Pender Islands Historical Timeline

The book Winifred Grey: A Gentlewoman’s Remembrances of Life in England and the Gulf Islands of British Columbia, edited by Marie Elliot, is published.

Local history book More Tales from the Outer Gulf Islands is published by the Gulf Islands Branch of the BC Historical Federation. Editor Doug Harker brings together an anthology of island memories and anecdotes, complementing the earlier Gulf Islands Patchwork (1961).

The newly-built ferry Queen of Cumberland begins service to the Southern Gulf Islands with capacity for 100 cars.

After 100 years, the Old Orchard Farm house at Port Washington, originally built by Washington Grimmer in 1891, is extensively rebuilt with sensitivity to its history.

The Roesland Resort closes after 72 years of continuous operation as an affordable vacation destination that attracted families who often returned year after year.

A new library building, designed by island architect John Roberts, opens at the Auchterlonie Centre.

Irene Roe passes away. She and her husband Bert had operated the Roesland Resort for over 50 years, succeeded by the Davidsons in 1971.

The Islands Trust Fund is created as a conservation land trust to protect private land and unique ecosystems through covenants, programs, and donations.

The Pender Island Recycling Society (PIRS) is created after a CRD proposal for a waste transfer station is defeated. Land is leased from June and Max Allan for a drop-off depot for $1/year. PIRS later buys the property outright.

A Brackett Family Reunion is held on Pender with 192 attendees, leading to a family history authored by Lyall Eriksen (now held in the museum archives).

The Official Community Plan, adopted in 1978, is amended to allow a dominant commercial centre on the island. The present Driftwood Centre is the result. Construction begins on the “new modern design“ centre, which includes a relocated service station.

Dr Don Williams signs on as a full-time medical doctor to the Penders on July 1st.

Port Washington Store ceases operation as a general store.

Pharmacist Ursula Poepel (1937-2020) arrives on Pender. She opens the Pender Pharmacy at the Driftwood Centre, providing an important addition to local health care services. Her support for community causes and hatred of invasive broom would become legendary.

In September, the Pender Islands Museum Society is formed with the objective of establishing a museum.

The BC Provincial Disc Golf Tournament is held on Pender with more than 30 players from BC and Washington competing. (It would return in 2005 with over 100 disc golfers in the competition.)

Commercial logging ceases on Mount Norman, leading to the area being protected. (In 1988, Mount Norman Regional Park (CRD) will be created, the first on the Gulf Islands.)

The Hope Bay Store closes as a general store, after almost 80 years of continuous service.

Simon Fraser University’s Archeology Faculty begins a salvage dig at the north end of the Canal Bridge, establishing that the site had been occupied from before 5000 to 2500 BP (Before Present = 1950), and used seasonally thereafter. The dig project continues for three summer seasons (1984-86), using some 30 university faculty, staff, and students.

The Crown grants the property of the 1902 Pender Island School to the Pender Island Recreation and Agricultural and Hall Association for “recreational purposes“.

The Nu-to-Yu thrift store opens as a way to raise funds for the new Health Centre. Run entirely by volunteers, it will later expand its mandate to provide grants to an array of community projects. By 2025, Nu-to-Yu had raised more than $1.5M in support of island causes.

The South Pender Fire Hall is built.

Mary Coleman, the widow of Bishop Michael Coleman, who first raised funds for a medical clinic in the late 1960s, cuts the ribbon to open the Pender Islands Health Centre on May 31. The Lions Club had been instrumental in bringing the project to completion with fundraising and volunteer labour on donated land.

The present Pender Island Golf Clubhouse is built.

George Coates acquires the site of the Driftwood Centre and begins redevelopment. (It will be completed in 1988-89.)