The Sunshine Coast
Sechelt
The Shishahl
The first self-governing First Nation (1986) in Canada, the Shishahl, known today as the Sechelt Nation, have lived on the Sunshine Coast for thousands of years. Their history and present day culture is displayed in the Sechelt Nation's museum, tems swiya, in Sechelt and is visible in protected petroglyphs, pictographs and middens along the Sunshine Coast's shorelines. After the Europeans came to the area, the Band members left their many villages scattered throughout the Sunshine Coast, Sechelt Inlet and Jervis Inlet to settle in Sechelt. Today the T'Sain Ko Mall at the entrance to Sechelt and the large sand and gravel operation, part of which is on Sechelt Band lands, are testament to the Sechelt Nation's ever-growing partnerships on and off the Coast with major companies.
Learn more: Sechelt Nation website and Tems Swiya Museum
The first self-governing First Nation (1986) in Canada, the Shishahl, known today as the Sechelt Nation, have lived on the Sunshine Coast for thousands of years. Their history and present day culture is displayed in the Sechelt Nation's museum, tems swiya, in Sechelt and is visible in protected petroglyphs, pictographs and middens along the Sunshine Coast's shorelines. After the Europeans came to the area, the Band members left their many villages scattered throughout the Sunshine Coast, Sechelt Inlet and Jervis Inlet to settle in Sechelt. Today the T'Sain Ko Mall at the entrance to Sechelt and the large sand and gravel operation, part of which is on Sechelt Band lands, are testament to the Sechelt Nation's ever-growing partnerships on and off the Coast with major companies.
Learn more: Sechelt Nation website and Tems Swiya Museum
Early Settlers
In 1875 the first legal survey of today's Sechelt, District Lots 303 and 304, was conducted by Captain William S. Jemmett; although itinerant fishermen, loggers and prospectors had fished the waters, logged the trees and combed the hills for minerals prior to this date. Sapper John Scales, a member of the Royal Engineers, had applied for his 150-acre free military grant in 1869 located on present day District Lot 303 - the southern most part of today's Sechelt. It wasn't until 1891 that he actually received the grant plus an additional 110 acres, today's District Lot 304 the northerly part of Sechelt, for which he paid $110.00. Shortly after receiving legal title to these lands he sold them to the Honourable Hugh Nelson, fourth Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, whose widow in turn sold them to recent English immigrants Alfred Whitaker and his son Herbert in 1895.
Thomas john Cook, also from England, his wife Sarah and infant daughter Ada were the first Europeans to settle permanently in Sechelt in 1894. He was the first Justice of the peace, helped open the first school, donated part of his land for the building of St. Hilda's Anglican Church and cemetery and generally helped his pioneer neighbours and the Sechelt First Nation people. Descendants of the Cook family still live on the Sunshine Coast.
In 1875 the first legal survey of today's Sechelt, District Lots 303 and 304, was conducted by Captain William S. Jemmett; although itinerant fishermen, loggers and prospectors had fished the waters, logged the trees and combed the hills for minerals prior to this date. Sapper John Scales, a member of the Royal Engineers, had applied for his 150-acre free military grant in 1869 located on present day District Lot 303 - the southern most part of today's Sechelt. It wasn't until 1891 that he actually received the grant plus an additional 110 acres, today's District Lot 304 the northerly part of Sechelt, for which he paid $110.00. Shortly after receiving legal title to these lands he sold them to the Honourable Hugh Nelson, fourth Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, whose widow in turn sold them to recent English immigrants Alfred Whitaker and his son Herbert in 1895.
Thomas john Cook, also from England, his wife Sarah and infant daughter Ada were the first Europeans to settle permanently in Sechelt in 1894. He was the first Justice of the peace, helped open the first school, donated part of his land for the building of St. Hilda's Anglican Church and cemetery and generally helped his pioneer neighbours and the Sechelt First Nation people. Descendants of the Cook family still live on the Sunshine Coast.
The Whitaker Family
As early as 1892 Herbert Whitaker and his father Alfred had seen the potential for Sechelt as a resort and a resource for lumber and fish. After Alfred and Herbert acquired what is today's Sechelt Herbert built two hotels, a series of stores, two wharves, one at Trail Bay the other on Porpoise Bay in Sechelt Inlet, and a group of revenue cottages. He also owned two sawmills, five logging camps and a steamship company, all in the space of twenty years. One of his revenue cottages still stands on Sechelt's Boulevard. His brothers were also involved in the development of the Sunshine Coast at Davis Bay and Gibsons.
As access to Sechelt and the Sunshine Coast was by water, Herbert Whitaker started the Sechelt Steamship Company to bring tourists to his hotels and cottages, supplies to his stores and workers to his logging operations. Other pioneer settlers came either to work for Herbert or to establish their own farms, logging or fishing businesses and stores. many of their descendants continue to live on the Sunshine Coast.
