talk with sailors Amanda and Barry Glickman at Gorge gazebo, undated. Photos (copies) of Gorge Marina, store and restaurant,1974.
Historical information on Gorge Harbour, people, properties, info dating back to 1898. Clippings with tourist info, proposed Klahoose oyster license, Island Sea Farms aquaculture, and resort upgrades from Dr. Richard and Michelle Glickman, 2007-2019. Gorge Harbour map from Hubert Steghaus, 2008. Floathouse Restaurant menu, 2011. Obituary for Mrs S.E. Corneille, 2016. Info on Gorge Government dock and tree falling, 2017. Gorge Harbour brochures, undated. Poster for talk with sailors Amanda and Barry Glickman at Gorge gazebo, undated. Photos (copies) of Gorge Marina, store and restaurant,1974.
Receipts for community hall related income and expenses, 1952-1972. Keywords: Southern Cortes Community Association, Manson's Landing Community Club, Cortes Barbeque Committee. Tax form, order form, 1970. Southern Cortes Community Association reports, 2009-2018.
Receipts for community hall related income and expenses, 1952-1972. Keywords: Southern Cortes Community Association, Manson's Landing Community Club, Cortes Barbeque Committee. Tax form, order form, 1970. Southern Cortes Community Association reports, 2009-2018.
Historical info on the Gorge Harbour Community Hall Society, the building of the Gorge Harbour Hall in 1933, and the Gorge Harbour Young People's Dramatic Socety, 1930s. Clippings about Gorge Hall events, taxes and community resources, 1962-2013. Broadway Musical Comedy itinerary, Gorge Hall, 1972. Vintage looking poster "Songs for Winter," Gorge Hall, undated.
Historical info on the Gorge Harbour Community Hall Society, the building of the Gorge Harbour Hall in 1933, and the Gorge Harbour Young People's Dramatic Socety, 1930s. Clippings about Gorge Hall events, taxes and community resources, 1962-2013. Broadway Musical Comedy itinerary, Gorge Hall, 1972. Vintage looking poster "Songs for Winter," Gorge Hall, undated.
Fonds consists of sixteen photographs depicting people and scenes, primarily of the Manson's Landing area. Identification was provided by Fred Brooks Jr. in an interview with Cathy Jenks.
Alethea and Frederick (Fred) James Brooks Sr. and their two sons, Frederick (Fred) Earl, Jr. and Bob, lived on Cortes Island from ca. 1941 to 1944, near Manson's Landing. Fred Sr. logged in Cortes Bay and employed two of the Hawkins boys, Bill and George.
Fred Jr. attended grades three to six at Cortes Island school before the family moved to Pender Harbour. Some of the names he recalls are: the Christiansen kids (Robert, Jim, and a sister), the Tibers on the west side of Cortes Island, and the Jefferys of Smelt Bay.
Custodial History
Fred Brooks Jr. gave the photographs to Cathy Brooks of Pender Harbour Living Heritage Society, who facilitated the donation by collecting the photographs, donation form and information from Brooks and sending the materials to CIMAS.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of sixteen photographs depicting people and scenes, primarily of the Manson's Landing area. Identification was provided by Fred Brooks Jr. in an interview with Cathy Jenks.
Pender Harbour Living Heritage holds related material from the Brooks family: https://penderharbourheritage.pastperfectonline.com/bysearchterm?keyword=Brooks+family
Clippings and articles with info on funding, emergency response communication, programs such as Vintage Vingnettes and ECOreport, a book, documentaries such as Deep Roots and Who Are My People?, international broadcasting, AGMs, and promotional material, 2005-2019. Email and letter regarding Vintage Vignettes, 2017, 2018.
Clippings and articles with info on funding, emergency response communication, programs such as Vintage Vingnettes and ECOreport, a book, documentaries such as Deep Roots and Who Are My People?, international broadcasting, AGMs, and promotional material, 2005-2019. Email and letter regarding Vintage Vignettes, 2017, 2018.
Strathcona Regional District Official Community Plan and open letters to the Cortes Island community, 2011-2012. Additional documents relating to the Official Community plan, 2009-2012.
Strathcona Regional District Official Community Plan and open letters to the Cortes Island community, 2011-2012. Additional documents relating to the Official Community plan, 2009-2012.
Clippings with info on fundraisers, events, and BioBlitz, 2012-2018. Emails with info on grant application and the Forest Alphabet book, 2014. Letters from CIMAS voicing support for the FTCCIS, 2015. Forest Trust pamphlet, undated.
Clippings with info on fundraisers, events, and BioBlitz, 2012-2018. Emails with info on grant application and the Forest Alphabet book, 2014. Letters from CIMAS voicing support for the FTCCIS, 2015. Forest Trust pamphlet, undated.
Gas Tax/Public Transit Management Services letter from gov BC, 2006. Info on the Community Works Fund in emails, notes, reports, schedules, and letters, 2011-2012.
Gas Tax/Public Transit Management Services letter from gov BC, 2006. Info on the Community Works Fund in emails, notes, reports, schedules, and letters, 2011-2012.
