With B.C. day coming soon ( the August long weekend) I have sought to put together some rather interesting facts ( 10 to be precise) on our early history and how we came to be what we are today (as well as some extra trivia) . So sit down for 5 minutes and read about where we came from and why we are so fortunate to live in one of the most beautiful places on the planet!
1)
Due largely to the mild temperature and abundant
food supply, the Pacific North West was home to one of “the most rich and
complex Native Societies”. Unlike many
other Native groups (including other B.C. Native groups like the Salish and
Kutenai), the Pacific North West Indians practiced private ownership of
property and even social classes. They also produced professional and brilliant
artists who were taught by the masters down through the years.
2)
In 1778 Captain Cook , after recently
discovering Hawaii, was sent by Britain ( in the midst of the American Revolution no less) to explore
the west coast of Canada. Captain Cook and his crew were warmly greeted by the
Mowachaht people on the west coast of Vancouver Island and, asking them what they called the place, they
misunderstood each other and he named it “Nootka” . They traded for otter pelts that eventually
made their way to China. Captain George Vancouver would later come along as
well thus the name “Vancouver Island”.
3) Have
you ever wondered where B.C. got such Spanish sounding place names as “Juan de
Fuca” , “Cortes” and “Quadra” ? What many people don’t realize is that the
Spanish were the first Europeans to
explore the Pacific North West (The Russians had already laid claim to
Alaska) – in fact they had claimed the
entire Pacific Ocean for themselves! Upon
hearing of Cook’s ventures they sent their own entourage to Vancouver Island
and captured many British ships who had brought Chinese workers over. In fact,
at one point there were “ British prisoners, Spanish swashbucklers, Chinese
workers…Natives (and) American traders …all jostling for position on a remote
cove on the far side of Vancouver Island.”
4)
We all know where the “British” part of B.C.’s
name came from but it was the Columbia River and its massive basin that lends
its name to the other half of “B.C.”.
At the time the entire territory from present day California to Alaska was referred to as “the Oregon Territory” and it was coveted by both
the Americans and the British - largely because of the Columbia River trade route that began in the interior of the territory and flowed all the way into the Pacific.
Two Scotsmen
and a Welshmen , all intrepid explorers opened up the Interior of B.C. – Alexander Mackenzie, Simon Fraser and David
Thompson. You will recognize their names by the mighty rivers they discovered. The most famous “graffiti” in Canadian history
was etched into a boulder by Mackenzie just before he took off from the Bella Bella territory “Alex Mackenzie, from Canada, by land, 22nd
July 1793”. Another interesting note on the Columbia River – it has a total of
14 dams built on it and produces more hydroelectricity than any other river in
North America
5)
James Douglas, a senior manager in the Hudson Bay
Company and the governor of Vancouver Island has become known as
“the Father of British Columbia” . The
brder between America and Canada was about to be drawn as a straight line along
the 49th parallel - the only
problem was that Vancouver Island dipped below the 49th! James Douglas founded Ft. Victoria on the
south of the island and, in doing so, ensured its inclusion (and some say all
of the northern Pacific Coast) in
Canada.
6)
In 1844, James Polk was elected as the U.S. president
on the campaign slogan “54.40 or Fight”.
54.40 was the latitude of the border of Alaska – in other words, the
Americans were bent on owning B.C. If
this had happened, Canada would have no Pacific Coast and we would be a very
different country. You may recognize the
term “54.40” – it’s the name of a B.C. rock band (named intentionally for that
slogan and its failure to happen).
7)
As an emergency response to the influx of
American gold miners , James Douglas tightly controlled who could enter the
mainland. He actually bluffed his authority over the mainland but was later
granted that authority by the British ( easier to attain forgiveness than
permission?) . As a result, Mainland B.C. was founded ( by coincidence) on August 2nd , 1858. Vancouver
Island later joined officially with the mainland “B.C. as “British
Columbia” in 1866.
8)
The Caribou Road (connecting Yale to Barkerville
near Prince George) was the result of B.C’s second gold rush. It was a marvel
of engineering and a danger to ride – at one point Camels – yes Camels – were imported
for the trek. Also worth noting during this time period is judge Matthew Begbie
– “the hanging judge”. It was his relentless and fearless pursuit of law and
order that prevented the B.C. interior from becoming the “free-for-all” that
California had become to the south.
