Stories That Shaped British Columbia

For the better part of the 20th century a converted two-level garage on Hornby Street in downtown Vancouver was one of Canada's most imaginative and noteworthy music venues.

An impressionistic moment in time at the Hastings Racecourse, Vancouver's oldest sporting facility.

There are over 100 Aboriginal Friendship Centres across Canada. A Place to Belong celebrates Christmas at the very first Friendship Centre in East Vancouver.

The sumptuous Casa Mia mansion hides a dirty secret. Newspaper headlines reveal connections between rum running money and some of Vancouver's most iconic landmarks.

Joseph R. Selsey's belongings were discovered in a shoebox by a dumpster in 2015. The provide us with a rare glimpse into life as a gay man in Vancouver in the 1950s.

In 1930, Indar Singh traveled from India to Abbotsford and was forced to leave his wife behind. During their 22-year separation, Indar wrote letters to his wife, Katar Kaur, and Katar wrote letters to Indar.

A day in the life of 91.1, Nuxalk Radio is a radio station built to help keep the Nuxalkmc language alive, broadcasting the laws of the lands and waters.

Spoken word artist Sol Diana shares a poem inspired by the origin stories of the Igarot people of northern Luzon, Philippines.

Temple Emanu-El is Canada's oldest surviving synagogue building that is still in use as a synagogue.

The fine line between kitsch and caricature is examined in this quirky short about the Tomahawk Restaurant - the oldest family run restaurant in BC.

Lyana Patrick (Stellat’en First Nation) shares her story of her family's powerful story of love and survival at Lejac Indian Residential School in northern BC.

In 1964, a tsunami flooded the unsuspecting communities of Alberni and Port Alberni and forever changed British Columbia's emergency planning.

Author Sylvia Olsen and her daughter explain the origins of the Cowichan sweater and the ingenuity and resilience of Coast Salish hand workers.

Seafood has always been a main stake of the west coast diet and an important resource for trade.

British-born Francis Rattenbury won a competition to design British Columbia's new parliament building. His vision would draw millions of tourists to the capital city, and his life would unexpectedly end in scandal.

Jeff George and Caroline Woodward are light keepers who care for Lennard Island Lighthouse just off the coast of Tofino, B.C.

Robert Bateman is one of Canada's most prolific wildlife artists and naturalists. His move from Ontario to Salt Spring Island in 1985 would inspire him to paint and publish a book called "Thinking Like a Mountain."

In the early 1900s, Finnish socialist philosopher, Matti Kurrika, established a utopian colony off the coast of Vancouver Island named Sointula- the Finnish word for harmony.

Leah Oke is one of Canada's female pioneers in professional cold water surfing. She attributes her success to her unique upbringing as a squatter on Sombrio Beach on Vancouver Island.

Poverty and discrimination rampaged Victoria's Chinatown in the late 1880s. A group of Chinese merchants created the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association and helped secure a home for their people in Canada.

The sinking of the S.S. Valencia in 1906 was one of Canada's biggest marine tragedies at the time and would lead to the formation of a 75-kilometre access trail, which today draws thousands of hikers annually to Vancouver Island.

At the height of his popularity, Paul Horn performed a series of solo flute concerts for a grieving orca named Haida, who was mourning the death of his mate Chimo.

A performative protest against the selling of Vancouver to the world at the expense of its less fortunate citizens, Slow's riot-inducing show at Expo 86 has been dubbed as BC's first big punk rock moment.

After gaining popularity in Russia with his album "Live at the Planetarium," local jazz pioneer Fraser MacPherson went from being a first call studio musician to an international celebrity.

When it comes to the Vancouver punk rock scene, The Dishrags are at ground zero- and they were the first all-female punk band in Canada.

British Columbia's Aldergrove is not exactly known as the epicentre of counterculture, but for one magic weekend in 1969, it was an Aquarian Exposition.

A the age of 16, Red Robinson became British Columbia's first rock & roll disc jockey. We follow Red's early career and how he got his start on the airwaves, his impact as a tastemaker and local radio celebrity.

Little Mountain Sound was initially designed to record radio jingles. With the hand of music producers Bob Rock and Bruce Fairbairn, this little studio became a hit factory for some of the biggest names in 80s and 90s rock.

Vancouver's Penthouse has been and seen a lot of things, but in the 40s and 50s- before becoming one of Canada's most notorious strip clubs- this immigrant home and taxi headquarters was an after-hours hangout for touring musicians.

