Nominate a top BC site or trail
Leading up to the 2021 sesquicentennial of British Columbia joining confederation, the BC Historical Federation puts the spotlight on our province’s significant sites and trails, including marine areas.
We’re asking BCHF members to nominate local candidates for
BC’s Best Sites & Trails to be featured on a new web page. Our goal is to engage British Columbians, get people thinking and talking about the province’s history — and how this connects with sites and trails. We also hope to inspire people to visit these sites and trails across BC.
The BCHF will also be celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2022, and we plan to keep the Best Sites & Trails campaign going through that year as well. Please send your nomination with description and photos to:
mark@bchistory.ca
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2019 BCHF conference will be a triple C affair
Get your
boots on for a fascinating conference at Courtenay, Comox and Cumberland on
June 6-9.
The
heritage and history in this area will provide for possibly the
most diverse selection of presentation and tour topics ever: First Nations
culture, nature, Canadian Air Force, heritage townscape, historic mansion,
Chinese and Japanese townsites, genealogy, cemeteries, strategic planning,
historical book awards, book fair, and even prehistoric fossil beds and
dinosaurs. And more yet to come!
Our
hosts in these three venues are looking forward to sharing the wealth and
breadth of their respective collections and environments. It will be a
conference to remember.
Hotel accommodations are already listed on our website. Plan to attend now!
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British Columbia History available for libraries
Libraries can now request
British Columbia History as part of their RB Digital Magazine package. With the launch of the online edition of
British Columbia History, the magazine is now available to more than 2,500 public, corporate, military, and academic library systems. If you’d like your library to subscribe, ask them to add it.
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Barry Gough selected as a Distinguished Alumni of UVic
On Tuesday, Feb. 5, BC
Historical Federation honourary president Barry Gough will be recognized
with a Distinguished Alumni award from the University of Victoria.
The presentation will take place at 7 p.m. at the Songhees Wellness Centre (1100 Admirals Road). The event is free but registration is required. You can read more about the event and RSVP on the UVic website.
As well as being BCHF’s current honourary president, Barry is a Canadian maritime and naval historian and a prolific writer.
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Reminders and thanks
Thanks to those members who submitted applications for the Centennial Legacy Fund. Recipients will be announced at the BCHF conference in June, along with other award winners such as Best Article Award, Best Website Award, Best News and Media Award, Scholarships and Book Awards.
Also, a reminder to renew your membership. We now feature the new option of receiving BC History magazine digitally for those who choose.
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MEMBER NEWS
Lots happening at Nanaimo Museum
If you are in Nanaimo, be sure to visit the Nanaimo Museum, which is featuring new exhibits and programs.
- The Forgotten Flu, an exhibit in the Community Gallery until Feb. 15
- Nanaimo Mysteries, which runs from Feb. 15 to Sept. 2.
- ‘Hogs & Hearts I-Spy, Feb. 1 to 28, Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Lunar New Year self-guided gallery tour, Feb. 1 to 28, Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more details on each of these, click the button below. Or visit the
Nanaimo Museum’s website.
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Dissolution of Burnaby Historical Society in the news
As reported here in October, the Burnaby Historical Society is disbanding after 61 years and people are starting to take notice of some of the issues facing the sector. Recently CBC published an article on the society’s dissolution.
What does this mean for other historical societies? Is this a sign of the times or a one-off? How do we support local BC historical societies? We have assembled a list of ways you can help, which you can read by clicking the button below.
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Valley Voices podcast reviews BC historical books of 2018
Valley Voices is a production of the Langley Heritage Society on CIVL Radio, 101.7 FM, heard Wednesdays at 11 a.m.
This month: host Mark Forsythe offers up some of the best BC historical reads of the last year, and Ian Brown, author of Hallowed Ground: Stories of the Yale Pioneer Cemetery Cemetery profiles gold rush and railway pioneers.
Click the button below to listen.
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Welcome to new members
Joining the BC Historical Federation in December:
Societies: Alder Grove Heritage Society
Associate: D.
Candy (Abbotsford), L. Chan (Vancouver), W.G. Craig (North Vancouver),
J. Hay (Coquitlam), M. Leppington (Saanichton), C. Mah (Burnaby), K.
Mather (Armstrong), S. Moodie (Langley)
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HISTORICAL NEWS
The first trained librarian in BC
The Royal BC Museum and CHEK-TV bring you “This Week in History,” featuring 1897 BC librarian Alma Russel. Russel is credited with first cataloguing and arranging materials at BC’s Legislative Library, which forms the basis of the provincial archives’ library collection today.
Click below to view the feature.
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BC government wants your input on Vancouver’s Chinatown
Last September, the BC government and City of Vancouver signed a memorandum committing to work in partnership to have Vancouver’s Chinatown designated a UNESCO World Heritage site and to establish a Chinese Canadian Museum.
The provincial government is asking British Columbians to submit thoughts, ideas and stories via an online feedback form, available at: https://engage.gov.bc.ca/chinesecanadianmuseum.
Read more about the consultation process and upcoming community meetings in Kamloops, Nanaimo, and Victoria by clicking the button below.
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Apply to Community Resilience Through Arts and Culture
Grant applications are now open for arts and cultural submissions designed to bring healing to people and communities in response to environmental, social and economic hardships.
In 2018, the Community Resilience Through Arts and Culture program provides grants ranging from $2,500 to $15,000 to help fund events, programs, celebrations and initiatives that use arts and culture to foster community connection and resiliency.
To learn more about the program and to apply, click the button below.
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Want a free house?
Chilliwack’s Paisley House is getting a lot of attention these days. The home — one of Chilliwack’s oldest — is on the demolition block, though the developer has offered it free to anyone willing to cover the relocation costs.
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IN MEMORIAM
Kenneth MacLeod (1944-2018)
We are sad to announce the death of Ken MacLeod of Vancouver.
You may remember the articles Ken wrote and published in British Columbia History (“Come on, Jayo; We’re Cheering for You,” Fall 2012 and “The Day Cec Merritt Won the Victoria Cross,” Winter 2017), as well as the book The Story of South Vancouver and John Oliver High School.
Read John’s obituary by clicking below.
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Daniel Gallacher (1939-2018)
We were saddened to hear that Daniel Gallacher passed away Dec. 24. Dan was chief curator at the Royal BC Museum from 1969–88, then went to Canadian Museum of Civilization in Hull as director of history from 1988–2002. Dan served on the Canadian Museums Association executive and received the CMA’s Award of Merit (1984) as well as its Award of Distinguished Service (2007). He was inducted as a Fellow of the Canadian Museums Association (2011).
Read Dan’s obituary by clicking below.
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Greg Evans
A memorial service for Greg Evans will be held at St. Barnabas Anglican Church, 1525 Belmont Street, Victoria, on Saturday, Jan. 19, at 1 p.m. Reception following in the church hall. Greg worked at the Vancouver Museum, Royal BC Museum, Maritime Museum of BC, and Esquimalt Archives.
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