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Bibliography of Comox Valley History

(Last updated 4 January 2025.) This page is a simple checklist for Comox Valley readers. It is restricted to books of a generally historical nature, and it does not cover periodical publications. Notifications of any omissions are welcome.

The standard provincial histories are Margaret A. Ormsby, British Columbia: A History (n.p.: Macmillan, 1958), and Jean Barman, The West Beyond the West: A History of British Columbia (1991; 3rd ed., Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2007). Charles Lillard, Seven Shillings a Year: The History of Vancouver Island (Ganges: Horsdal & Schubart, 1986), is a book every Vancouver Islander ought to read.

Many other authors have written on Vancouver Island or British Columbia, but the studies even of communities adjacent to the Comox Valley region are too numerous to list here.

The most extensive local bibliography is Terrance James and Christine Dickinson, eds., Writers & Books: Comox Valley 1865-2015 (Courtenay: Poplar, 2015).

General

  • Capes, Katherine H. Contributions to the Prehistory of Vancouver Island. Pocatello: n.p., 1964. Occasional Papers of the Idaho State University Museum 15.
  • Dickinson, Christine, Deborah Griffiths, Judy Hagen and Catherine Siba. Watershed Moments: A Pictorial History of Courtenay and District. Madeira Park: Harbour, 2015.
  • Duncan, Eric. Fifty-Seven Years in the Comox Valley. Courtenay: Comox Argus, 1934. Republished, San Diego: Gilmer, 1967, and Courtenay: Comox Books, 1979 (reprinted 2002). (The first local history, mostly incorporated into Duncan's From Shetland to Vancouver Island [below].)
  • Green, Valerie. ‘Courtenay, Comox and Cumberland’. If More Walls Could Talk: Vancouver Island’s Houses from the Past. Victoria: TouchWood, 2004. 131–41.
  • Hagen, Judy. Comox Valley Memories: Reminiscences of Early Life in Central Vancouver Island. Courtenay: Courtenay and District Museum, 1993.
  • Hughes, Ben. History of the Comox Valley. N.p.: n.p., n.d. (Written as a continuation of Duncan's Fifty-Seven Years.)
  • Isenor, D. E., W. N. McInnis, E. G. Stephens and D. E. Watson. Land of Plenty: A History of the Comox District. Campbell River: Ptarmigan, 1987. (The most extensive local history.)
  • Krause, James Allan. The Life and Times of the Comox Valley Region of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. 2 vols. Courtenay: C. C. Sotel, 1997, 2021.
  • Mackie, Richard Somerset. The Wilderness Profound: Victorian Life on the Gulf of Georgia. Victoria: Sono Nis, 1995. 2nd printing with added material, 2002. (The most thoroughly researched work in local history. Both a biography of pioneer surveyor George F. Drabble and a history of the Comox community ca. 1860–1900.)
  • Norcross, E. Blanche, and Doris Farmer Tonkin. ‘Tales of Two Valleys’. Frontiers of Vancouver Island. Courtenay: Island Books, 1969. 44, 56–63, 71–73.
  • Paterson, T. W. ‘Fanny Bay,’ ‘Union Bay’, ‘Cumberland’, ‘Bevan’, ‘Headquarters’. Vancouver Island. Langley: Sunfire, 1983. British Columbia Ghost Town Series 1. 77–105. Rev., T. W. Paterson and Garnet Basque. ‘Union Bay’, ‘Cumberland’s Chinatown’, ‘Bevan’, ‘Headquarters’. Ghost Towns & Mining Camps of Vancouver Island. Langley: Sunfire, 1989. 48–61.
  • Scott, Brian. Paintings and Stories of Vancouver Island. Black Creek: Brian Scott Fine Art, n.d. [2006].
  • Stigant, John. The Comox Valley: A Pictorial Essay. Courtenay: Coast Island, n.d.
  • Wild, Paula, and Rick James. The Comox Valley: Courtenay, Comox, Cumberland and Area. Madeira Park: Harbour, 2006.

Bevan

  • Annand, Betty. Voices from Bevan. Pitt Meadows: Rising Sun, 2002.

Comox

  • Bailey, Lloyd. A Comox Harbour History. Courtenay: Plateau, 1992.
  • Comox Past to Present: Town of Comox, Celebrating 60 Years as a Municipality. Comox: Comox Archives and Museum, 2006.

