‘Saanich Scoops Blenkinsop Lake, Land’
So said Victoria’s Times-Colonist of Saanich Municipality’s recent $1.2 million purchase of 13 hectares of farmland abutting Blenkinsop Lake. The news brought back fond memories for me. Growing up as I did, one house removed from the CNR line in the Swan Lake area, much of my early youth and that of my friends was spent on or about those railway tracks which, now removed, form part of today’s phenomenally popular Galloping Goose Regional Trail. I can’t really explain their fascination for us as kids, other than that they were an inviting playground and a shortcut to almost anywhere we wanted to go before we graduated to cars. Even as a newly-minted teenager, after we’d moved to the Lake Hill area, the former railway line was part of my life as I crossed over it every day, walking...
Read MoreTHIS T.W. Paterson Was Rich!
I wasn’t always T.W. Paterson. Until age 16 I was just Tom–or Thomas if you were senior, in a position of authority or, as often was the case, you were my teacher and I was in your bad books. That changed with my becoming an author. Note author, not writer–it has so much more cachet when you’re young, just starting out and desperately wanting to achieve not only success in the tangible sense, but ‘respectability.’ And Tom, although it came to me honourably and in remembrance of both my maternal and paternal grandfathers, just didn’t make that standard. At least, not in my mind. I craved something more dignified. There was no using a pen name when it came to writing non-fiction hence the use of my initials with my first published pieces in American magazines and what was...
Read MoreConfucius Statue Marks Duncan’s former Chinatown
A bright, overcast sky favoured October 4th’s well-attended ceremony for the unveiling of a life-size statue of Confucius to mark Duncan Chinatown. The striking figure of the ancient Chinese philosopher, erected in China Gardens Park and donated by the family of Wah Sing Chow, is dedicated to “the Chinese pioneers who, from the early 1890’s, established a Chinatown in the heart of Duncan that stood here for nearly 70 years”. That Chinatown, alas, was torn down in the early 1970s to make way for a new provincial government office building, courthouse and library. Wah Sing Chow arrived in Duncan in 1908, aged ten, and began working in his father’s grocery store. After graduating from high school he studied law and became a court translator and human rights activist, advocating for the equal treatment of Chinese immigrants who were...
Read MorePlunged to Death!
An Awful Accident to a Railway Train on the Union Colliery Line Six Men Reported to Have Met Instant Death– the Wires Down The startling news was received in this city about noon to-day that a terrible catastrophe had occurred on the Union Colliery railway line early this morning, whereby at least six people had lost their lives. The news spread like wildfire, and the greatest interest prevailed throughout the day. The Times at once set the telegraph wires in operation to ascertain the full particulars of the accident, but owing to the fact that the wires are grounded only the most meagre particulars could be obtained. The E.&N. Railway officials also were on the que vive of excitement, but were unable to obtain any further particulars than those gleaned by the press. As far as can be learned,...
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