Celebrate Black History Month at the Royal BC Museum with a dynamic display of booths from local organizations, hosted by the BC Black History Awareness Society.
Heritage Day is an opportunity to meet and talk with direct descendants about their stories and family history. The exhibits include images, artifacts and archival documents.
Schedule for the day:
- 1pm - Welcome and opening remarks
- 1:15pm - Exhibits open to the public
- 2:00 pm - Presentation by Ron Nicholson on the No. 2 Construction Battalion, the first and only Black Battalion in Canada (serving in WWI)
- 3:00 pm - Exhibits reopen to the public
- 4:00 pm - Event ends
Presenters:
The Alexander Family and Saanich Pioneers Society- A direct descendant of Charles and Nancy Alexander who were part of the 1858 migration of Black pioneers to BC from San Francisco. The Alexander's settled in Saanich and were instrumental in building and establishing the Black community, the Shady Creek Church and schools. The display includes photographs, archival materials, and the reproducation of the dress made for Nancy in 1909 for their 60th wedding anniversary.
Saanich Pioneers Society- The Society operates the 'Log Cabin Museum and Archives' in Saanichton. It is dedicated to the preservation of the historical records of the Saanich Peninsula. Several of the first Black settlers made their homes in this area. The exhibit includes archives and museum collections from the pioneer families, both textual and artifacts.
Old Cemeteries Society of Victoria- OCS is dedicated to researching, preserving and encouraging the appreciation of Victoria's heritage cemeteries. OCS conducts tours of some of the Black pioneer grave sites at Ross Bay Cemetery. Their display will highlight information about some of these pioneers, and their tour of Ross Bay Cemetery will take place on Sunday, February 23.
Underground Railroad- Presented by a 25 year member of the BC Black History Awareness Society and a 4th generation Canadian, whose great-grandfather was an actual traveler of the Underground Railroad. This display is a visual presentation featuring Harriet Tubman, a famous conductor of the UGRR, and other members of the Vigilance Committee who helped along the many escape routes to freedom in the northern states and eventually into Upper Canada.
The No. 2 Construction Battalion CEF- The No. 2 Construction Battalion was the first and only Black battalion in Canadian military history, authorized to fight in WWI on July 5, 1916, with headquarters at Pictou, Nova Scotia. This exhibit includes information about the 12 men from BC who enlisted in the Battalion, travelled to Nova Scotia, and served during the war.
BC Black History 'The Pioneers'- This exhibit gives a brief insight into the intrepid pioneers who arrived in 1858. They were free men and women seeking a place where they could raise their families, educate their children, practise their professions, vote, and live with equality under the law. Mifflin Gibbs, their de facto leader and the first person to be elected and serve as a Victoria city councilor, is featured in this exhibit.
African Heritage Association of Vancouver Island (AHAVI)- Building a united and strong community by co-operatively organizing and supporting events and activities to meet the needs of Africans, people of African descent, and friends of Africa on Vancouver Island.
