BCHF BUZZ

BCHF holds virtual AGM

For the first time in the BC Historical Federation’s 98-year history, our annual general meeting was held virtually. On Sept. 12, 47 people from member societies around the province signed in to the AGM and kitchen party via Zoom.

BCHF welcomes new directors Emma Quan and Elwin Xie

At the BCHF annual general meeting, we welcomed two new directors to the board. Emma Quan is a student at Douglas College working towards a specialization in history as part of an Associate of Arts degree. Elwin Xie is a museum interpreter at Burnaby Village Museum and Hastings Mill Store Museum as well as an AV tech support expert.

BCHF launches Buy Local, Give Local campaign

The BCHF’s fall campaign is entitled Buy Local, Give Local. We encourage everyone to support our members by making a donation, buying a membership or annual pass, giving a BC book as a gift, enjoying a tour or site visit, and purchasing gifts at a museum shop. Posters can be downloaded at the link below.

BCHF 2020 annual report now available

The BC Historical Federation’s annual report can now be downloaded. Among other things, you will find reports from our president and each of our directors, a tribute to outgoing BC History editor Andrea Lister, a list of awards and scholarship recipients, financial statements, and a look back at our 2019 conference. 

Fall issue of British Columbia History on the way

The Fall 2020 issue of British Columbia History is in the mail. Stories includes “Artist Commemorates Abbotsford History,” by K. Jane Watt in conversation with Manjit Singh Sandhu; “The Kitagawa Family: A farming legacy in south Langley,” reflections by Akiko Oshiro and Sumiye Iwasa; “Warp Weft Weave: Joining generations” by Jenn Ashton; “The Washboard Legacy” by Emma Quan; “An Ode to Mom, COVID, and the Internment” by Laura Saimoto; “My Discovery of the Mainland: Boyhood Rambles” by Barry Gough; and “The Scabbler: A solution to a serious cow comfort problem” by Mike Yusko.

New study guide designed to rethink BC’s history

Secondary students can deepen their understanding of social injustices and discriminatory policies in BC with a new study guide — Balancing History: Warp Weft Weave: Joining Generations — launched by Jenn Ashton and Andrea Lister, in partnership with the British Columbia Historical Federation. This study guide has been prepared to accompany the British Columbia History magazine article “Warp Weft Weave: Joining Generations” in the fall edition.

Time Travels: Langley Heritage Society

An evening stroll on the platform at the Fort Langley CN Station. Photo: Mark Forsythe

COVID-19 has forced Mark Forsythe to stick close to home for his regular column on BCHF members. The Langley Historical Society has an impressive record over the last 40 years of saving and conserving heritage buildings.

BCHF members open for business

COVID-19 has upended the operating schedules of many of our members. But if you are open to visits, even with reduced hours, we would like to know and add you to our running tally. Email greg@bchistory.ca

MEMBER NEWS

Will Navvy Jack House celebrate its 150th birthday in 2022?

Wedding of Elizabeth “Bessie” Lawson and William Pitman, Dec. 31, 1914 (207.WVA.THO)

New research indicates that Navvy Jack House was built in 1872, several years earlier than first thought. Click below to learn more about West Vancouver’s oldest building, whose fate will soon be decided.

HISTORICAL NOTES

Royal BC Museum faces accusations of racism

The head of the First Nations Department and Repatriation Program at the Royal British Columbia Museum and Archives has resigned, citing racism in the workplace. The institution has now hired an investigator and brought in a diversity inclusion consultant.

Tashme museum wins historic places #VisitList campaign

Congratulations to the Tashme Museum who won the $5,000 marketing package in the National Trust’s #VisitList Campaign. Ryan Ellan established the museum in 2016 to “showcase the history, personal stories, artifacts, and awareness” of Tashme, a Japanese Canadian internment camp that operated near Hope from 1942-46.

Canadian Nautical Research Society plans 2021 conference

The Canadian Nautical Research Society/Société Canadienne Pour la Recherche Nautique will hold its annual conference June 10 and 11, 2021. This will be a virtual conference to commemorate the 150th anniversary of British Columbia joining Canada.

Popkum-area history book made available digitially

Copies of In The Shadow of Mt. Cheam – A History of Rosedale, Popkum and Camp River British Columbia, published in 1988 are difficult to find. Mike Yusko explains the steps he took to create a digital version.

Taking Reconcili-Action website launches

Over the past 15 months, three students have been working on Taking Reconcili-Action, a project with BC Heritage Fairs. They interviewed four W̱SÁNEĆ First Nation knowledge keepers and created a website to feature various topics they discussed.

New website features Holland-America ships in Vancouver

2020 marks 100 years since the Holland-America Line began its North Pacific Coast service. A new website by Floris van Weelderen features select photographs of Holland-America Line ships in Vancouver as seen through the lens of Walter Edwin Frost. 

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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