British Columbia History Along the Highways and Waterways

Sidney Allinson is a Victoria-based communications consultant, Canadian
news correspondent for Britain’s The Army Quarterly and Defence, and
author of The Bantams: The Untold Story of World War I.

One of the great pleasures of travel is learning about the historical
events that occurred in the places one visits. Background knowledge can
transform even the most prosaic scene or building into something
interesting. This meticulously researched book about early British
Columbia is filled with fascinating facts and stories about aboriginals,
pioneer men and women, early explorers, and shipwrecks. Stone organizes
his material into regional chapters, which are supplemented with maps
that help explain local history. Attention is primarily focused on
Vancouver Island, the area around Vancouver, and the coastal mainland.
Through assiduous research and with obvious personal enthusiasm for the
region, Ted Stone presents numerous fascinating facts, intriguing
incidents, biographies of pioneer men and women, early explorers,
shipwrecks, and lively legends of early British Columbia. While some are
oft-told tales, others are little known and liable to be interesting to
visitors and B.C. residents alike. The book particularly brings out just
how much of B.C. history has been influenced by ships and aboriginals.
As well as being the focus of numerous dramatic incidents, these two
factors also form the origin of numerous place names.

Ted Stone organizes his well-researched stories logically in regional
chapters, along with maps that ably help explain local history. Coverage
is mainly of Vancouver Island, the area around Vancouver, and the
coastal mainland. It would be a worthwhile book in any school library or
as a useful companion for travelers.