Kadonaga Bay
Feature Type:Bay - Water area in an indentation of the shoreline of a sea, lake, or large river.
Status: Official
Name Authority: BC Geographical Names Office
Pronounced: kadda-NAG-a
Relative Location: SE end of Mayne Island (southern Gulf Islands), facing Plumper Sound, Cowichan Land District
Tags: World War II
Latitude-Longitude: 48°49'08"N, 123°14'34"W at the approximate centre of this feature.
Datum: WGS84
NTS Map: 92B/14
Origin Notes and History:

Adopted 24 April 2007 on 92B/14, as proposed by trustee Jeanine Dodds, Islands Trust, on behalf of the community of Mayne Island, and endorsed by Mayne Island Conservancy Society, Association of Mayne Island Boaters, Gulf Islands Branch of the BC Historical Federation and various property owners in the immediate vicinity.

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office

Sometimes called "Eddy's Bay" by members of the Eddy family, who own property here. Called "Arbutus Bay" in 1973 by property owner and developer Paula Buchholz, whose self-titled company Arbutus Bay Estates Ltd subdivided parcels here, and continues to maintain guest/rental cottages. Neither name is in use by the general public on Mayne Island according to trustee Jeanine Dodds, although "Arbutus Bay" and "Arbutus Bay Estates" is marketed by principle P. Buchholz.

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office

Kadonaga Bay recalls Goan Kadonaga, the first Japanese settler to arrive on Mayne Island, as well as symbolizing and recognizing the settlement history of all the Japanese settlers who made important contributions to the economic and social fabric of the island community before their removal in World War II.

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office

"Gontaro (Goan) Kadonaga was the first Japanese settler on Mayne Island, arriving in 1903. He had purchased the 160-acre property named St. Johns Point on the eastern tip of Mayne Island from James C. Campbell some three years previous to this time. Goan's brother, Kinzo, had arrived at the same time. Another Japanese family, the Sasaki's, had no sons and when Kenzo married into the Sasaki family he took their name as his. In 1921, Goan (or perhaps Goan and Kinzo) divided his/their property into 2 lots, giving the northern section to Goan's eldest son Toru and the southern section to Kinzo's eldest son Kwanichi. Mayne Island was a unique community prior to World War II. Many Japanese families had settled here [and] approximately one third of its population were of Japanese descent. Some relied on fishing and there was a fish saltery at Dinner Bay. Other families farmed, raising chickens and growing tomatoes under some 8 acres of glass in various locations on the island. Much of the economic activity occuring on Mayne Island at this time was attributed to the hard working and respected Japanese families. On Tuesday April 21, 1942, the CPR steamer Princess Mary came for the 50 Japanese men, women and children who waited on the Miners Bay wharf. Most of the Mayne Island residents were in attendance to shake hands and wish them well. It was a sad time for all.... The descendants of [the Kadonaga and Sasaki families] continue to visit their original farms [and a family gravesite] with the support of the current owners...." (June 2006 letter from trustee Jeanine Dodds, Islands Trust, file V.1.38). Also on file: schematic diagram of 16 properties purchased by early Japanese settlers, chronology of settlement provided by Roger Sasaki, and an artist's rendering of the Kadonaga homestead, published in Canadian Geographic Magazine, Nov/Dec 2003, p.94.

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office