Pender Islands Historical Timeline

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

Capital Regional District (CRD) provides $50,000 towards a full-sized gym in the Pender School, which had opened in 1976. The funding is in exchange for community access to the gym and a “community room“ in the school.

Dr Don Sutherland replaces the retiring Dr Homer Rogers on the condition that a new health centre be built. (Doctors no longer wish to practice out of their own homes.)

The Port Washington and Hope Bay Post Offices are closed and relocated to the Driftwood Centre with David A. Nance as Postmaster.

The Pender Islands Community Plan is adopted by the Islands Trust to guide land use and development for the islands, based on the Trust’s mandate to preserve and protect the unique environment and amenities of the islands.

The Pender Islands Lions Club publishes the first Pender Islands Telephone List, an idea put forward by President Wally Cunliffe.

The Port Washington Community Hall is demolished.

Victor Menzies dies at 92. He leaves behind a daily diary spanning 57 years, to which he adds a “summary“ diary of key events in his life and the life of the community from his birth in 1885 until just before his passing in September 1977.

A new school on Canal Road opens, and the old school is turned over for community use.

Victor Menzies’ 4×5 inch “plate” box camera from 1902 is used for the last time at a school reunion on August 6th.

The Pender Island Library moves to a small building at the Auchterlonie Centre, formerly an annex classroom for the school.

The Islands Trust introduces zoning and official community planning to the Gulf Islands.

Florence and Dave Davidson build their own log home at Roesland. Today it is the seasonal office for the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve.

The United Church of Canada closes the former Presbyterian Church due to declining numbers, but retains ownership of the building. The church begins operation as a non-denominational Community Church.

The Islands Trust Act is proclaimed on June 5 to control development in the Gulf Islands. It is triggered in part by the 1,200-lot Magic Lake Estates subdivision on North Pender. Heated community meetings air competing views of natural protection versus development.

The Provincial Government purchases land at the Canal Bridge, an important Indigenous site, to protect it from development.

Otter Cove Lodge changes ownership and is re-named Pender Lodge, housing the Eagles Nest Restaurant.

The Pender Islands Lions Club receives its Charter on June 15, with Wally Cunliffe serving as its first President.

North Pender Fire Protection Service is established.

The Pender Island Library, aka the “Pender Lender”, is founded and opens in the back room of the Pender Island Community Church under the guidance of Marjorie Bailey.

The first Pender Post monthly newsletter is published using a hand-cranked Gestetner copier, now in the museum’s collection. The copier will be replaced with an electric one in 1975.

The Pender Island Recreation and Agricultural Hall Association becomes a non-profit society, supporting a variety of recreational endeavours. One of its objectives is to create a new Community Hall. Islands Trustee Bob Allison is instrumental in pushing this forward.

The use of corporal punishment (strapping) ceases in British Columbia schools.

Aubrey Rundle-Woolcock moves to Pender Island and obtains a teaching position at the 2-room Pender Island School, going on to become Principal. He retires in 1983 after overseeing the transition to the new school in 1976-77.

Surveyor John Melvyn (Mel) Abbott dies at age 38. In the early 1960s, Abbot bought Les Bowerman’s land on North Pender and began development of what would become Magic Lake Estates. Surveying and road building were completed in 1974.