Archaeologists unearthed this sandstone whale carving on Pender Island in the mid-1980s. While the figure’s specific purpose is lost to time, we know it comes from a community dating back 5,000 years that created the earliest known expressions of Northwest Coast art. 

Shoppers at the Port Washington Store eagerly awaited the pre-Christmas spin of the old bike wheel in hopes it would land on their ticket number. The prize? Bags of groceries valued according to the 5, 10 or 15-cent ticket cost. The festive tradition endured for over 50 years.

Just after Lilias Spalding came to South Pender Island as a 19-year-old bride in 1889, she bought this loom. Inspiring wife, mother, school trustee, Post Mistress, and host to visitors, she wove a community together. Her enduring legacy lives on in her family and in this impressive artifact. 

A 5-pound tin of lard—rendered pig fat—was standard fare in early Pender Islands kitchens. Once empty and cleaned, it went on to a whole new life, most often as a lunch pail for Pender Islands school kids or for collecting blackberries.

Keeping food cool was a challenge on an island without refrigeration before the introduction of electricity in 1956. Enter this ingenious butter keeper. Immersed in water, the clay absorbs moisture. As the water evaporates, the butter inside stays at or below room temperature.