BCHF BUZZ

BCHF website, media award nomination deadlines extended

Do you know of a recently launched website on a topic of British Columbia history that is worthy of recognition? Consider nominating them for the BCHF Best BC Historical Website Award.

Do you know an historical society that has produced an outstanding newsletter, blog, video, or social media campaign? If so, consider nominating them for the BCHF News and Media Award.

The deadline for both awards, which each come with $250 prizes, has been extended to Feb. 1.

Granite Creek Preservation Society keeps a ghost town alive

Take a walking tour of this Similkameen gold rush town that existed from 1886 to 1918. Diane Sterne and her husband Bob, who live in nearby Coalmont, took it upon themselves to form the Granite Creek Preservation Society in 2013, restore an historic cemetery, and create a self-guided walking tour.

Try the Tikwalus Heritage Trail

The Tikwalus Trail was used by the Nlaka’pamux people for thousands of years, high above what’s today called the Fraser Canyon. Today the trail rewards hikers with tremendous views of the Black Canyon section of the Fraser River.

Soak up history and nature on the Slocan Valley Rail Trail

The Slocan Valley Rail Trail is a 50 km non-motorized recreational trail that winds its way along the Slocan Valley between South Slocan and Slocan City. Following alongside the scenic Slocan River for much of its length, the rail trail can be easily accessed at any one of 8 trailheads spread along its length, complete with parking, information kiosks and rest facilities. 

MEMBER NEWS

Japanese Canadian home movies from the 1930s-70s

The Nikkei National Museum in Burnaby has digitized over 40 historical home movies from its moving image collection. These fragile 16mm, 8mm and Super 8 films can now be safely placed in long term storage, and its digitized versions will soon be available online. A screening, entitled Nikkei Mubi, will be held Saturday, Feb. 8 from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

A one-room schoolhouse at Pender Harbour

Sarah Wray Heritage Hall is one of BC’s last remaining single-room schoolhouses. Built by volunteers in 1931, Irvines Landing School replaced a school in a converted bunkhouse on the waterfront. 

Valley Voices talks to Fred Pepin and Mary Anne-MacDougall

Mary-Anne MacDougall, special collections librarian at the University of the Fraser Valley pictured with the Newman Western Canadian Cookbook Collection.

On January’s edition of Valley Voices, Langley Heritage Society president Fred Pepin, tells us about the over 2,400 irrigation wells he drilled on farms across the Fraser Valley and host Mark Forsythe seeks what's cooking in the Newman Western Canadian Cookbook Collection with University of the Fraser Valley librarian Mary-Anne MacDougall. Click below to listen.

HISTORICAL NOTES

State of heritage report released

Heritage BC has produced a report summarizing the input collected from its provincial roundtable discussions and making 12 broad recommendations, including “Acknowledgement of past wrongs and the development of bridges that lead to positive, mutually-beneficial relationships with Indigenous peoples.”

Visit the database of BC Visual Artists

Gary Sim recently posted his database of BC visual artists on his website for free access and research. The bulk of the project is about the early art and artists of British Columbia, in particular 1890 to 1950, but the project includes hundreds of contemporary artists as well.

Boeing on the BC homefront

The Royal BC Museum offers noon-hour talks called Live @ Lunch on the first Wednesday of each month. The free presentations feature curators and staff researchers working at the museum. November’s presentation featured Paul Ferguson, human history collections manager, telling the story of Boeing on the BC homefront. Click below to view the recorded presentation and learn about Boeing’s vital war effort work and the impacts it had on Chilliwack.

Nelson Public Library turns 100

Jan. 20 marks the centennial of the creation of the Nelson Public Library. The library is going all out to celebrate this anniversary, with a gala performance on Friday that includes a two-time Stephen Leacock Medal winner and an open house on Sunday.

ADVERTISING

The BCHF offers a number of advertising opportunities in our e-newsletter, which is distributed to our entire membership monthly. Advertisements are jpeg images sized to 600 px wide for electronic distribution. To submit an ad, contact Greg Nesteroff: greg@bchistory.ca

Members enjoy discounted advertising rates. Choose 12 months for the best deal:

1-3 months = $100 each ($100-$300 annually)
4 months = $90 each ($360 annually)
6 months = $80 each ($480 annually)
8 months = $70 each ($560 annually)
12 months = $50 each ($600 annually)

Rates for non-members are as follows:

1-3 months = $150 each ($150-$450 annually)
4 months = $140 each ($560 annually)
6 months = $130 each ($780 annually)
8 months = $120 each ($960 annually)
12 months = $100 each ($1,200 annually)

BC Historical Federation
Box 448, Fort Langley, BC, V1M 247 • info@bchistory.ca

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