She became interested in North Island history shortly after her arrival in Port Hardy when, after a visit to the overgrown 'camp' at Mahatta, she found out that the area was previously home to a bustling community.
McCorquodale started writing a popular monthly local history column for the North Island Gazette in 2004. She has published "Port Hardy: A Guide to the History of the Port Hardy Area" which is available locally. More recently she has assembled a number of her past history columns into a blog, and she hopes to one day publish related material in a book format.
Frequently sought out as an expert on local North Island history, McCorquodale has been a speaker for numerous groups including schools, museums and historical societies, Vancouver Island University, and the University of Victoria.
When she isn't writing about history McCorquodale works with the Government of Canada.
Nice Blogsite Brenda!
ReplyDeleteNice to see all this local historical information gathered together and presented in a blog format.
Thank you Paul!
DeleteNice to see an article of Mahatta river as I worked there in the mid 60s. It was a bit of rough tumble camp.
ReplyDeleteThis was an accidental find, and I'm so happy to have discovered it.
ReplyDeleteHello Brenda, I am a student at the University of Victoria in the School of Social Work,(Indigenous Specialization). I came upon your article and would like to request permission to reference your article. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and it was very helpful to me. Thanks and hope to hear from you soon. Sabrina Williams
ReplyDeleteHi Sabrina - yes no problem. Which article are you referencing?
DeleteNice work Brenda, accurate research. As a kid in Port Hardy in the early 1950's I worked two summers at Yreka for Noranda. I hope to visit the site this summer. I have a historical technical work regarding another mine in the area plus photos of a Port Hardy - Port Alice school function from the mid 1950's If you like I will bring them up and see if they are of interest.
ReplyDeleteDon Graham.
I have now read and enjoyed more of your interesting articles. The historical incidents around Fort Rupert and Suquash are fascinating and fill a number of questions and/or fill a number of gaps in an understanding of the rich North Island history. I look forward to reading more of your articles as time permits. Nice that the articles are available on line for easy access.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Don Graham.
Hi Brenda,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Ian Kennedy co-author of Tofino and Clayoquot Sound: A History along with Margaret Horsfield (COugar Annie's Garden and Voices from the Sound). I am currently working on a book about the Princess Maquinna, with which you are familiar, and would love to have a chat with you about the Maquinna's place in Northern BC history. Is there an e-mail or a number I can reach you at so that we can connect and chat? Kind regards, Ian Kennedy.
Hello Ian
DeleteMy name isRichard Beaupied
I have picture of the Princess Maquina at first str Dock in Tofino and other clips of paper from the west coast
Hi Richard,
DeleteI would love to have a chat with you about the Maquinna. Can you send me an e-mail to kennedyian@shaw.ca and we can connect.
Ian K.
Hi Brenda, I am wondering where I can track down your book: 'Port Hardy: A Guide to the History of the Port Hardy Area'.
ReplyDeleteHello, I'm writing a book about a treasure hunt on Vancouver Island in 1863. Can you recommend any resources or people to contact to gather more information? I'm just starting to research. Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteHi Brenda, My parents George & Lilian Craft and Bob Wady's work at the mine till it shut down in 1931. They stayed on as care takers for a time, then onto the Caribou Gold mine in NS. Dad was the electrician and Mom was the school teacher at CC. Mom's brother PT Bloomer was the mine Supt. I see on Google Earth that two creeks there hold their names..
ReplyDelete