Tod Inlet
Original article written for class, followed by a link to the edited version printed in the Nexus newspaper: "Residents of Victoria BC are all too familiar with the Butchart Gardens. As one of our more distinguished claims to fame, it is widely known that beneath the beautiful and blossoming landscape lies an historic tale. Though prominent throughout the gardens, many are unsure of the story behind the Butchart name. This uncertainty within locals is precisely what prompted UVic professor and artist Gwen Curry to publish her first book, Tod Inlet: A Healing Place. “With writing there has to be passion, and I was passionate about this story” Curry states reflecting on her ties to the community. The area on which the gardens stand is called Tod Inlet, Brentwood Bay’s corner of Gowlland Tod Provincial Park. Born and raised in Victoria, Curry’s relationship with the inlet began nearly 40 years ago. Back then it was simply a place to wander and be alone with nature. Tod Inlet: A Healing Place is sectioned into four extensive chapters showcasing photographs that reflect the park evolving and growing through the seasons. Diving immediately back to the original property owner’s purchase in 1869, the reader is readily engulfed in a familiar heritage. Within the first pages we’re told how the area is tied to the Hudson’s Bay Company, how Brentwood Bay’s Greig Avenue donned it’s name, and are given the descriptive disposition of John Tod (of the inlet). “It’s a part of our local history” Curry says, “we all knew about the old factory.” In 1904 the Vancouver Portland Cement Company bought their acreage under Robert Butchart’s name. A cement plant operated at Tod Inlet until 1921 and was the first of its kind to be completed in Western Canada. At one point a crew of nearly 200 Chinese immigrant workers lived on the banks of the inlet. Alongside the plant itself was a village of 13 houses, a two-storey horse barn, a man-powered railway, a cooking shack and dormitory, the latter which is still marked today by a concrete structure. While achieving her Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of Victoria, Curry was captivated by the inlet and its underlying stories. “Back then, it was untouched” she says, “it wasn’t yet a park. No barriers, no fencing… just the debris from the factory.” Through neighbours, friends and family the story began to present itself to Curry in pieces. The people she met while walking had questions, and she often found she had the answers. “Without trying at all, I had more knowledge than most” she explains, recalling how the book came to be. After an inspiring trip to the NorthWest Territories in 2005, the inlet became the perfect muse when trading the paintbrush for a camera. At first photography was a personal endeavor, a new hobby. “I loved the juxtaposition of the man-made and the natural” Curry says explaining how the inlet enticed her intrigue for a fresh art form. Over the years an album of almost 7,000 photographs appeared showcasing Tod Inlet in its revitalizing beauty. Yet it was not enough. When the idea for a book surfaced Curry’s knowledge had accumulated. “I sure didn’t feel like an elder, but in a way I was. I knew so much, I realized ‘I have to write this story!’” and her passion for writing reemerged after a long hiatus. “It’s not just a place for us to go to for healing, it’s a place that is healing itself” she shares giving insight to the chosen title. The book has struck a chord amidst many residents of the Saanich peninsula. Whether first time or returning wanderers, now we can all delve a little deeper into the history of Tod Inlet." & a link to the edited article printed in the Nexus Newspaper: http://www.nexusnewspaper.com/2016/02/17/local-author-examines-the-butchart-gardens-hidden-history/
