Dollarton resident Malcolm Lowry remembered

Margerie Lowry at their shack at Roche Point and Malcolm Lowry on the beach.

Malcolm Lowry Remembered July 28, 1909-June 27, 1957

The author, Malcolm Lowry, lived in the Dollarton area off and on from 1940-1954, in various shacks on the beach at Roche Point, in what is now Cates Park. Lowry, and his wife Margerie, kept returning to the area where he was most happy, over a fifteen year span. When the Lowry’s first arrived in 1940, Percy Cummins showed Margerie the shack, which was to become their home. They rented it for $15.00 per month from a group of Scotsmen, who had used it for fishing. To get to the cottage, they had to walk down a narrow path surrounded by a thick, evergreen forest full of wildlife. They had two rooms heated by a wood stove, and an outhouse. Malcolm and Margerie happily settled in the next two years enjoying swimming and rowing amongst the abundance of birds and the ever-changing seascape. It was here, where Malcolm wrote his books of stories and poetry including his best-known work, Under the Volcano. On June 27, 1957, Margerie found him dead. A coroner's jury cited his death as"the result of combined effects of gin, barbituates and inhalation of stomach contents" ­ His death was ruled as misadventure.

Heritage dates worth noting

2004 North Shore Heritage Weekend, in the Deep Cove Cultural Centre, the Heritage Society presents:

A Malcolm Lowry Weekend — Sept. 18
it begins with: Author Reading at 1pm in the Seymour Art Gallery, local author, Trevor Carolan will read The Deep Cove Poems from his book Celtic Highway, a story called Down by the Bay from his most recent book Return to Stillness and a few passages from the works of Malcolm Lowry.

Film Showing at 1:30pm in the Deep Cove Shaw Theatre the Canadian Film Board video VOLCANO an enquiry into the life and death of Malcolm Lowry, narrated in part by Richard Burton. Admission by donation.

Followed by a walk: Escorted Walk of Deep Cove at 3:00 pm leaving from the Deep Cove Cultural Centre. A guided tour of historical local sights with Isaac Vanderhost from the North Vancouver Museum and Archives. Malcolm Lowry Through the Eyes of Andrzej Brackoniecki in the Seymour Art Gallery.

Exhibition runs Sept 13 to Oct 17, with opening reception Sept 21 from 7-9pm.

Deep Cove Memories will be on view at the North Vancouver Museum and Archives, at 209 West 4th Street from October 6, until December 31, 2004.

The Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from noon to 5 p.m. For further information please call 604-987-5618.

Theatre fund-raiser! — Nov 10
My Darling Judith, an hilarious comedy by well-known Canadian playwright Norm Foster. Directed by Darlene Manchester the play features Cameron McDonald, Laureen Block, Greg Anderson and Louise Porter Moran. Call the office for tickets and info.

Christmas in the Cove — Dec 4
This is the night the shops in the Cove stay open late.

Carol Ship night— Dec 18
Carol Ship Night is a tradition in the Cove. The ships generally arrive in Deep Cove at 8:00pm. Check with us closer to the date to see what other activities may be planned.

Grants report

Deep Cove Heritage has received two grants in the last few months. Arts and Cultural Commission of North Vancouver gave us an operating grant. This grant will keep our office staffed and open to the community. The second grant was received from the North Shore Community Foundation and is for our Book of Memories. We appreciate the generosity of these organizations. Deep Cove Heritage Society could not continue to do the work we do without these grants.
— Mary Johnson

Loss of friends

Members were saddened to hear of the recent passing of two long-time Cove residents. Barbara Edgeler (nee Dobson) passed away August 13th and Len Robinson on September 2nd. Our condolences go to all their families and friends.

Deep Cove Heritage teams up with the Seymour Art Gallery to present Malcolm Lowry Through the Eyes of Andrzej Brackoniecki

Malcolm Lowry Through the Eyes of Andrzej Brackoniecki — This exhibition is a collaboration between the Deep Cove Heritage Society and the Seymour Art Gallery highlighting the works of Andrzej Brackoniecki. The Deep Cove Heritage Society will provide the photographs, artifacts and a video about Malcolm Lowry. Readings in the gallery by local authors include Trevor Carolan, Paul and Audrey Grescoe, Montreal poet Peter Richards and writers from the North Shore Writers Association. The Canada Council Reading Series Grant and the Arts & Culture Commission of North Vancouver Arts Assistance Grant will sponsor the readings. School workshops and tours will be lead by local artists and writers. Exhibition runs Sept 13 to Oct 17, with opening reception Sept 21 from 7-9pm.

