Places and People in BC

Fort Victoria is founded founded by the Hudson's Bay Company on March 14, 1843 With Fraser Valley gold rush in 1858, Victoria grew rapidly - main port of entry to the Colonies

Victoria was transformed by the Gold Rush City lot prices went from $25 to $3000 Miners had to stop in Victoria for a panning permit

New Westminster and Fort Langley (est 1827) Crown Colony of British Columbia was inaugurated at Fort Langley on Nov. 19, 1858 New Westminster to be the capital of British Columbia 1859

New Westminster Inaugurated Jul 20, 1859 completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1885 accelerated New Westminster’s growth and development

Vancouver British controlled the area of Burrard Inlet 1808 sent Simon Fraser to set up trading posts Settlers thrived on fish, lumber, fur and farming

Vancouver CPR chose to end it’s line to seaport at Gastown John Deighton or ‘Gassy Jack’ anticipated the business hub and built a saloon

Story of the barrel of whisky Saloon became popular with loggers while in town Gassy Jack..Gastown

Vancouver inaugurated 1886 Burnt in the Great Fire of 1886, quickly rebuilt, and the trolley connected the city in 1889

the Hastings Mill and logging large old growth trees provide softwood lumber

BC Confederates in 1871 After long debate between annexationists (who wanted to join the US), anti-confederationists (who just mistrusted Canadians) and pro- Confederationists (wanted to join with Canada)… BC joined in 1871, was promised a railway within 10 years and the federal government would absorb the colony’s debt

IMMIGRATION IN BC Part II

The Kanakas The Kanakas Hawaiians hired to work on ships and then to work at HBC posts 200+ Kanakas employed by HBC in Ft Vancouver, seamen, fur traders, farmers

Black Immigrants Knowing slavery was illegal, many came from Cali for the gold rush James Douglas found them work, helped them to form the Victoria Pioneer Rifle Corps Many farmed on Salt Spring Isle

Jewish Immigrants Many arrived during the Gold Rush Businessmen and gold miners alike Some prominent families i.e. Oppenheimers fr Germany

Chinese Immigrants Huge influx of Chinese during the gold rushes, especially Caribou- service industries: stores, restaurants, laundries, some farmed in the interior Worked on CPR taking most dangerous jobs, blasting, cooks, etc.

Chinese Immigrants Faced discrimination, death on the CPR sites came to BC Paid less than 50% of other workers Once CPR was done and despite their sacrifices, in 1885 Chinese immigrants had to pay a head tax of $50 to enter Canada