Tasu Harbour on the southwestern coast of British Columbia’s Queen Charlotte Islands was truly nature’s treasure house, filled with the exotic and the unusual.
Isolated by mountains on the east and by ferocious Pacific Ocean gales on the west, the inlet presented a magnificent setting of old rain forests and fresh mountain streams, as well as a secluded habitat for fish of all varieties.
I had occasion to visit the site each month, in the capacity of mines inspector responsible for assessing the Wesfrob mine, owned and operated by Falconbridge Mines and ably managed by Charlie Stafford.
Despite its isolation, this was a thriving, contented community where people worked and relaxed in a picturesque village carved out of the mountain of iron ore beside an arm of Tasu Harbour.
The deep waters of the inland reach of the sea provided an ideal refuge for the fishing fleets of the North Pacific Ocean, so it was not unusual to see a group of foreign fishing vessels of Polish, Japanese or Russian registry sitting side by side in the calm waters of the inlet, waiting out an errant Pacific storm.
On occasion, a Canadian Navy frigate would drop into the bay and tie up at the Tasu mine dock while its crew checked the activities of the fishing trawlers.
There were never any incidents of record; the setting precluded all else except for an appreciation of the fabulous beauties of land and sea. I revived an old friendship during my visits, with Abbie and Val Sinyard, whom I had known in the days of the development of the uranium mines in Elliot Lake, Ont.
Abbie was plant superintendent and Val was the post mistress at Tasu. They both hailed from that other special island, off the east coast of Canada — namely Newfoundland.
These nomads of the mining industry were deeply attached to the Tasu community and the extraordinary features of the location. Abbie recounted to me how the local deer invaded the small outpost, intruding on attempts to make small garden plots, and even scaling the protective fences to crop among the lettuce, cabbages and peas.
The deer became so bold as to greet the crew emerging from the cookery, seeking handouts of fresh apples or other victuals, and were certainly nonplussed if no gifts were offered.
Giant eagles occupied the cliffs above the mine and swept across the settlement and harbor in their forays for fish victims.
The townspeople luxuriated in the abundance of the supplies of deep-water salmon, cod, halibut, and the near-shore beds of abalone and crab. A special experience included a walk by the shoreline among the towering, centuries-old stands of fir, cedar, hemlock and balsam. The immense depths of moss and fern around the base of the trees provided a soft and pleasurable carpet on which to stand and gaze in awe at the unbroken panorama of forest cover, which completely obscured the light of both sun and moon. Wild berries grew in abundance in openings on the mountain slopes.
It was no small wonder that Charlie Stafford did not have a workforce turn-over problem. People became deeply bound to the magnificent setting of the sea and the natural beauty of the coastline.
The mine, meanwhile, provided a special concentrate of magnetite iron ore for the smelters of the west coast (and of Australia) to blend with iron ores of lesser purity.
It was a sad day, indeed, when the ore became depleted and the saga of Wesfrob mine came to an end. Nature soon reclaimed her own treasures, which she had loaned only briefly. However, a good many families were greatly enriched by having lived and thrived in the idyllic and magical setting of Tasu Harbour.
— S.J. Hunter, a retired mining engineer and regular contributor, resides in Vancouver, B.C.
had only one summer at tasu – 1974 i believe – many great memories – an outstanding community for a small mining town – worked on tumi’s crew – then crummy / refueler – tug boat crew – characters as al pushie, wally john , big bird , fujiian harry sing , -promise i will return one day before i pass – dw
I have worked for Bird const. at the construction of the offices next to the mill, aswe
ll at the kitchen counters laminates of the manager’s house in 1966,
I have fond memories & pictures of hand feeding apples and carrots to deer by the campsite cook house.
I wold like to see recent pictures of what is left of the mill & town site.
My late husband John Stigant was Chief Engineer of the Power House for Falconbrige Mines from 1972 -1976. Myself and our two sons spent the most memorable years of our lives in that idyllic place. In one summer he, with some help, caught a halibut taller than his 6ft 4 inches, and the most salmon, in his 21ft Fibergform V hulled boat. We knew Charlie Stafford and his wife well, and made many other good friends while there. A never to be forgotten experience.