British Columbia History

Reverence rings out in the voices of Captain Owen Forrester Browne’s family when they describe his place in their childhoods in Brownsville, a part of Surrey, British Columbia (named for Ebenezer Brown, a New Westminster merchant). Between his birth

“Nautical heritage” usually conjures up images of tugboats, ocean liners, and sailing ships on salt water, a stereotype regularly reinforced by maritime museums. However, the scope of nautical heritage encompasses other significant historical themes,

In November of 1952, C.D. Orchard, then British Columbia’s Deputy Minister of Forests, addressed the Canadian Institute of Forestry in Montreal.1 It was not unusual for a Deputy Minister to do so, but the topic of his address certainly was, for it si

The arrival of the first transcontinental passenger train at Port Moody on July 4, 1886 was recorded as a joyous occasion, a day full of political addresses, crowds, festivities, cheering, and admiration for the endeavour of building a train to conne

In 2020 I could not have imagined that anything good might come from the Covid-19 emergency. The lockdown and the restrictions on international travel have redirected the interest of British Columbians: with time on our hands, many of us are investig

As this summer marks the 150th anniversary of British Columbia joining Canadian Confederation, I contemplate centennials gone by and reflect on the role of commemoration in BC’s past and present. In 2008, I worked at the BC Forest Discovery Centre in

The roots of the Mennonite community in British Columbia can be traced back to the Reformation, in the 16th century, when dissident preachers such as Menno Simons urged followers to leave the Catholic Church. Their insistence on adult baptism and non

Throughout the 110 years since the establishment of Strathcona Provincial Park, its history has been contentious. Issues arising over land and water use have plagued the Park, and no consideration was initially given to Indigenous use or archaeology.

In August of 2020, I found myself right next to the incredibly beautiful West Coast Trail which runs through Pacific Rim National Park—and I was getting paid for being there! I was out on Pachena Point Lighthouse station, working as a relief assistan

There are few vessels in BC waters a century or more old. A few vintage yachts remain, but seldom do workboats achieve that distinction. The notable exception is SS Master, approaching her centennial in 2022 and, according to our research, the sole s

And they’re off! When the ferry docks at Departure Bay, so begins a frantic race for the Island Highway, and Nanaimo is quickly in the rear-view mirror. This summer, why not visit the city’s historic downtown to see what you’ve been missing? Also kn

We are proud that the students in our fall partnership with UBC have been awarded a Recognition prize in the Education and Awareness category from Heritage BC. This cohort of students was remarkable in their enthusiasm, their willing rise to the chal

The Hudson Bay Company’s Fur Brigade Trail from Fort Hope to Kamloops was constructed in the 1840s—long before there was a British Columbia. More than 100 years later, it was reconstructed as a trail for hiking and recreation.1 By 1840, the HBC faced

The year 2020 marked the celebration of Bouchie Lake’s first “Century Family.” It was 1920 when George Wesley Victor Percival Armstrong (b. March 10, 1874) and Jeannie Bell (Johnston) Armstrong (b. June 19, 1894) travelled from Vancouver to the Carib

My article “Are there ghosts on Sugar Mountain?” appeared in the Kootenay Miner, a brief resurrection of the pioneer-era Rossland Miner, on Thursday, April 5, 1973, almost 50 years ago. The piece offers some reflections as a young boy and a young man

The Kootenay Lake Hotel once stood on the high bench above Balfour, overlooking the “outlet” of Kootenay Lake across from Procter. In the spring of 1912, it opened as a summer hotel, with a grand celebration for more than 300 guests. The hotel sporte