Talk of politics, politicians and elections has been in the air, on the air, in the newspapers, on social media and on TV for months. Sixty-four years ago Sechelt residents, for the first time, elected officials to govern them. Previously Herbert Whitaker and then the Union Steamship Company had looked after Sechelt residents’ interests. By the 1950s the Union Steamship Company was ending over 50 years of serving the Sunshine Coast and had sold much of the land it owned in Sechelt to permanent residents. In 1956 it handed over the governing of Sechelt to these residents: 201 eligible taxpayers, residing in the area that would be within the boundary of the new village, voted whether to incorporate or not. The vote was close: 86 voted to incorporate and 71 voted against it (a 75 per cent turn out!). A five-person commission, four men and one woman, was elected to direct the municipal affairs of Sechelt. As Christine Johnston had received the most votes she became chairperson with Sam Dawe, Bernel Gordon, Alec Lamb and Frank Parker to assist her. At the time of incorporation the village had 26 stores, three garages, four churches and the Bank of Montreal.
Christine Johnston was born in 1906 and grew up in Ottawa “close to politics – when a girl I used to walk in a park with my friend and close neighbour Sir Wilfred Laurier.” She moved to Vancouver in 1927, to Wilson Creek in 1944 with husband Andy Johnston, and finally to Sechelt in 1951, where they erected a building on Cowrie Street to house Chrissie’s Variety and Jewelry store, magistrate Andy’s office and the RCMP. Today they are Ann-Lynn’s flower shop and the Artworks Gallery and Framing business. Still in use is the old cottage Christine and Andy retained behind their new building.
Chairperson of the commission was Chrissie’s first venture into politics, although she had gained valuable experience as a member of the executive of the Victorian Order of Nurses and riding president of the Social Credit party. Locally she was president of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Wilson Creek Community Association, a member of the Eastern Star, the Board of Trade and Legion Ladies Auxiliary and she had four children! Her business background made her a dynamic, popular community leader and for the next 10 years she and her commissioners worked hard to govern a rapidly growing village. Mrs. Johnston recalls: “We sat night and day, making by-laws, developing zoning by-laws, our priority was to protect the waterfront from industrial use and to leave it accessible as a recreation area. Sechelt didn’t have streets then, only pot-holes, so we began paving roads and installed a major drainage system on Cowrie Street. We took steps to start the airport, in co-operation with the village of Gibson’s. I felt I could contribute something to Sechelt and it was a busy and exciting time for me.” Garbage collecting, funds for the fire department, foreshore rights and the establishing of Hackett Park are other notable achievements of this first council.
According to the newspapers of the day there was criticism of council’s “lack of action, too much discussion and we can’t afford it” attitude, and change was needed. In 1966, Mrs. Johnston’s last year in office, a provisional budget for Sechelt which totalled $19,400 in expenditure with matching revenue to cover it, was presented to council. Mrs. Johnston commented that it would be a tough year for council. Clerk Ted Rayner added the village was not broke but careful financing would be necessary for the next year.
In 1977 Christine Johnston received the Queen’s Jubilee Medal, a fitting recognition for Sechelt’s first mayor.
Ann Watson is the Archivist for Sechelt Community Archives. Information for this article came from the Helen Dawe Collection, The Coast News, the Peninsula Times and Press newspapers.
