It’s been a boom year for history buffs – especially those interested in the unique history of BC. With themes as diverse as Indigenous art and Vancouver real estate to early suffragettes and true crime, there’s a bounty of books exploring the province’s past, and offering a deep dive into the people, places, and events of yesteryear. Here’s a few for your shelves – or perhaps for a loved one this holiday season.
Land of Destiny: A History of Vancouver Real Estate
by Jesse Donaldson
Anvil Press
Released at the tail end of 2019, this book explores the city’s unique and much-discussed real estate industry, from the early days of colonial settlement in the region. Starting with the first sale of land in the West End in 1862 and continuing through the housing crisis of the 21st century through tales of nepotism, racism, and profit, the book explores the path that has made Vancouver’s real estate a story all its own. This book is the first in Anvil’s new series Tales from the Off-Beat, which aims to celebrate the eccentric and unusual parts of the city’s history.
Vancouver Exposed: Searching for the City’s Hidden History
by Eve Lazarus
Arsenal Pulp Press
Already well known for her best-selling books (including Cold Case Vancouver, Murder by Milkshake, and Sensational Vancouver), long time journalist Eve Lazarus has a unique view of the city and its history. Vancouver Exposed takes a closer look at the city’s hidden past through its neighbourhoods, institutions, people and events.
From the quirky (like belly-flop contests and nudist camps) to the serious, the book reveals secrets of the city that are sure to entertain and the black and white photographs give a rich layer of imagery to the stories.
Pioneer Churches of Vancouver Island and the Salish Sea
by Liz Bryan
Heritage House
Offering a close look at more than forty churches dating as far back as the 1800s, this colourful book captures not just the architecture but also local stories about the builders, church members, clergy, and even the graveyards across Vancouver Island and the Salish Sea. It’s an easy-to-follow guide that allows a reader to head out and explore these sites themselves, from humble country chapels to expansive urban cathedrals.
The Trials of Albert Stroebel: Love, Murder and Justice at the End of the Frontier
by Chad Reimer
Caitlin Press
A true-crime tale from the early days of settlement in the Fraser Valley details a shocking story that captured the country. When a local farmer is killed, the authorities quickly determine a local handyman is responsible but the community is convinced it can’t possibly be him. The case wound its way through an investigation and not one, but two, trials. With detailed research, author Chad Reimer brings this case back to life.
Cataline: The Life of BC’s Legendary Packer
by Susan Smith-Josephy with Irene Bjerky
Caitlin Press
The life and times of Jean “Cataline” Caux – a famous mule train packer from BC’s pioneering days – are a wild ride for any history buff. The pack trains of horses or mules allowed explorers, trappers, traders, merchants and workers to live and work in settlements far beyond those that could be reached by roads. The story of Cataline includes his journey from Southern France to BC in 1858, and his involvement with the Fraser River Gold Rush, the Cariboo Gold Rush, the building of the railway and more.
On the Cusp of Contact: Gender, Space and Race in the Colonization of BC
by Jean Barman, edited by Margery Fee
Harbour Publishing
This book brings together seventeen essays originally published between 1996 and 2013 by Jean Barman, previously unavailable as a collection. Using archival and oral histories, Barman pieced together stories of individuals and groups who were disadvantaged in white settler society because of gender, race and/or social class. The book contains archival photographs and illustrations. The content is aimed at widening the understanding of the impacts of the past. As Barman writes: “The ways in which we can redress the past are many varied, and it is up to each of us to act as best we can.”
The E.J. Hughes Book of Boats
by Robert Amos
TouchWood Editions
Consider this a visual and artistic exploration into a small part of BC’s history – specifically the province’s relationship with its ocean and rivers. The collection of works by E.J. Hughes (1913 to 2007) features some of the countless paintings of one of BC’s best loved artists, featuring paddle wheelers, steamships, fishing boats, and car ferries, among others. These coastal paintings offer a glimpse into history by virtue of the fact that they were created over his lengthy career. Robert Amos is the official biographer of E.J. Hughes, working with participation from his estate.
The Diary of Dukesang Wang: A Voice from Gold Mountain
by Dukesang Wong
Edited by David McIlwraith, translated by Wanda Joy Hoe
Talonbooks
This diary offers a rare glimpse into one man’s life during foundational period in Canadian history. Wong’s diary shares the appalling conditions, punishing work, starvation and illness, and experiences of exploitation and racism experienced by both himself and his fellow Chinese workers during the construction of the British Columbia section of the Canadian Pacific Railway. His experiences are just one step in a slow and painful creation of a new life in Canada, tracing Wong’s early years in China, through his work on the railroad, and eventually to settling in New Westminster to work as a tailor.
Step Into Wilderness: A Pictorial History of Outdoor Exploration in and around the Comox Valley
by Catherine Siba, Christine Dickinson, Deborah Griffiths, Judy Hagen
Harbour Publishing
Never-before-seen photos from the Courtenay and District Museum collection are part of the incredible collection of images this book, which highlights the spectacular landscapes in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island. The book showcases the early settler community’s interactions with the region, from early hiking and skiing expeditions to encounters with wildlife and more.
They Write Their Dream on the Rock Forever: Rock Writings in the Stein River Valley of British Columbia
by Annie York, Richard Daly, and Chris Arnett
Talonbooks
Nlaka’pamux Elder Annie York explores the meanings of the red-ochre inscriptions written on the rocks and cliffs of the lower Stein Valley in British Columbia, in what is perhaps the first time an Indigenous Elder has presented a detailed and comprehensive explanation of rock-art images from her people’s culture. The book includes an exploration of the solitary spiritual meditations of young people in the mountains, herbal medicine, winter spirit dancing, hunting, midwifery and much more. York was moved to publish this book based on a belief that this knowledge should be shared so that the public might understand why, as she puts it, “the Old People reverenced those sacred places like that Stein.”
Deep and Sheltered Waters: The History of Tod Inlet
by David R. Gray
Royal BC Museum
Offering a close look at a unique community over time, this book explores the history of Tod Inlet, near Victoria, BC. The area’s history is rich in details, from the original inhabitants from the Tsartlip First Nation to a lost community of immigrant workers from China and India, and the creation of Butchart Gardens and new settlements. Author David R. Gray – an award-winning filmmaker – drew on in interviews with Tsartlip elders, descendants of the Chinee and Sikh workers, and the local community, along with archival material, to create this illustrated book.
Here & Gone: Artwork of Vancouver and Beyond
by Michael Kluckner
Midtown Press
Fans of art and architecture will enjoy this collection, which features the artwork of Michael Kluckner that explores the surviving relics of old Vancouver and rural BC. Following on his award-winning and best-selling books from the 1990s and the 2000s, this is his first set of paintings published in nine years. The book includes artwork, sketches and artist notes.