Tag Archives: Pictographs

Gorge Harbour Marina Renovations Completed

The renovations at Gorge Harbour Marina are finished. This has been much more than a facelift. It includes a new water system, upgraded septic and electric systems, yet the face of the resort has also been dramatically improved. The RV sites, campsites, much of the grounds and internal layout of the lodge have all been redesigned. Six new visitor domes, 2 cooking stations, a new massage hut, a new bridge across the creek and a food truck have been added.  

There is one big decision remaining. Will QXMC, the business arm of the Klahoose First Nation, build a restaurant to take the place of the former Floathouse restaurant? General Manager Marco Bedetti says a decision is imminent and, for now, the food truck serves the resort’s needs.

The last three months at the resort have been a success story, which Bedetti insists starts at the board level.

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How Whaletown got its name

Lynne Jordan, former President of the Cortes Island Museum, is writing a history of Whaletown. Her manuscript is already 300 pages long. In the first of a series of interviews about her research, Jordan describes the history behind Whaletown’s name.

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The Klahoose Wilderness Resort’s first full season

According to Tourism Manager Chris Tait, the Klahoose Wilderness Resort’s first full season was a much greater success than they expected. 

Qathen Xwegus Management Corporation (QXMC) , the Klahoose First Nation’s Economic Development Corporation, purchased the former Homfray Lodge in 2020.

Chris Tait: “We did open in 2021 but with the pandemic, obviously, we only had a very shortened season. 2022 was our first full season. We were open from May to October, and we had more visitors than we forecasted.”

“People were very interested  in what we are doing. Whether they’re from New York, California, from British Columbia, local here, or Toronto, or London, England: the number one reason that people came was because we’re a hundred percent Indigenous owned. We are owned by the Klahoose First Nation, and we offer an Indigenous experience for visitors. That’s what people were looking for.” 

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Experiencing Bioluminescence with Cortes Kayaks

Cortes Kayaks bioluminescence tours have been setting out from Mansons Lagoon every Friday and Saturday for the past month.

There were about a dozen people in our group, which was mostly composed of off islanders from Vancouver, Victoria or the Cowichan Valley.  The only experienced kayakers were our guides, Jolaine Boucher and Maria Francis. However most of the group had some experience and the only rookie was me. 

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Beyond Beads

qathet Living, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Beading helps share knowledge, good laughs, and support for each other through hard times. That’s why beading is important to me, as both an art, and community-centred experience.”

So explains Klahoose and Tla’amin Nation member Emily White, who’s contemporary beading designs are pushing the boundaries of the traditional art form (see left). The 24-year-old Tla’amin Nation intergovernmental policy and fiscal analyst learned to bead in 2018 from the Elders in Residence at the University of Victoria – over many lunchtimes as she was completing her degree in Indigenous Studies and ethics. She especially credits Métis Elder Barb Hulme.

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