A BC Historical Federation conference celebrates a Century of Firsts in Powell River.
The annual conference, which takes place May 5 to 8, is expected to attract almost 100 people, who will learn about Powell River’s history as well as attend federation meetings.
Powell River Historical Museum and Archives Association is hosting the conference. A volunteer committee was established over two years ago to organize the event, said Teedie Kagume, museum coordinator. “We have a group of really hard-working people working with us on this,” said Kagume. The committee has been working with the City of Powell River, Townsite Heritage Society, Texada Heritage Society, Powell River Arts Council and Powell River Genealogy Group.
Every year the federation holds the conference in a different community and it asked Powell River to host it in 2011, said Susan Biagi, secretary of the museum board and committee chair. “This is really Powell River’s chance to shine and to show how significant we are historically,” she said. “There are a lot of firsts that have happened in Powell River.”
Some of Powell River’s firsts include: the first pulp and paper mill in Western Canada; the first Sick Benefit Society in BC; the first dial phones in BC; the first forestry lookout in Canada, on Mt. Pocahontas on Texada Island; the first credit union in BC; the first radio-telephone in BC; first extended care in BC; and the first Academy Award for choreography created for Powell Riverite Onna White, for her outstanding work on the musical Oliver!
“It’s been very interesting that people elsewhere in the province haven’t really had a chance to explore the area,” said Biagi. “We have a really exciting history here and I think they’re going to be very pleasantly surprised when they see what we have to offer.”
Dwight Hall is the venue for all events. On Thursday, May 5, there are workshops all day, followed by an opening reception in the evening. People have a choice of workshops, including Digitize BC’s Historical Documents; Take Your Story to Print; or Digital Collection Builder.
On Friday, people have a choice of tours. One group will be heading over to Texada Island for a tour presented by the Texada Heritage Society. The other event involves Tla’Amin (Sliammon) First Nation. Dr. Elsie Paul, Maynard Harry, a former chief, and Mayor Stewart Alsgard will be talking about the 2003 Community Accord. In the afternoon, Ann Nelson, of the Townsite Heritage Society, and Kagume will be talking about Dr. Andrew Henderson, a presentation that includes a tour of Henderson House in Townsite.
On Saturday, the federation holds its annual general meeting. There are two bus tours scheduled for the afternoon and a guided walking tour of Townsite. A banquet and awards ceremony finishes off the day.
There is also a book fair throughout the conference, which gives local authors an opportunity to showcase their work to a new audience.
One of the biggest surprises for people, Kagume said, will be exploring the history of Texada. “People don’t seem to have heard too much about Texada or even visited,” she said. “I’m thrilled that they’re going to be able to go over there, because they have a really rich history.”
Fran Cudworth, the museum’s bookkeeper and committee member, said the city has provided key support, by donating the use of Dwight Hall and providing a bus for a tour of the community.
Another first for Powell River, said Biagi, is that this conference is the first time participants have been able to register online. The early bird deadline for registering is March 31.
Local residents are invited to attend the conference as well. The conference schedule is available on the museum’s website. Interested readers are invited to call Kagume, 604.485.2222, for more information.
