WALLACE ISLAND I: SPECIAL MEMORIES OF SIMPLE PLEASURES ON A PRIVATE ISLAND IN THE GULF ISLANDS BC -

You are most cordially invited to join the group pictured below in remembering a A SPECIAL TIME IN A SPECIAL PLACE THAT HOLDS SPECIAL EXPERIENCES FOR THEM AND THEIR CHILDREN. THE STORIES WILL BE TOLD AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN . . .!

WALLACE ISLAND

DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN . . .?

During a recent gathering of long-time friends, we shared memories of our summer experiences in British Columbia’s Gulf Islands on Wallace Island. Stories and photographs reminded us of those earlier years when we brought our young families and friends to this private, serene and secluded destination.

SHARING MEMORIES

. . . WE BOUGHT AN ISLAND?

We came from six states from the east, midwest and west. Each of us had a teaching degree. We were establishing homes and had known and unknown dreams.

Several of us taught at Shorecrest High School where all the buzz in the lunchroom was about the opportunity to buy into an island in Canada. Fun to dream but many of us had house payments to make! Frank Crosser bought his lot early and approached me about buying half of his property. Made a little trip north with Frank and learned about David Conover’s island.

"ONCE UPON AN ISLAND"

David Conover owned Wallace Island, managed a resort on the island, and wrote two books about it! When he decided it was time to pursue other goals, he put most of the island and the resort up for sale. He sold to a group of Americans, which included Shoreline School District teachers.

EMBRACING WALLACE ISLAND

The day spent exploring Wallace Island transcended the imagined experience.

AN ENCHANTED ISLAND

GETTING TO WALLACE

After returning from Wallace Island, our enchantment with the island and joining our friends for vacations soon turned into purchase of a lot and membership in the association of owners.

Now we could sign up for a week or two stay in a cabin and immerse ourselves in island life and share activities and conversations with friends. But, we still had to get there . . .

Travel by car was not so simple! It was a real adventure! After packing supplies incuding a baby and a dog, we would drive from Seattle to Tswassen BC to catch the ferry to Fulford Harbor on Saltspring Island.

After leaving the ferry, a pastoral drive on Saltspring would bring members to Fernwood to park the car, buy treats and supplies from the local store.

When the island launch and caretaker arrived, we would carry our belongings and food down a long dock and load them into the launch. The launch would take us across Trincomali Channel to the dock in Conover Cove on the island.

THE BEST OF TIMES

After a full day filled with high expectations, we would unload supplies into a cart and walk up to one of the cabins. . . . and settle in for a week or two.