The Bentinck Leper Colony, 1924-1957
"It’s being cast out that hurts..."
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Article Length: 2,084 words, 7 images. About a 15 minute read
Most have never heard of Bentinck Island, know its location, or that Victoria had two ‘leper colonies’. Bentinck Island is a small land mass located in Metchosin near Rocky Point off the southernmost tip of Vancouver Island in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. It began its operation as a leper colony after the federal government closed down D'arcy Island located off of Sidney Island. Bentinck was at the time strangely described as “A paradise and a prison” (CY Youngmay, MacLean’s 1948).
Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, is a chronic infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae. It is a slow-growing bacteria that affects the skin, nerves, and mucous membranes. Leprosy is a disease that has been around for thousands of years, and it has been shrouded in stigma, myths, and misconceptions for a long time. It was seen as unclean and contagious, and those with it were often isolated from their families and communities.
Please note, people affected by leprosy have asked that the word “leper” no longer be used today. Historically was been used to justify appalling treatment and the passing of stigmatizing legislation. It is only quoted in this article to illustrate the historic use of the term at that time.
Before Bentinck Island was opened in 1924, people suffering from leprosy were confined to D’Arcy Island, which was first used in 1891. No treatment was extended to the sufferers in the early days. No doctors, no nurses. They were sent supplies every three months from Victoria, but were left to fend for themselves.
It was a desperate situation for them. In total there were 49 men sent there, 44 of whom were Chinese. The lack of care was part of the prevailing attitude toward Chinese settlers in Canada. Anti-Chinese racism was enshrined in law through the 1885 Chinese Head Tax and 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act.
Their deplorable existence at D’Arcy, which sometimes lead to attempted escapes, prompted authorities to move the colony. In 1924, the remaining men were sent to nearby Bentinck Island, close to the William Head Quarantine Station…