Holding a Mirror up to Local Stories
Every year we see the publication of more diverse books about British Columbia’s history, reflecting the expectations of readers and the interests of authors and historians. My eyes are drawn to titles on bookstore shelves that amplify underrepresented stories and people. In this issue, some of the books we review shine a light on these stories, including women who lived unconventional lives and opened up opportunities for future generations. Others expose the impacts of cultural discrimination, from diminished economic opportunities in the Fraser River fishery to internment in the First World War.
In some ways, the most compelling books are published by community-based organizations. Their books are often collaborative and hold a mirror up to local stories that are considered the most important to record and share. And I’m always curious to find out how community histories link to other regions, making local books even more engaging and valuable for readers across the province.
I hope you add one or more of these titles to your winter reading list!
Aimee
Agnes Deans Cameron was a school principal, advocate for female equality, adventurer, and bestselling author at a time when women were not allowed to vote. Her unconventional life story is captivating. Cathy Converse’s characteristically approachable writing style and thorough archival research leaves readers with a strong sense of who Cameron was as a person and the times in which she lived.
Born in Victoria, Agnes Deans Cameron started teaching school in 1879 when she was sixteen years old. She became British Columbia’s first female school principal fifteen years later. She was an advocate for women’s equality, campaigned for the right to vote, and lived according to those ideals. After she joined the bicycle craze in the 1890s, Cameron cycled 100 miles in under 14 hours during a sanctioned race and was designated the first Lady Centurion in Western Canada.
Cameron was dedicated to her students’ education, but sometimes problems in the classroom played out in the newspaper — none more public or filled with anguish than the circumstances surrounding her firing in 1905 and a subsequent Royal Commission inquiring into her dismissal. Her professionalism was called into question and legal bills piled up, at a time when her mother, Jessie Cameron, was gravely ill. The judge ruled against Cameron; the following day her mother died at the age of 84.
Left without a career, Cameron looked for opportunities outside of Victoria. Passionate about travelling and interested in journalism, she toured around Western Canada and wrote about her experiences. Victoria’s praised Cameron’s work after it appeared