9)
Although James Douglas was the “Father of
British Columbia” he was not much for democracy and Responsible Government.
Enter two newspaper men , Amor de Cosmos
(real name: Bill Smith) and James Robson
who led the charge for these two rights. With these two rallying the crowd, the
next governor, Frederick Seymour ushered in Responsible Government ( British
Columbians governing British Columbians) and democracy.
10)
Canada was forming as a Country in the East. It
now included Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Manitoba. Although
there was a very small contingent in B.C. who were rallying to join the
Americans, the majority decided to join Canada as the 6th province July
20th, 1871 thus creating a
country from “sea to sea”. Later, on November
7th, 1885, Lord Strathcona drove in the last spike of the
transcontinental railroad (The Canadian Pacific Railroad which was part of the
promise that attracted B.C. to join Confederation) at Craigellachie –between Sicamous
and Revelstoke.
Expo 86 was B.C's first major global event and spurred on the construction of the Coquihalla Highway and the Vancouver Skytrain system
The 2010 Winter Olympics held in Vancouver / Whistler became the first Olympic games where Canada won gold on its home soil. These games are also credited with giving a massive boost to Canadian patriotism and Canada's place on the international stage.
Other Interesting British Columbia Facts:
British Columbia geographical and climate ranges vary from temperate rainforests to Boreal forests, from desert to sub-arctic prairie and from massive mountain ranges to the ocean shore!
Official Flower: Pacific Dogwood
Official Tree: Western Red Cedar
Official Bird: Stellar's Jay
The white Kermode Bear ( also known as the spirit bear) is only found in B.C.
With its film industry known as Hollywood North, the Vancouver region is the third-largest feature film production
location in North America, after Los Angeles and New York City.
Largest B.C. cities (metropolitan area 2006):
1) Vancouver 2,313,328
2) Victoria 344,615
3) Kelowna 179,839
4) Abbotsford 170,191
5) Kamloops 98,754
6) Nanaimo 98,021
7) Chilliwack 92,308
7) Chilliwack 92,308
8) Prince George 84,232
9) Vernon 58,504
10) Courtenay 55,213
10) Courtenay 55,213
Famous
British Columbians:
Brent Hayden - 2012 Olympic Bronze Medallist (Swimming)
Bryan Adams – Musician
Bryan Adams – Musician
Pamela Anderson - "Actress" ;)
Michael
J. Fox – Actor (Back to the Future…)
Randy
Bachman – Musician (Bachman Turner Overdrive)
Michael
Buble - Singer
James
Doohan – “Scotty” from Star Trek
Joshua
Jackson – Actor (Dawson’s Creek..)
David
Foster – Songwriter/ Producer (16 Grammy Awards)
Nelly
Furtado – Singer
W.A.C.
Bennett – Premier (W.A.C. Bennett Dam)
John
Turner – 17th Prime Minister of Canada)
Robert
Bateman – Famed Wildlife Artist and Activist
Josh
Ramsay ( Lead singer Marianas Trench)
Barry
Pepper - Actor
Leslie
Nielson – Actor
Evangeline
Lily - Actress (Lost…)
Cobie
Smulders – Actress ( HIMYM , The Avengers)
Kim
Campbell – 19th Prime Minister of Canada and first female PM
Diana
Krall – Jazz Singer (married to Elvis Costello)
Chief
Dan George – Actor (especially old westerns)
Carrie
Ann Moss (Trinity in The Matrix)
Jason
Priestly – Actor (Beverly Hills 90210)
Ryan
Reynolds - Actor
Seth
Rogan - Actor
Jacob
Hoggard – Hedley
Richard
Dean Anderson – Actor (MacGyver)
Hayden
Christensen – (young Darth Vader)
Rick
Hansen – Man in Motion ( wheelchair world tour)
Terry
Fox – Founder of the Terry Fox Run
Many
Baseball Players including Justin Morneau ( A.L. MVP) , Larry Walker and Jason
Bay
Many
Many Hockey Players including Trevor Linden, Steve Yzerman, Joe Sakic, Scott
Neidermayer, Cam Neely
Steve
Nash – two time NBA MVP
Emily
Carr – Artist
Jim
Pattison – Fortune 500 member