What began as a private club for railway workers became the hotbed of the Canadian roots, rock & roll and country scene.

Emily Carr's acclaimed work as an author informed her unique painting style she became famous for.

Author Evelyn Lau reflects on her groundbreaking memoir "Runaway: Diary Of A Street Kid" on the 30th anniversary of its first publication.

Publisher Howard White looks back at how British Columbia's fledgling publishing industry began to emerge in the late 1970s.

Author Anne Fleming reexamines how Jane Rule changed the literary landscape for queer fictions in North America. (4 of 10)

A short meditation on winter in British Columbia by celebrated poet Patrick Lane.

The story of the real-life adventures of a young widow and her five children as they explore the southern coast of British Columbia by boat in the 1930s and 1940s.

Linguistic anthropologist Jay Powell delves into the history behind the "Dictionary of Chinook Jargon."

Author John Vaillant revisits the people and events on Haida Gwaii that inspired his interspecies murder-mystery "The Golden Spruce."

Author Doretta Lau examines the legacy and impact of Wayson Choy's "The Jade Peony" for British Columbia's Chinese-Canadian community.

Vancouver's oldest used and antiquarian bookstore, MacLeod's Books, holds hundreds of thousands of colourful narratives.

Amy Bohigian and her partner, Jane Byers, were on their honeymoon in Nelson when they were inspired to leave the fast paced city for a new life in the Kootenays. Amy was pulled by the natural beauty, but it was the strong sense of community that has anchored her and her family here for the long-term.

Basil Izumi was five years old when his family was torn apart and sent to live at the internment camps in the Kootenays at the beginning of World War Two. His father, who was a professional photographer, made an album of his childhood that became a precious gift to his son.

Bruce Rohn was a teenager when he and his family were forced out of his childhood home by Hydro BC to clear the land for their dams, displacing over 2000 people. Bruce worked on the crews, clearing land and burning houses.

Gina Landucci tells us the story of her Italian grandfather who moved to Trail in the early 1900's to work at the local mine and smelting company. Soon after, Gina's mother, Felecita, came over as many Italians settled in the region, recreating their culture in the grocery stores, bocci pit and social clubs.

This story weaves together the stories of three women from different generations who have all fled persecution for their anti-establishment beliefs and protestations of war. Each woman found tolerance and a strong sense of community in the Kootenays.

Jack and Daisy Philips were lured from England to Windermere in the early 1900's by the promise of prime agricultural land made by the promotional campaigns of Robert Randolph Bruce. After a couple hard years and a failed settlement they abandoned their farm to fight in World War One leaving behind the farm and their hopes for a new life.

A pioneering woman sets off from the coast for adventure with her family and her camera, documenting rugged interior life as she earns a reputation for cooking at mining and logging camps.

Sophie Pierre was forced to attend St. Eugene's Residential School as a girl, removing her from her family and aboriginal culture. After her departure from the school she went on to become a leader among her people, bringing about a transformation to the old residential school and the people whom the school had impacted.

Stanley Triggs travelled to the East Kootenays during the time that the prime agricultural land was being transformed by the building of major Hydro dams in the region. He documented the farmers, the landscape and a way of life that disappeared after the land was flooded.

Arthur Erickson lived life to the fullest and never stopped expanding his practice and creative range. We look at some of his best-known buildings an his own house in Point Grey, Vancouver.

Invented by Rex Field of Courtenay, BC, the Buzz Bomb is an ingenious salmon fishing lure that is known world wide.

Touted worldwide as an outstanding example of mixed use urban design, Granville Island remains as popular today as it was when it first opened as a farmers market in 1979.

A self-described conduit of creative energy, John Fleuvog has built a boutique empire of shoe stores known for their unique styles.

In 1911, Joseph Coyle invented the egg carton using leftover pulp from his newspaper publishing business. Now his design has become the standard method of transporting eggs worldwide.

Charles Edward Pratt had a big impact on architecture in Vancouver and mentored some of Canada's infamous architects. His most recognizable building is the unique BC Electric building.

Nitobe Memorial Garden at UBC is one of the most authentic Japanese gardens in North America. Dedicated to Nitobe Inazo, who's goal was to "become a bridge across the Pacific," the garden now offers that connection.

John and Patricia Patkau have designed many of the most notable pieces of architecture in Canada, including the Seabird Island School and Audain Museum.

