Union Bay has a Colourful Past

During the early 1900s, residents around the waters of the Strait of Georgia were frequently intimidated by a gang of 'pirate-wannabe' night-time plunderers. This gang was led by a fellow who was very quickly dubbed The Flying Dutchman, because his getaway vehicle was a very fast powerboat. It was said to have 'phenomenal speed and ... complete silence.'

The gang's favourite victims were folks who lived in small communities up and down the inside coast of Vancouver Island, particularly if the area was easily accessible via a government dock. Nearby moorage was critical!

During the time that The Flying Dutchman was making the rounds of coastal communities and terrifying the residents, the tiny village of Union Bay, just south of Courtenay, was a thriving coal town, with a steady stream of freighter traffic from all over the world. Of course, a small, fast boat would hardly be noticed in the harbour, even in broad daylight. And of course, the Dutchman always operated under cover of darkness.

One night, however, two of the local Union Bay constables saw a light burning in the window of the Fraser and Bishop Store, situated right at the head of the wharf. They thought it odd, went to investigate, and burst in - confronting the gang inside.

In the ensuing 'fooforah,' one of the police officers, a Henry Westaway (who has
descendants still living on Vancouver Island today) was shot dead. And even though the other officer, Gordon Ross, apparently had his thumb bitten off in the fight, he still managed to capture The Flying Dutchman. The culprit, Henry
Wagner, turned out to be an American of German descent.

The rest of the gang managed to escape, but were caught a week later, holed up in Scottie Bay on Lasqueti Island.

It is not recorded whether any of them spent any time in Union Bay's notorious Gaol, which still stands on the main street today (Highway 19a).