General Archives | British Columbia’s Black Pioneers

Map of North America showing Black migrations

Black migrations to Canada from the United States took place largely between 1780 and 1863. A provision in Canada’s 1793 Act to Limit Slavery stated that any enslaved […]

“I greatly admire Mifflin Gibbs” – Ron Nicholson

Ron Nicholson, long-term member including serving on the Board of the BC Black History Awareness Society, in interview format. Location: Ron is seated in the Mifflin Wistar Gibbs […]

“You Ain’t Gone” Adelene da Soul Poet

Adelene da Soul Poet is a spoken-word poet, her ancestors are Black Pioneers Location: Studio, black background. Adelene is seated on a stool, but the video is focused […]

James Douglas scouts the site for Fort Victoria

John Adams is an author, historian, and he owns and operates a walking tour company “Discover The Past” that offers walking tours of Victoria. Location: On the south […]

“There are ample examples of discrimination”

Ron Nicholson, long-time member including serving on the Board of the BC Black History Awareness Society, in interview format. Location: Ron is seated on a park Bench at […]

The House that John Built: 1860’s construction techniques and gas lighting

Interview with Linda and Davyd, the current owners of the house. Davyd completed the house restoration work. Location: Linda and Davyd are standing on the sidewalk, at the […]

The Fort Victoria Brick Project Commemorates Black Pioneers

In 1986 the City of Victoria undertook The Fort Victoria Brick Project to commemorate early Victoria pioneers and settlers. A double row of 1000 bricks was laid from […]

Sir James Douglas, 1863. Governor of Vancouver Island (1851–64) and British Columbia (1858–64)

Since 1851 James Douglas held 2 jobs, Chief Factor for the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC), operating from Fort Victoria and Governor of the Crown Colony of Vancouver Island. […]

Willis and John Stark (1890)

Willis Otis Stark and his brother John Edmond Stark, in a professional portrait taken at the Elite Studio in Nanaimo, B.C. John Edmond made his living by prospecting […]

Emma Stark, daughter of Sylvia and Louis Stark

A formal portrait of Emily Arabella Stark, hand tinted, possibly taken while she was a schoolteacher.

The arrival of these Black Pioneers in 1858 is designated as a National Historic Event

This plaque was commissioned by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada and was unveiled on February 20, 2000 at the Shady Creek United Church (now Central […]

Plaque commemorating the arrival of the Pioneer Committee on April 25, 1858

The goal of the Pioneer Committee was to confirm that this British Colony was, as promised, a place where they could live without fear and live with equality […]