history

Minnie Paterson, known as the ‘Heroine of Cape Beale’ for her lifesaving efforts following a tragic shipwreck on the west coast of Vancouver Island, poses for a portrait with her dog Yarrow in 1900. Paterson’s husband Thomas was the Cape Beale lighthouse keeper at the time of the wrecks of the SS Valencia on Jan. 22, 1906 and the Coloma on Dec. 7, 1906. Minnie earned her nickname after trekking through rough terrain and weather to Bamfield to alert Coast Guard Service Quadra that the Coloma was sinking. All aboard were saved thanks to her heroic efforts. This photo is one of 24,000 included in the Alberni Valley Museum’s online archives, available for public viewing at https://portalberni.pastperfectonline.com. (PHOTO PN11869 COURTESY ALBERNI VALLEY MUSEUM)

Meet Minnie Paterson, the heroine of Cape Beale

How a lighthouse keeper’s wife saved the victims of a turn-of-the-century shipwreck

 

The Morden Mine tipple and headframe structure has undergone $1.4 million in restoration work, which included strengthening the 108-year-old concrete structure and new fencing around the historical site south of Nanaimo. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Restoration work finished at Morden Mine historical site

$1.4-million project strengthens mine structure south of Nanaimo

 

A petition launched by a group of University of Victoria students calls for the renaming of Trutch Street. (Google Maps)

Campaign to get racist name off Victoria street getting online support

UVic students say Trutch Street puts racist history on a pedestal

 

Rob Rondeau, PhD candidate at SFU, is embarking on a mission to find definitive evidence of human migration to the continent. (SFU supplied image)

VIDEO: Marine archaeologist looking for clues of ancient migration in B.C. waters

SFU researcher hoping to find 15,000 year-old archaeological sites underwater

Rob Rondeau, PhD candidate at SFU, is embarking on a mission to find definitive evidence of human migration to the continent. (SFU supplied image)
Dan Vedova holds up an Ensign retrieved from the HMCS Clayoquot as she was sinking on Dec. 24, 1944. (Andrew Bailey photo)

No virus required: A harrowing story of one Christmas Eve past

Short of lifeboats, dozens of sailors jumped into the black frigid water

  • Dec 24, 2020
Dan Vedova holds up an Ensign retrieved from the HMCS Clayoquot as she was sinking on Dec. 24, 1944. (Andrew Bailey photo)
The historic St. Andrews Lodge was saved for demolition. (PQB News file photo)

Qualicum Beach lays out requirements for renovation of historic St. Andrews Lodge

Council defers matter until society has been established

The historic St. Andrews Lodge was saved for demolition. (PQB News file photo)
Qualicum Beach Coun. Teunis Westbroek talks to protesters fighting to save the St. Andrews Lodge. (Michael Briones photo)

Qualicum Beach councillors call special meeting in effort to save historic St. Andrews Lodge

Old building slated for demolition

Qualicum Beach Coun. Teunis Westbroek talks to protesters fighting to save the St. Andrews Lodge. (Michael Briones photo)
A fence has been erected in Qualicum Beach around St. Andrews Lodge, scheduled to be demolished, with the gate locked to keep the public out. (Michael Briones photo)

Qualicum Beach mayor pens open letter to council after controversy surrounding historic lodge

‘A decision was made after all other avenues were exhausted’

A fence has been erected in Qualicum Beach around St. Andrews Lodge, scheduled to be demolished, with the gate locked to keep the public out. (Michael Briones photo)
Qualicum Beach councillor Teunis Westbroek talks to protesters fighting to save the St. Andrews Lodge. (Michael Briones photo)

Wrecking ball reprieve for heritage Qualicum building?

Qualicum Beach councillor agrees with quest to save historic St. Andrews Lodge

Qualicum Beach councillor Teunis Westbroek talks to protesters fighting to save the St. Andrews Lodge. (Michael Briones photo)
Protesters against the demolition of St. Andrews Lodge in Qualicum Beach took shifts along the Island Highway on Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, to maintain social distancing regulations while demonstrating. (Mandy Moraes photo)

Qualicum Beach residents rally to preserve historic St. Andrews Lodge

Building slated for demolition

Protesters against the demolition of St. Andrews Lodge in Qualicum Beach took shifts along the Island Highway on Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, to maintain social distancing regulations while demonstrating. (Mandy Moraes photo)
A rally will be held at the St. Andrews Lodge and Cottages property on Nov. 2. (Town of Qualicum Beach Photo)

Qualicum Beach residents stage rally to save historic St. Andrews Lodge

Event is aimed at stopping town from removing or demolishing old building

A rally will be held at the St. Andrews Lodge and Cottages property on Nov. 2. (Town of Qualicum Beach Photo)
Frederick Lee and Eva Lillian Baker lived in Victoria from the 1930s until their passing. Now, their great nephew who lives in Birmingham, U.K. is asking for Victoria residents’ help to learn more. (Courtesy Derek Roft)

Don your detective hats Greater Victoria — a U.K. man wants your help

Derek Roft is on a mission to find out more about relatives that emigrated to Canada in 1912

