history

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
Dick Brown at 16. (Submitted photo)

Victoria man surprised to learn he authored 1966 note in B.C. beach 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)

B.C. family discovers 56-year-old message in bottle on Vancouver Island 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)
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)
Ann Marie Burns started researching her family tree and then broadened to Vancouver Island’s history. (Courtesy of Ann Marie Burns)

Author urges travel to Papertown Station for 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)
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 needs homes for its artifacts as it faces 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)

May 3, 1887: Remembering 150 lives lost in Vancouver Island’s worst mining disaster

City of Nanaimo lowering flags to commemorate Esplanade Mine explosion that killed 150

Nanaimo’s No. 1 mine. (Submitted photo)
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)
Take a roadtrip from Victoria to Duncan as it was in 1966, with photos captured by the then-Highways Department and made into a video and loaded onto YouTube. (Courtesy of Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure)

Road Trip Time Machine series improves video snapshot of 1966 Island Highway run

Extended, enhanced transportation ministry video offers 6-minute trip from Victoria to Duncan

Take a roadtrip from Victoria to Duncan as it was in 1966, with photos captured by the then-Highways Department and made into a video and loaded onto YouTube. (Courtesy of Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure)
Researchers recovering a core from Little Woss Lake. Photo Duncan McLaren

Parts of Northern Vancouver Island missed by last Ice Age — researchers

Lake on west side of Island not covered by ice, prompting questions about early human habitation

Researchers recovering a core from Little Woss Lake. Photo Duncan McLaren
The village is over a century old and is an important historical site and was at one point the gateway to the mountaneering community in the Canadian Rockies. (RE/MAX photo)

Saving Golden’s Swiss Village: Dr. Johann Roduit and Dr. Ilona Spaar reflect on iconic B.C. spot

The historic Edelweiss Village has been for sale for over a year, and preservation talks are moving

The village is over a century old and is an important historical site and was at one point the gateway to the mountaneering community in the Canadian Rockies. (RE/MAX photo)
A letter discovered alongside a bow tie at Victoria’s Value Village is from former prime minister Lester B. Pearson. (Photo by Jacqui Ferguson)

Lester Pearson’s grandson confirms letter, bow tie found in Value Village were his

Lester loved taking the time to respond to Canadians, says Michael Pearson

A letter discovered alongside a bow tie at Victoria’s Value Village is from former prime minister Lester B. Pearson. (Photo by Jacqui Ferguson)
A letter discovered alongside a bow tie at Victoria’s Value Village appears to be from former prime minister Lester B. Pearson. (Photo by Jacqui Ferguson/Value Village)

Bow tie, letter believed to be from Lester B. Pearson found at Victoria Value Village

Items addressed to a Vancouver woman who appears to have been working on a project

A letter discovered alongside a bow tie at Victoria’s Value Village appears to be from former prime minister Lester B. Pearson. (Photo by Jacqui Ferguson/Value Village)
Liam Robertson, the Nanaimo city worker who found the First World War Military Medal, meets with Margaret Sloat, whose home the medal was stolen when her home was robbed in 2019. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

First World War medal found in Nanaimo trash returned to recipient’s family

Vancouver Island Military Museum presented medal for bravery to WWI veteran’s daughter

Liam Robertson, the Nanaimo city worker who found the First World War Military Medal, meets with Margaret Sloat, whose home the medal was stolen when her home was robbed in 2019. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
Greater Victoria photographer Don Denton is working to discover and preserve the history of B.C.’s forgotten photographers. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

B.C. photographer working to unearth province’s forgotten camera artists

Don Denton collecting and preserving details of mostly unknown photographers

Greater Victoria photographer Don Denton is working to discover and preserve the history of B.C.’s forgotten photographers. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Greg Devenish, Vancouver Island Military Museum director and volunteer, conducted research that revealed the identity of the recipient of a First World War medal that was found by a city worker and turned over to the museum in December. How the medal came to Nanaimo remains a mystery. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Research unearths history of First World War mystery medal found in Nanaimo

Military medal belonged to veteran who fought at Battle of Passchendaele

Greg Devenish, Vancouver Island Military Museum director and volunteer, conducted research that revealed the identity of the recipient of a First World War medal that was found by a city worker and turned over to the museum in December. How the medal came to Nanaimo remains a mystery. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
Port Hardy Museum Curator Robin Folvik and Port Hardy Heritage Society President Mary-Ann Smith. (Tyson Whitney - North Island Gazette)

New curator hired for the Port Hardy Museum

The museum will be reopening to the public on Feb. 1 with COVID-19 protocols in place

Port Hardy Museum Curator Robin Folvik and Port Hardy Heritage Society President Mary-Ann Smith. (Tyson Whitney - North Island Gazette)
Lee Brandt, A Langley-based crane operator who grew up in Milner will make his television show debut with History TV Canada’s new series, Lost Car Rescue. (Special to Langley Advance Times)

Crane, planes and automobiles star in History Network’s Lost Car Rescue

Rescuing classic cars requires more than a love for the classics and…

Lee Brandt, A Langley-based crane operator who grew up in Milner will make his television show debut with History TV Canada’s new series, Lost Car Rescue. (Special to Langley Advance Times)