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2015 is Courtenay’s 100th Centennial and if any of you missed the New Year kickoff celebrations, don’t worry, there’s plenty more to come. To see what you can look forward to in this special year, click here for the City of Courtenay’s Centennial information.

Throughout this year, the museum will be providing glimpses into the back story on the City’s Incorporation in 1915. Just as today, in 1914, residents had varying opinions about the city’s future. In this article, it seems that not everyone was convinced that incorporation was a good idea. Here’s an excerpt from the Daily Colonist on May 1, 1914.

The Daily Colonist May 1, 1914

“Seeks Incorporation—Courtenay, the thriving little town on Vancouver Island in the Comox District, is seeking incorporation, but residents in the locality are by no means unanimous on the subject. Yesterday, deputations presented both sides of the case at a meeting of the Provincial Executive and there was an imposing array of legal talent on hand to argue the matter. Those favorable to incorporation were represented by Mr. H.A. MacLean K.C. who contended that every condition warranted the application. He laid great stress upon the fact that very shortly Courtenay would have railway connection and become an important distributing and industrial centre. Messrs. Crease, Heisterman & Alkman made the legal argument against incorporation contending that the present population was too small and that the area proposed to be included, 600 acres, took in a district which was sparsely settled. Another point against the application was that, should it be granted, the municipality this created might have great difficulty in managing affairs in times of financial stringency.”