Courtenay

  • Annand, Betty. Voices from Courtenay Past. N.p.: n.p., n.d. [2008].
  • Courtenay: One Hundred Years of History, 1915–2015. Courtenay: Courtenay and District Museum, n.d.
  • Kennedy, Ian J. M. The First 25 Years: Crown Isle Resort & Golf Community. Comox: Kennell, 2020.
  • Stubbs, Dorothy I. Courtenay: “All About Us”. Courtenay: City of Courtenay, n.d. [1974].

Cumberland

  • Bailey, Rhonda, ed. A Place Called Cumberland. Victoria: Figure 1, 2024.
  • Barr, Jennifer Nell. Cumberland Heritage: A Selected History of People, Buildings, Institutions & Sites, 1888-1950. Cumberland: Village of Cumberland, 1997.
  • Cumberland, British Columbia, 1871-1971. Cumberland: Village of Cumberland, n.d.
  • Cumberland’s Diamond Jubilee, 1898-1973. Courtenay: North Island Advertiser, n.d.
  • Hagen, Judith A. Chinatown, Cumberland. N.p.: n.p., n.d.
  • Isenor, D. E., E. G. Stephens and D. E. Watson. One Hundred Spirited Years: A History of Cumberland, 1888-1988. Campbell River: Ptarmigan, 1988.
  • Scott, Brian. Paintings and Stories of Cumberland, British Columbia. Union Bay: Brian Scott Fine Art, n.d. [2000].

Denman Island

  • Isbister, Winnifred. My Ain Folk. N.p.: n.p., 1976.
  • Kirk, J. P. My Ain Folk Revisited: Denman Island, 1875–2000. N.p.: n.p., n.d. [2002].
  • Ward, Jacqueline. A History of Horses on Denman. Denman Island: Fogbound, 2010.

Fanny Bay

  • Olson, Arv. Shingles & Shells: A History of Fanny Bay. Fanny Bay: Fanny Bay OAP, 2004.

Hornby Island

  • Corrigall, Margery, and Vera Arthurs. The History of Hornby Island. N.p.: n.p., 1969. Rev. eds., 1975, 1978.
  • Smith, Elizabeth, and David Gerow. Hornby Island: The Ebb and Flow. Campbell River: Ptarmigan, 1988.

Merville

  • Hodgins, Jack. Broken Ground: A Novel. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1998. (Historical fiction loosely based on local events.)
  • Hodgins, Reta Blakely, ed. Merville and Its Early Settlers, 1919-1985. Merville: Merville Community Association, 1985.

Royston

  • Feely, Jean, and Margery Corrigall, comps. A History of “Tle-Tla-Tay” (Royston). Royston: Royston Centennial Committee, n.d.

Union Bay

  • Clark, Cecil. ‘The Flying Dutchman’. Tales of the British Columbia Provincial Police. Sidney: Gray’s, 1971. 93–100.
  • Glover-Geidt, Janette. The Friendly Port: A History of Union Bay, 1880-1960. N.p.: Douglas R. Geidt, 1990.
  • McKelvie, A. J. ‘Henry Wagner: Merciless Killer’. Outlaws & Lawmen of Western Canada. Vol. 2. Surrey: Heritage House, 1983. 38–46.

Churches

  • Brandon, Pat, ed. Our Story: A History—St. George’s United Church Centennial 1913-2013. Courtenay: St. George’s United Church, 2013.
  • Bryan, Liz. 'Union Bay Mission United Church', 'Cumberland United Church', 'Cumberland Community Church', 'St. Andrew's Anglican Church', 'St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church', 'St. Peter's Anglican Church'. Pioneer Churches of Vancouver Island and the Salish Sea: An Explorer’s Guide. N.p.: Heritage House, 2020. 161–80.
  • Carroll, Leila. 90 Years of Church History: St. George’s United Church, Courtenay, with the Mother Church, St. Andrew’s (Presbyterian) Church, Sandwick. N.p.: n.p., n.d. [1966]. (Included in Brandon’s Our Story [above].)
  • James, Terrance N., ed. Stories of Our Founders: Black Creek United Mennonite Church. Courtenay: Poplar, 2017.
  • Johnson, B. Witness to the Word: The Story of Grace Baptist Church. Courtenay: Grace Baptist Church, 2024.
  • Koop, A. B., ed. United Mennonite Church, Black Creek, B.C., 1937–1987. N.p.: n.p., 1987.
  • Laszczyk, John. The Stained Glass Windows at Christ the King Parish, Comox Valley, B. C., Canada. N.p.: n.p., 2006.
  • Lunny, W. J. A History of Saint Andrew’s, Comox District Church, 1864–1964. N.p.: n.p., n.d.
  • Union Bay United Community Church, 1906-2006. Union Bay: Raven, 2006.

