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Province Launches BC150 Commemorative Stamp and Book. |
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For some reason, the Government chose Friday the 13th to announce two items as part of the BC150 celebrations. The first is a stamp to be released by Canada Post on BC Day, August 1. The second is a book, British Columbia: Spirit of the People written by noted BC historian and bestselling author, Jean Barman, available in stores now. The ceremony was held in the Vancouver Public Library downtown main branch. To help out with the festivities was a classroom of grade 2 students, who stole the show. Premier Gordon Campbell started of by telling the kids how things were back in 1858. There were only 300 people living in Victoria when gold was discovered in the Fraser canyon and 40,000 49ers from California flocked North to take advantage of the find. |
 Dismayed, Governor James Douglas petitioned Queen Victoria for Colonial status to protect British sovereignty.
Supposedly, she asked her minister what the Colony should be called. "A river runs through it, called Columbia," she was told. "Then call the Colony Columbia," she said. "But there already IS a Columbia, your Majesty," the minister replied. "Then call it British Columbia," she pronounced and so it became. |
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The 52¢ stamp was designed by Vancouver's Subplot Design and shows the hand of a pioneer panning for gold, the event that put BC on the map. Next to it is an outline map of the province and the inscription 1858 - 2008 British Columbia Colombie Britannique. | |
 Premier Gordon Campbell |
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 Students help the Premier unveil the stamp |
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 The Premier with the design team |
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"This book,  British Columbia: Spirit of the People represents the achievements, triumphs and challenges that have shaped this great province we call home," said Premier Campbell, who wrote the book's forward, The first 150 years.
"I want to thank author Jean Barman for capturing the history and spirit of British Columbia and marking the 150th anniversary of the founding of British Columbia as a Crown Colony," said the Premier. Five thousand copies of the book will be distributed to schools, libraries and communities across the Province over the next few months. The nearly 200 page book was written, published and printed in BC and is available in bookstores throughout the province. "British Columbia: Spirit of the People is a book about us. Blending pictures and stories, it tells our story," said Barman."We live in a province of tremendous beauty and diversity that is home to people committed to making this special place one of the very best on Earth." |
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 Author Jean Barman signs a copy of her book for VPL's Paul Whitney |
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| "BC150 is a chance for us all to explore and celebrate what it means to be British Columbians," said Tourism Minister Stan Hagen. "The BC150 commemorative stamp and book will help showcase a piece of our province's history, First Nations heritage, rich cultural diversity and widespread accomplishments to the rest of Canada and the world."
BC150 is a celebration of the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Crown Colony of British Columbia in 1858. For more information on other BC150 events and programs, please visit www.bc150.ca. All Nations has a selection of Colonial British Columbia stamps for sale, buy them here. Read the newsletter about the stamp being released at Fort Langley. |
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Newsletter 141 |
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