Small
Bamfield is a small, isolated village on the west coast of Vancouver Island. For many years the only way of getting to Bamfield was by water, and later by air. In the 1960s a road was built from Port Alberni, making it possible to drive the 80 kilometres to Bamfield. It is still a gravel logging road.
Much of Bamfield’s history has been told through the eyes and stories of men. Some of these men worked at the Bamfield Cable Station which was established in 1902 as a link on the All Red Route. Some worked at the Bamfield Lifeboat Station, established in 1907. Still others were fishermen who made their living on the sea, or in the businesses that supplied and serviced the fishing industry.
This exhibit is an attempt to acknowledge the women who have lived in Bamfield over the years and whose stories, don’t always get told; the women who stayed at home while their men went out to fish; the women who ventured out, often in small clinker boats to fish; the women who had to maintain the light plants on their own, tipping up 45 gallon drums of fuel into the family generator so that heat and light could be maintained; the women who travelled by canoe or rowboat to visit family or to picnic in the islands. Wood had to be split; dinners had to be cooked on the wood fired stoves; women ran the local fishing co-ops and supply stores. The Red Cross Hospital Auxiliary; the United Church Women’s Auxiliary; May Queen Celebrations; the Community Hall Society- these helped to provide social structure and camaraderie within the community and as such were important in the lives of these women.
We acknowledge that many of Bamfield’s women have not had their stories told here. We apologize for the omissions and welcome having families contact us so that we can update this exhibit periodically.
