history

Longtime Port Alberni resident Jerry Fevens has been documenting the city and surrounding regional district one photo at a time for more than four decades. (PHOTO COURTESY JERRY FEVENS)

Port Alberni man capturing region’s history one photo at a time

Jerry Fevens can often be seen documenting construction projects around the city

Longtime Port Alberni resident Jerry Fevens has been documenting the city and surrounding regional district one photo at a time for more than four decades. (PHOTO COURTESY JERRY FEVENS)
Nun cho ga, the mummified baby woolly mammoth shortly after discovery. (Yukon Government/Submitted)

Nearly complete, 30,000-year-old mummified baby woolly mammoth discovered in Yukon

Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin elders named the mummified mammoth Nun cho ga meaning “big baby animal.”

Nun cho ga, the mummified baby woolly mammoth shortly after discovery. (Yukon Government/Submitted)
Dorothy bound for Salt Spring Island in 1910. (Photo submitted)

125-year-old sailboat being ferried from Gabriola Island to its new home berth

Ladysmith Maritime Society will care for Dorothy until Maritime Museum of B.C. finds permanent home

Dorothy bound for Salt Spring Island in 1910. (Photo submitted)
(Vancouver archives)

Bowser plans birthday celebration for Mike, the famous bartending dog

Pooch would be 90 in human years on July 16

(Vancouver archives)
The man in the photo is believed to be a “Johnny” based on the written note: “to Margaret, from Johnny.” (Justyn Atherley/Special to The Star)

‘To Margaret from Johnny’: Aldergrove man finds mystery photo in his attic

Local mystery adds to uptick in unsolved documents, says museum president

The man in the photo is believed to be a “Johnny” based on the written note: “to Margaret, from Johnny.” (Justyn Atherley/Special to The Star)
People walk up stairs to the entrance of the Royal BC Museum in Victoria, B.C. Premier John Horgan announced June 22 they are stopping their $789-million plan to rebuild the ageing building, and sending things back to public consultation. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Province cancels controversial $789M Royal BC Museum rebuild

Premier says public engagement will now determine the future of the ‘seismically unsafe’ building

People walk up stairs to the entrance of the Royal BC Museum in Victoria, B.C. Premier John Horgan announced June 22 they are stopping their $789-million plan to rebuild the ageing building, and sending things back to public consultation. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Large landing barge on shore of Great Central Lake. One man on the shoreline. The barge is carrying boy scouts and their leaders, and some vehicles. 18 men and boys in total. One truck has a canopy on it with a woman standing outside. Painted on the door of the truck “Art Skipsey Sash and Door”. Front of the barge has a gang plank that is open. Painted on the side of the barge “B.C. FOREST-SERVICE”. On the back written in blue ink “Sat.1:30 pm 1st Sept/ 1951 / at N.W. end of / Great Central Lake , on the / Della Falls trip.” This is one of 24,000 photos included in the Alberni Valley Museum’s online digital archives, at https://portalberni.pastperfectonline.com. (PHOTO PN20251 COURTESY AV MUSEUM)

A LOOK BACK: Great Central Lake

Take a trip back in history with the Alberni Valley Museum

Large landing barge on shore of Great Central Lake. One man on the shoreline. The barge is carrying boy scouts and their leaders, and some vehicles. 18 men and boys in total. One truck has a canopy on it with a woman standing outside. Painted on the door of the truck “Art Skipsey Sash and Door”. Front of the barge has a gang plank that is open. Painted on the side of the barge “B.C. FOREST-SERVICE”. On the back written in blue ink “Sat.1:30 pm 1st Sept/ 1951 / at N.W. end of / Great Central Lake , on the / Della Falls trip.” This is one of 24,000 photos included in the Alberni Valley Museum’s online digital archives, at https://portalberni.pastperfectonline.com. (PHOTO PN20251 COURTESY AV MUSEUM)
Dick Brown at 16. (Submitted photo)

UPDATE: Victoria man surprised to learn he authored 1966 note in Parksville time capsule

Letter found 56 years later by Rathtrevor Beach tourists

Dick Brown at 16. (Submitted photo)
Leah discovered a small glass cream bottle that contained a note written more than 50 years ago. (Submitted photo)

Victoria family discovers 56-year-old message in bottle on Parksville beach

Buried treasure inadvertently dug out of 4-foot deep hole in sand

Leah discovered a small glass cream bottle that contained a note written more than 50 years ago. (Submitted photo)
Point Ellice House heritage gardens and exhibit will be reopened to the public as of May 22. (Facebook/ Point Ellice House Museum & Gardens)

