The Church of Our Lord was established on October 29, 1874 by Rev. Edward Cridge. Cridge was sent to the colonial outpost of Fort Victoria in 1855 as Chaplain to the Hudson's Bay Company. Rev. Cridge played a major role in establishing the Anglican church in Victoria and later became Dean of Christ Church Cathedral. Doctrinal differences resulted in Cridge and his large following creating a new congregation in the fall of 1874 and, in keeping with its evangelical principles, the new church affiliated with the Reformed Episcopal Church of America.
The Church Of Our Lord building was completed in 1875 and dedicated on Sunday, January 16, 1876. The land and organ were donated by a founding member, Sir James Douglas, Chief Factor of the Hudson's Bay Company, and later Governor of the Colonies of Vancouver Island and British Columbia. The church was designed by John Teague, who later became Mayor of Victoria. The building, of board and batten construction in the Carpenter Gothic style, was declared a Federal Heritage Building in 1998 and over the next five years underwent a major restoration.
The Church of Our Lord retains an active presence in the Victoria community to this day.
The Reformed Episcopal Church (REC) is an Anglican church in the United States and Canada and a founding member of the new Anglican Church in North America. Founded in 1873 by Bishop George David Cummins, formerly of the Protestant Episcopal Church, the Reformed Episcopal Church conducts services according to its own edition of the Book of Common Prayer, based heavily on the Church of England's 1662 Book of Common Prayer. The REC holds to a faith rooted in the English Reformation.
Within a year of the founding of the REC, like-minded Canadian Anglicans in New Brunswick and Ontario seceded from that Church and formed Reformed Episcopal congregations. In October 1874, Edward Cridge, dean of the Anglican cathedral in Victoria, British Columbia, withdrew with about 350 of his congregation and joined the Reformed Episcopal Church. Cridge was consecrated a bishop for the REC in 1876.
Established in 1907, the Vancouver Law Students’ Society was originally open to “all students-at-law” and articled clerks residing in the City of Vancouver. The objective of the Society was to organize educational and social activities for the city’s law students. To promote legal education, the group lobbied the provincial government and the Law Society to establish a local law school. In large part the efforts of the VLSS resulted in the establishment of the Vancouver Law School which operated almost continuously from 1914 to 1944. When the University of British Columbia established a Law School at its Point Grey campus the Vancouver Law Students’ Society ceased operations.
Methodist work in the area began in 1884 with the construction of a
church, organization of a congregation and appointment of a minister at the behest of Amos Russ, the grandson of a Native chief and a Christian convert. The initial building that served as the church was an old First Nations dance hall that had been refurbished by the local community. This was the local church for 28 years, after which the Spencer Memorial Church, constructed largely by volunteers in 1912, served as the place of worship. Spencer Memorial Church was named for Dr. J.C. Spencer, a minister and medical doctor who spearheaded its construction. Although the mission was initially started for the purpose of evangelizing to the native peoples, the congregation expanded to include many families of settlers, who immigrated to the area in search of natural resources and work during the 1910s and 1920s. Spencer Memorial Church was renamed Spencer Memorial United Church with church union in 1925. In 1957, in concert with Queen Charlotte City United Church, the congregation of Spencer Memorial United Church purchased Dead Tree Point, which they used for a children’s camp from 1957 to 1969, when the regular summer camps stopped due to a lack of participants. In 1974, Spencer Memorial United Church was found to possess insufficient facilities to continue serving as the area’s church. An analysis of the building found it to be lacking in insulation and basic facilities such as a washroom or kitchen, as well as possessing a much larger sanctuary than was needed to house the now modest congregation. In 1974, Spencer Memorial United Church was closed and a new church named Skidegate United Church was built and dedicated. The building of Spencer Memorial United Church was demolished in 1975.
Methodist services began in Queen Charlotte City in 1908 when the Reverend J.C. Spencer began making trips by boat from the village of Skidegate to Queen Charlotte City. A regular minister was appointed and a church building constructed in 1909. The congregation would expand to include many more families of settlers who came to the area searching for natural resources and farmland during the 1910s and 1920s. A new church building was constructed in 1960-1961; it included improved facilities such as a new kitchen, washrooms, committee room, and entrance hall.
The first meeting of the Spanish Development Society was held in the Rialto Hotel in November, 1974. Town Council approved the Spanish motif December, 1974. The society was incorporated in December 1975. The Spanish theme was created as a vehicle for beautification because the terrain in Osoyoos is similar to that of Spain. It was thought that Osoyoos would benefit from the increased winter tourism experienced by towns such as Leavenworth, Washington. The Spanish theme was incorporated into the municipal hall in 1974 and later into storefronts and homes. The Don Carlos logo was approved in 1976. As fundraisers, the society sponsored the Irish Rovers in 1976, many bingos, and the second World Wrist Wrestling championships in 1977. They erected Spanish themed signage at the
town entrances, and beautified the town hall with a fountain and plaque. The society was disbanded in 2006.
