Blog & News

From the Vancouver Historical Society:

"Paradise? Picture this: a bid red interurban tram drifting through Richmond in the 1950s, making its way from downtown Vancouver to Stevenston via Marpole. Can you imagine at time when this system was the backbone of transportation?

So how did we let go of something so essential? Fast forward to today, and we're now spending billions to bring it back!

Join us as we explore this fascinating part of Vancouver's history at the Vancouver Historical Society's Incorporation Day Luncheon.

Date: April 6th

Location: Quilchena Gold Club

What's Included: A delicious buffet lunch, displays about BC Electric Railway (BCER), and a presentation by special guest Henry Ewart, author of The Story of the BC Electric Railway."

Seats are limited, purchase your ticket here.

March 3, 2025, Ottawa, Ontario — The Canadian Museums Association (CMA) was proud to recognize the outstanding contributions of museum professionals across Canada during a special ceremony in Victoria, BC on February 19, 2025. 14 recipients were presented with the prestigious King Charles III Coronation Medal by CMA’s Executive Director & CEO, Janis Bomberry at a reception at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. 

Click here to view the list of recipients, including several British Columbia-based heritage professionals who have made significant contributions to the field.

The Chemainus Valley Historical Society is planning to examine the historical experience of Japanese Canadians living in the community.

In a letter to North Cowichan, society president Ron Waller said a special exhibit on the subject is being planned at the Chemainus Valley Museum from late July to early October, 2026.

He said the exhibit is intended to coincide with plans initiated by the Japanese Canadian Legacies Society and the Festival of Murals Society to install a heritage mural commemorating the Japanese community in Chemainus, which was once prosperous and plentiful, on municipally owned land on Croft Street, just below Water Wheel Park, in August, 2026.

Read the full article here.

Three-year-old Goldie Gustard got to savour the apple-pie flavour of success after entering a $4,000 winning bid in the Best of the Shuswap Pie Baking Contest and live pie auction. 

A local B.C. Heritage Week tradition hosted by and in support of R.J. Haney Heritage Village and Museum, this year's pie baking contest (for apple, fruit or berry pies), held at the Mall at Piccadilly on Saturday, Feb. 22, drew fierce competition with wide variety of mouth-watering creations to challenge the palates of participating judges. In the end, Bonnie Peterson once again took the red first-place ribbon, her ninth, this time for a tart cherry pie. Coming in second was Norma Harish for a Pink Lady apple pie. The third-place ribbon was won by Kate Korda for her Fresh B.C. apple pie. 

The competitive spirit grew more intense during the live pie auction, with 17 pies on the block for the Haney fundraiser. A couple of local kids wound up getting involved in the auction action including Goldie who, with father Glen (the two representing Tech-Crete Processors), wound up in a bidding war with developer Bill Laird over a classic apple pie made by Missy Blair. Goldie's persistence and a $4,000 bid brought an end to the philanthropic battle, which had been entertaining for all involved. 

Read the full article here.

New video from the Vancouver Historical Society: "Fundraisers, Axe-Wielders, & Star Witnesses: Women on both sides of the Greater Vancouver Island Miners' Strike 1912-1914"

Women played essential roles as activists in a divided community during the Great Vancouver Island Coal Miners' Strike, 1912-1914. Join Aimee Greenaway for stories about women in Extension BC and Ladysmith, BC - from axe-wielding Minnie Axelson to Charlotte (Maffeo) Schivardi who was nicknamed a "non-union Joan of Arc" by the press. Stories are drawn from archival sources, give women back their names and voices, and highlight the integral role they played in the drive for justice and woman's rights.

Aimee Greenaway grew up in Extension, BC listening to stories about the Great Vancouver Island Coal Miners' Strike. She is curator at the Nanaimo Museum and Managing Editor of British Columbia History magazine.

Watch the video here.

This year’s Canada’s History Forum explores how history and education can help us understand and address environmental challenges. Join us on Thursday, March 20th from 6 pm until 9 pm to explore how learning from our environmental past can inspire action toward a sustainable future.

The event is free , but pre-registration is required.

Register here.

The Kamloops Indian Residential School, which was in the building now known as the Chief Louis Centre, was opened in 1890, and closed in 1978. Those who attended were between the ages of four and 18, from over 108 communities and at least 38 different Indigenous nations from across British Columbia.

Now the school, along with three other properties on the site have been designated as a national historic site by the Government of Canada and Parks Canada.

“Our survivors, and our intergenerational survivors and those not yet born, they are going to be able to take pride in that real collective history is what is being made today,” said Kúkpi7 Rosanne Casimir.

Read the full article here.

It’s a small greenspace sitting in the shadow of Christ Church Cathedral and across from the Provincial Law Courts on Quadra Street. While there are several monuments inside the park, it’s not obvious that Pioneer Square was once Pioneer Cemetery.

John Adams, with the Old Cemeteries Society of Victoria says it’s a popular stop on his walking tours.

“There are benches, there’s grass, there are trees. But underneath what most people don’t know is that there are still 1,300 people,” he says.

Read the full article here.

“These treasures that were gifted to their grandfather and father are going to be in the exhibit and hadn’t been seen by the nation since 1923 when they left and went to Ontario…” — Dr. Jennifer Kramer, curator, Pacific Northwest at the Museum of Anthropology

Vancouver’s Museum of Anthropology (MOA) is opened its doors on Feb. 21 to the very first exhibition dedicated to the Nuxalk Nation.

The year-long show titled Nuxalk Strong: Dancing Down the Eyelashes of the Sun, will feature 71 treasures, artwork, dances, and stories acquired from private collections, six different museums and from the MOA’s own collection.

The Nuxalk Nation have lived for more than 14,000 years on the central Northwest Coast located at Bella Coola, B.C. They are recognized for their distinct style of painting, carving and weaving. Additionally, many of the treasures from the community incorporate a unique colour of blue used in their masks and regalia.

Read the full article here.

The Exploration Place is joining forces with BC Bob Kronbauer, one of British Columbia’s most popular content creators, for a limited-time fundraiser featuring exclusive merch inspired by Mr. PG, the local museum and Loki the Magpie.

Kronbauer, is known for his engaging storytelling about provincial history and fun facts, has built a dedicated following of 150,000 on TikTok and 85,000 on YouTube, where he shares fun stories about the province’s past and present.

He hosts a new show, “Now You Know BC” on CHEK in Vancouver Island. His content highlights the quirky, unexpected, and iconic elements of our province. He’s referred to The Exploration Place as his favourite charity in Prince George.

The merchandise collection includes hoodies, crewneck sweatshirts, t-shirts, toques, tote bags, and a limited-edition Mr. PG neon sign.

Read the full article here.