BCHF BUZZ

Singing the praises of British Columbia History’s fall issue

The fall issue of British Columbia History is now available digitially through Zinio and coming soon to subscribers’ mailboxes. The theme is Song and the Unsung and is guest edited by Jon Bartlett and Rika Ruebsaat of Princeton, collectors of BC songs.

Life Embodied at Ay Lelum: The Good House of Design

Sandra Moorhouse-Good, Aunalee Boyd-Good, Tseskinakhen William Good, and Sophia Seward-Good. Photo: Sean Fenzl

We have made the cover story from the fall issue of British Columbia History available online for free. It’s about sisters Aunalee Boyd-Good and Sophia Seward-Good, fashion designers who create contemporary Coast Salish music with their family.

Time Travels: The Exploration Place Museum & Science Centre

The Strand Threatre on Third Avenue in Prince George as it appeared in 1965. It disappeared by 1974. Exploration Place P993.11.1.6044.1

In this excerpt from the forthcoming issue of British Columbia History, Mark Forsythe’s column looks at a Prince George institution and how it helped repatriate an important artifact.

A virtual tour of the Surrey City Cemetery, part 2

In this YouTube video, Sue Bryant presents the second part of her virtual tour of the Surrey City Cemetery, revealing more stories about the people who are buried there. She presented part one at the BCHF conference in June.

We’re looking for past BCHF conference photos

Delegates receive a tour of Fort Langley National Historic Site during the 2008 annual BCHF conference.

The BCHF 100th anniversary team is looking for photographs from past conferences and we need your help. While we have copies from 2008 to 2019, we would like to find earlier ones while we reflect back on the organization’s history through the past 100 years.

MEMBER NEWS

New Galiano Museum opens this week

The new Galiano Museum opens Sept. 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The 3,000-square foot building is at 519 Georgeson Bay Road on Galiano Island and was completed with grants and community donations.

Fraser Valley heritage railway back on track

Cloverdale’s Heritage Rail has reopened after being closed for nearly two years. Allen Aubert, director of fundraising for the Fraser Valley Heritage Rail Society, said things went “absolutely splendid” on opening day.

Boundary Historical Society dedicates Gladys Floyd cabin

Boundary Historical Society vice-president Cher Wyers pays tribute to Gladys Floyd at the society’s annual picnic. Photo: Della Mallette

On Aug. 15, the Boundary Historical Society officially dedicated an historic cabin at Jewel Lake, near Greenwood, donated to them by the late Gladys Floyd.

HISTORICAL NOTES

Knowledge Network premieres BC history series October 12

British Columbia: An Untold History premieres on Knowledge Network, October 12 at 9 p.m. and will be available for free streaming online in Canada. The four-part series focuses upon the under-told and untold histories of marginalized British Columbians. We spoke to senior researcher Jennifer Chiu.

Kettle Valley Schoolhouse’s past revisited, future contemplated

Photo: Lumin McCutcheon

There was activity once again at the old Kettle Valley Schoolhouse property in Rock Creek (seen above) on Aug. 14. An impressive turnout of locals came by to tell their stories and ideas to inform the preparation of a heritage conservation plan for the site. 

Sterling Prize recipient challenges racism and role of museums

Sdahl K’awaas (also known as Lucy Bell) is the recipient of Simon Fraser University’s 2021 Nora and Ted Sterling Prize in Support of Controversy for her bravery in calling out racism in the heritage field and advocating for change. She made headlines last year when she quit as the first head of the Indigenous Collections and Repatriation Department at the Royal British Columbia Museum.

Historic Greenwood hotel changes hands

The Windsor Hotel in Greenwood (seen above, centre), built in 1899 but closed since 2017, has new owners and a new lease on life. It’s expected to reopen next summer.

Mining company donation kept Barkerville going in 2021

Wikimedia Commons image

Barkerville Historic Town and Park was able to operate this year thanks to a donation from Barkerville Gold Mines. Although the heritage tourist attraction is owned by the provincial and federation governments, it was denied COVID-19 relief funding.

Quadra Street cemetery headstone resurfaces

An 1867 headstone from Victoria’s former Quadra Street cemetery has reappeared in a garden. The headstone, belonging to Isabella Stockland, has a long and complicated history. It was discovered in the 1970s being used as a paving stone at a home on The Gorge.

Input sought on National Heritage Digitization Strategy

The executive committee of the National Heritage Digitization Strategy is embarking on strategic planning to update the mission and vision for the strategy and re-articulate its ambitious community-driven mandate. They are inviting stakeholders in the heritage and cultural knowledge community to help shape the future of the strategy.

Reopening fund for heritage groups accepting applications

The Department of Canadian Heritage’s Museums Assistance Program is now accepting applications for assistance with ongoing operating costs through the Reopening Fund for Heritage Organizations. Not-for-profit and Indigenous organizations with a heritage collection can receive between $1,000 and $100,000 in emergency support.

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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