Parks

Three Decades of Stewardship: FOCI’s Ongoing Legacy in Cortes Island Parks

For over 30 years, Friends of Cortes Island (FOCI) has played a vital role in preserving and maintaining the natural beauty of Cortes Island’s parks. From humble beginnings to an established organization with year-round maintenance operations, FOCI’s legacy is woven into the very trails, beaches, and forests it cares for.

“There is just a wonderful collection of fantastic places that we’ve protected on this island, and I think we should celebrate that,” exclaimed Helen Hall, Executive Director of FOCI. “The parks are there for people to enjoy and learn about nature. They’re very popular on Cortes.”

Although FOCI’s name appeared in documents as early as 1981 and it participated in the 1983 conservation of Hague Lake Island (AKA ‘Turtle Island’), the organization largely faded from the public eye after that.

Rebirth of FOCI: The 1990 Logging Conflict

Cortes Island was rocked by a logging conflict in 1990, culminating in a two-day blockade at Squirrel Cove. As Delores Broten recalls, MacMillan Bloedel announced plans for a clear-cut just before Earth Day—a decision that galvanized the community.

“It was going to be a big clear-cut over by Squirrel Cove and the Klahoose were not in favour of having a huge clear-cut right above their village,” Broten said.

In the wake of the protest, Shivon Robinsong, Sedley Sweeney, Lizzy (last name forgotten), and Broten revived FOCI. They registered FOCI as a charitable organization on July 27, 1990

Kw’as Park

Maintenance Contract for Kw’as Park

FOCI’s first park maintenance contract was in Kw’as Park, a 70-hectare (173-acre) parcel of forested land that BC Parks passed over in 1989, offering it instead to the Comox Strathcona Regional District (CSRD).

Pierre de Trey, who would soon become head of FOCI’s Park’s Committee, entered the story at this point. He did much of the groundwork to make Kw’as a Regional Park and corresponded with regional planners to make that happen.

In 1993, BC Lands granted de Trey’s volunteers a permit to build trails and a footbridge in Kw’as Park.

Then in 1995 de Trey first submitted a yearly budget request to the Comox Strathcona Regional District to pay for maintenance. De Trey later wrote:

“In 1995 we built the natural looking 22 foot arched cedar ‘bridge’ over the creek between both lakes. This was an amazing one day volunteer effort achieved from a standing cedar tree to an almost finished bridge in six and a half hours! We then further improved the existing north to south main axis trail and developed two further side arm.”

The park’s official designation came during George Sirk’s term as Regional Director (1996–2005). Sirk and de Trey worked closely to survey and lay out trails. This was initially a volunteer effort, but they later hired local workers. Over time, Kw’as Park became a well-loved destination with over 15 km of trails.

In 2000, Brian Allaert nominated FOCI for a National Go Green Award, stating:

“Members of the Parks Committee of FOCI have done a magnificent job in creating a network of clearly defined and mapped trails along the rocky shores of Hague Lake and the surrounding forests.”

He praised the Millennium Old Growth Trail and a newly installed floating wildlife viewing platform at the southern entrance of the park. Allaert singled out Pierre de Trey, George Sirk, Brian Page, and Betty-Ann Hansen for commendation.

Carrington Bay Nature Park

Expanding the Mandate

Carol Tidler, an early board member, credits the organization’s trail-building skills to a foreshore monitoring program launched by local biologist Sabina Leader Mense in 1995. There was no beach access to most of the sites where they took their inventories.

FOCI acquired a second maintenance contract, in Carrington Bay Regional Park, before the Comox Strathcona Regional District was divided into two separate districts 2008.

The newly created Strathcona Regional District (SRD) gave FOCI the maintenance contracts for the following beach accesses:

  • Gnat Beach, Squirrel Cove
  • Moon Park, near Hollyhock Beach
  • Seascape Park, at the end of Seascape Road
  • Hayes Park, at the end of Hayes Road

In 2013, a resident group calling themselves the Renewal Land Company purchased the 13-hectare Siskin Forest Park, which it later donated to the SRD.

Whale’s Rest Park

FOCI assumed the maintenance contract in 2014, alongside the contract for Whale’s Rest Park at the BC Ferry Terminal, Whaletown.

That same year, the SRD acquired Whaletown Commons, a 70-acre forest long sought after by island residents. The Whaletown Commons Society helped make the deal happen, following years of negotiation with MacMillan Bloedel and later Weyerhaeuser. Whaletown Commons Regional Park was soon added to FOCI’s growing portfolio.

Today’s Trail Guardians

Helen Hall moved to Cortes Island in 2013, after working in the UK’s environmental sector, bringing a wealth of park management experience into FOCI. She began volunteering with FOCI, later becoming Stewardship Coordinator and eventually Executive Director.

“I’ve been living in paradise, doing this job I really enjoy,” she said.

Today, FOCI maintains every regional park on Cortes Island except for Hanks Beach.

FOCI now employes two Park Rangers Alex Bernier and Sam Gibb who walk the trails monthly, clearing fallen trees and picking up garbage.

In addition to maintenance, FOCI continues to enhance the parks— building a 170-foot boardwalk in Kw’as Park, replacing the original 1995 bridge, and adding new infrastructure across various parks.

The organization also offers a variety of guided tours and educational walks through the island’s regional parks. These are typically led by local naturalists or biologists and designed to deepen understanding and appreciation of the island’s unique ecosystems

From its humble origins to today’s ecological leadership, FOCI’s work is more than stewardship—it’s a celebration of Cortes Island’s enduring natural legacy.

All photos courtesy the SRD website