A Victoria merchant who had arrived at Fort Victoria with her husband William in 1858, Amelia Copperman was notorious for her frequent brushes with both sides of the law. The following are only a few stories of the court house regular, as related by Islander writer T.W.Paterson. Amelia’s first visit was in the role of [...]
Entries from May 27th, 2010
The Trials and Tribulations of Amelia Copperman
May 27th, 2010 · No Comments · British Columbia, Vancouver Island, Victoria
Tags:Crime and Criminals·Historical·Justice·People·T.W. Paterson
The Union Club of British Columbia Pillar of Victoria High Society
May 26th, 2010 · No Comments · British Columbia, Vancouver Island, Victoria
The Union Club in Victoria is situated on Gordon street in the heart of downtown Victoria. Renowned for its strict and stuffy quintessentially British conservative convictions, the club’s membership has traditionally been the domain of only the most well heeled, gentle men of the community. The following is an excerpt from the official history of [...]
"What made Amor de Cosmos Tick?"
May 26th, 2010 · 3 Comments · Vancouver Island, Victoria
Amor de Cosmos(or William Alexander Smith), founding editor of Victoria’s first newspaper the British Colonist and second premier of British Columbia, was well known by many British Columbians during his own lifetime and remains so to this day. This article by Islander writer Leonard W. Myers, provides some interesting snapshots of de Cosmo’s quirky, fascinating life [...]
Tags:Amor de Cosmos·Colonialism·Governor James Douglas·Historical·People·Publishing
"Victoria Once a Hotbed of Intrigue"
May 20th, 2010 · No Comments · British Columbia, Victoria
It seems unlikely that the during the 1860’s, Victoria was subject to some of the tension and animosity, that characterized the civil war that raged south of the border from 1861 until 1865. These excerpts from an Islander article by Derek Pethick describe how the brutal conflict influenced sleepy colonial Victoria. When the Civil War [...]
Victoria's Ties to Royalty
May 19th, 2010 · No Comments · British Columbia, Vancouver Island, Victoria
Many Victorians scoff at the way our city is marketed to tourists as being more British than the British. As it turns out, this apparent hyperbole is actually closer to the truth than many people might think. Besides the Blethering Place and all those noisy red double-decker buses, Victoria boasts true roots in the English aristocracy. [...]
Tags:Historical·peerage
"Commandos Strike at Dawn"
May 19th, 2010 · No Comments · British Columbia, Vancouver Island, Victoria
These days, Victoria and Vancouver Island are well known as a premier location for filming everything from feature films to television series and every thing in between. Vancouver Island’s role in the film industry is oft touted as recent phenomenon, due to its oft publicized growth over the last few years. However an Islander article about the Cedar Grove Tearoom that to used to operate at Goldstream in the 1930′s and 40′s proves that Victoria’s involvement in the movie industry goes back further than many people think.
Tags:Historical·Military·Movies