Feb 23 - How Victoria's Black History began with a pair of shoes

Good morning !

Thank you to every one of you who reads and supports this newsletter. The time of year has arrived at which we campaign for you to consider signing up for a paid membership as a Capital Daily Insider to help fund our journalism.

It only takes a few of you to have a big impact and to allow us to continue to do what we do: reporting and collecting the local news and events for you every day.

To thank those of you who step up to help out: You'll continue to always receive the full Sunday edition while most readers will only see the start. As you can see below, we're keeping the first 3 of the 4 main stories of today's Sunday newsletter free for everyone—but that won't be the case forever.

We know times are tight, and uncertain, right now—we cover those issues every week. But keeping up that coverage does, ultimately, depend on your support.

— Cam

Today’s approx. read time: 4 / 7 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌧 11 / 6

Tomorrow: 🌧 10 / 6

Day after: 🌧 10 / 3

HISTORY

Black History Month: How a pair of shoes changed local history

Today we “kick off" the final week of Black History Month with our previous story on how a pair of shoes ended up shaping Black history in BC and Victoria.

The shoes were in a shop in 1858 San Francisco that was owned by Peter Lester. But when two white men attacked him with a cane and stole them, racist laws barred him from legal recourse. Fed up, he and business partner Mifflin Gibbs headed north with hundreds of their peers.

These Black Pioneers, as they came to be known, were called by Governor James Douglas, who was worried that if he didn’t grow the population the Brits would lose the island to the Americans.

Those two had their share of success—Gibbs made history as a Victoria city councillor—but the path to acceptance here was not as smooth as advertised.

You can read more about their history, and our region’s, at Capital Daily.

You can also learn more about the Black Pioneers today in Ross Bay, as the BC Black History Awareness Society hosts its annual tour of notable figures and families in the cemetery.

That cemetery, of course, isn't the only place these families are buried. One Saanich woman, Darlene Horricks, recently completed a 15-year search all around the region for the grave of her great-grandmother. An old church record from 1880, found again in 2014, finally confirmed which “unknown" grave held Elizabeth Whims and her daughter Maria, and the family was finally able to mark it and have a ceremony.

Black History Month events today & this week

See below for today's tour details and other BHM events this week; click the titles below for full info.

Ross Bay Cemetery Tour | Sun. Feb. 23 | 2-3pm

Learn about some of the 50 Black pioneers who settled in Victoria in this guided historical tour. [$5]

Celebrate Music and Words | Mon. Feb. 24 | 7-9pm

Afro-Cuban saxophonist Noedy Hechavarria Duharte will perform his original music, often described as highly poetic and complex with strong harmonies. Hosted by the BC Black History Awareness Society at the Belfry Theatre. [Admission by donation]

Dub Performance as Decolonial Praxis | Tue. Feb. 25 | 5-6:30pm

See award-winning playwright, performer, director, and activist d’bi.young anitafrika as they speak about decolonial theatre performance. After the talk, join the book launch for their latest poetry collection: dubbin poetry: the collected poems of d’bi.young anitafrika. Happening at Phoenix Theatre at UVic. [Free]

African Eloquence Youth Celebration | Mar. 1 | 4-8:30pm

In its seventh year, this cultural pageant features traditional clothing, artwork, performances, and educational presentations. Youth of African heritage from Island middle and high schools will present info on various African countries, cultures, and issues, with a panel of judges selecting the top one. David Lam Auditorium at UVic. [Free]

Planet Earth Poetry event | Mar. 1 | 7:30pm

This edition of the local poetry night will feature readings by Wayde Compton and Canadian Liberian poet J. William Ngenda. And an open-mic session reading passages by Black authors. Russell Books. Feb. 28. 7:30pm.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

High winds continue this weekend.

Expect rain for much of the coming week.

Minor flood risk: High streamflow alert for South and West Island.

Avoid backcountry / slopes this weekend due to High or Considerable avalanche risk.

NEWS

Philippine Mars makes it to Arizona—but not in one piece, any more

The iconic water bomber finally departed from Port Alberni to the US earlier this month, painted with its original Naval Air Transport Service design. It was the plane's third try after technical misfires derailed the first two.

Reader Donald Cohn happened to be in Lake Pleasant, AZ last week. He sent us these photos of the bomber having its engines and wings removed for trucking to the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, AZ, where the Island's Coulson Aviation has donated it.

Last August its sibling the Hawaii Mars was also donated, landing in Patricia Bay before being taken over to the peninsula’s nearby BC Aviation Museum.

It was 81 years ago last month that the Philippine debuted, flying cargo over the Pacific for the US in WW2. But in BC these JRM-3s are known for their lives after 1958, when they were converted into the iconic red firefighting planes able to drop 25,000+ litres of water.

To maintain full access to the Sunday edition, become a Capital Daily Insider for only $8.66/month when you sign on as an annual member.

Already a paying subscriber? Sign In.