We follow the progression of a day at the cabin. Looking at different cabin types and locations, a rhthym is revealed in our innate desire to connect with loved ones and commune with nature.

Fred Hollingsworth originally unveiled the "Sky Bungalow in 1949 in Vancouver, but didn't take off as much as the "Vancouver Special" which has proven to be enduring and adaptable.

Barkerville's historical interpreters debate the pros and cons of BC's entry into the Dominion of Canada in 1871.

There was a time when Union Steamships were "the streetcars of the coast" in BC. We hear from a woman who rode the ships regularly when she was a little girl.

Expo '86 was a celebration of technology, progress and a bold new future for the hopeful young city of Vancouver.

BC is dotted with old company towns, one of which is Powell River. Resident Stewart Alsgard takes us on a tour of the town and its history.

BC Electric Rail is fondly remembered by those who lived in the lower mainland in the early half of the 20th century, we learn the story of what it was, why it disappeared and what was its legacy.

BC's Pacific National Exhibition is over 100 years old, and this collection of archival artifacts highlights the fair's importance as a gathering place for BC.

The year is 1922 and the city of Vancouver is about to make major changes to how traffic flows on its streets.

A tantalizing glimpse of Vancouver in a gilded age- scenes of daily life in 1933 featuring places like Stanley Park, Capilano Suspension Bridge and English Bay.

Warren Bernard was a young child when he was captured in a famous WW2 photograph titled "Wait For me Daddy." Now in his 80s, Warren reflects on the meaning of the famous photo.

Barb Cranmer explains why she believes that Edward Curtis' film could not have been made without the input of her great grandfather George Hunt, a Tlingit-English linguist and ethnologist.

Two young women from Haida Gwaii, Chelsea and Tia, describe their feelings when looking at a portrait done by Edward Curtis - they are inspired by the women in their society.

Filmmaker Colin Browne gives insight into how Edward Curtis' film "In the Land of the Head Hunters" was mistakenly seen by many as a documentary about pre-contact life.

Connie Watts reflects on how the subjects in Edward Curtis' photos showcased their pride in the clothing they made, but at the same time the superficiality of their staging had its disadvantages.

85 year old Haida resident Delores Davis gives her insight into a photo by Edward Curtis despite the fact that she never actually knew who he was.

We examine a striking photograph from Edward Curtis that captured Mike Dangeli's imagination, an image he feels shows how his people raged to preserve their culture.

Tsimshian native Dr. Mique'l Dangeli explains why she feels that Edward Curtis missed an opportunity of accurately documenting Indigenous lives in the early 1900s.

With roots among both the "invaders and the invaded", Noel Purserto of Seattle, Washington reflects on the value of Edward Curtis' "non-native lens" on his Indigenous subjects.

Reg Davidson explores the relationships and connections that Edward Curtis seemed to be able to make that allowed Indigenous people to trust him and give him the access that they did.

Wayne White sees the photos of his ancestors by Edward Curtis as an unintended gift to his people from a European culture that was doing its best to obliterate it.

Teri Lynn Williams Davidson reflects on portraits of Indigenous women by Edward Curtis and how such images have contributed to the literal erasure of Indigenous women's power today.

Haida carver Timothy Boyko found inspiration in Edward Curtis' photos as a young man, and credits them with awakening his desire to be a carver.

Trevor Isaac of Alert Bay grew up with the images of Edward Curtis and feels that he is lucky that his ancestors were photographed, although the images are posed they still convey a sense of nobility.

Alert Bay's Edwin and Vera Newman are grateful for the legacy of Edward Curtis. His films and photographs are a visual reminder of who they are that otherwise might never have existed.

Wayne Alfred remembers the stories his uncle told him about the making of "In The Land of the Headhunters" and how the movie began a shift in the public perceptions about Indigenous life.

Dr. Mique'l Dangeli shares her disdain for Edward Curtis' practice of clothing his subjects in costumes and regalia that may or may not have been true to their culture.

For Earl Smith, one of the legacies of Residential school is the drive to learn his Ehattesaht language.

Carrielynn Xwementelot Victor of the Cheam First Nation sings a lullaby in Halq'emeylem for her newborn.

Realizing you want to learn the Tsilhqot'in language as an adult, it helps when your mom is a famous Tsilhqot'in teacher.

In 1977, Dave Elliot developed an alphabet and a typewriter to keep the Sencoten language thriving.

