In this morning’s Cortes Currents, we continue with the audio from Jeanette Taylor’s recent talk at Manson’s Hall. In the previous episode she talked about Old Quadra Island. Now we explore the rest of the Discovery Islands, Bute Inlet & Nootka Sound.
Continue reading Discovery Islands, Bute Inlet & Nootka SoundCategory Archives: History
Tales Of Old Quadra Island
By Roy L Hales
Local historian Jeanette Taylor came to Mansons Hall, on Cortes Island, on April 26, 2019. The Cortes Island Museum invited her to present her slideshow “60 Terrific Historical Spots To Visit On Northern Vancouver Island”. I’ve taken some liberties in adapting Ms Taylor’s talk into a series of radio programs. The first one is tales of Old Quadra Island.
Continue reading Tales Of Old Quadra IslandAndy Ellingsen Remembers Cortes Island Past – Part One: 1940’s & 50’s

His first memory of Cortes Island is of the Ellingsen family moving their log float home to Von Donop Inlet in 1945. His stories go back decades further. Michael Manson, whose name is preserved in Mansons Landing, was his maternal great grandfather. What was life like in the 1940s and 50s? In this morning’s program we start a series in which Andy Ellingsen remembers Cortes Island past.
Continue reading Andy Ellingsen Remembers Cortes Island Past – Part One: 1940’s & 50’sCatching English Fish & Chips

Bernie Anderson and Leila Gmeiner had big expectations in the Spring of 1978. For the past two years, they had been homesteading in the wilderness of Toba Inlet, British Columbia. Then a friend offered them the use of his fishing boat. They had to make the monthly payments to the bank of course, but any profits beyond that were theirs to keep. Nobody could foresee they would be catching English Fish & Chips.
Continue reading Catching English Fish & ChipsRiding Vancouver’s Old Interurban
By Roy L Hales
In 1910, Vancouver had one of North America’s most advanced electric train networks. The old interurban line ran for 114 miles, to Chilliwack in the heart of the Fraser Valley. It also serviced the sleepy village of Steveston to the south. This technological wonder was abandoned when British Columbians turned to the automobile, in the 1950s. A 4.6 mile segment of the route through Surrey was recently brought back to life as part of living museum project. So I went riding Vancouver’s old interurban.
Continue reading Riding Vancouver’s Old Interurban
