MEMBER LOGIN
Emily Carr (1871–1945) intended to call this collection of stories written in the last two years of her life (1943–1945): Hundreds and Thousands. That title was used though, in 1966, for the publication of selected passages from Carr’s journals.
Ann-Lee Switzer discovered the stories in the BC Archives of the Royal BC Museum in Victoria. Five previously unpublished stories have been added to the collection first published in 2007. Nearly thirty of Carr’s original illustrations are also included.
Read the full review here.
From the Friends of the British Columbia Archives:
"We are excited to announce our first event for our 2025 Speaker Series!
Join us on February 9th for Chris Arnette's talk on Nɬʔkepmx resistance through rock art. Chris Arnett is an archaeologist and heritage consultant. He has worked with First Nations communities, including Tsleil-Waututh, Lil’wat, Nlaka’pamux (Lytton and Kanaka Bar), Upper Similkameen, Gitgat’a, and Maori (Ngāi Tahu) on rock art research since 1985. He lives on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia."
Learn more and register here.
Join Natasha Fairweather, the Project Manager at the BC Labour Heritage Centre, for this virtual walking tour of sites in Vancouver with a significant women's worker history, highlighting some of the job actions leading to progress on women's equality in the workforce.
Watch the full video here.
The Vancouver Art Gallery is marking Black History Month with Celebrating Black Futures, a month-long programme dedicated to exploring art, music, literature, and film through the lens of Black culture and creativity. Organized in collaboration with partners such as Artspeak, Nooroongji Books, Space Lab, the Vancouver International Film Festival, Vancouver Black Library, and We the Roses, the programme celebrates Black contributions while fostering dialogue and inclusion.
Read the full article here.
On January 13th 2025, historical societies from across Canada met again.
The following societies participated: Société historique du Canada / Canadian Historical Association (SHC/ CHA); Institut d’histoire de l’Amérique française (IHAF); Fédération Histoire Québec (FHQ); British Columbia Historical Federation (BCHF); Newfoundland & Labrador Historical Society (NFLHS); Royal Nova Scotia Historical Society (RNSHS); Ontario Historical Society (OHS); Saskatchewan History & Folklore Society (SHKS); Historical Society of Alberta (HSA); Yukon Historical & Museums Association (YHMA); New Brunswick Historical Society (NBHS); and Réseau du patrimoine et de l’histoire francophones et acadiens du Canada (RPHFAC). Histoire Canada / Canada History sent its regrets
The group discussed their plans for the upcoming year, including potential meetings and the importance of promoting diversity and inclusion within their organizations as well as in historical narratives. They shared their efforts to increase diversity, such as publishing special editions of publications or collaborating with other organizations. The conversation ended with a proposal of two main actions to continue their contribution to the national conversation on diversity, a panel discussion and a shared report presenting their different initiatives.
New Westminster Museum and Archives holds 230,000 photographs documenting scenes of the city’s history and its people. Community members donated the majority of these photographs creating a preferred narrative of our past, influencing the stories told through exhibition, programming, and the media, and omitting the contributions of those not captured in this historic record.
Reframed: Understanding New West Through Photos critically examines photographs acquired by New Westminster Museum and Archives since 1950. The exhibition articulates the role these images have played in shaping community narrative, and reframes them to present a more genuine picture of the city’s past. By looking at who is, and is not, present in these photographs, we explore how a limited number of photographers shaped the early historic record of the city. This exhibition compares the original vision of the photographer with the impact of their work. Evidence of forgotten stories appear at the fringes of their images and beyond the cropped areas of photos used for publication. Reframed considers the role developing technology played in empowering New Westminster’s communities to document their own lives. With thousands of unnamed faces in the collection, this exhibition highlights the power that names hold to discover hidden histories from marginalized populations.
The exhibition critically examines the ways in which we can reframe our knowledge about the city by highlighting its marginalized stories.
The exhibit's opening reception will take place on February 6th from 6pm to 8pm. The exhibit runs from February 6th, 2025 until June 29th, 2025.
After a career that has traversed 50 years, Haida artist Kihl’ Yahda Christian White is presenting his first major solo exhibition this February.
The Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art in Vancouver is hosting the show’s opening on Feb.1 with White in attendance. The displays will be available to view until next year.
The featured artwork spans his entire career and includes collaborative pieces made with apprentices.
On Thursday, February 20, the Chinese Canadian Museum is hosting a virtual panel talk entitled "Chinese Canadian Convos with BC History Magazine."
The special virtual program highlights stories from our winter 2024 issue of BC History, which featured a theme of Chinatowns.
Panelists include Imogene Lim, Catherine Clement, Elwin Xie, Sarah Ling, and Andrew R. Sandfort-Marchese in conversation with magazine editor Aimee Greenaway.
The online event is free to attend, registration is required. Visit the Museum's website to learn more and sign up.
The annual deadline of March 1 is approaching and we're looking for your nominations and applications!
The BCHF Recognition Awards honour individuals and organizations who are making a difference in the BC historical and heritage sector. Recipients will be recognized at the annual conference, held in Williams Lake May 1-4. Please consider making a nomination today.
READ THE GUIDELINES AND APPLY HERE
The Centennial Legacy Fund (CLF) is a small funding program that supports individuals and organizations working on projects to promote and preserve BC history. Past funding has supported initial research, exhibitions, acquisition of conservation supplies, documentation of oral histories, and the digitization of important collections. Apply by the deadline to be considered for a grant of up to $5,000.
Parts of the historic boardwalk and a number of buildings in Telegraph Cove on Vancouver Island were destroyed by a large fire, Port McNeill Fire Rescue said on December 31st.
The fire department issued a public safety announcement asking people who were going to the area to watch the fire to stay away as it was hindering the efforts of crews to extinguish it.
"This is a devastating loss to the North Island," the department wrote on social media.
British Columbia Historical FederationPO Box 448, Fort Langley, BC, Canada, V1M 2R7Information: info@bchistory.ca
The Secretariat of the BCHF is located on the unceded territories of the Coast Salish speaking Peoples.
Follow us on Facebook.