Monthly Archives: June 2021

1 06, 2021

A Hall Opens…

By |2023-09-13T12:55:44-07:00June 1st, 2021|Categories: History|0 Comments

By Allan Forget

(with notes from the archives of the Galiano Club & the Sidney Review.)

Photo by Mr. Donald New

Ninety-two years ago this month an event was held that is considered to be the “official opening” of the building we now know as the Galiano Community Hall.

The Galiano Club was founded in December, 1924. One of the Club’s main objectives was “to build a public hall”. Construction of such a building began the following year on land donated by Mr. Stanley Page; it was ready for occupancy by 1926.

Early in 1929 the BC Lieutenant Governor, His Honour, R.Randolph Bruce, accepted an invitation to visit Galiano extended by the Galiano Island Development Association. All island organizations were encouraged to plan events to occupy His Honour during the day-long visit. The Galiano Club decided to hold an official opening of the Hall and sponsor a formal evening dance.

The Lieutenant Governor and his party arrived by rented yacht named ‘Locaber No More’, at the Sturdies Bay wharf on the morning of May 29th, 1929. The Government House bagpiper, a Military Aide de Camp, accompanied Mr. Bruce as did his niece, Miss Helen Mackenzie. (Mr. Bruce was a widower. Protocol at the time required that the LG always have a female… and a serving military officer… at his side while carrying
out duties as the King’s representative.) Among those greeting them was Vice-Admiral Paul Scoones, Secretary of the Galiano Club Board. His Honour inspected a group of Sea Scouts and Girl Guides, toured the Galiano Post Office, and was driven along a “scenic driveway bordering the Bay of Whales”. Miss Mackenzie was later presented with a bouquet of “no fewer than fifty-two varieties of wild flowers” by Miss Edwina Morgan.

Mr. Scoones eventually escorted LG Bruce to the “newly erected Galiano Hall” (not until the 1970s would the building become known as the Galiano Community Hall) where he was welcomed by Galiano Club President, Mr. Arthur Lord. A brief ceremony followed in which His Honour declared that the Hall was “open for business and for pleasure”. Before leaving the Hall site His Honour inspected the “large and beautiful grounds adjacent, so tastefully laid out by members of the Galiano League of Mercy.”

Afterwards, the Sea Scouts took charge of the Lieutenant Governor, sailing him in their barge, Roaring Rip, to nearby Gossip Island where an afternoon tea was served … complete with shrimps!!

His Honour was rowed back to Galiano later in the day for his invited attendance at the Galiano Club sponsored dance. Held in the main room of the hall, the “Club room”, the dance was well attended, regarded as it was as the social event of the year. The dance event was recorded in photographs by Club member Donald New. An enlargement of one of these photos was eventually framed and now hangs on one of the Hall walls.

In this photo we see the men wearing formal “cutaways” and seamed trousers, the women wearing the fashionable waistless dresses, thick stockings and buckle shoes. The Club has hired Mrs.Eaton’s “far-famed” three piece orchestra to play, and has purchased “on trial” a Bosch gramophone to provide supplementary music. The hall ceiling is decorated with rows of an assortment of nautical signal flags and national flags.
Several windows and doors are draped with oversized Union Jack and Red Ensign flags, the window frames with looped bunting. Large bouquets of flowers are on stage where His Honour seems to be addressing the crowd, his niece and his ADC seating nearby.

Mr. Scoones had provided, from his own home, framed prints of works by the currently popular American artist Edward Hopper, and some “Mediciprints” to decorate the walls. Extra kerosene lamps (the hall, like most island homes, had yet to be wired for electricity) had been brought in to supply the necessary illumination.

After spending the night at the Farmhouse Inn, His Honour sailed back to Victoria having much enjoyed the island scenery and also, according to a local newspaper report, “professing a heart-felt admiration for the public spirit which had converted Galiano Island from an ordinary island to a
centre of commerce and tourist activity.”

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1 06, 2021

The Bluffs: Notes

By |2023-09-13T12:46:55-07:00June 1st, 2021|Categories: Club Parks, History|0 Comments

by Allan Forget

The Bluffs was created in 1948 as a result of a land donation by Mr. & Mrs. Max Enke and by the financial donation of several dozen islanders. The Galiano Club accepted title to the 139 ha of land in October of that year. In 1951 a Deed of Trust was signed setting out just how the Bluffs was to be managed. This Deed was amended by the Club in 1988 re-designating the land as a Nature Protection Area. The Galiano Club continues to manage the Bluffs, on behalf of our island community, to this day.

In the early 1960s, as both the 1966 BC Centennial and the 1967 Canadian Centennial approached, the Galiano Club Board of Directors began to look for a way to commemorate these historical events. (The Club had commemorated the earlier 1958 BC Centennial having a water well dug in the Community Hall grounds, a first.)
The Board, under President Margaret Robson, eventually decided to erect a stone arch at each of the two roadway entrances to the Bluffs. Directors EJ Bambrick and L. Walton took on the project. After some investigation the expense and the difficulties of the project caused it to be abandoned. Fred Robson offered to instead locate and place two large sandstone slabs at each roadway entrance to the Bluffs; three of these stone blocks remain.

In 1988, for the 40th anniversary of the Club accepting title to the Bluffs, the Board of Directors, under President Bill Scoones, decided that something more was needed to identify the roadway entrances to the land. Under the guidance of Director Mike Sharp two cedar wood sign boards simply reading “The Bluffs” were created, the letters beautifully carved by Steve Oscko. One sign was installed at each roadway entrance to the Bluffs. In the late 2000s the Club Board, under President Don Anderson, arranged for Kurt Ziwicki to clean and repair both of these signs. Kurt also highlighted the letters with a red paint. These signs also remain in place, welcoming all to our island’s oldest community park, the Bluffs.

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1 06, 2021

Active Page Article June, 2021

By |2023-09-13T12:37:16-07:00June 1st, 2021|Categories: Active Page Articles, Club News, Club Parks|0 Comments

Galiano Club Update, June 2021

By Jack Garton

The summer is opening its door, and by the time of this publication we will have enjoyed some of its warm welcome. Hot spring days are a wonderful thing. The feeling of warmth on our skin, the smell of life everywhere, colours bursting from trees and flowers; a sweet relaxation starts to take over.
However, before long, the reverie includes hopes for rain and fear of another dangerous wildfire season. As someone who prefers warm sun, there’s an unease underneath these sunny days. Maybe even a tiny bit of guilt for enjoying the heat. No, I think it’s more a sense of responsibility that pairs with the enjoyment. These recent years of BC wildfires have driven home just how interdependent we all are, humans and our environment.

The Galiano Club manages some beautiful outdoor recreation lands on the island, which we hope islanders make use of, but it’s always good to mention that during the summer it’s important to check the Fire Danger Rating, and to be very cautious if it’s High or Extreme.

Thanks to the volunteers who helped pull Scotch Broom from the trails recently, it’s a job that really benefits from many hands. It’s also a chance to spend some time with fellow islanders, and enjoy some much-needed social connection. This community has always had a knack for pulling together to get hard things done.

A note that the Galiano Club’s 96th Annual General Meeting (via Zoom) has been postponed until June 27. Members will receive an email with further details.

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