2023
Tahsis Literary Society, Tahsis BC
Monday, October 16, 7:00pm: Presenting a PowerPoint pictorial talk about Strathcona Park’s history.
Rotary Club, Duncan BC
Monday, October 23, 11:30am: Presenting a PowerPoint pictorial talk about Strathcona Park’s history.
2022
Sunday, September 18 to Tuesday, September 20, tour of Strathcona Provincial Park and Uchuck III cruise to Zeballos offered through Wells Gray Tours.
Once again I will join Wells Gray travellers in Campbell River who are on their way to Gold River via Strathcona Park. We’ll briefly tour the Park, then overnight in Gold River. Monday morning we’ll board the Uchuck III for a four hour cruise to Zeballos and I will discuss Nootka Sound history on the way. This group will disembark at Zeballos. https://www.wellsgraytours.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Vancouver-Island-with-Small-Ships.pdf
Morning/afternoon tour of Strathcona Provincial Park offered through Wells Gray Tours.
I will be joining this bus tour in Campbell River Friday, May 20 and accompanying travellers west towards Gold River on Highway 28. We pass the Haig-Brown House, the entrance to Elk Falls and Strathcona Park Lodge on our way. We’ll take two lovely short walking trails in the park: Lupin Falls and Lady Falls, then back to Campbell River. On our travels I will discuss the history of the area. Here is the link to tour details: https://www.wellsgraytours.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Vancouver-Island-Toe-to-Tip.pdf
Thursday, April 28, morning/afternoon tour of Strathcona Provincial Park offered through Wells Gray Tours.
I will be joining this bus tour in Campbell River and accompanying travellers west towards Gold River on Highway 28. We pass the Haig-Brown House, the entrance to Elk Falls and Strathcona Park Lodge on our way. We’ll take two lovely short walking trails in the park: Lupin Falls and Lady Falls, then go to Strathcona Lodge for lunch. On our travels I will discuss the history of the area. Here is the link to tour details: https://www.wellsgraytours.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Scenic-Waterfront-Hotels-1.pdf
Tuesday, March 22 at 7:00pm, virtual presentation for the Qualicum Beach Family History Society
This pictorial talk about the Fort at Yorke Island features many archival images from personal family collections and discusses how small communities close to this WWII defence site were affected by the influx of soldiers, weapons, boats and building materials beginning in 1938. The talk is based on my 2012 book Yorke Island and the Uncertain War, Defending Canada’s Western Coast During WWII.
Saturday March 12, 19 and 26 from 1:00pm to 2:30pm through ElderCollege, Campbell River Campus at 1685 S Dogwood St. Three talks on local history. Sign up through the link: https://www.nic.bc.ca/continuing-education/search-courses/cr-eldercollege-courses/
Under History with a Twist – the first talk will be about the boats used in WWII on our coast, the second will be on the history of Nootka Sound and the third will be Strathcona Provincial Park’s history.
Thursday, February 10 at 7:00pm, virtual presentation for the Nanaimo Historical Society.
I’ll be presenting a pictorial talk about the history of Strathcona Provincial Park based on my recent book A Journey Back to Nature.
Thursday, January 27 at 1:30pm, virtual presentation to Probus group of Courtenay, members only.
I’ll be presenting a pictorial talk about the history of Strathcona Provincial Park based on my recent book A Journey Back to Nature.
Tuesday, March 22 at 7:00pm, virtual presentation for the Qualicum Beach Family History Society
This pictorial talk about the Fort at Yorke Island features many archival images from personal family collections and discusses how small communities close to this WWII defence site were affected by the influx of soldiers, weapons, boats and building materials beginning in 1938. The talk is based on my 2012 book Yorke Island and the Uncertain War, Defending Canada’s Western Coast During WWII.
Saturday March 12, 19 and 26 from 1:00pm to 2:30pm through ElderCollege, Campbell River Campus at 1685 S Dogwood St. Three talks on local history. Sign up through the link: https://www.nic.bc.ca/continuing-education/search-courses/cr-eldercollege-courses/
Under History with a Twist – the first talk will be about the boats used in WWII on our coast, the second will be on the history of Nootka Sound and the third will be Strathcona Provincial Park’s history.
Thursday, February 10 at 7:00pm, virtual presentation for the Nanaimo Historical Society.
I’ll be presenting a pictorial talk about the history of Strathcona Provincial Park based on my recent book A Journey Back to Nature.
Thursday, January 27 at 1:30pm, virtual presentation to Probus group of Courtenay, members only.
I’ll be presenting a pictorial talk about the history of Strathcona Provincial Park based on my recent book A Journey Back to Nature.
2021
Tuesday, December 14 at 7:00pm, virtual presentation hosted by the Ladysmith Museum and Archives
I presented a pictorial talk about the history of Strathcona Provincial Park based on my recent book A Journey Back to Nature. The park is British Columbia’s oldest and has a history fraught with controversy over how its land and waterways should be used by both industry and recreationalists. Never before published images form part of this presentation.
