THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JOSEPH MCPHEE:
COURTENAY'S FOUNDING FATHER
by Ian Kennedy
Paperback: 322 pages, Over 80 historic photos and map illustrations.
ISBN 978-0-9696291-1-5
First printing 2010
Price: $24.95
At the time, the idea made no sense. Why would anyone want to create a city out of the dense 'forest primeval' on the west bank of the Courtenay River?
Such a challenge would require foresight, determination and an unlimited capacity for hard work. Joseph McPhee possessed all these qualities. Often called “The Father of Courtenay” Joseph McPhee chose the location, created the town plan, and put in place the institutions that shaped this community. With dogged persistence and unwavering commitment, he strove to build the city that today is one of the most enviable places to live in all of Canada.
Who was Joseph McPhee? What fuelled his ambition to build a city in the Comox Valley? How did he become the most successful merchant in the area and what drove him to achieve his goal? Armed with a strong work ethic and a determination to succeed, the ambitious McPhee left his native Nova Scotia and arrived in British Columbia in 1871. Once he reached the Comox Valley, he never looked back. Here he made his mark, seizing every opportunity, fully convinced that this area had a brilliant future.
In The Life and Times of Joseph McPhee: Courtenay’s Founding Father Ian Kennedy tells the compelling story of McPhee, his vision, and his achievements. Set against the broader history of the Comox Valley, the story of McPhee’s life and of Courtenay’s evolution is a “must-read” for anyone interested in the history of northern Vancouver Island. Intensively researched, this book brings to light a wealth of new material, recounting the very human story of the man, his dream, and the birth of a community that continues to reflect McPhee’s enduring influence.
To order, email kennedyi@uniserve.com or call 1-250-339-7278.
SUNNY SANDY SAVARY
by Ian Kennedy
Paperback: 188 pages, 48 illustrations, line drawings and maps.
ISBN 0-9696921-0-9
First printing 1992, Second 1993, Third 2008.
Price: $19.95
“Kennedy is to be congratulated for managing to produce anything at all given that Savary (Island), all 8 1/2 kilometres of it, is somewhat off the beaten track of history. The most engaging segments are his anecdotes from the past. For the horde of current-day cottagers who descend on the island in summer, and for the handful of diehards who tough it out through the less-than-tropical off-season, Kennedy’s work is a must.”
Stanley Jackson, Vancouver Sun
SUNNY SANDY SAVARY outlines the geology and geography of Savary Island, the pre-historic First Nations myths about it and the Sliammon tribe’s early habitation of it. Captain Vancouver named the island in 1792 when he sailed past it, but where the name comes from remains shrouded in mystery. The first resident fell victim to a ne’er-do-well’s bullet before, just prior to W.W.l, land developers saw the Island’s potential as a summer resort and divided it into 50-foot lots. For decades, the vagaries of the economy have dictated Savary’s development but recent years has seen the island become one of the most sought after cottage retreats of the B.C. coast. Author Ian Kennedy has owned property on Savary Island since 1980 and as an historian set out to write the definitive history of the whole island in time for the bi-centenary of Captain Vancouver’s naming of the island on July 1, 1792. Now in its third printing, this is a must-have for all Savaryites and those interested in B.C. Coastal history.
To order, email kennedyi@uniserve.com or call 1-250-339-7278.
