The IWA Collection

This enormous trove of forestry labour union records was acquired by the museum in 2014. It includes historical and administrative records of the national office for IWA Canada (formerly I.W.A. Western Canada Regional Council 1), as well as records produced by local union offices in Duncan, Vancouver, Courtenay, and Port Alberni. The collection also contains a large library of labour movement newspapers, a VHS repository, an oral history collection, and thousands of photographs produced or collected by the union over the years.

​

In addition, the Wilmer Gold collection consists of the photographs taken by Wilmer Gold from 1934 to 1967. Photographs primarily focus on the Cowichan Lake Region forestry operations in addition to other areas within the Cowichan Valley Regional District. 

 

The Gold Collection is on permanent loan to the museum from United Steelworkers Local 1-1937