Pirates Cove Marine Provincial Park
History
De Courcy
Island was named after Michael de Courcy, captain of the HMS
Pylades, a vessel that charted these waters from 1859-1861. In
the late 1920s and early 1930s, De Courcy was the home of the
Aquarian Foundation founded by the infamous Brother XII, a man
described as “downright evil”, “The Great Beast” and
the “blackest man to have ever lived”. Brother XII
(aka Edward A. Wilson, among other names) was able to convince
up to 8,000 followers that he was the Twelfth Master of Wisdom
- part of a line of divine perfect masters from another world
who would teach his faithful the mysteries of ancient Egypt and
usher in a new age.
The amount
of money donated to the foundation is legendary - people would
give their entire life savings in support. The land purchased
included De Courcy Island. A settlement was built on the north
end of the island, with stories of having gun fortifications
and rock shelters. Any excess money was said to have been converted
to gold coins and sealed into glass jars and placed into cedar
chests. No one knows what happened to this fortune - perhaps
visitors to Pirates Cove (called Gospel Cove or The Haven in
Brother XII’s time) sail over it every time they arrive!
There are many books written about Brother XII - some fact, some
fantasy, all intriguing.
In 1966, a
38 hectare portion of the island was acquired for a Provincial
Marine Park with the assistance of the Council of British Columbia
Yacht Clubs.
Cultural Heritage
Conservation
This island,
like many of the Gulf Islands, contains an interesting mixture
of plants – some coastal, and some more typically found
in the dry interior of BC. Rocky Mountain Juniper, satin-flower
and poison oak are all species that are much more widely-spread
in the interior than they are on the coast, yet here, with De
Courcy Island’s dry summers, they thrive.
This park protects
one of the few coastal populations of Poison Oak. Stay on the trails
to avoid brushing against this rash-inducing plant. Particularly
impressive in June and early July are the large areas seen from
the loop trail that are covered by Pipsissewa - a low-growing evergreen
plant with leathery, shiny leaves and pink flowers. The stands on
the east side of the park are unmatched elsewhere in the Gulf Islands.
Wildlife
The largest
animals that use the island are black-tailed deer, which share
the park with river otters, mink and raccoons. River otters are
most easily seen in the early morning and a stroll around the
Pylades Trail in the park will likely result in a sighting or
two. Watch for areas of flattened grass that otters have used
for slides or sun-bathing. Common marine mammals include harbour
seals (year-round) and Steller’s and California sea lions
(common from late August through the mid-May). The fortunate
may catch glimpses of harbour porpoises or orcas, as well as
Gray and Humpback whales in the summer.
Birdwatchers
will find Wilson’s warblers, Pacific-slope flycatchers, Black
oystercatchers, White crowned sparrows and other species breeding
in the park. Bald eagles, Great blue herons and scores of others
use the park for foraging and resting.