Beecher Bay: Early Fishing Industry & "Old Time Barbaric Episode", 1922 #westshore #victoria #BChistory #oldvictoria #yyj open.substack.com/pub/westshor...

The evening started fine. At about 9:30 pm friends of the couple saw Jessie and Harry skate away into the darkness. They would be back before midnight, but as time ticked on there was no sign of them. #yyj #langford #westshore #victoria #victoriabc #langfordlake open.substack.com/pub/westshor...

Weddings were a big community affair drawing family, friends and neighbours together, usually taking place at the family home of the bride. Here are just a few of those early celebrations. #yyj #westshore #history #weddings #victoriaBC #BChistory #BC open.substack.com/pub/westshor...

Growth of the Westshore has been on peoples minds for many years. Too fast, too slow, lack of infrastructure, traffic, protection of greenspace, the story really hasn’t changed. This article takes a peak at 27 years ago, and the concerns raised that still resonate today. #westshore #victoria #yyj

BLOWN UP! Pipeline Sabotage, 1911 #yyj #victoria #oldvictoria #westshore #BCHistory #canada

The headline was sad and solemn. John Dunlop Reid, a well known pioneer of the Metchosin community and a predominant farmer on the island, had passed away at the Royal Jubilee Hospital. #yyj #westshore #metchosin #victoria #victoriabc

The Athenia, 13,581 tons with 1,104 persons on board was torpedoed 250 miles north West of Ireland on Sunday September 3 1939, the day of the outbreak of World War Two. One of those on board was Winifred Bown of Langford Read her story and first hand account of events. #langford #westshore #victoria

Many have probably never heard of Corry Road. It’s location in the Highlands has largely been hidden away and forgotten, but it was once a vital link for early pioneer families. This article attempts to discover its hidden past. #highlands #westshore #yyj #yyjhistory #victoria #victoriabc

A Hero Dies in Metchosin: William Dupree, 1881 - 1975 “A man, who was twice cited as a hero passed quietly away in Metchosin in 1975.” #yyj #metchosin #westshore #victoriabc #history #hero

In Memory of All Who Have Served #remembrance #november11 #yyj #westshore #yyjhistory #victoria #victoriabc

A Warning of Conscription - In August 1951, a growing forest fire in the Highlands District threatening homes, and onlookers hampering firefighters put the community and themselves at risk. Enjoy the latest article from Westshore Memories. #yyj #yyjhistory #westshore #victoria #fire #history

The E&N Ghost Train - A Tale Not for the Faint of Heart. Strange noises and lights at night. A chilling tale of the unexplained... #yyj #E&N #railway #ghosts #Halloween #victoriabc #yyjhistory #westshore #oldvictoria

GHOST WEEK and the Westshore has many! Phantom footsteps, whispers in empty hallways, ghostly figures, music playing from a non-existent gramophone…… history here is never entirely at rest. #westshore #colwood #langford #viewroyal #metchosin #highlands #hatleycastle #yyj #ghosts #victoria #BC

Captain Josiah Gosse was the last lighthouse keeper at Fisgard Lighthouse. His story is quite interesting and something I wanted to pass along to readers that support the creation of the many articles (over 275) that now reside at Westshore Memories. #yyj #victoria #victoriabc #fisgard #bchistory

Following WW2 (1939-45) Civil Defense was high on everyone’s agenda. The hostile post war international atmosphere created by the Cold War and the destructive potential of the atomic bomb witnessed in Japan dramatically raised everyone’s fear levels - even in the Westshore of Vancouver Island. #yyj

"Like so many of her generation, Mrs. Battersby is still wonderfully alert and vigorous- perhaps the result of a rigorous upbringing and early hardships associated with pioneer days when children could not be coddled." #yyj #westshore #victoria #victoriabc #BChistory #metchosin

Construction of Goldstream to Mill Bay, 1908 - Work crews, using largely manual labor and rudimentary equipment, carved out the road through thick bush, over rocky outcrops, and across numerous streams…. #yyj #goldstream #millbay #victoria #oldvictoria #westshore #yyjhistory

FLOOD! One of the earliest and most significant flood events in Westshore history occurred in 1949. While there had been others, this one was a doozy, outweighing the ones that had come before. #westshore #flood #yyj #yyjhistory #victoriabc #oldvictoria

FLOOD! One of the earliest and most significant flood events in Westshore history occurred in 1949. While there had been others, this one was a doozy, outweighing the ones that had come before. #yyj #yyjhistory #westshore #flood #victoriabc #flooddamage open.substack.com/pub/westshor...

