Lecture: North Island Heritage Sites

Plan your next “staycation” with historian Jeanette Taylor, who will give an illustrated talk about north Vancouver Island’s heritage sites

Plan your next “staycation” with historian Jeanette Taylor, who will give an illustrated talk about north Vancouver Island’s heritage sites, Tuesday, November 3 at 7pm at the Courtenay Museum.

Taylor brings a wealth of experience to her subject, from writing local history to guided boat tours and her former role as a curator with the Museum at Campbell River.

She’ll highlight accessible gems and provide a downloadable site list. Many can be reached by car and trail, while others, like Mitlenatch Island or Nootka Sound, require boat tours.

Taylor likes to bring these areas to life with stories of remarkable individuals. One such person is August Schnarr, who raised three girls on his own in the isolated mountain vastness of Bute Inlet. The girls became famous for raising cougars as pets.

“The north island is not an easy place to live,” says Taylor, “between the mountains, wind, extreme tides and weather. Settlers who wanted to farm chose the Comox Valley or points south. The north demanded adventurers, prepared to face extremes.”

Admission to the evening is $5 per Historical Society member; $6 non-members (plus GST). Advance tickets are strongly recommended as the museum lecture series frequently sells out. FMI: 250-334-0686 ext. 2.