Other Community Organisations

  • Eugene, Marjorie J. 100 Flaming Years: Cumberland Volunteer Fire Department. Courtenay: Plateau, 1995.
  • Kennedy, Ian J. M. The Rotary Club of Courtenay: The First Seventy Five Years, 1936-2011. N.p.: n.p., n.d.
  • Mawhinney, Lock. A Treasure in a Field: A Personal Account of the Journey of L’Arche to the Comox Valley (1983-2002). N.p.: n.p., 2012.
  • St. Joseph’s General Hospital: Care with Compassion—100 Years of Service. Comox: St. Joseph’s General Hospital, 2013.
  • ‘Vancouver Island North’. Modern Pioneers, 1909-1959. N.p.: British Columbia Women’s Institute, n.d. 81–84.

Industry and Transportation

  • Crowley, Everett. ‘Roots in Comox: The Predecessors to Our Courtenay Plant’. The Story of Avalon Dairy Ltd., 1906—1996. By Jean M. Crowley. N.p.: Avalon Dairy Ltd., 1996. 14–16.
  • Graham, Donald. ‘Chrome Island’. Lights of the Inside Passage: A History of British Columbia’s Lighthouses and Their Keepers. Madeira Park: Harbour, 1986. 30–38.
  • Hind, Patrick O. Cumberland Collieries' Railway, Vancouver Island, B.C., 1888 to 1960. Cumberland: Cumberland Museum, 2013.
  • James, Rick. The Ghost Ships of Royston. Vancouver: Underwater Archaeological Society, 2004. Reprint ed., 2011.
  • Mackie, Richard Somerset. Island Timber: A Social History of the Comox Logging Company, Vancouver Island. Winlaw: Sono Nis, 2000 (2nd printing, 2001; 3rd, 2003; 4th, 2007).
  • Mackie, Richard Somerset. Mountain Timber: The Comox Logging Company in the Vancouver Island Mountains. Winlaw: Sono Nis, 2009.
  • Mofford, Glen A. ‘Qualicum Beach to Union Bay’, ‘Cumberland to Comox’. Along the E&N: A Journey Back to the Historic Hotels of Vancouver Island. 140–83.
  • A Short History of the Comox Co-operative Creamery Association. Courtenay: City of Courtenay Heritage Commission, 2013.
  • Turner, Robert D. Logging by Rail: The British Columbia Story. Victoria: Sono Nis, 1990.
  • Turner, Robert D. Vancouver Island Railroads. 1973. 2nd ed., Victoria: Sono Nis, 1997.
  • Turner, Robert D. West of the Great Divide: An Illustrated History of the Canadian Pacific Railway in British Columbia, 1880-1986. Victoria: Sono Nis, 1987.
  • Turner, Robert D., and Donald F. MacLachlan. The Canadian Pacific’s Esquimalt & Nanaimo Railway: The CPR Steam Years, 1905-1949. Winlaw: Sono Nis, 2012.
  • Turner, Robert D., and Donald F. MacLachlan. Vancouver Island’s Esquimalt & Nanaimo Railway: The Canadian Pacific, VIA Rail and Shortline Years, 1949-2013. Winlaw: Sono Nis, 2013.