The horrific death in 1955 was announced on the front page of the Victoria Daily Times. The first paragraph describing the event was equally horrendous… #yyj #yyjhistory #langford #westshore #victoria #victoriabc #BChistory open.substack.com/pub/westshor...

Goldstream Rock & Wonders, 1930 - The picture weaved about the Langford Lake Goldstream area, still a far away wilderness with massive dogwoods, Douglas fir, cedars, and among them a few rustic cabins hiding in 1930. #yyj #yyjhistory #victoria #goldstream #BC #vancouverisland #VI

In 1923 an article was written which provides an amazing description of Leechtown and the gold diggings that were once scattered throughout the entire area.. Read the latest article at Westshore Memories #yyj #westshore #Victoria #oldvictoria #vistoriahistory #vancouverisland #BChistory

A large concrete ground ledger with a faded inscription on the base marks the Hopwood family grave. Beneath it lies Joseph and Margaret Hopwood whose long and varied life including the Northwest Rebellion, winds its way to Colwood. #yyj #colwood #westshore open.substack.com/pub/westshor...

No date of birth or death, just a name. I wanted to discover as much as I could about this seemingly forgotten man buried in the Westshore - so off on a historical journey I went. Read the latest article at Westshore Memories. #yyjhistory #westshore #victoria #oldvictoria #yyjhistory #BC

Its been sitting on this spot, quietly watching ‘progress’ and change for 117 years. At first glance you would recognize it looks old, but beyond that there is no plaque honouring its historical significance to the Westshore and beyond. #yyj #victioria westshorememories.substack.com/p/a-forgotte...

An Opportunity for Every Farmer, 1910. - All farmers should consider this not only to improve farming, but also make some additional needed money. Read the latest Westshore Memories article. #westshore #farming #victoria #yyj #history #BChistory #yyjhistory

In the spring of 1988, a mountain of tires was set alight on Millstream. Black toxic smoke bellowed into the sky as #Langford firefighters attempted to get a handle on the blaze. Subscribers can read the 265th article published at Westshore Memories. #yyj #victoria open.substack.com/pub/westshor...

Famous Actor Goes Missing, 1926. Matheson Lang - A bigger adventure than originally thought...Who is Matheson Lang you ask? Find out in the latest article from Westshore Memories! #yyj #yyjhistory #westshore #Langford #victoria #oldvictoria #BC #history open.substack.com/pub/westshor...

Rents Soar at Belmont Park, 1979 The state of the housing left something to be desired- "Only the ceilings of the married quarters are insulated, which means higher fuel bills." One said she had 2 1/2 feet of water in her crawlspace! #yyj #westshore #rent #victoria open.substack.com/pub/westshor...

Where am I? Head over to the Facebook group and guess where the location of this piece of Westshore history is #yyj #yyjhistory #westshore #whereamI #oldvictoria #BChistory www.facebook.com/groups/langf...

What's on the Menu? 1956 - Adventures eating at the Knotty Pine in Langford. #yyj #westshore #langford #restaurant #victoriabc #bchistory open.substack.com/pub/westshor...

The Thetis Lake Monster, 1972. It scared and put everyone on edge. Was there a monster lurking in the depths of Thetis Lake? RCMP were called in to investigate strange happenings. #yyj #monster #yyjhistory #westshore #thetislake #victoria #victoriabc #BC #BChistory #oldvictoria

Tragedy Beneath the Surface, 1983 - It was just a routine training dive that went terribly wrong on Thursday February 10, 1983. #yyj #yyjhistory #colwood #westshore #bchistory #victoria #victoriabc #BC open.substack.com/pub/westshor...