As early as 1892 Herbert Whitaker and his father Alfred had seen the potential for Sechelt as a resort and a resource for lumber and fish. After Alfred and Herbert acquired what is today's Sechelt Herbert built two hotels, a series of stores, two wharves, one at Trail Bay the other on Porpoise Bay in Sechelt Inlet, and a group of revenue cottages. He also owned two sawmills, five logging camps and a steamship company, all in the space of twenty years. One of his revenue cottages still stands on Sechelt's Boulevard. His brothers were also involved in the development of the Sunshine Coast at Davis Bay and Gibsons.
As access to Sechelt and the Sunshine Coast was by water, Herbert Whitaker started the Sechelt Steamship Company to bring tourists to his hotels and cottages, supplies to his stores and workers to his logging operations. Other pioneer settlers came either to work for Herbert or to establish their own farms, logging or fishing businesses and stores. many of their descendants continue to live on the Sunshine Coast.
The Union Steamship Company
The Union Steamship Company had been servicing British Columbia's coastal communities from Vancouver since 1890 and after Herbert's death it acquired his Sechelt properties in 1926.It had already purchased the All Red Line's ships and tourist resort at Selma Park just east of Sechelt in 1917. Large parties of tourists came by Union steamships for day trips to Sechelt and Selma Park or to spend the summer months in its camp grounds, cottages and hotels, until in 1944 its Selma Park properties were sold. In 1956 its Sechelt holdings were relinquished and the Village of Sechelt was incorporated to be run by its residents.
The Union Steamship Company had been servicing British Columbia's coastal communities from Vancouver since 1890 and after Herbert's death it acquired his Sechelt properties in 1926.It had already purchased the All Red Line's ships and tourist resort at Selma Park just east of Sechelt in 1917. Large parties of tourists came by Union steamships for day trips to Sechelt and Selma Park or to spend the summer months in its camp grounds, cottages and hotels, until in 1944 its Selma Park properties were sold. In 1956 its Sechelt holdings were relinquished and the Village of Sechelt was incorporated to be run by its residents.
Later Development
Highway 101 was completed in 1952 linking the ferry terminal in Langdale to the ferry terminal in earl's Cove. The improved ferry system has gradually brought more settlers to the Sunshine Coast and Sechelt has become a retirement centre, a commuter community and continues to attract a growing number of artists of all disciplines. Through the years Sechelt has gradually built up a variety of stores, businesses, restaurants, education facilities, medical, dental and hospital care.
Logging and fishing may have declined in importance in the economy of the Sunshine coast but new industries take their place, such as the sand and gravel pit outside Sechelt and its barge terminus in Trail bay which moves the materials from the pit to the USA, Vancouver and other destinations. The holiday atmosphere of Sechelt continues to this day: cottages, cabins, lodges, motels and campgrounds are run by Sechelt residents and attract a growing number of tourists each year. many craft fairs, festivals, camps, music, motor and sports events are held each summer: one of the most successful being the Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts attracting authors and visitors from across Canada. It is held in the historic Rockwood Lodge, an important heritage landmark in Sechelt. Sechelt continues to be a vibrant community with organizations catering to everyone's needs, tertiary education at the university level has recently been added and art, music, literature and drama continue to flourish.
Highway 101 was completed in 1952 linking the ferry terminal in Langdale to the ferry terminal in earl's Cove. The improved ferry system has gradually brought more settlers to the Sunshine Coast and Sechelt has become a retirement centre, a commuter community and continues to attract a growing number of artists of all disciplines. Through the years Sechelt has gradually built up a variety of stores, businesses, restaurants, education facilities, medical, dental and hospital care.
Logging and fishing may have declined in importance in the economy of the Sunshine coast but new industries take their place, such as the sand and gravel pit outside Sechelt and its barge terminus in Trail bay which moves the materials from the pit to the USA, Vancouver and other destinations. The holiday atmosphere of Sechelt continues to this day: cottages, cabins, lodges, motels and campgrounds are run by Sechelt residents and attract a growing number of tourists each year. many craft fairs, festivals, camps, music, motor and sports events are held each summer: one of the most successful being the Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts attracting authors and visitors from across Canada. It is held in the historic Rockwood Lodge, an important heritage landmark in Sechelt. Sechelt continues to be a vibrant community with organizations catering to everyone's needs, tertiary education at the university level has recently been added and art, music, literature and drama continue to flourish.
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Information compiled by Ann Watson, archivist.
References:
Dawe, Helen: Helen Dawe's Sechelt, Harbour Publishing, Madeira Park, 1990
Keller, Betty; Leslie, Rosella: Bright Seas, Pioneer Spirits, Horsdal & Schubart, 1996.
The Helen Dawe Collection in the Sechelt Community Archives.
Information compiled by Ann Watson, archivist.
References:
Dawe, Helen: Helen Dawe's Sechelt, Harbour Publishing, Madeira Park, 1990
Keller, Betty; Leslie, Rosella: Bright Seas, Pioneer Spirits, Horsdal & Schubart, 1996.
The Helen Dawe Collection in the Sechelt Community Archives.