Tuesday, October 5 at 7:00pm, at the Courtenay & District Museum, 207 4th St, Courtenay, BC
Presented an in person pictorial talk about the history of Strathcona Provincial Park based on my recent book A Journey Back to Nature. The park is British Columbia’s oldest and has a history fraught with controversy over how its land and waterways should be used by both industry and recreationalists. Never before published images form part of this presentation.
Sunday, September 19 to Tuesday, September 21, I was the historic interpreter for Wells Gray Tours’ TELEGRAPH COVE & ZEBALLOS CRUISE and SMALL SHIPS CRUISE (private charter). I joined tour bus guests in Campbell River we drove through Strathcona Provincial Park while I discussed area history. We stayed overnight in Gold River, then boarded the Uchuck III coastal freighter cruising through the Muchalaht Inlet, travelling the east side of Nootka Island, heading north up the Tahsis Inlet and finally the Zeballos Inlet to the village of Zeballos. Here, the group disembarked and another boarded for the reverse trip. The past of this region is fascinating; with clashes over territorial claims between the Spanish and the British in the late 1700s, in Nootka Sound, the sea otter trade and the Mowachaht First Nations lead by the powerful Chief Maquinna. Read tour details here: https://www.wellsgraytours.com/tour-departures/depart-victoria/
Wednesday, June 9 6:30 p.m. Museum at Campbell River via Zoom.
Hosted by the Museum at Campbell River, this virtual pictorial presentation is part of the Museum’s Archives Days series.
Saturday, May 15 2:00 p.m. Powell River Library
A virtual pictorial presentation via Zoom and hosted by the Powell River Library about the history of Strathcona Provincial Park based on my latest book, A Journey Back to Nature. There will be a discussion and question/answer period following the presentation.
2020
Strathcona Provincial Park – A Long Time Coming. Strathcona Wilderness Institute AGM, March 6, Cumberland.
2019
Strathcona Lodge & Outdoor Education Centre and book launch for Surviving Strathcona Style, Off the Grid and On the Edge, 60th Anniversary edition with Myrna Boulding, Saturday, November 23, Courtenay Museum, 207 4th St., Courtenay BC. Time to be announced.
The History of Strathcona Park Lodge & Outdoor Education Centre and book launch for Surviving Strathcona Style, Off the Grid and On the Edge, 60th Anniversary edition with Myrna Boulding, on Saturday, October 19, 2019 from 1:00pm – 3:00pm, Museum at Campbell River, 470 Island Highway,
The Nootka Crisis, or why we don’t speak Spanish in British Columbia. Wednesday, August 21 at 9:00pm at Strathcona Park Lodge 9pm, Hwy 28 Campbell River. PUBLIC WELCOME
The History of Strathcona Park Lodge & Outdoor Education Centre – July 23, 29, August 5 and 12 at 7:00pm, High Bracer Lounge, Strathcona Park Lodge, Campbell River
The Nootka Crisis – June 06 at Nootka Sound Resort, Tlupana Inlet
It’s a Maritime War! The boats and men that served the BC coast during WWII – Thursday, January 17 at 1:00pm at Berwick By the Sea, Campbell River. PUBLIC WELCOME
2018
The History of Strathcona Park Lodge & Outdoor Education Centre – Thursday, December 20 at 1:00pm at Berwick By the Sea, Campbell River
The Fort at Yorke Island – 1937-1945 – Thursday, November 8 at 7:30pm at Bowen Park Recreation Complex, Nanaimo PUBLIC WELCOME
The Nootka Crisis – September 25 at 8:00pm High Bracer Lounge, Strathcona Park Lodge, Campbell River
Naming the Named – The Exploration of the Coast – September 17 at 6:30pm Bayhill Men’s Club, Cobble Hill
The History of Strathcona Park Lodge & Outdoor Education Centre – August 12 at 2:00pm, High Bracer Lounge, Strathcona Park Lodge, Campbell River
The Nootka Crisis – June 06 at Nootka Sound Resort, Tlupana Inlet
2017
The Nootka Crisis – Tuesday, October 17 at 7:00pm, Courtenay Museum
Yorke Island and the Uncertain War – in October at Manson’s Hall, Cortes Island, Thursday, October 12 at 7:00pm.
The Nootka Crisis – Wednesday, September 6 in Tahsis at the Captain Meares School, in the Seniors’ Centre at 7pm.
The Nootka Crisis – August 17, 6:30pm at the Port Alice Public Library
The Nootka Crisis – June 30 at Moutcha Bay Resort, July 2 at Nootka Sound Resort
The Nootka Crisis -Saturday, May 13 at 7:00pm, Mansons Hall, Cortes Island.
Naming the Named – The Exploration of the Coast Friday, May 12 at 2:00pm, Berwick Comox Valley Retirement Home, Comox – open to the public
The Nootka Crisis – Wednesday, May 10 at 7:00pm, Courtenay Museum
The Nootka Crisis – Saturday, April 29 at 1:00pm, Museum at Campbell River
2016
The Fort at Yorke Island – 1937-1945 – Wednesday, April 27, 2016 2:00pm, at Berwick Comox Valley Retirement Home Comox BC
Esquimalt During World War I – Sunday, February 28, 2016 1:30pm, at the Victorian at McKenzie retirement home, Victoria BC