The Okanagan Society for the Revival of Indian Arts and Crafts (OSRIAC) was formed in 1941 to ‘stimulate and record authentic native arts, legends, songs, dances, and dramatic art amongst the Okanagan Indians, compile a schedule and pictorial record of authentic pictographs and petroglyphs, encourage ethnological studies among young Indians, arrange exhibits of Indian arts, crafts, and drama, guide the efforts of Indians so that their products have real artistic and market value, keep in touch with similar organizations in Canada and the United States of America, facilitate advanced studies in cases of pupils showing outstanding ability where such study should have to take place outside of the reserve, and publish leaflets, books, and articles in harmony with the work of the society’. The society was formed primarily to supplement work being done by Alice Ravenhill of the Victoria Society for the Furtherance of BC Indian Arts and Crafts and to assist Anthony Walsh in promoting the interests of his pupils at the Inkameep Indian Day School on the Osoyoos Indian Reserve. Eventually one of the pupils, Sis-hu-ulk, had his artwork displayed at exhibitions in London, Paris, Vienna, Prague, Dublin, and across Canada. Other students gave an open-air dramatic performance on the occasion of the opening of Thunderbird Park in Victoria, as well as plays, songs, and dance performances in the Okanagan. Anthony Walsh resigned in 1942 and the society was instrumental, after a period of two years, in urging the appointment of another teacher with improved living quarters. Unfortunately, no effort was made to re-establish the creative work that had been initiated by Mr. Walsh. From that point on, the society broadened its activities by writing a brief entitled ‘Native Canadians – A Plan for the Rehabilitation of Indians’, submitting it to the BC premier in 1944. The following publicity resulted in briefs being submitted by OSRIAC in 1946 to the federal Joint Committee appointed to examine and consider the Indian Act.
The Women’s Auxiliary to the Vancouver Art Gallery established in 1943 was originally known as the Ladies’ Auxiliary to the Vancouver Art Gallery. It was developed as a way to undertake the work that was beyond the scope of the officers and executives of the gallery. On September 24, 1979, after receiving its first male members, the Women’s Auxiliary voted to re-name itself the Volunteer Committee to the Vancouver Art Gallery. It retained this name for 18 years. After broadening its operating mandate in 1997, it re-established itself yet again in 1998. A new constitution was developed with fundraising as the main focus while at the same time seeking new ways to engage Gallery members. The group is currently named the Associates to the Vancouver Art Gallery.
The mandate of the associates is “to operate in accordance with the policy and priorities of the Vancouver Art Gallery, to be devoted to raising friends and funds for the Vancouver Art Gallery through social, educational, and service enterprises, and to foster wider cultural interest in the community, and to develop public awareness of the activities of the Vancouver Art Gallery.”
The volunteer organization has been responsible for various entertainments, lectures, and meetings over the years. Some of their many contributions include: Beaux Arts Balls, How to Look at Pictures, Christmas Creations, Do You Own a Canadian [Contemporary] Painting?, Home and Garden Tours, Art in Bloom, Heirloom Discovery Days, Town Tours, Painting Classes, and Art Rental and Sales [Picture Loan]. A noteworthy contribution of the Women’s Auxiliary to the Vancouver Art Gallery was the Gallery Shop beginning in 1963. Funds were also raised to purchase materials for the Gallery Library.
Various committee’s and associations were established as an offshoot of the Auxiliary group. Some of these include: the Education Committee, the W.A. Junior Committee, the Docent program, and the Alumni Association.