Recreation and Outdoors

  • Baikie, Wallace, and Rosemary Phillips, comps. Strathcona: A History of British Columbia’s First Provincial Park. Campbell River: Ptarmigan, 1986.
  • Brooks, Betty J. Natural and Human History Themes: Strathcona Provincial Park. North Vancouver: Ministry of Parks, 1989.
  • Elms, Lindsay J. Above the Bush: A Century of Climbing on Vancouver Island, 1912-2012. Comox: Misthorn, 2012.
  • Elms, Lindsay J. Beyond Nootka: A Historical Perspective of Vancouver Island Mountains. Courtenay: Misthorn, 1996.
  • Gilbert, Catherine Marie. A Journey Back to Nature: A History of Strathcona Provincial Park. Victoria: Heritage House, 2021.
  • Griffiths, Deborah. Heather’s Amazing Discovery: A True Story of Paleontology. Courtenay: Courtenay and District Museum, 2013.
  • Griffiths, Deborah, Christine Dickinson, Judy Hagen and Catherine Siba. Step into Wilderness: A Pictorial History of Outdoor Exploration in and Around the Comox Valley. Madeira Park: Harbour, 2020.
  • Isenor, D. E., E. G. Stephens and D. E. Watson. Kaleidoscope: Images of the CRA. Courtenay: Land of Plenty, 1990.
  • Johnson, Harry McClure. Strathcona 1910 Discovery Expedition. Ed. Philip Stone. Quathiaski Cove: WildIsle, 2012.
  • McLeod, Vickie. The First Fifty, 1934-1984. N.p.: n.p., 1984. (Comox Golf Club.)
  • Scott, Brian. Skiing on “The Island". Black Creek: Brian Scott Fine Art, 2011.
  • Wild, Paula. The Filberg Heritage Lodge & Park. Comox: Filberg, 2009.

Education

  • Isenor, D., M. McGill, and D. Watson, eds. “For Our Children”: A History of Comox Valley Schools, 1870-1980. Courtenay: School Board School District #71, 1980.
  • James, Terrance N. A History of Aboriginal Education in the Comox Valley. N.p.: Trafford, n.d. [2006].

Military

  • Ambler, Jon. Comox Air Force Museum: Our First Thirty Years. Comox: Comox Valley Air Force Museum Association, 2017.
  • Gould, L. McLeod. From B.C. to Baisieux: Being the Narrative History of the 102nd Canadian Infantry Battalion. Victoria: Cusack, 1919.
  • Wheaton, Phyllis. In the Mood for Peace: The Story of the Izzy Doll. N.p.: n.p., 2011.

