BC’s Deadly Smallpox Epidemic

BC’s Deadly Smallpox Epidemic

During the Cariboo Gold Rush, a ship with hundreds of miners from San Fransisco arrived in Victoria. One of them had smallpos. It takes 12 days to get symptoms and become infectious: the rip had taken four days. The infected miner shared a room with others who got sick.
Can You Speak British Columbian?

Can You Speak British Columbian?

Chinook Wawa is linked with the history of British Columbia. We might even call one form of it British Columbian.

James Cook and his midshipman George Vancouver sojourned at Nootka Sound. Their Nuuchahnulth word lists became a Nootka Jargon that spread through the Maritime Fur Trade.

Supported by Chief Concomly and the Chinook Nation, Fort George became the Canadian depot for Columbia furs. French-speaking traders married into Chinook families and learned a Broken Chinook.

Roots of Government

Roots of Government

British Columbia has two systems of government - parliamentary and municipal. Parliamentary government is rooted in law making (legislative): Municipal in law keeping (judicial).
Political Factions in Early Vancouver

Political Factions in Early Vancouver

Before the evolution of political parties in Vancouver, politicians organized themselves in loose political factions. These were related to earlier political factions that had already developed in Victoria.
Columbia: the Forgotten History of British Columbia

Columbia: the Forgotten History of British Columbia

Columbia, or Proto British Columbia, was the direct precursor of our province and its tragic story haunted the important figures of our early history. Its story contains important lessons and inspiration for our future.

The North West Company established the first long-term presence on the West Coast. It created two administrative districts called New Caledonia in the north, run from Fort St. James and Columbia in the south, run from Fort George (now called Astoria). When the North West Company was taken over by the Honorable Hudson Bay Company these territories were amalgamated into one called Columbia.