With Don and Loretta Tennant


The Cortes Museum and Archive Society invites you to "Finding Home: The Cortes Island Experience," a community speaker series celebrating the unique journeys that bring people to Cortes Island.

Each month, a local resident will share their personal story – how they discovered Cortes Island, what drew them to make it their home, and what continues to inspire them to stay.

This one-and-a-half-hour event features an informal talk followed by an open Q&A, creating space for connection and conversation. Stick around afterward for a casual social gathering to meet neighbours, share experiences, and strengthen the bonds that make Cortes a special place to live.

Whether you’re new to the island or a longtime resident, the Finding Home speaker series offers a chance to deepen your understanding of the community and the stories that shape it. We look forward to seeing you there!

One-and-a-half-hour event
Start at 2:00 pm, Sunday, February 16, 2025

Our speakers will be Don and Loretta Tennant.

Loretta and I had always loved Vancouver Island, having visited it many times, including for our honeymoon.

I saw the southern Gulf Islands for the very first time in 1981. Looking from the ferry as we passed through Active Pass, I asked myself, “How does a person get to live on one of these?”

We moved to Cortes in 2014 after owning a small sheep farm in the Fraser Valley for 25 years. We had experience fixing up old houses, and Loretta was a keen gardener.

Retirement was hard at first. Together, 24/7, can be challenging.

We love that you can live on Cortes and be sociable or less so. Cortes Islanders are a tolerant bunch.
We both feel that Cortes is where we belong, and we plan to stay as long as our health allows.

-- by Don and Loretta Tennant



Refreshments will be provided. Registrations are not required. Donations are greatly appreciated.

For more information about Cortes Island Museum’s great events, please visit our website, our Facebook page, and follow us on Instagram.