July 20, 1871: British Columbia becomes the sixth province to join Confederation

*By 1871 the federal government of Canada finally promised to build a railway to British Columbia, however the railway was not completed until 1885!
*By a United Kingdom Order in Council, British Columbia became the sixth province on 20 July 1871. Sir Joseph Trutch was appointed the first Lieutenant Governor, and the Legislative Assembly elected John Foster McCreight as the first Premier.