Biography

  • Annand, Betty. Growing Up in the White House: Meandering Memories of the Whites. Pitt Meadows: Rising Sun, 1998.
  • Baikie, Harper. A Boy & His Axe. N.p.: n.p., 1991.
  • Baikie, Wallace. Rolling with the Times. N.p.: n.p., 1985.
  • Brooks, Elizabeth. The Pioneer Birdmen of Comox. Courtenay: Comox Valley Naturalists Society, 2006. 2nd ed., 2017.
  • Carrick, Douglas. The Eagles of Hornby Island: My Tree-Top Neighbours. Surrey: Hancock House, 2008.
  • Carroll, Leila. Wild Roses and Rail Fences. N.p.: n.p., 1975 (2nd printing, 1981).
  • Church, H. E. An Emigrant in the Canadian Northwest. London: Methuen, 1929.
  • Clark, Marjorie A. Captive on the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Chicago: Moody, 1974.
  • Converse, Cathy. Against the Current: The Remarkable Life of Agnes Deans Cameron. N.p.: TouchWood, 2018.
  • Dalziel, Ron. It Was Quite a Performance: The Memoirs of Ron Dalziel. Victoria: Classic Memoirs, 1997.
  • Duncan, Eric. From Shetland to Vancouver Island: Recollections of Seventy-Five Years. Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd, 1937. 3rd ed., subtitled Recollections of Seventy-Eight Years, Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd, 1939. New ed. forthcoming. (The best introduction to local history. The third-edition numbering counts Duncan's Fifty-Seven Years [above] as first.)
  • Duncan, Sinclair Thomson. From Shetland to British Columbia, Alaska and the United States: Being a Journal of Travels, with Narrative of Return Journey after Three Years’ Exploration. Lerwick: Duncan, 1911.
  • Falk, Johnnie Jacob. Memoirs and More. N.p.: n.p., 2015.
  • Forbes, Elizabeth. ‘Courtenay-Comox’. Wild Roses at Their Feet: Pioneer Women of Vancouver Island. N.p.: British Columbia Centennial ’71 Committee, 1971. 125–37.
  • Franceschini, Joe. Up the Lake. N.p.: Percolator, 2008.
  • Halliday, W. M. Potlatch and Totem and the Recollections of an Indian Agent. London: Dent, 1935.
  • Hames, Jack. Field Notes: An Environmental History. Courtenay: Gertrude Hames, n.d.
  • Hughes, Trevor Marc. Capturing the Summit: Hamilton Mack Laing and the Mount Logan Expedition of 1925. Vancouver: Ronsdale, 2023.
  • Ireland, Gordon F. Along the Road: A Personal Memoir. N.p.: n.p., 2016.
  • Jensen, Vera. ‘Mary’s Story’. Sunrise. Ed. Marguerite Fraser. N.p.: Comox Valley Writers’ Club, 1993. 5–12.
  • Johnstone, Bill. Coal Dust in My Blood: The Autobiography of a Coal Miner. Victoria: British Columbia Provincial Museum, 1980.
  • Kennedy, Des. The Way of a Gardener: A Life’s Journey. Vancouver: Greystone, 2010.
  • Kennedy, Ian J. M. The Life & Times of Joseph McPhee: Courtenay’s Founding Father. Comox: Kennell, 2010.
  • Kirk, J. P. This and That and Other Things. N.p.: n.p., 2008.
  • Laing, Hamilton M. Allan Brooks: Artist Naturalist. Victoria: British Columbia Provincial Museum, 1979.
  • Laing, Hamilton Mack. Baybrook: Life’s Best Adventure. Ed. Barbara Elaine Price. Comox: Comox Archives and Museum, 2022.
  • Laing, Hamilton Mack. Riding the Continent. Ed. Trevor Marc Hughes. Vancouver: Ronsdale, 2019.
  • Lavigne, J. P. A. Michel, and J. F. Edwards. Kittyhawk Pilot: Wing Commander J. F. (Stocky) Edwards. Battleford: Turner-Warwick, 1983.
  • Lennox, Hazel. Us Dames Have Come a Long Way: The Story of Activist Ruth Masters. N.p.: Hazel Lennox, 2008.
  • Low, Philip C. P. Memories of Cumberland Chinatown. N.p.: n.p., 1993.
  • Lugrin, N. de Bertrand. ‘Mrs. James Robb’. The Pioneer Women of Vancouver Island, 1843–1866. By N. de Bertrand Lugrin, ed. John Hosie. Victoria: Women’s Canadian Club, 1928. 155–60.
  • McInnis, Nelson. I’ve Been to Yahk and Back. N.p.: Crow, 1998.
  • Mackie, Richard. Hamilton Mack Laing: Hunter-Naturalist. Victoria: Sono Nis, 1985.
  • Macy, Harold. The Four Storey Forest: As Grow the Trees, So Too the Heart. Courtenay: Poplar, 2011.
  • Mayse, Susan. Ginger: The Life and Death of Albert Goodwin. Madeira Park: Harbour, 1990.
  • Morley, Alan. Roar of the Breakers: A Biography of Peter Kelly. Toronto: Ryerson, 1967.
  • Oppel, Lloyd D. Eye of the Tempest. N.p.: Tonsivit, 2016.
  • Piercy, George. This Doctor’s Journey. Campbell River: Ptarmigan, 2000.
  • Schulte, Joe H. Just for You. N.p.: n.p., 1988.
  • Schulz, Henry. A New Frontier: The Canadian Chronicles of Henry Schulz. Campbell River: Ptarmigan, 1984.
  • Schulz, Henry. Snowborne: The Siberian Chronicles of Henry Schulz. Vancouver: Orca Sound, 1982. 2nd rev. printing, Campbell River: Ptarmigan, 1983.
  • Sproule, Gwyn. Whyte’s Bay Days: The Memoirs of Mavis Wall. N.p.: Percolator, 2007.
  • Wagner, Gordon. From My Window. Courtenay: Flying W, 1987. 2nd ed., 1988. 3rd ed., 1988.
  • Wagner, Gordon. How Papa Won the War. Courtenay: Flying W, 1989. 2nd ed., 1990.
  • Warren, Douglas. Gemini Flight. Nanton: Bomber Command Museum, 2019.
  • Wilson-Raybould, Jody. Indian in the Cabinet: Speaking Truth to Power. Toronto: HarperCollins, 2021.