Spring issue of British Columbia History coming soon
The Spring 2019 issue of British Columbia History will soon be arriving in your mailboxes, or inbox if you are receiving the digital edition. This edition includes stories such as “Secwepemc Land and Lawm” by Marianne Ignace and Chief Ronald Ignace; “The Hanging Hood,” by Matteo Miceli; and “Hide Shimizu’s Scrapbook,” by Michele Hii.
Become a member or subscribe to British Columbia History magazine.
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BCHF Member Ron Greene receives citizenship award
Ron Greene receiving his medal from Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Lisa Beare.
BCHF past president Ron Greene of Oak Bay was awarded a Medal of Good Citizenship by the Province. The medal recognizes British Columbians for their outstanding community service. Nineteen people were selected this year.
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City of Nelson honours Frances and Ron Welwood
From left, Nelson city councillor Jesse Woodward, Touchstones Nelson executive director Astrid Heyerdahl, Ron and Frances Welwood, and mayor John Dooley.
Longtime BCHF members Ron and Frances Welwood were honoured by the City of Nelson last month for their lifetime work in preserving, promoting and documenting Nelson’s history.
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Maritime Museum of BC seeks national status
The Maritime Museum left its longtime home in Bastion Square in 2015 (seen here in a ca. 1960s postcard), but the building could be part of its future.
The Maritime Museum of BC in Victoria is seeking national status, as announced by Barry Gough in the Times Colonist. If realized, the new Canadian Maritime Museum would be the first national museum west of Winnipeg. At its meeting Saturday in Victoria, the BCHF executive passed resolutions strongly supporting the Museum’s new vision, recognizing the innovation in the plan and the need for a national presence. We believe it is of provincial historical significance and the provincial government should do whatever it can to secure the collection and museum site to make it accessible, as the museum is in danger of falling away.
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Still seeking nominations for BC 150 Best Sites and Trails
Leading up to BC’s 2021 sesquicentennial of joining confederation, the BC Historical Federation is highlighting our province’s significant sites and trails, including marine areas. We’re asking BCHF members to nominate local candidates for BC’s Best Sites and Trails to be featured on a new web page. Send your nomination with description and photos to: mark@bchistory.ca
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Can you lend a hand?
We need more hands! We’re proud of our
work at the BCHF, but feeling stretched. We’re looking for a few great
volunteers to help us out on our web team, member relations team, and recognition team. If you have a couple of hours a week, are
tech savvy, and get a charge out of creating content, managing online
process, or celebrating the hard work of others, we’d love to hear from
you. For more info, contact jane@bchistory.ca.
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Last call for recognition awards
Each year, the BC Historical Federation recognizes
outstanding contributions by individuals and groups to the study and
promotion of BC history. The deadline for nominations for certificates of appreciation, merit, and recognition is March 1. Click the button below for details.
Welcome to our newest members!
A warm welcome to our newest members, who joined the BCHF in January 2019:
Historical Societies: Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park (Comox)
Affiliated Groups: Kootenay Columbia Educational Heritage Society (Trail), Société historique francophone de la Colombie-Britannique (Vancouver)
Associate (Individual) Members: D. Bell (North Vancouver), D. Denton (Victoria), Z. Djurickovic (Victoria), G. Eang (Burnaby), G. Greig (Surrey), R. Kwan (Richmond), R. L. Lund (Langley), F. MacDonald (Surrey), C. Maxwell (Richmond), A. M. Plonka (Victoria), H. Raptis (Victoria), A. Sturm (Abbotsford)
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MEMBER NEWS
Virtual exhibit launched on Chilliwack’s Chinatowns
Chinese domestic worker with William Smith, ca. 1896.
The Chilliwack Museum and Archives, operated by the Chilliwack Historical Society, has launched a new virtual museum through the Virtual Museum of Canada’s Community Memories program. The exhibit is called Chilliwack’s Chinatowns: A story of Diversity, Racism, and Arson.
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Nanaimo Historical Society earns heritage award
The Nanaimo Historical Society has been awarded a 2019 Culture & Heritage Award. Each year, the City of Nanaimo recognizes individuals and groups that make Nanaimo a more culturally vibrant city.
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Agassiz-Harrison Historical Society receives funding
Great news for the Agassiz-Harrison Museum as the Village of Harrison Hot Springs has committed to supporting its museum through a $10,000 annual contribution. The society has also launched a new online exhibit titled Knee High by the First of July. This bilingual exhibit shares the story of Agassiz’s unique ties between the corn and dairy industry.
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Valley Voices: A visit to Milner and Fort Langley cemetery tour
Warren Sommer at the Fort Langley cemetery.
The Langley Heritage Society hosts a monthly podcast called Valley Voices. February’s episode goes to Milner, once a thriving little town beside the BC Electric Railway tracks. We get a history lesson from long time resident, Ellen Worrell. And historian Warren Sommer previews his Heritage Week Fort Langley Cemetery Tour. Valley Voices is hosted by former CBC Radio broadcaster Mark Forsythe and heard Wednesdays at 11 a.m. on CIVL 101.7 FM at the University of the Fraser Valley. Click below to listen.
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HISTORICAL NEWS & NOTES
Peter Bartl receives 2018 Nelson Heritage Award
Author/historian Peter Bartl has been awarded the City of Nelson’s annual Heritage Award for 2018 for his dedicated work in the education, promotion and preservation of local history. Bartl wrote The Modern Heritage of Nelson Architecture from the 1920s to the 1960s, a book that has reawakened citizens to some of the architectural gems in their midst.
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Not on the Prairies, but …
Don’t be fooled by the address. While it’s called prairie-towns.com, this popular website features historic photos of towns throughout BC.
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Victoria marks Black History Month
Black history and ancestry are being celebrated in Victoria, including the following event (click the button for exact time and meet-up location):
Feb. 24 — Ross Bay Cemetery Tour
This guided tour through the Ross Bay Cemetery will highlight BC’s black pioneers. Hosted by Valin Marshall of BC Black History Awareness Society and John Adams of the Old Cemeteries Society.
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Cross-cultural Strathcona walking tours coming in May
Vancouver’s Jewish, Chinese, Japanese and black communities are partnering for a cross-cultural
Strathcona walking tour every Sunday in May. Learn about the
fascinating history of early ethnic immigrant communities in
the very diverse east end', now the Downtown East Side/Strathcona. Click the button below for tickets.
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Japanese Hall history talk planned
On April 9, the Vancouver Foundation lecture series will host Laura Saimoto, who will discuss the 113-year history of the Vancouver Japanese Language School and Japanese Hall as a lens for telling the story of the Japanese Canadian Internment
experience. The lecture is at the University Women's Club Hycroft from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
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MagsWest Conference 2019
British Columbia History magazine is a member of Magazine Association of British Columbia
— a non-profit organization that works to raise the profile of member
magazines and further opportunities for magazines in BC. MagsWest is
BC’s only annual conference for magazine professionals. To learn more
about conference, which runs Feb. 28 to March 2 in Vancouver, visit the MagsWest2019 website.
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