The Hermitage

The Hermitage is an open concept cabin originally built by Father Charles in 1965 as his home and bookbinding workplace along the banks of the Tsolum River. This building was one among many that provided shelter to the colony of hermits known as the Hermits of St John the Baptist. The cabin was moved to the current location overlooking the Oyster River when the colony of hermits dispersed a few years after the arrival of Father Charles. Upon retiring his position as Chief Conservator at the Manitoba Archives, Charles added a two story addition with a bedroom and office/library upstairs and, on the main floor, one of the best equipped paper conservation laboratories in western Canada. The building has a wrap around deck overlooking the Oyster River and a second deck used as the main entry way beside the carport. The building sits on 27 acres. As you approach the Hermitage along the laneway, to your left is a quiet memorial to Father Charles that overlooks the river.

The Park

Father Charles’ final wishes were that his land would become a park, a quiet and soothing space in which people would come to commune with nature. He wanted people to fall in love with nature, to sit in its silence with a sense of wonder, and experience for themselves the sense of sacredness that he so cherished.

In his will he donated his property to the Comox Valley Regional District to establish both a park and a hermitage. Before Fr Charles passed away he had a Covenant placed on the land to protect it from development.