Helicopter Crash at Thetis Lake, 1989 - On a very foggy morning, a helicopter fell out of the sky and hit the waters of Thetis Lake on Vancouver Island. - Read about this event and over 250 more at Westshore Memories with a subscription. #yyj #thetislake #victoriabc open.substack.com/pub/westshor...

The Shooting Case, 1891 - Annoyed by boys fishing on the property, the problem escalated rapidly and bullets flew. Read the latest article - #yyj #yyjhistory #westshore #victoriabc #BChistory #victoriahistory #goldstream #langford open.substack.com/pub/westshor...

Island Highway at Goldstream Loses Picturesque Curves, 1949 - Significant work was undertaken on the Malahat Drive to improve safety and traffic flow by straightening out several dangerous curves near Goldstream. #yyj #westshore #goldstream #malahat #victoria open.substack.com/pub/westshor...

The Sad Death of Danny Fraser 1943-1958. "A 14 year old Belmont Park boy, apparently playing cowboys and Indians, dies in an arbutus tree." #yyj #yyjhistory #westshore #victoria #esquimaltlagoon #BChistory open.substack.com/pub/westshor...

Accident or By Design, 1891 - it was announced in the newspaper that an 'Indian fisherman' had been found, in the vicinity of Race Rocks clinging to a canoe. His wife was dead. Was it an accident or something more? #yyj #murder #yyjhistory #westshore #victoria open.substack.com/pub/westshor...

Rope Swing Leaves Someone Hanging, 1994 - Niagara Canyon and an idea that got carried away. Sometimes common sense does not fit into planning an adventure. #yyj #victoria #victoriabc #goldstream #westshore #bchistory open.substack.com/pub/westshor...

Complaints about “road hogs”, driving to and from the Westshore, road rage can rear its ugly head- but it's not a 'modern' phenomena. Take a ride back in this latest article #yyj #bikelanes #Victoria #victoriabc #westshore open.substack.com/pub/westshor...

Blasting Niagara Canyon, 1885 - One of the most difficult pieces of engineering for the E&N railway is the impressive Niagara Canyon near Goldstream - but they did run into problems. Latest article at Westshore Memories #yyj #yyjhistory #goldstream #victoria open.substack.com/pub/westshor...

Remember this? #yyj #westshore #langford #victoriabc #victoria

The Goldstream Run, 1959 - dappled with sunshine and framed with moss and fallen leaves attracted thousands for the annual salmon run Sunday [November 1, 1959]. The trick was to find the fish. #Langford #victoriabc #yyj #goldstream #westshore #salmonrun

It’s always sad when you come across the grave of a young person. What can be even more sad is a grave and headstone that has been almost lost, weathered through time as the elements slowly envelop, and mask its existence. #yyj #grave #victoriabc #westshore open.substack.com/pub/westshor...

By Way of Our War Correspondent at the Front - Colwood , Invaders Demand Millions! 1901 #colwood #westshore #yyj #yyjhistory #victoriabc #bchistory open.substack.com/pub/westshor...

Original Entrance to Hatley Park - remains largely hidden and unknown, except for those who walk the vast grounds and discover its existence, if not its history. #yyj #yyjhistory #hatleycastle #westshore #colwood

Thomas Samuel Burkmar 1856-1935. In this mystery, piecing together each clue, I was able to restore the identity and story (however small) of the person behind this gravestone. #yyjhistory #Victoriabc #westshore #historybc #BChistory #vancouverisland #yyj

Fire! A word that strikes fear in everyone, any time. 1891 was no different - especially as fire suppression was in its infancy. “Brush fires did considerable damage yesterday [August 3, 1891] at Parson's Bridge and at one time threatened to destroy the whole neighbourhood.” #yyj #colwood #Victoria

Two Crashes, an Ambulance - One Crazy Night, 1959. Known for dangerous conditions, especially if not paying attention, speeding, or bad decision making has been known throughout the ages. #malahat #goldstreampark #yyj #yyjhistory #bchistory #victoria #victoriabc #westshore

Mystery Mine Shafts - and a gift for you. Read below #yyj #victoria #victoriabc #BC