Frederick Lee and Eva Lillian Baker lived in Victoria from the 1930s until their passing. Now, their great nephew who lives in Birmingham, U.K. is asking for Victoria residents’ help to learn more. (Courtesy Derek Roft)
David Hooper has learned about the Spanish flu from 1918 from his great-grandfather Francis Grant’s first-hand accounts. Grant lived in Victoria, B.C. and was working at Spencers department store when the Spanish flu came to Vancouver Island. He wrote about the epidemic in his daily diaries. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

B.C. man’s diaries reveal glimpse of life when Spanish flu hit

Port Alberni’s David Hooper shares ancestor’s writings from 1918

David Hooper has learned about the Spanish flu from 1918 from his great-grandfather Francis Grant’s first-hand accounts. Grant lived in Victoria, B.C. and was working at Spencers department store when the Spanish flu came to Vancouver Island. He wrote about the epidemic in his daily diaries. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
The Thetis Island Elementary School class from November 2019. Back row, from left: teacher Genny Redman and educational assistant Simone Luckham. Second back row: Westley Knowles, Matti Bannister, Erica Ralston, Raglan Gall. Middle: Sophia Dufort, Sophie Sharp, Lucas Bieber, Aubrey Gall, Daxton Meunier, Amelia Ensminger. Second row from front: Ella Kasting, Elise Meunier, Holly Sharp, Alina Ensminger, Jayleigh Gall, Colten Dufort, Aaron Bieber. Front, kneeling: Kai Kasting, Lily Galbraith, Alder McClellan.

Romance of the one-room schoolhouse continues to thrive on Thetis Island

School celebrated 100 years, as its cherished role in the community stands the test of time

  • Sep 12, 2020
The Thetis Island Elementary School class from November 2019. Back row, from left: teacher Genny Redman and educational assistant Simone Luckham. Second back row: Westley Knowles, Matti Bannister, Erica Ralston, Raglan Gall. Middle: Sophia Dufort, Sophie Sharp, Lucas Bieber, Aubrey Gall, Daxton Meunier, Amelia Ensminger. Second row from front: Ella Kasting, Elise Meunier, Holly Sharp, Alina Ensminger, Jayleigh Gall, Colten Dufort, Aaron Bieber. Front, kneeling: Kai Kasting, Lily Galbraith, Alder McClellan.
25 years later: The water skiing legend on Kalamalka Lake

25 years later: The water skiing legend on Kalamalka Lake

A group of waterskiers were towed behind a plane on Kalamalka Lake back in 1995

25 years later: The water skiing legend on Kalamalka Lake
A view across Victoria’s harbour is split by more than 100 years on the OnThisSpot app. The app gives users the historical knowledge and imagery they need to be transported back in time. (Victoria Archives AC1-M06964 & On This Spot Enterprises)

History app uses ‘then and now’ photographs of Victoria

OnThisSpot provides historical insight of Canadian cities

A view across Victoria’s harbour is split by more than 100 years on the OnThisSpot app. The app gives users the historical knowledge and imagery they need to be transported back in time. (Victoria Archives AC1-M06964 & On This Spot Enterprises)
Pioneer churches of Vancouver Island and the Salish Sea, a new book from Liz Bryan. (Liz Bryan photograph)

Author chronicles churches built by pioneers in the Salish Sea

B.C. author Liz Bryan preserving a little bit of pioneer history in her latest book

Pioneer churches of Vancouver Island and the Salish Sea, a new book from Liz Bryan. (Liz Bryan photograph)
Mohawk Council of Kanesatake Grand Chief Serge Otsi Simon discusses the current situation and actions relating to the Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs during a press conference at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

30 years after Oka crisis, Kanesatake land claims remain unresolved

Serge Simon, the current Grand Chief of Kanesatake, vividly remembers the events of July 11, 1990

Mohawk Council of Kanesatake Grand Chief Serge Otsi Simon discusses the current situation and actions relating to the Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs during a press conference at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
The intersection of Main Street and Roberts Street – named after Field Marshal Lord Frederick Roberts – is one of the busiest in downtown Ladysmith (Cole Schisler photo)

What’s in a name? Ladysmith’s historical streets re-examined

Several streets in downtown Ladysmith are named after generals that served in the Boer War

The intersection of Main Street and Roberts Street – named after Field Marshal Lord Frederick Roberts – is one of the busiest in downtown Ladysmith (Cole Schisler photo)
Volunteers with Alberni Pacific Railway returned to the roundhouse parallel to Third Avenue on Saturday, June 13, 2020 to begin replacing some rail ties by hand. Physical distancing was respected as 18 ties were replaced. The railway’s train and locomotives are located at the roundhouse. (PHOTO COURTESY ALBERNI PACIFIC RAILWAY)

All tied up at Alberni Pacific Railway

Volunteers begin to replace railroad ties

Volunteers with Alberni Pacific Railway returned to the roundhouse parallel to Third Avenue on Saturday, June 13, 2020 to begin replacing some rail ties by hand. Physical distancing was respected as 18 ties were replaced. The railway’s train and locomotives are located at the roundhouse. (PHOTO COURTESY ALBERNI PACIFIC RAILWAY)