History of St John the Baptist Hermit Colony on the Tsolum River

Father Charles Brandt came to Vancouver Island in 1965 to join the Hermits of St John the Baptist Colony and remained there until 1970 when the colony dispersed to separate hermitages. The original Colony property on the Tsolum River was sold Oct 10th, 1970. Father Charles then purchased 27 acres and moved his hermitage to a small promontory overlooking the Oyster river with the help of the local Knights of Columbus. This following describes the hermits and their lives.