From Small Hamlet to Provincial Capital Today I would like to talk about the history of Victoria, British Columbia, my home town, which is featured in my novel Providence (Book One in the McBride Chronicles), recently released by Hancock House Publishers in Vancouver. On March 13, 1843, James Douglas (a Chief Factor with the Hudson’s …
(This post was originally published in February 2022) February is the month when thousands of people around the world will send or receive sentimental or humorous greetings cards from their sweethearts, friends or family members. So, let’s take a step back in time and examine the history of this unique ‘giving-of-cards’ tradition which apparently all …
Tonight is the last night of the old year and will be observed as the oldest of all holiday celebrations, first celebrated in Babylon about 4,000 years ago. At that time, however, the New Year began after the vernal equinox which was the first day of spring. It seems more logical to begin a new …
A Christmas Eve Miracle At least once in everyone’s life we need a miracle. The story of the one that happened over 180 years ago on a cold, crisp Christmas Eve in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, has been told many times before but, in today’s world of unrest and uncertainty, it still bears repeating. It …
I am just coming out on the other side of a bout with Covid and am feeling very grateful! Two years ago after we had been in lockdown for a while, I wrote a blog about the things I was learning about isolating in a “bubble” and the strange new world to which we all …
Originally published in this Blog on November 5, 2021 Perhaps because there has been so much horror in the world of late, it seems even more important every November 11th to remember why we honour all those who serve their countries. On November 11, 1919, when the first Remembrance Day was held throughout Commonwealth countries …
In Canada, traditional observance of Thanksgiving Day has only been in existence since 1879. In America the tradition of giving thanks dates back to 1621 when the Pilgrim’s Fall Harvest that year was so plentiful, but not until 1817 did the state of New York officially adopt Thanksgiving Day as an annual custom, and in …
This month, schools, colleges and universities around the world are now back in session. This made me think about education in general as I delve into research for my current “work in progress.” How did education first start in Canada? By the 1600’s, a system called petites ecoles had been established by French settlers early …
The term “dog days” dates back to ancient times when people in different parts of the world began drawing images of the sky by connecting the dots of stars, now called constellations. These dots allowed people around the world to “see” certain images. Our European ancestors saw bears (hence Ursa Major and Ursa Minor), some …
June is traditionally a month for brides and weddings. But this was not always the case so let’s take a look back at wedding customs and wedding dresses throughout history. An amusing reason (but not necessarily a true one) is that most people in olden times married in June because they took their yearly bath …