A song for the generations, sung by generations. Written by Csetkwe Fortier.

Sarah, Florence, and Gloria Sam are a tight knit family of Carrier language teachers for the Nak'azdli Community.

The Chief Atahm Immersion School found innovative ways to teach math in the Secwepemctsin language.

As the city emerges so do the words in Skwxwu7mesh snichim.

When the Nisga'a Nation looked for a unique way to teach their language, an unlikely fabric hero emerged.

When the Heiltsuk community relies on a plane and boat to travel, it takes a community to ensure everyone understands the plane safety announcements.

Vernon Williams Jr was given the gift of sharing Xaad Kil songs with the home he loves so much, Haida Gwaii.

Technology is the path forward to continue the Ktunaxa language, a isolate language connected to no others.

An imagined look at a BC spelling bee competition incorporating all 32 distinct Indigenous languages plus English and French.

Rex Weyler is one of the original founders of Greenpeace. Rex talks about his early days with the organization, and what it was like being a photographer on the first Greenpeace whale campaign voyage.

In 1947 a group of kids from Ladysmith BC protested the rising price of chocolate bars.

Renowned Vancouver artist Ken Lum reflects on his childhood and what the East Van Cross represents to him.

Vancouver Sun photographer, Glenn Baglo, reflects on what it was like to be at the centre of the Gastown Riot, capturing the event on film.

In May 1967 Dan McLeod published the first edition of his alternative newspaper, the Georgia Straight. He reflects on his life running one of the most controversial papers in Canada.

This is the story of how Joe Fortes, an immigrant from Trinidad, was appointed the first official lifeguard in Vancouver.

On November 7, 1885 the ceremonial last spike was driven to complete the Canadian Pacific Railway. This is the story of how young Edward Mallandaine snuck into the photo.

At the age of 12, Severn Suzuki delivered a passionate speech before the UN on climate change. Years later, she reflects on that important day and what it means now that she is a mother.

Judy Williams, one of the central ambassadors and protectors of Vancouver's Wreck Beach, reflects on her life as a naturalist, and what the beach means to her.

Spending months on the road can strain your sense of home, so this musician followed his heart to a new home in Smithers, BC.

The Killer Whale Woman is both scientist and artist. She has lived in many places, but Haida Gwaii is her spiritual home.

Landscapes that produce a unity between inside and outside spaces are the specialty of this architect who is inspired by the human longing for nature.

"I'm a traveler, because I'm an astrophysicist". With a career that provides him with a universal perspective, his home on earth is placed in a context that others could only imagine.

A long-distance relationship that spanned twenty-five years resulted in love and a new perspective of home for this former Harlem-Globetrotter.

The repatriation of Indigenous People's art to their rightful home on the coast is informed by the connection between art and the history of the human species.

In a busy life that takes her across Canada for her job as a senator, the feeling of heading home is one of nourishment and rejuvenation.

Indigenous artist Sonny Assu finds that sometimes the most meaningful way to experience a sense of home is by reconnecting with what was left behind.

A 400-year-old Douglas Fir and a Canadian writer both share the same home - a living, breathing house containing many dreams.

Considering the evolution of the notion of home, society is now able to move around with such speed and frequency that perhaps the earth itself is our home.

Growing up surrounded by your passion - being able to train and play in your own backyard - helped this Olympic ski-cross gold medalist achieve success on the world stage.

Home is hope; as a musician experiencing life on the road, your sense of home has to start from within.

This writer, director, and producer started off surviving in the world with just his wits, and then settled into the creative environment of Vancouver's downtown eastside.

Pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone can be a type of home, and for this competitive swimmer, that includes anything in the great outdoors.

In his music he remembers the struggle of not knowing where home was; now, surrounded by safety and love, Vancouver is where he hangs his hat.

This former goaltender knows the feeling of excitement and community that comes along with the home ice advantage.

Whether in front of the camera or on the stage, this Canadian actress feels most at home in her career - or with her dog!

A restaurant is a village made up of the people who work there, the people who produce the food, and the customers; it's a home created through a mosaic of experiences.

It's a conscious effort to make a house a home, like it's a conscious effort to make a street a community; it starts with aspirations.

The emotional shift from a steady home to the nomadic life made this artist realize that her real home resides in the love and generosity of friends.

More than a place that has been given to you or built by you, home can be a place you create for someone else.

"Everything that I want in life and everything that I've learned is through nature". Within a community that values the connection with nature, this professional skier finds home.

