Fonds - Gladys Young Blyth fonds

Gladys Olive Young was born on December 29, 1920 in Squamish and was raised in Bella Coola. She moved to Port Edward in 1951 from Victoria with her husband Alex Blyth, and there they raised eight children. Gladys was involved with numerous community activities, served on the local school board for six years, founded and co-published the Port Edward newspaper "Mainland News" and later the Port Edward Journal. As a writer and photographer, she published A History of Port Edward, Salmon Canneries: British Columbia North Coast, When God Opens the Door, and A History of Wales Island, B.C. and Eagle Point Lodge. She has also authored two works of fiction: Someone to Walk With, and Summer at the Cannery. In 1977 she started the North Coast Fishing Exhibit and in 1985 the exhibit was moved to North Pacific Cannery in Port Edward. As curator, Gladys was instrumental in the establishment of the North Coast Marine Museum, later re-named North Pacific Cannery National Historic Site and continues to offer her services as a consultant based on her broad knowledge of local history. In 1989 Gladys received the B.C. Senior Citizen of the Year award.