Dorman Island facts for kids
Dorman Island is a small island located in a beautiful area of British Columbia, Canada. It's found in the Johnstone Strait, which is part of the Central Coast. The island sits between West Cracroft Island and East Cracroft Island. At low tide, these islands can even connect! Before 1940, Dorman Island and another island called Farquharson Island were known as the "Double Islands." They were renamed to avoid confusion with other places that had the same name.
Why is it Called Dorman Island?
Dorman Island is named after a man named J.G. Dorman, who was also known as Jack or "Johnny Bones." He was an important person in the area's history.
Who Was J.G. Dorman?
J.G. Dorman was born on October 17, 1889, in Port Greville, Nova Scotia. He moved to Vancouver with his family around 1910. He worked in several fish canneries, which are factories where fish are processed and put into cans.
- He worked at canneries near Alberni Inlet, including Kildonan and Uchucklesit.
- In 1926, he was the keeper of the cannery on Wales Island.
- In 1927, he worked at the cannery in Shushartie on northern Vancouver Island.
Building the Bones Bay Cannery
In 1928, J.G. Dorman found the perfect spot for a new cannery at Bones Bay. This bay is about one mile southwest of Dorman Island. He then built and ran this cannery himself. He was known for his excellent work, and it's said that none of the cans from his cannery were ever rejected! The Bones Bay cannery operated until 1954, when it closed down.
J.G. Dorman passed away on February 9, 1969. His ashes were buried in an unmarked grave along the shores of Bones Bay, a place he knew so well.