This architect works in the business of physically manifesting the term home, but his own sense of home is about the people in it.

The west coast life-style of Tofino, BC brings a compelling variety of weather and wind and waves, rivalling the world's most ideal locations for this surfer.

From playing in the pool as a child to practicing daily for the Olympics, being in the water is home for this athlete.

From a boxing ring to the Green Lantern, this award-winning spoken word poet elicits many metaphors to describe what home means for him.

A breeding ground for creativity, camaraderie, and challenge; this BMX Biker recalls his best memories, all which occurred in an empty parking lot.

This passionate spoken word performance confronts societies prejudice towards people who don't have a home.

Once a place of privacy and solace, this professor suggests that the home is making a return to a place of both work and family.

"Music is really comforting me. It just makes me feel good". In memory of Canadian music icon John Mann, a story of love, music, and creativity.

The invention of steamships revolutionized transportation for British Columbia in the 1800s, allowing workers to reach parts of the province that were previously impassible.

An 8-year long Silicosis campaign ran by Bea Zucco became a rallying point for groups who were disgruntled by the Workers Compensation Board in the mid-1900s.

Unemployment strife during the Great Depression came to a head in Vancouver when peaceful protests became anything but.

A paradoxical situation in the longshoring industry informed the creation of the Bows and Arrows union, illustrating how unions could be used to fight for equality.

Despite racial barriers and the disaster of Pearl Harbour, Buck Suzuki remained a recognized visionary in the BC fishing industry.

"The main thing that working women need is union organization." Watch how the unionization movement for working women was born.

A musical tale depicting the wistful lives of labourers working in a salmon cannery.

A dispute between the Langley School Board and Langley Teachers Association led by Connie Jervis set the precedent for compulsory arbitration for teachers.

The disastrous bridge collapse during construction of the Second Narrows cantilever bridge resulted in the single worst industrial tragedy in Vancouver's history.

A lack of union protection for farmworkers in BC resulted in years-long battles between the Canadian Farmworkers Union and the BC government.

Learn how the death of a single union worker led to Canada's first general strike in 1918.

Gold fever spread dreams of great fortune for seekers willing to brave the harsh conditions of gold mining in the interior of British Columbia, creating the largest gold rush in BC history.

Setting the stage for the women's suffrage movement in Vancouver, Helena Gutteridge played an integral role in winning women the right to vote.

Women's entry into the labour force during the Second World War opened the conversation within unions to establish equal pay for equal work for women.

The first woman in western Canada to get a commercial pilots licence had yearned to fly since childhood, and left a soaring legacy of remarkable achievements.

Through candid photos of labourers from all trades, Mattie Gunterman documented the pioneer life of British Columbians in the early 1900s.

The booming forest industry in British Columbia fostered the creation of an ethnically diverse town called Paldi, named after Mayo Singh's home in India.

Learn about the miners' strike in the 1870s that was sparked by inhumane working conditions set by the wealthy Dunsmuirs, who owned the dangerous mining operations.

A small company town born in 1906 was home to more than pulp mill workers, it was also a vibrant community that produced world-class swimmers.

Work relief camps that sprung up during the Great Depression inspired union activists to take their grievances all the way to Ottawa.

The Solidarity campaign represented over 400,000 BC workers, setting the stage for the largest labour protest in British Columbian history, which had the potential to shut down the province.

The Indigenous Peoples of British Columbia have had a long history of labour, from building their economies on hunting, fishing and trade to the introduction of European settlers.

The formation of the BC Fisherman's Union in 1899 challenged the dominance of cannery owners, resulting in a strike that had lasting consequences.

Ethel Johns, the first director of nursing at Vancouver General Hospital, lead the way in defining the professional nurse in British Columbia.

The first strike in the British Columbia telephone industry was catalyzed by the emergence of women operators who shifted the status quo.

With gas explosions killing hundreds, miners working in Vancouver Island initiated BC's longest and most violent strike, the Vancouver Island War.

Contrasted against the beauty of the Fraser River, the construction crews of the Canadian Northern Railway faced ugly conditions.

Travelling across miles of rough terrain with a home-made darkroom hitched to the back of his car, Wilmer Gold created the largest collection of photos depicting BC's logging industry.

Asian discrimination escalated in British Columbia after the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway, resulting in years of violence and turmoil.

Five women look back on the Mission flood of 1948 and share personal experiences of the dramatic event.