Titles:
Women’s Auxiliary to the Vancouver Art Gallery 1943-1979
Volunteer Committee to the Vancouver Art Gallery 1980-1998
The Associates to the Vancouver Art Gallery 1998-present
Presidents:
Mrs. J. P Fell 1943-1947
Miss H. Darling 1948
Mrs. R. Travers 1949-1950
Mrs. M. Caple 1950-1951
Iby Korner 1952-1953
Winnifred Philpott 1954-1955
Jean Turnbull 1956-1957
Dorothy-Jane Boyce 1958-1959
Jean Martin 1960
Estelle H. Warren 1961-1962
Grace Cameron 1963
Peggy Martin 1964
Nancy Paterson 1965-1966
Anne Tornroos 1967-1968
Sheila Casson 1969-1970
Thelma Plant 1971-1972
Noreen Anderson 1973
Cathie Miller 1974-1975
Claudia MacDonald 1976
Mary Zentek 1977-1978
Jane Wollen 1979-1980
Robin Gray 1981-1982
Brigitte Freybe 1983-1985
Ethel McIntosh 1986-1987
Dagmar Gabay 1987-1989
Sheila Mingie 1989-1991
Judy Daughney 1991-1993
Phyllis Buell 1993-1994
Joan Bawlf 1994-1997
Cathy Scott 1997-1999
Grace Robin 1999-2002
Gloria Smith 2002-2004
Lynne Du Moulin 2004-2006
Judy Lindsay 2006-2008
Annick Boisset 2008-present
Lakeside Orchards Improvement District was formed as a land development company in Osoyoos in 1960, and was incorporated in 1966. The founding officers included Homer Falding, Mary Lillian Cox, Jesse Johnson and Violet Kirstine Fraser. The company was dissolved in 1987.
Curt’s Cartage operated in Osoyoos from 1935-1948, trucking fruit, vegetables, lumber, gravel, sand, topsoil, fill, cement, general freight, heavy equipment, and garbage.
The 1965 Conference of Learned Societies was held at UBC. The UBC Committee of Arrangements was responsible arranging conference facilities, accommodation, publicity, etc.
From <cite>The Canadian Encyclopedia</cite>: "The Learned Societies are the large group of Canadian scholarly organizations that hold conferences annually from late May to mid-June at a different university location each year. Society members come not only to hear and discuss scholarly papers on the latest work in their fields, but also to renew contacts and share common concerns. The gathering of these associations in one place over one period is distinctively Canadian and owes more to practical evolution than to planning power. Selecting one site with suitable university accommodation was an answer to Canadian distance that allowed scholars more economical joint arrangements, let them attend meetings of societies besides their own, and encouraged them to visit varied geographical areas".
The Society for the Furtherance of BC Indian Arts and Crafts was initially formed in 1940 as a committee at the suggestion of Anthony Walsh, of the Inkameep Indian School, B.C. The society was founded by Alice Ravenhill. Its objectives were primarily ‘to promote the revival of the latent gifts of art, drama, dance and song, as well as certain handicrafts, among the Indians of this Province.’ The committee became a society in 1941 with objectives ‘to compile a schedule and pictorial record of authentic specimens of totem poles, pictographs, petroglyphs and other tribal arts and crafts; to compile a bibliography on B.C. Arts and Crafts; to collect new material in the form of drawings, photographs or written records of B.C. Indian Arts and Crafts; to encourage commercial use of these and all other authentic B.C. Indian designs; to gather records of B.C. Native Music; to compile a bibliography of B.C. Native Mythology and Drama; to encourage Pupils of Indian Schools and Tribal Experts in the revival of their latent gifts of Arts, Crafts and Drama, with a view to improve their economic position, to restore their self respect, and to induce more sympathetic relations between them and their fellow Canadians; and to publish leaflets, books and articles in harmony with the work of the Society.’ The first members of the committee were Major Bullock-Webster, Douglas Flintoff, A.E. Pickford, Madame Sanderson Mongin, Miss Cave-Brown-Cave, Alma Russell, Betty Newton, and Alice Ravenhill as secretary. Projects completed were the publication of The Tale of the Nativity, a selection of stories told to Anthony Walsh by his students that includes artwork by Sis-hu-lk (Francis Baptiste); charts of examples of various tribal art forms; exhibitions; and letters and meetings with members of government.
In 1951, the society incorporated and changed its name to the British Columbia Indian Arts and Welfare Society.
Knox United Church, Parksville began its life as Knox Presbyterian Church. Presbyterian work in the Parksville area began in November, 1909, when a meeting was held after a servive to discuss establishing a Presbyterian church in Parksville. Services were initially held in a home in Errington. They formed a board to look after the building of a new church, which was begun in 1911 on the Island Highway, and was dedicated the following year. For the first two years, student ministers came from Wellington to lead services. An ordained minister was appointed to serve the Parksville Mission Field in 1913. In November, 1915 a Session was constituted for the Parksville Field, with members being elected from Parksville, Errington, Hilliers and Qualicum Beach. By 1917, Coombs was also part of this field.