Deep Cove Heritage Society
CURRENT EXECUTIVE

Janet Pavlik.....President -•- Mary Johnson.....Vice President
Eileen Smith.....Secretary -•- Pat Morrice.....Fundraising
Eric Morter....Treasurer -•- Eileen Curtis.....Membership
Marilyn Myers....Volunteers

President's Message
November, 2004

Ongoing achievements

So much has been achieved by our dedicated group of Deep Cove Volunteers since our last newsletter! This year we will bring to the community of Deep Cove more events than ever before. I think the most important achievement was the opening of our Heritage Garden. Our partnership with local groups and businesses in such a varied program of events was a great success: everything from an Art Auction with the Raven Neighbourhood Pub to a Heritage display at the Royal Bank.

Still to come we are participating with the Seymour Art Gallery on a Malcolm Lowry exhibition, and in October look for our "Deep Cove Memories" show at the North Vancouver Museum and Archives.

It was very gratifying to receive a Heritage award in February from the North Shore Heritage Committee for Heritage Advocacy. Thanks go to all the team who volunteer so much time with me.

In March I was pleased to give a Deep Cove Heritage Presentation to members of the Kiwanis Club of Evergreen at the Kiwanis Care Centre on Mt Seymour Parkway. In May treasurer Eric Morter and I enjoyed an invitation to the Deep Cove Yacht Club sailpast, and in August I was able to bring attention to Heritage Society in an interview on Shaw TV's program "Express."

Read on for all our news ... and plan to come in and see us over the fall and I want to thank you all for your continued support.

Janet Pavlik, President

Boot Sale & Plant Sale Coming Up!

Janet Pavlik welcomes guests to the opening of the Heritage Garden while Mary Johnson, Shelley Harrison Rae and Lisa Muri look on.

Lisa Muri turns the soil to official open the Garden. Councillor Lisa Muri spoke of her ties to the Deep Cove Community.

PHOTO REPRINTS

Over the years we have collected over 800 photos and slides recording the history of Deep Cove and the area surrounding it. We encourage you to come down and browse through them on Saturdays from 12:30 to 3:30 pm or by appointment.

You can order black and white
reprints as follows:
5" x 7"..... $15.00 each
8" x 10" ..... $20.00 each
11" x 14" ..... $40.00 each
13" x 19" ..... $60.00 each

CALENDAR

• Sept 13 - Oct 17 Malcolm Lowry Through the Eyes of Andrzej Brackonieck in the Seymour Art Gallery
• Sept 18 NS Heritage Weekend in the Cove
  - 1pm Author Reading in the Gallery
  - 1:30pm Malcolm Lowry film in the theatre
  - 3pm Escorted walk of heritage sites in the Cove
  
• Oct 6 Deep Cove Memories at North Van Museaum & Archives
  
• Nov 10 My Darling Judith Comedy Heritage Fund-raiser in the theatre
  
• Dec 4 Christmas in the Cove
• Dec 18 Carol Ship Night in the Cove

Summer in the garden

During the long, hot summer days many local citizens and tourists alike have commented on our attractive Heritage Square. This Fall we plan to add some Spring bulbs to our Heritage Garden. We aslo look forward to adding the next 25 names on our bricks. There is still time to place a family name on a brick and be recorded in our Book of Memories. Flower Bulb Fund Raiser

Heritage Garden Grand Opening

Sunday, May 30th, marked the realization of a dream. The Deep Cove Heritage Society, under the leadership of Janet Pavlik, president, celebrated the grand opening of their Heritage Garden honouring the pioneers and families of Deep Cove. The garden project, spearheaded by DCHS executives, Mary Johnson and Pat Morrice, and supported through grants and donations, was created as a place to come and reflect, to enjoy the plants, flowers and the sculpture Free Wheeling, by local artist, Sharon Perkins.

