Bright Seas, Pioneer Spirits: The Sunshine Coast

Ann Turner is the financial and budget manager of the University of
British Columbia Library.

The Sunshine Coast runs northwest of Vancouver, B.C., from Howe Sound to
Jervis Inlet. It is a rugged coastline, spectacular for its mountains
and deeply cut fjords. Native communities have been there for thousands
of years, tucked into coastal nooks and crannies, and living off the
bounty of the land and sea. European exploration and settlement began
after the mapping expeditions of Captain Vancouver in the late 18th
century. It took a particularly determined sort of pioneer to see the
economic possibilities in such a wild and unwelcoming shoreline, and to
put down roots.

In this well-researched study, the authors focus on each of the
developmental threads in turn, telling the coast’s story up to the
present day. Native societies, British explorers, settlers, and tourists
come and go. Loggers and fishers, shipping magnates and food processors,
miners and quarriers all play a part in developing the region and
building its economy. Black-and-white historical photographs illustrate
the text. A selected bibliography of over 150 titles, as well as chapter
footnotes, document many more sources of information on the region.
Bright Seas, Pioneer Spirits would be a worthwhile addition to any B.C.
history collection.