The Parksville Mission Field came into church union in 1925, but the Field was reorganized in 1927. From 1927 to 1942, Parksville Pastoral Charge included Coombs, Errington and Nanoose. St. Andrew's United Church Errington was opened and dedicated on Feb. 16, 1930 as a part of the Parksville Pastoral Charge. In 1942, the Parksville-Qualicum Pastoral Charge was formed, and also included Errington and Coombs. This remained until 1953. Between 1953 and 1961, Knox United, Parksville was supplied from the Nanaimo Indian Pastoral Charge, which included Parksville, Nanoose and Errington. In 1961, the Parksville Pastoral Charge was formed, and included Nanoose and Errington until 1982. The church sold its property on the Island Highway in 1978 and for a year the congregation worshipped in the Roman Catholic Church in French Creek. In Februrary, 1979, a new church building was dedicated. In 1982, the preaching point at Errington was discontinued and the Parksville Pastoral Charge became a one point Pastoral Charge.
The Department of Transportation employed Walter Graf, an Osoyoos orchardist, to record temperatures and precipitation at the Osoyoos weather station.
The Dominion Experimental Farms employed Walter Graf to observe and record temperature and precipitation at Osoyoos, BC.
The RCMP were posted in Osoyoos during World War II. Several citizens of the area were suspected to be supporters of Germany.
A group committee to sponsor the Osoyoos Boy Scouts was formed February 3, 1952. Officers elected were Bill Graham (President) and Mrs. Ken Schorn (Secretary – Treasurer). Scoutmaster at the time was Mr. E. McNaughton.
The Osoyoos Fire Brigade was organized by the Board of Trade with Percy Bates as chief, Ralph Lewis as assistant, and Delbert Long as captain. The Penticton Fire Department sold their Rio fire engine to Osoyoos for $600. Most of the fires were chimney fires; water barrels were recycled from the Osoyoos Bakery. After WW II, army surplus clothing served as uniforms. Two major fires were at the Osoyoos Evaporation Company and the Jorde Sawmill. By 1953, another fire truck was added just in time to fight a second sawmill fire north of the town. Mr. Bates retired in 1966 and was followed by Howard Compeau as acting chief until Paul Balogh took over.
The Osoyoos Centennial Committee was formed in 1969 to coordinate celebrations for the province’s centennial celebrations of 1971. The original committee consisted of S. Schmidt (Chair), D. Porteous (Vice-Chair), and B. Jenks (Secretary Treasurer). The permanent project of the committee was the renovation of the Osoyoos community hall. The final meeting of the committee was December 15, 1971.
Methodist work began in Prince Rupert in July, 1908. A small tent-roofed church was quickly erected, and services were begun. A larger church was built on a new site in 1911, and dedicated on March 3rd, 1912. In 1925, Prince Rupert Methodist Church entered church union, becoming First United Church. A majority of the Presbyterian Church congregation voted not to enter church union. In 1959, First United Church sponsored the development of “Friendship House”, a social centre and a residence for boys from First Nations villages who needed to come to Prince Rupert to attend high school.
The Rupert East United Church was built in January of 1926 and Rev. G.G. Hacker conducted the first service. Prior to this, Methodists had been active in the area for several years with a gymnasium and Sunday School. The Church was disbanded in 1934 but Sunday School care continued for several years afterwards.
The Osoyoos Co-op Packing House was built by Harvey Boone in 1930, with an addition built in 1931. During the period described in the fonds, members of the Co-op were shipping produce including tomatoes, cucumbers, apples, and plums to BC Tree Fruits in Kelowna, BC. Over the years, the co-op merged with other co-ops on the area, becoming the Okanagan-Similkameen Co-operative Growers Association. In 2008, along with other independent fruit packing companies, they amalgamated with BC Fruit Packers (Kelowna), Okanagan North Co-operative (Winfield) and Sunfresh (Osoyoos) to become Okanagan Tree Fruits Co-operative.
In 1967, two members of the West Vancouver Anglican church, St. Francis-in-the-Wood formed the inter-faith female fellowship group, the Francescan Society. Commonly known as The Francescans, the stated purpose of the group was "to share time and talent to provide outreach in the community and to raise funds for the community."
The Francescans provided financial assistance to many North Shore organizations such as Meals on Wheels, Emily Murphy House, North Shore Association for the Physically Handicapped, North Shore Adult Daycare Centre, West Vancouver Daycare, and West Vancouver Community Help and Information Centre. The group's popular fundraisers included spring luncheons, strawberry teas, rummage sales, dinners, and special events. In the early 1980s, The Francescans also ran the refreshment garden during Community Day in West Vancouver.
In 1986, with close to 60 members, the organization was renamed the Francescan Outreach Society, and registered as a charitable trust.
In 1986, with close to 60 members, the Francescan Society was renamed the Francescan Outreach Society, and registered as a charitable trust. It continued the regular fundraising and outreach activities of the organization until 1989 when, after more than twenty years assisting numerous North Shore organizations, and individuals, the group ceased operations.