In the summer of 1864, four Black men, Samuel Booth, George Munro, John Tyril and William Dyer discovered gold on the Leech River in Sooke, about 40 miles west of Victoria. On August 4, 1864 the local newspaper reported on the high purity of the specimen found. It was worth $73.20 (about $2,500.00 in 2020 Canadian dollars). The four men formed the Industry Company. Unlike the distant Fraser and Caribou gold finds, prospectors could travel from Victoria overland by trail or by steamer within a day. Stores, hotels and other mining-related businesses were quickly established but within 18 months were abandoned.
You may also like
In September 2018 the City of Vancouver renamed 15 public spaces to commemorate the work of prominent local residents. The Cambie Street […]
Born in Jamaica, Dr. Michael Vaughan, BA, BSc, MSc, MD, MCFP and Honorary Consul of Jamaica, has been a family practitioner in […]
On July, 1, 1867 The British North America Act came into effect marking the birth of the Dominion of Canada; comprising four […]
BCBHAS partnered with Vancouver Mural Fest (VMF) Winter Arts Fest to bring you “Dynamic Diasporas“. In the fall of 2021, Creative Doaa […]