Victoria historian awarded for retelling of Point Ellice House’s history

Kelly Black highlights former house owner Peter O’Reilly’s 18 years as Indian Reserve commissioner

Point Ellice House heritage gardens and exhibit will be reopened to the public as of May 22. (Facebook/ Point Ellice House Museum & Gardens)
A panel is pictured from “But I Live,” a graphic narrative of Israeli Holocaust survivor Emmie Arbel’s experiences during the Second World War. (Courtesy of Barbara Yelin)

Graphic novels featuring survivors of Holocaust published by UVic prof

Series gives voice to those silenced by Holocaust in youth-friendly format

A panel is pictured from “But I Live,” a graphic narrative of Israeli Holocaust survivor Emmie Arbel’s experiences during the Second World War. (Courtesy of Barbara Yelin)
A photo from the City of Victoria Archives shows the destruction caused on May 26, 1896, after the Point Ellice Bridge collapsed with a streetcar on it. (City of Victoria Archives M07434)

Looking Back: 126 years since 55 killed in catastrophic Victoria bridge collapse

On the afternoon of May 26, 1896, the mid-span of the Point Ellice Bridge collapsed

A photo from the City of Victoria Archives shows the destruction caused on May 26, 1896, after the Point Ellice Bridge collapsed with a streetcar on it. (City of Victoria Archives M07434)
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)
Ann Marie Burns started researching her family tree and then broadened to Vancouver Island’s history. (Courtesy of Ann Marie Burns)

Greater Victoria writer unearthing forgotten tales of Vancouver Island

Ann Marie Burns hopes to write books about some of the tales she’s written for Papertown Station

Ann Marie Burns started researching her family tree and then broadened to Vancouver Island’s history. (Courtesy of Ann Marie Burns)
Fern Davidson, Jean Sparks and Bronwyn Taylor show a trio of keeper trophies won by James Kinghorn while he attended Oak Bay High. The items and story were donated by Kinghorn’s daughter after his 2014 death. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Alumni unpack history, share student stories across generations at Oak Bay High

Space under social staircase dedicated to highlighting the school history

Fern Davidson, Jean Sparks and Bronwyn Taylor show a trio of keeper trophies won by James Kinghorn while he attended Oak Bay High. The items and story were donated by Kinghorn’s daughter after his 2014 death. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Pharis and Jason Romero filmed their latest video with Rick Magnell in the historic 153 Mile Store. (Rick Magnell video capture)

VIDEO: Juno-award winning folk duo showcase B.C. history in new song

Video filmed in historic 153 Mile Store was the ‘perfect place’

Pharis and Jason Romero filmed their latest video with Rick Magnell in the historic 153 Mile Store. (Rick Magnell video capture)
President Dave Ferguson of the Victoria Auto Racing Hall of Fame said the museum will have to leave its current home at the Westshore Motorsports Park in September and is currently searching for space to store its artifacts. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Victoria Auto Racing Hall of Fame hoping to preserve artifacts before fall closure

The museum is looking for storage space until a new permanent home is found

President Dave Ferguson of the Victoria Auto Racing Hall of Fame said the museum will have to leave its current home at the Westshore Motorsports Park in September and is currently searching for space to store its artifacts. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Nanaimo’s No. 1 mine. (Submitted photo)

City of Nanaimo lowering flags to commemorate mine disaster

Explosion that killed 150 miners happened 135 years ago on May 3

Nanaimo’s No. 1 mine. (Submitted photo)
Camosun College anthropology instructor Nicole Kilburn has done a deep-dive to understand the origins of several iconic Easter symbols. (Courtesy of Camosun College)

Greater Victoria anthropologist cracks open origins of Easter eggs, bunnies

Easter bunny may be linked to fertility, Camosun College instructor says

Camosun College anthropology instructor Nicole Kilburn has done a deep-dive to understand the origins of several iconic Easter symbols. (Courtesy of Camosun College)
Volunteers are organizing to purchase and preserve Golden’s Swiss Village. (RE/MAX Golden)

Golden’s Swiss Village Foundation crowdfunds to save property

The Swiss Edelweiss Village Foundation has temporarily secured the property

Volunteers are organizing to purchase and preserve Golden’s Swiss Village. (RE/MAX Golden)