Local History

Vernon’s Larry Kwong is given his 2011 Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame induction plaque by Vernon student Gavin Donald. A push to have Kwong inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame continues. (Morning Star - file photo)

75 years ago today: B.C. player makes hockey history

Larry Kwong became first person of Asian descent to play in NHL when he suited up for the NY Rangers

 

The Unity Vancouver Island building in East Wellington near Nanaimo was heavily damaged in an overnight fire. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Historical church building in Nanaimo heavily damaged by fire

Unity Vancouver Island building in East Wellington dates back to late 1800s

 

Nanaimo city council, at a meeting this week, voted to repeal a bylaw relating to public morals which prevented people from making use of any “profane, obscene, blasphemous or grossly insulting language.” (City of Nanaimo image)

B.C. city repeals 130-year-old bylaw banning drunken singing

City of Nanaimo retains bylaw banning nuclear weapons, but takes several other bylaws off the books

 

The front page of Vol. 17. No. 20 of the Goldstream Gazette from May 13, 1992. (Courtesy of Goldstream Gazette archives)

Back in the Day: Dog census, rodeo and light rapid transit

‘Say Whoa to Rodeo’ took a while to catch on

The front page of Vol. 17. No. 20 of the Goldstream Gazette from May 13, 1992. (Courtesy of Goldstream Gazette archives)
The Choirboy and the Bellydancer is a memoir written by Christine Potter. It is a love story of the Fort Langley couple who met in the U.K as teenagers and moved to Canada in late ‘90s.

Choir boy and belly dancer settle in B.C. after roller coaster love story

Christine and Christopher met as teens in the United Kingdom

The Choirboy and the Bellydancer is a memoir written by Christine Potter. It is a love story of the Fort Langley couple who met in the U.K as teenagers and moved to Canada in late ‘90s.
Saanich’s Deputy Fire Chief Dan Wood shared an image of a 1940s firefighting recruit exam that he said wasn’t nearly as complex as the assessments in 2021. (Black Press Media file photo)

Name three parts of a ladder among the 40 questions Saanich’s 1940s firefighter recruit exam

1949 firefighter recruit exam no match for modern-day assessments

Saanich’s Deputy Fire Chief Dan Wood shared an image of a 1940s firefighting recruit exam that he said wasn’t nearly as complex as the assessments in 2021. (Black Press Media file photo)
Saanich employees (left to right) Annie Robinson, Kathleen Warren and Helen Elliott sit outside the former municipal hall on West Saanich Road in 1920. (Photo courtesy Saanich Archives)

PHOTOS: Saanich looks back on more than 100 years of stand-out staff in honour of women’s history month

Photos depict some of the women who contributed to district’s history

Saanich employees (left to right) Annie Robinson, Kathleen Warren and Helen Elliott sit outside the former municipal hall on West Saanich Road in 1920. (Photo courtesy Saanich Archives)
The Woodside Farm farmhouse. (Contributed photo)

Sooke’s historic Woodside Farm sold to local couple

Woodside Farm is the oldest continuously operated farm west of the Great Lakes, says musuem

The Woodside Farm farmhouse. (Contributed photo)
Kelly Black, executive director of Point Ellice House Museum, stands among the collection of chamber pots on display as part of the new Springs and Scavengers: Waste and Water in Victoria exhibit. (Kendra Crighton/News Staff)

New exhibit at Point Ellice House examines history of waste, water and privilege

Night soil scavengers in the 19th century would collect human waste and dump it around the city

Kelly Black, executive director of Point Ellice House Museum, stands among the collection of chamber pots on display as part of the new Springs and Scavengers: Waste and Water in Victoria exhibit. (Kendra Crighton/News Staff)
Some youth are choosing to draw their thoughts on their pandemic postcards. People who don’t want to download a postcard can also e-mail their thoughts to Literacy Alberni and they will be printed on a card for the project. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Vancouver Island pandemic postcard project asks people to share COVID-19 experiences

Postcards will be donated to museum for posterity

Some youth are choosing to draw their thoughts on their pandemic postcards. People who don’t want to download a postcard can also e-mail their thoughts to Literacy Alberni and they will be printed on a card for the project. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Jan Ross has been the site manager of the Emily Carr House for 25 years. She sits in the home’s parlour with her chatelaine– a set of skeleton keys required to open the doors in the house. (Nicole Crescenzi/News Staff)

What it’s been like living in Emily Carr’s house for 23 years

Site managers Jan and Michael Ross are retiring after more than two decades

Jan Ross has been the site manager of the Emily Carr House for 25 years. She sits in the home’s parlour with her chatelaine– a set of skeleton keys required to open the doors in the house. (Nicole Crescenzi/News Staff)
Pop-up banner image