Category: Work

Mike Isnardy heading out on a cattle drive

Rupert Michael “Mike” Isnardy (1923-2004), eldest child of Jimmy and Evelyn, was well respected as a horseman. On his Springhouse ranch, he raised cattle as well as bucking […]

Isidore Boucherie with “old-timers” of the Okanagan

Isidore Boucherie is seated second from the right. Luc Girouard, the first European settler at Vernon stands second from the right. Bernard Lequime, son of Éli Lequime, the […]

“Old-timers” of the Okanagan

Isidore Boucherie is seated second from the right. Luc Girouard, the first European settler at Vernon stands second from the right. Bernard Lequime, son of Éli Lequime, the […]

Éli Lequime

No photo exists of Éli’s wife, Marie-Louise. Éli, Marie-Louise and the family of their daughter Aminade eventually settled in San Francisco, leaving behind the flourishing town of Kelowna.

The Lequime ranch house

The residence on the Lequime ranch, beside their first general store, 1872.

Ruins of Gaspard grist mill

At Dog Creek, Isidore Versepuech began to profitably grow several strains of wheat at his new Gaspard ranch. He also opened a flour mill with business partner Charles […]

The Versepuech family

Mootla was the daughter of Koteminak and Cormenaskat of the Dog Creek Band (today, the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation). Mootla and Isidore’s son Édouard became a champion golfer […]

Clarence Pigeon in Inuit clothing

For more information, see “Operation Musk Ox” on Wikipedia

Clarence Pigeon on the St. Roch

For more information, see also Operation Musk Ox on Wikipedia

Family of Moïse Pigeon

While the family’s sons worked mostly on the ranch, Teresa sent her daughters to school in New Westminster to ensure their education. When Moses died, Teresa passed the […]

Ranch house at Grandview ranch

Jessie Pigeon, née Sinclair

In a 1975 CBC interview, Jessie Sinclair explained her work. She was the first woman in BC to hold these positions, as of 1928 in Williams Lake: “[As […]