Saturday, Feb 7th
1:00 pm– 4:00 pm
Royal BC Museum Conference Hall
675 Belleville St., Victoria, BC V8W 9W2
Free!
Take this opportunity to meet and talk with direct descendants about their stories and family history and meet with local organizations that are dedicated to the preservation of historical records related to Black history in BC; AND connect with Black-led organizations that celebrate and promote arts and culture through events, educational programs, and community activities.
This is a drop-in event. Short presentations by each exhibitor will take place throughout the event,.
This year we have 9 exhibits!
The Alexander Family. Karen Hoshal, Terri Haas are direct descendants of Charles and Nancy Alexander who were part of the 1858 migration of the Black Pioneers to B.C. from San Francisco. The Alexander’s settled in Saanich and were instrumental in building and establishing the Black Community, the Shady Creek Church and schools. The display includes photographs, archival materials, and the reproduction of the dress made for Nancy in 1909 for their 60th wedding anniversary.
BC Black History – “The Pioneers”, with Ron Nicholson. This exhibit gives a brief insight into the intrepid pioneers who arrived in 1858. They were free men and women seeking a place where they could raise their families, educate their children, practise their professions, vote, and, could live with equality under the law. Mifflin Gibbs, their defacto leader and 1st Black person to be elected and serve as a Victoria City councillor is featured in this exhibit.
Doug Hudlin Legacy Exhibit James Douglas “Doug” Hudlin, is a direct descendant of Charles and Nancy Alexander. One of the many passions for the Hudlin family is baseball; Doug played, coached, and umpired baseball in this community for decades. “The Gentleman Umpire” has been honored locally and nationally; and is the namesake for a local charity to help local young umpires, and children and youth play baseball and softball. His nieces – sisters Barb Hudlin and Mirene Hudlin will be here today to share Doug’s story.
The No. 2 Construction Battalion CEF The No.2 Construction Battalion was the first and only Black battalion in Canadian military history, authorized to fight in World War I on July 5, 1916, with headquarters at Pictou, Nova Scotia. Twelve men from BC enlisted in the Battalion.
On July 9, 2022, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivered a National Apology to the Descendants and Families of the No. 2 Construction Battalion. Ron was a member of the National Apology Advisory Committee (NAAC) and he attended the event on July 9, 2022 in Truro Nova Scotia.
In 2025 we completed the project “No. 2 Construction Battalion Legacy in BC and Beyond” which included a website; and on July 26, 2025 was the unveiling ceremony of a commemorative plaque to honour these men at the LGen. E.C. Ashton Armoury Museum, 724 Vanalman Ave., Victoria. The plaque was presented by the project lead, Door Gibson, Captain (Ret’d) D.L. Gibson, MMM, CD; one of our members and a member of the Last Post Fund.
Underground Railroad with Ron Nicholson, a twenty-year member of the BC Black History Awareness Society and a fourth generation Canadian, whose great-grandfather was an actual traveler of the Underground Railroad. This display is a visual presentation featuring Harriet Tubman, a famous conductor of the UGRR, and other members of the Vigilance Committee who helped the fugitive slaves, along the many escape routes to freedom in the northern states and eventually into Upper Canada.
Old Cemeteries Society of Victoria with Linda Richards, Yvonne Van Ruskenveld. The OCS is dedicated to researching, preserving and encouraging the appreciation of Victoria’s heritage cemeteries. OCS members are involved in many volunteer activities, which include cataloging, cleaning and restoring monuments; computerizing burial records; combating vandalism; conducting historical research; and giving historical walking tours. For over 25 years, OCS has conducted a walking tour of Black pioneer grave sites at Ross Bay Cemetery. The OCS display at this Heritage Day event will highlight information about some of these pioneers. The annual Black History Tour in Ross Bay Cemetery will take place on Sunday, February 22, at 2 pm.
Saanich Pioneers Society, with Susan Myerscroft. The Society operates the “Log Cabin Museum and Archives” in Saanichton, Vancouver Island’ “dedicated to the preservation of the historical records of the Saanich Peninsula” Several of the first Black settlers made their homes in this area. Their archives and museum house collections from the pioneer families, both textual and in artifact form.
African Heritage Association of Vancouver Island (AHAVI) with Kade Hardy. AHAVI builds a united and strong community by co-operatively organizing and supporting events and activities to meet the needs of Africans, people of African descent, and friends of Africa on Vancouver Island. The objectives of AHAVI are to: foster a sense of community among Africans, people of African descent, and friends of Africa on Vancouver Island; promote the provision of the best possible services for all; promote the cultural development of its members; and to facilitate communication among its members and with members of other organizations and communities on Vancouver Island.
Vancouver Island Caribbean Hub, with Kara Randall. The Vancouver Island Caribbean Hub is a nonprofit organization dedicated to celebrating, preserving, and sharing Caribbean culture, history, and arts on Vancouver Island. Through festivals, cultural programming, community events, and educational initiatives, the Hub highlights the contributions of Caribbean and Black communities while fostering connection, cultural pride, and cross-cultural understanding. Our exhibit will share information about Caribbean heritage, community programs, and signature events such as i-Land Fest, offering visitors an opportunity to learn about the richness and diversity of Caribbean culture and its place within the broader Black Canadian experience.
