History and Heritage of Vancouver Island, British Columbia: 1910s

After the dawn of a new millennium, it's interesting to peek at just a few of the events that helped shape Vancouver Island's past. Our Island has been occupied by humans for more than 12,000 years. One thousand years ago, it was home to many different groups of Native Indians. Five hundred years ago, the first Europeans arrived on the scene.

1910 - 1920
	The 115-acre Songhees Indian Reserve is purchased by the provincial government.
	Strathcona Park created in central Vancouver Island.
	Local inventor William Gibson achieves successful flight in home-made plane.
	Miners strike in Nanaimo, Ladysmith, Cumberland and South Wellington to protest unsafe working conditions.
	News of the sinking of the Lusitania sparks anti-German demonstration in downtown Victoria.
	Queen Charlotte Islands (now Haida Gwaii) Sitka spruce used for aircraft construction.
	Japanese-registered sailing ship Komagata Maru, carrying 376 Sikhs, is turned away from Vancouver Harbour.
	Helen McGill appointed first BC provincial court judge.
	National news-gathering co-operative, Canadian Press, enabled faster, more efficient dissemination of news throughout Canada.
	Workmen's Compensation Act introduced.
	Esquimalt & Nanaimo Railway runs first train from Victoria to Courtenay over new extension from Parksville.
	Prohibition law becomes effective.
	Mrs. Ralph Smith becomes first woman member of the BC legislature.
	Daylight Saving Time is introduced.
	The Big Snow cripples the city of Victoria, which relies on the army to help dig it out.
	BC purchases two submarines, to be based at Esquimalt.
	Fire sweeps Victoria's downtown business section, causing more than $1 million damage.
	Virulent epidemic of Spanish influenza forgotten as citizens celebrate Armistice in the Great War.
	More than 300 die in the sinking of the Princess Sophia.
	Of 43,000 BC men and women who went to fight in Europe, almost 20,000 have been killed or wounded.
	Ice hockey, Vancouver Island's newest spectator sport, makes its debut at Victoria's 4000-seat arena.

More Island Moments by Danda Humphreys

	1500s - 1700s	1940s
	1800s	1950s
	1900s	1960s
	1910s	1970s
	1920s	1980s
	1930s	1990s

	History & Heritage of British Columbia	Events in British Columbia's History

This information, researched and written by Danda Humphreys, appeared in a special Millennium Issue of the Victoria Times Colonist, December 31, 1999.

"Step Back in Time" Heritage Walks and Talks.
Tel: (250) 382-8029
Email: danda@dandahumphreys.com
Website: www.DandaHumphreys.com

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