Hornby Island Community Archives
R.G. 45
Acc. No.: 2022-09-29/120
Finding aid created by Regan Fahey
Last updated: September 2022
Title: George Cowie Collection
Level of description: collection
General material designation: textual records
Extent: 13 cm
Dates of Creation: 1952-1992
Biographical information: George Alexander Cowie was born July 18, 1914 in Neepawa. He grew up poor on the Prairies during the Depression, raised by a single mother after his father left. George became a carpenter and served in World War II where he was injured in Italy 1943. He spent 18 months in a hospital in Sicily due to his injuries. Following the war George relocated to the West Coast, and met Muriel Savoie on Hornby Island in 1950, their marriage being the first one performed in the local Catholic church. With a War Veterans grant George was able to purchase the majority of Galleon beach area for approx. $4000.00, where he raised turkeys and had a sheep farm, as well as a carpentry business building many of the early homes on Hornby as well as the second school. He served at various times as the Fire Chief and the Chairman and Secretary of the Hornby Island Veterans Association. George started working part time for highways and was hired as foreman when Bond retired. As foreman George was required to keep all the highways equipment, including a powder shed for land clearing, on his property until the Highways yard was established. In the late 1960’s George sold the majority of his land to Nanaimo Realty. After a 27 year career George retired as foreman and it was said that it would take 4 men to replace him. Upon retirement George, and Muriel, moved to Nanaimo where he died in 1992.
Scope and content: Mostly documenting George Cowie’s work at road foreman on Hornby Island, as well as some documents related to rural life on Hornby Island.
Source of supplied title: Title is based on the creator of the collection.
Immediate source of acquisition: Annie Fearman, daughter of George Cowie, donated the documents in February 2020
Arrangement: The original filing scheme of the records was reconstructed during archival arrangement on the basis of file markings on the documents in order to retain as much of the original order as possible.
Language of materials: English
Record no.: 45
Repository: Hornby Island Community Archives
Finding aids: Finding aid available with file level control.
Related Groups of Records: Roads Collection
Accruals: Further accruals are not expected