Rebecca Spit - A brief history ... with thanks to Jeanette Taylor

Rebecca Spit is a relatively new addition to the geography of Quadra Island. According to the book Exploring Quadra Island, by local authors Ian Douglas and Jeanette Taylor, "Within the last 7,500 years, storms and currents have eroded the bluffs at the south end of the island. Waves and currents moved cobbles and sand up along the east coast, forming Rebecca Spit and Drew Harbour".

THE FIRST SETTLERS: FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE
Only 2 archeological digs have been conducted on Quadra, so information about the distant past is limited. Early inhabitants, most likely Salish, were here at least 8000 years ago. One dig, just to the north of the first treeless opening, identified a site used as a place of refuge till about 400 years ago. Several small houses were surrounded by a partial palisade and a 4 foot deep trench, which can still be seen today. The current First Nation people We Wai Kai are also "settlers", moving to Quadra about 1840.

EUROPEAN EXPLORERS
In 1792 British and Spanish naval ships co-operated in charting the bays, islands, and waterways of this part of the world. Rebecca Spit was named for the British trading schooner Rebecca. Captain Pender, on the Beaver, assigned the name in 1864, when the British again surveyed this part of the coast. A spit is defined as "a small point of land especially of sand or gravel running into a body of water. Therefore, the name "Rebecca Spit" reflects on history and geography.....not someone's bad habit!

THE SECOND WAVE OF SETTLERS: NON-NATIVE INHABITANTS
Over the years, Rebecca Spit was bought by three different individuals.

William Sayward was the first owner. A sawyer with a mill in Victoria, who logged extensively on this part of the coast starting in the 1880s, he bought the 54 acres Spit from the provincial government on Jan 6, 1887.

In the 1890's, James Clandening Sr. purchased the Spit from Sayward for use as a gravel pit. James was a Vancouver-based road builder and developer. At that time plans were to terminate the new continental railway at the head of Bute Inlet. James thought the Spit could provided the needed gravel for the railway construction. In spite of the fact that the railroad didn’t come through to Bute Inlet, he hung on to the land.

James Gordon Clandening, a son, received the Spit from James Sr. James Gordon and his wife Mary Elizabeth came from Vancouver to Quadra about 1923. First they lived in Quathiaski Cove, moving to Rebecca Spit sometime in the 1930s.
The family lived in a log house located somewhere between the first narrow spot and the main parking lot. Then they built a house just to the north of the first side road entrance off the Spit road. They ran a machine shop at the spit:, which was located about where the current boat ramp is.

James Gordon and Mary had two sons, James Arthur and Albert. The Clandenings paid for their sons’ education in Vancouver by raising turkeys at the Spit. After the death of her husband in 1952, Mary Elizabeth sold the property to the provincial government. She discussed it with her sons and they decided together that they didn’t want it to go into private hands. They made an arrangement in which they were given other property and some cash in exchange. The official ceremony took place June 20, 1959, 50 years ago.

50 YEAR ANNIVERSARY AS PROVINCIAL MARINE PARK
Currently, Rebecca Spit is designated a Marine Provincial Park. The more than 2 km sand spit is a unique natural feature, providing a beautiful venue for beach exploration, picnicking, and community celebrations like May Day and Canada Day. The walking trails, picnic area, and open playing field are used by many, year round. Drew Harbour is used by swimmers, kayakers, bird watchers and boaters of all kinds, while tidal pools and driftwood are enjoyed by modern day explorers. Quadra Island residents and visitors alike enjoy and appreciate this fabulous place and feel very very fortunate to have it as part of our island life.