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.
Fonds consists of materials generated or gathered by Nursall in the course of his activities as Regional Director for Cortes Island, and as a participant in the Salmon Aquaculture Review Committee and the treaty negotiations process. Fonds is arranged in three series: Regional Director of Cortes Island Electoral Area, Salmon Aquaculture Review Committee, and Treaty Negotiations. Original order has been maintained.
The Regional Director series includes minutes, community plans and maps, correspondence, background material and ephemera. Fonds 2002.001 Regional Director of Area I (Cortes Island) contains related records.
The Salmon Aquaculture Review series includes terms of reference, correspondence, background information and clippings, material from sessions of the Salmon Aquaculture Review Committee (SARC), submissions from industry and environmental groups, reports, and Nursall's notes and comments.
The Treaty Negotiations series includes records of the Cortes Island Local Advisory Committee (CILAC) including Terms of Reference, minutes, lists of members, correspondence, notes and background material, minutes of meetings of the Klahoose Table and copies of the newsletter "Treaty Talks". There are also records relating to the Desolation Sound Regional Advisory Committee and its successor, the North Island Regional Advisory Committee, and background materials on the treaty negotiation process.
(John) Ralph Nursall was born in 1925. He joined the University of Alberta in 1953 as a lecturer in marine zoology and was granted full professorship in 1964. Nursall chaired the Department of Zoology for three terms, retiring in 1988. A specialist in freshwater biology and the anatomy of fish, he was president of the Edmonton Zoological Society and Chair of the panel on hazardous waste for the Environmental Council of Alberta. Material relating to his professional career may be found in the John Ralph Nursall fonds in the University of Alberta Archives.
Ralph and Mary (Stewart) Nursall (1924-2017) married in 1953. They lived in Edmonton for thirty-five years, both working at the University of Alberta, and moved to Cortes Island in 1989.
Nursall was elected Regional Director of Electoral Area I (Cortes Island) for the Regional District of Comox-Strathcona (RDCS) in November of 1990. He served two terms as Director: 1990-1993, and 1993-1996. From 1995 to 1997 the BC government undertook a comprehensive review of salmon aquaculture; continuing after the end of his term, Nursall represented the RDCS on a Salmon Aquaculture Review Committee. He was involved in the BC First Nations treaty process from 1996 to 2002 as chair of the Cortes Island Local Advisory Committee (CILAC).
Custodial History
This fonds was donated to CIMAS by Ralph Nursall in 2008.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of materials generated or gathered by Nursall in the course of his activities as Regional Director for Cortes Island, and as a participant in the Salmon Aquaculture Review Committee and the treaty negotiations process. Fonds is arranged in three series: Regional Director of Cortes Island Electoral Area, Salmon Aquaculture Review Committee, and Treaty Negotiations. Original order has been maintained.
The Regional Director series includes minutes, community plans and maps, correspondence, background material and ephemera. Fonds 2002.001 Regional Director of Area I (Cortes Island) contains related records.
The Salmon Aquaculture Review series includes terms of reference, correspondence, background information and clippings, material from sessions of the Salmon Aquaculture Review Committee (SARC), submissions from industry and environmental groups, reports, and Nursall's notes and comments.
The Treaty Negotiations series includes records of the Cortes Island Local Advisory Committee (CILAC) including Terms of Reference, minutes, lists of members, correspondence, notes and background material, minutes of meetings of the Klahoose Table and copies of the newsletter "Treaty Talks". There are also records relating to the Desolation Sound Regional Advisory Committee and its successor, the North Island Regional Advisory Committee, and background materials on the treaty negotiation process.
Regional Director of Cortes Island Electoral Area fonds
John Ralph Nursall fonds at the University of Alberta Archives (https://albertaonrecord.ca/john-ralph-nursall-fonds)
File contains minutes, agendas and other material relating to meetings of the Klahoose Table, attended by members of CILAC, Klahoose First Nations and government negotiators. It includes material relating to a proposed park at Carrington Bay.
File contains minutes, agendas and other material relating to meetings of the Klahoose Table, attended by members of CILAC, Klahoose First Nations and government negotiators. It includes material relating to a proposed park at Carrington Bay.
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).
Series contains two (2) copies of spiral-bound booklet--"Supporting Seniors Supporting You"-with information about a proposed Cortes Island Seniors' Complex. Also contains a sheaf of loose pages, titled "Supporting Seniors Supporting Themselves" and three (3) copies of a pamphlet: "Imagine...opening the door to the new Cortes Island Seniors Complex".
Series contains two (2) copies of spiral-bound booklet--"Supporting Seniors Supporting You"-with information about a proposed Cortes Island Seniors' Complex. Also contains a sheaf of loose pages, titled "Supporting Seniors Supporting Themselves" and three (3) copies of a pamphlet: "Imagine...opening the door to the new Cortes Island Seniors Complex".
File contains two (2) versions of letterhead for British Columbia Old Age Pensioners' Organization, one naming Joan E. Disney (of Manson's Landing) as secretary. Also contains index cards with notes and contact info for Cortes Island Seniors' Society contacts. Cards were removed from a box when accessioned.
File contains two (2) versions of letterhead for British Columbia Old Age Pensioners' Organization, one naming Joan E. Disney (of Manson's Landing) as secretary. Also contains index cards with notes and contact info for Cortes Island Seniors' Society contacts. Cards were removed from a box when accessioned.
File contains table of contents and selected materials from a binder titled "Fundraising: Corporate Gift, Foundation and Government". Materials were removed from binder when accessioned.
File contains table of contents and selected materials from a binder titled "Fundraising: Corporate Gift, Foundation and Government". Materials were removed from binder when accessioned.
Series consists of administrative records, minutes and notes from the Cortes Island Seniors' Building Society and the Cortes Island Old Age Pensioners' Organization. (The C.I.O.A.P.O. became the Cortes Island Seniors in 1995.)
Series consists of administrative records, minutes and notes from the Cortes Island Seniors' Building Society and the Cortes Island Old Age Pensioners' Organization. (The C.I.O.A.P.O. became the Cortes Island Seniors in 1995.)
File contains a draft, with edits, of a brochure for the Seniors' Building Complex. Also contains two (2) b&w photographic prints and one (1) ink drawing.
File contains a draft, with edits, of a brochure for the Seniors' Building Complex. Also contains two (2) b&w photographic prints and one (1) ink drawing.
File contains President's Annual Report (May 1995) and correspondence. Also contains Certificate of Incorporation, constitution, and bylaws for the Cortes Island Seniors' Building Society.
File contains President's Annual Report (May 1995) and correspondence. Also contains Certificate of Incorporation, constitution, and bylaws for the Cortes Island Seniors' Building Society.
