In 1904, inspired by the medical missionary work of Richard (later Sir Richard) Grenfell in Newfoundland and Labrador, the Rev. John Antle decided that people living in the isolated inlets, bays and coves of coastal British Columbia needed medical assistance that would come to them and that Mission Boats were the way to do it. With the support of the Anglican Church, he created the Columbia Coast Mission. Twenty-five years later, he established the hospital at Pender Harbour and named it St. Mary's. This year marks the centennial of the Columbia Coast Mission and the 75th birthday of the hospital. Plan to join the celebrations Aug. 20 to 22 in Garden Bay. Eight of the old mission boats will arrive on Friday night and will be open for touring on Saturday. Also, on Friday night, Caitlin Hicks will paint a picture of the time by telling the stories she has gathered from people who experienced the mission boats and the hospital first hand. Her performance starts at 9 p.m. at the Sundowner Inn (the original St. Mary's Hospital). Tickets are available from the Sundowner Inn at 604 883-9676 for $13 advance and $15 at the door. On Saturday, there will be historical displays and speakers at the Sundowner Inn, courtesy of the St. Mary's Hospital Auxiliary, as well as the ceremonial planting of the centennial tree. Meanwhile, at John Henry's, you can visit vintage tug boats, take part in the kids' fishing derby or enjoy the arts and crafts fair, entertainment (including a magician) and a barbecue lunch. In the evening, you can dance to the music of the Bay City Jazz Trio, featuring the vocals of Sue Rayment. Tickets for the Columbia Coast Mission Centennial Celebration Dance are available from the Sundowner Inn at $10. Sunday will see a sail past of the mission boats led by the Pender Harbour Power and Sail Squadron plus a birthday party for St. Mary's Hospital at the Sundowner Inn, complete with cake and candles. Also at the Sundowner, you can visit the healing arts fair and the kids' carnival.
And finally, there is the Babies Born Here Contest. The Pender Harbour Living Heritage Society has been collecting pictures of babies born at St. Mary's Hospital up to 1964 when the hospital was moved to Sechelt. If you have any to contribute, please call Jackie Ordronneau at 604-883-0539.
