It is not known when the Chinese immigrated to Lake Cowichan however, early records show their arrival as early as 1909. The Chinese were contributors to building the railway, hotel and logging industry. The Cowichan Lake Hotel is an example of Chinese contributions to the Cowichan Valley community.On display at the Kaatza Station Museum there…
The Kaatza Station Museum: The Mayo Lumber Company
I spent some time at the Kaatza Station Museum’s archives in Lake Cowichan. The Museum had insightful information about the local Mayo Lumber Company that highlighted its progressive hiring practices when it was formed in 1917. The Mayo Lumber Company was established by a group of Sikhs from…
This is the SS Princess Mary that serviced the Gulf Islands during WWII. She is the very ship on which Japanese Gulf Island residents were boarded to be taken to Internment camps on the mainland of British Columbia. She serviced the B.C. Coast from Vancouver, Vancouver Island, Gulf Islands and up to Prince Rupert from…
Sonia Manak posted an item on 9.09.2015 (see the post 'The Barber Shop Story") retelling a pre-WW II story her grandfather had recounted about an unnamed Japanese Canadian barber in the Duncan area (unceded territories of the Cowichan Tribes). He apparently was the only barber in the Cowichan Valley who would cut Sikhs' hair. Our…
Saltspring Island, September, 2015 Charcoal Kiln
Saltspring Island Fieldtrip
It was a privilege to participate in this field trip and to meet people like Rose Murakami who experienced firsthand the internment of Japanese Canadians on Vancouver Island. Rose tells us her story about her family land on Saltspring Island and her family’s internment experience.
I completely understand what…
As a researcher on this project, I have been reviewing a number of documents at the Cowichan Valley Museum in Duncan and at the local archives in Duncan. It is a real honour and privilege for me to look through these historical gems and get a picture of the early days at Paldi.
I have fond…
With Rose Murakami at the Heiwa Garden
Yesterday it was my pleasure to guide a group of ACVI researchers around Saltspring Island where I live. We got to some important sites for the Asian-Canadian history of the island and learned about some of the cultures that have been prominent in its history.
In the morning the group…
Tea Garden in Ruins - Magic Touches Visitor
Although I live in the Gorge Waterway neighbourhood, it had been many years since I had walked over the bridge to the other side to visit the Gorge Kinsmen Park. In the early 1990’s, I visited the Tea Gardens many times, finding solace during some difficult days siting…
Uncle Jack's Story Continues into the Millennium
In 2009 the Pagoda building was sold to Gerald Hartwig, a local Victoria developer. I happened to be chatting with Gerald's daughter, Stephanie, yesterday and mentioned that I had been doing some research on Uncle Jack and noticed that her dad had purchased the property. When she heard his…
My grandpa, Karm Singh Manak, told me stories of his voyage to Canada aboard the SS Monteagle in 1921. He told me how it took over 2 months to get from India to Vancouver. The living quarters were not the quality of the Princess Cruise line! The men would buy enough food supplies like flour…