BCHF BUZZ

Deadlines loom for BCHF award nominations, scholarships

Several BCHF deadlines are coming up soon. Applications to the Centennial Legacy Fund are due March 1. Nominations for our recognition awards, best historical website, and news/media award are due March 1. Nominations for the W. Kaye Lamb scholarships are due March 15.

January is membership renewal month!

It’s time to renew your membership for 2021 (or become a new member). In case you missed it, you can now renew your society or affiliate membership entirely online, or via mail and cheque. Visit our member portal to manage your account and renew, or download an application form to mail in your application.

Save the date for BCHF conference

The BCHF conference coming up June 3-5. BCHF is working with the Surrey Historical Society to bring you our very first entirely virtual conference. The event includes virtual presentations, field trips, silent auction and book prize gala. Watch our website for more information. Registration will open in March. 

BCHF launches YouTube channel

Have you checked out the BCHF YouTube channel? 2020 was a busy year for our communications team. We’ve posted our videos with local authors and BCHF award winners. We are continually adding video content. 

Time Travels heads to the Bulkley Valley via Collections Online

First bridge over Hagvilget canyon, Bulkley River. (Bulkley Valley Museum P5241)

Mark Forsythe makes a virtual visit to the place where he first arrived in BC in 1974. The Bulkley Valley Museum has added 8,000 archival and catalogue records to its Collections Online since it launched three years ago.

HISTORICAL NOTES

Online exhibit spotlights BC’s Black pioneers

Collage by Beth Cruise/BC Black History Awareness Society

An online exhibit created by the BC Black History Awareness Society tells the story of BC’s Black pioneers. About 800 immigrants accepted Governor James Douglas’ offer to settle on Vancouver Island beginning in 1858. The exhibit includes stories, photos, and videos.

Nominations sought for Chung and Wong prizes

Do you know community members/institutions who have made important contributions to collecting and safeguarding Chinese-Canadian historical objects? Or of a recent exhibition, educational project or program that made an impact pertaining to Chinese Canadian history? If so, nominate them for the Drs. Wallace B. and Madeline Chung Prize for Community Archiving or the Larry Wong Prize for Canadian Community and Public History. The deadline is Feb. 28.

Historic Kaslo church receives makeover

John Whitehead photo

St. Andrew’s United Church in Kaslo, built in 1893, has been brought up to fire and safety standards and had its roof stabilized, among other improvements. It’s thanks in part to funding from Heritage BC.

Building at former residential school to be demolished

Premier John Horgan (centre, blue jacket) is drummed into the Lower Post residential school by Kaska drummers in 2019. Manu Keggenhoff photo

The last building at the residential school at Lower Post, on the Liard River in northern BC, is set to be demolished and replaced with a new building. The school operated from 1951-69. Part of the building remains standing and serves as the Daylu Dena Council offices.

Burnaby Neighbourhood Speaker Series now online

The 2020 Burnaby Neighbourhood Speaker Series is now available. This free, online series explores local historic and cultural topics such as the decolonization of heritage, the history of the Chinese community and prisons in early Burnaby. 

New Vancouver Island monument honours Lt. Robert Hampton Gray

A monument to Nelson pilot Robert Hampton Gray, the last Canadian to win the Victoria Cross, has been unveiled at the BC Aviation museum in North Saanich. It follows a campaign by a group of former navy members and the Naval Association of Canada. Gray was killed in Japan during an aerial attack in 1945.

How Yucho Chow’s photos reframed Vancouver history

Photographer Yucho Chow is seen with his family in 1919. Yucho Chow Community Archive

Christopher Cheung of The Tyee recounts Catherine Clement’s efforts to put together a portrait of prolific photographer Yucho Chow, whose work is being celebrated anew.

St. Paul’s Hospital building makes Heritage Vancouver watch list

The Heritage Vancouver Society has released its new Top 10 Watch List, which includes the Burrard Building at St. Paul’s Hospital. Last year, Providence Health Care sold the property to Concord Pacific. It will continue to operate as a hospital until 2026. But what then?

Steam-powered tug being restored for centennial

The SS Master — the last wooden-hulled and steam-powered tug boat in BC — will mark its centennial next year with a restoration project. Built at False Creek in 1922, it was retired in the 1950s and has been displayed at Granville Island. The society that owns the ship is hoping to raise $2.5 million to complete the work.

150 Stories that Shape British Columbia

To mark the 150th anniversary of British Columbia joining confederation, the Knowledge Network has launched a series of short films under the banner 150 Stories that Shape British Columbia. They include stories about individuals, places, and events from the province’s past.

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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