The patio is embedded with memories engraved on bricks, purchased with donations to the Society. North Vancouver District Councillor, Lisa Muri, accompanied by her family who represent three generations in Deep Cove, formally unveiled a plaque dedicated to the community and the garden’s sponsors. Ms. Muri reminisced about her own childhood, speaking fondly of her grandmother’s garden. The ceremony was followed by a tea in the Deep Cove Cultural Centre. The Deep Cove Heritage Society 2004 Executive would like to thank all those who have supported the project and to invite the community to enjoy the garden.

Garden Sponsors: Royal Bank of Canada (Dollarton Branch), Deep Cove Lions, Mt. Seymour Lions, BC Seniors Foundation, Arts and Culture Commission of North Shore, North Vancouver City and District Councils, Safeway Credit Union, Super Valu #10, (Dollarton), Dykhoff Nursery, Contour Engraving, The Raven Pub, Pavlik Travel Group Ltd., Deep Cove Crier, Bricks and Blocks. Shelley Harrison Rae

Plant your memories in the heritage garden

Our popular brick campaign continues. There is still time to plant your own memories in the Heritage Garden. Commemorative bricks are available through the Deep Cove Heritage Society office. Each brick accomodates a two line inscription. Prices $150 family, $300 corporate (tax deductible donation receipts will be issued). For information or to purchase a commemorative brick, please call (604) 929-5744 or drop by the office.

Turn a page in Our Memory Book

We are building a book of memories from the bricks in the garden. Please share your recollections, stories, photos and anecdotes. Drop in to the Heritage Office any Friday or Sunday (1pm–5 pm) or call ahead for an appointment (604) 929-5744. Local writer and Deep Cove Heritage Society office co-ordinator, Shelley Harrison Rae, is on hand to collect your stories or to help you with the writing. Sit and tell her your tale of life in Deep Cove and let her record your words. Help us preserve the past for the future. Shelley Harrison Rae

Left - Photo is of the three generations of the Muri family who will be part of our Memory Book.

Deep Cove Memories at the North Van Museum and Archives

North Vancouver Museum and Archives in partnership with the Deep Cove Heritage Society presents a new exhibition, Deep Cove Memories.

Once known as Deepwater, Deep Cove is wrapped by the scenic waters of Indian Arm and Burrard Inlet. The annual rainfall is 80 to 90 inches at sea level; the highest in the Lower Mainland. What has drawn generations for many years to a place often shrouded in mist? Find out about Deep Cove's rich past and how it grew to become the tourist attraction we know today.

Deep Cove Memories features waterfront activities unique to Deep Cove in the early to mid 1900s.Through a series of photographs of daily life, services and industries and through rare and hilarious film footage of the early regattas the community’s story is told. As well, recorded voices of elders tell entertaining stories of amusing days and exciting evenings in and around the Cove.

If only the waters could speak, it would recall the spirit of the people and the activities that could only happen in a place like Deep Cove. It would boast of the most beautiful of sunny days worth a thousand rainy days. Even now the waters echo of past regattas where participants dressed in outlandish costumes and made a ritual dive “off the deep end” as a start to a bizarre event. Fortunately, before time could wash them away, some of those memories have been gathered and saved by the Deep Cove Heritage Society for future generations to enjoy.

Deep Cove Memories provides a rare glimpse of a landscape transformed from a wilderness exploited for wood and granite into a rugged cottage country.Step into a past where water taxis, scenic ferries and grocery boats (like the Who Who) were just as important as are the roads today. Imagine fun as it was for young people who enjoyed crabbing, clamming and canoe tilting and were drawn across the waters on a Saturday evening to the dance hall. It is these waterfront activities of those early years that made the scenery and community of Deep Cove distinct from the rest of the Lower Mainland.

Deep Cove Memories will be on view at the North Vancouver Museum and Archives, at 209 West 4th Street from October 6th until December 31st, 2004. The Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from noon to 5 p.m. For further information please call 604-987-5618.

From our Archives

Regatta in Deep Cove, August 1939, from collection of Earl Matheson.