About the developer

Me, I'm the finder of this "Pot of Gold," my name is Bert Holland. I was born on a farm in Saskatoon and came to the coast with the army in 1948 and fell in love with beautiful BC. I married in 1951 and brought my family to Vancouver Island in 1957 and settled Campbell River. I worked as a diesel engineer & welder and in 1959 I became an independent logger. In 1965 I got my first lumber on East Thurlow Island and over the next 21 years I logged off 3 mountain ranges. I took my crews to work from Campbell River many, many times passing by this unique place.

As you went by in those days, all you noticed was a neat little bay, surrounded by trees and rock. In the fall of 1983, I left Campbell River early to start with my crew early.

On the way, north through Discovery Passage, we ran in to fog, it got so heavy we were forced to shut down. The gill-netters trying to fish with their nets out, cruise ships coming through mid channel, foghorns blowing, people swearing. We decided to get out of there.

We traveled along the shore and came to this "little bay." We anchored out and caught our limit of Green Ling Cod. The fog started to lift and I saw the top of old growth fir. I went ashore to check them out. There was a small grove of very large fir trees. Today they are the oldest & largest fir trees on private ownership on Vancouver Island.

These trees are hard to find and very few people ever get to see these majestic beauties in their natural state. I walked around a swampy area with fresh water springs, which now has our fishponds & sheep pastures. I walked south and through a beautiful grove of second growth & hemlock and I heard the creek running.

From there it's all history....

I applied for a lease for a sawmill site & R.V park. I leased the property from 1984 to 2004, when I finally got a crown grant to purchase 35 acres of paradise. It wasn't without a hard fight dealing with B.C Land & Water. Never the less I think the fight was worth it. I am sure you will too.

Yours Truly,
Bert Holland