British Columbia

First nations lived in this area for centuries before Europeans arrived on the scene. With the mild climate, abundance of food and resources they thrived, particulary along the coast. When the Europeans came the area was originally settled by the Spanish and you can still find signs of their influence in place names such as Galiano Island and the Juan de Fuca Strait. A clash between the British and Spanish at Nootka Sound on Vancouver Island almost lead to war between the two nations and later lead to the Spanish ceding the area to the British. The fur trade was the key to the developing areas exploration but it was the Gold rushes in the 1800's that made people really take notice. Finally in 1885 the last spike was driven in the long awaited Candain Pacific Railway which cemented the provinces' ties to the rest of Canada.

  
 

Gulf Islands Art & Culture

The islands are well known for their large community of artists and artisans. You will find a wide variety of islander's work displayed in the village galleries, while many of the artists studios may be open to visitors (check their websites for details). Musicians and other performing artists have a variety of venues to choose from, including Salt Spring's Artspring, the community centre's in the villages and towns of the other islands, and of course the island's cafes (the Tree House Cafe on Salt Spring has an amazing variety of performers), restaurants and pubs. Theatre groups are active on each of the major islands and performances are well worth going out of your way for.

Gulf Islands Galleries, Studios and Art Centres Gulf Islands

 Galiano

Art Galliano - Galiano Island
Bill Boyd Ceramics - Galiano Island
Cedar Grove Pottery - Galiano Island
Fisheye Photography - Galiano Island
Flying Frog Studio - Galiano Island
Kenneth Hardy Gallery - Galiano Island
Liliana Kleiner - Galiano Island
Penny Prior's Gallery - Galiano Island
Puddle Lane Blacksmith Shoppe - Galiano Island
Shera Street Paintings - Galiano Island
Thistledown - Galiano Island

 

Gabriola

 

Mayne

 

Saturna

Vancouver Island Galleries, Studios and Art Centres

 

Victoria Galleries, Studios and Art Centres

 

Vancouver Galleries, Studios and Art Centres
Whistler Galleries, Studios and Art Centres

History

Canada's national historic sites are managed by the federal government. The include fortifications, historic homes and buildings, canals as well as areas which have little obvious clues of their historical significance. In the latter case, efforts are often expended to reconstruct some of the details of the past. An excellent example of this is available at the l'Anse a Meadow site in Newfoundland, which reconstructs the earliest known European presence in the new world, in the form of a Viking settlement. Heritage Canada

 

Gulf Island History

The Gulf Islands have a fascinating history which includes native peoples, their ceremonies and battles, Hawaiian settlers, rum smugglers and even a thick, unruly mob of prospective gold miners, which made their way through the islands on their way to the gold fields of the Fraser. Stop in at one of the islands museums, bookstores or libraries where you'll find a wealth of information on the islands past. Also have a look at the Salt Spring Archives site for online info on Salt Spring.

British Columbia has seven national historic sites located in the province. In addition there are sites of historic significance designated on a provincial and regional basis and of course those which are established by interested parties in the private sector.

 

Galiano Museum and Archives
Pender Island Museum
Salt Spring Archives
Salt Spring Library

British Columbia has seven national historic sites located in the province. In addition there are sites of historic significance designated on a provincial and regional basis and of course those which are established by interested parties in the private sector.

Vancouver Island History

Vancouver Island History

British Columbia Mainland

 
 
 

Resources

Gulf Islands Accommodations
Gulf Islands Restaurants
Gulf Islands Events, Festivals and Attractions

Out-There's Gulf Islands - Main Page

Victoria, Pacific Rim and Vancouver Island

Out-There's Victoria and Vancouver Island
Tourism Victoria
Tourism Vancouver Island

Vancouver Coast & Mountains

Out-There Vancouver Main Page
Tourism Vancouver

Whistler

Out-There's Whistler Main Page
Whistler Tourism

Out-There's British Columbia
 British Columbia Tourism

Related Links

BC Archives
BC Heritage
British Columbia Historical Federation
Canada's Digital Collections
Collections Canada
Culture Canada
Heritage Canada
Heritage Canada Foundation
Land Conservancy of BC
Royal BC Museum
South Cariboo Heritage Sites
Wikipedia

The Arts and Cultural Highway
CircleCraft.net
Canadian Crafts Federation

Out-There's Destinations

 

 
All web site contents copyright © 1995-2010 by White Cat Ventures Ltd.
 
Press here if you have arrived at this page without
the navigation bar on the left