Albert Jackson remembered

Albert Jackson was a letter carrier in Toronto. He is thought to be the first Black letter carrier in Canada. Jackson was not a letter carrier at first. In 1882, Jackson got a job as a letter carrier. But Jackson’s co-workers would not train him. He was given a lower job as a hall porter….

PNE and Playland

What is the PNE? The PNE is a fair. It is held at Hastings Park in Vancouver. Prime Minister Laurier opened the first PNE fair in 1910. The fair is open 17 days a year. It starts the third week in August and ends on Labour Day. Every summer, more than 900,000 people go to…

B.C. Day in August

B.C. Day is the first Monday in August. On this public holiday, people celebrate living in British Columbia.  Many people use the long weekend to travel, enjoy nature or relax with family and friends. According to the United Nations, “B.C. is the best place in the world to learn, live and play.” A few facts…

The little yellow house

This house is famous. It’s called Leslie House. It was built in 1888. The house is in downtown Vancouver. Mr. Leslie was the first owner. He was a carpenter. His family lived there for 60 years. Then, the house was used for business. It was a restaurant for many years. Leslie House is for sale….

National Truth and Reconciliation Day

In June 2021, the Government of Canada created a new statutory holiday.  The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is on September 30.  Why is there a new holiday?  From 1880 to 1996, Canada sent Indigenous children to residential schools.  The children were taken away from their families. Many were treated badly. Many died.  The…

First Peoples’ map of BC

There is a new map on the internet. It is called the First Peoples’ Map of BC. It is the first of its kind in Canada. How does the map work? The map is interactive.  You can zoom in on a place and click to learn about local languages, arts and culture. On the map,…

Black Shirt Day

On January 15, students and teachers in BC wore black shirts to school. They wore black shirts to raise awareness about racism. Why January 15? January 15 was Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. Martin Luther King Junior fought for the rights of African Americans in the 1950s and 1960s. He raised awareness about racism against…

Pat builds a boat

Pat Calihou is a Métis carver. The Métis are Indigenous Canadians. York boats were used by Métis fur traders during the 1700s. Pat’s ancestors used York boats. Pat started to build a York boat in December 2019. A blacksmith made special nails to build the boat. The wood for the keel is the roof beam of an old house. Pat shares his history The boat will help Pat share his family history. “My family were…

On This Day: Terry Fox received the Order of Canada

Terry Fox is a Canadian hero. He ran the Marathon of Hope. Terry inspired many people. On September 19, 1980, he was honoured. He received the Companion of the Order of Canada. This is the most important award in Canada. Terry Fox was the youngest person to get this award. Watch the news video of…

Remembering the life of Nelson Mandela

Written by Tracy Defoe Level 3 Hero People in Canada, and around the world remembered the life of Nelson Mandela in December 2013. He was a hero to many people for the way he lead his life. Mandela was devoted to democracy, equality and learning. He was a leader for change in his country. He…

Viola Desmond, a Canadian hero

Adapted from The Vancouver Sun by Nila Gopaul Level 3 February 2012 Viola Desmond was born and raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In the 1940s, Viola was successful. She owned a beauty parlour and a beauty college. Many people liked and respected her. Read the PDF. Viola Desmond, a Canadian hero-PDF Car breaks down One November…