Welcome to BC History Diary, a place where British Columbia’s past comes alive through archival letters, diaries, historic places, and the everyday stories of the people who shaped this province. From quiet family moments to major historical events, this is where big stories and little stories come together.
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Agassiz-Harrison Museum Heritage BC Newsletter Agassiz-Harrison Observer
Exploring British Columbia’s History Through Big Events and Daily Lives
British Columbia’s history isn’t just found in textbooks or major milestones—it lives in handwritten letters, old photographs, forgotten diaries, and the places we walk today.
Through research, site visits, and transcriptions, this blog invites readers to understand how ordinary lives helped build the British Columbia we know today.
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Discover some of the most recent posts on the site.
Latest Posts From BC History Diary
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Observation Cars, Mining Camps, and Settler Life in 1897
Mining camps become a part of the everyday sights for…
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Family Tension & Chinatown in Agassiz, B.C. 1897
Family tension was high as not everyone was pulling their…
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Gold Mining in British Columbia 1897: Peril in the Mountains and Trains Through Agassiz
Gold mining was in full swing in Agassiz and Harrison…
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Harrison Lake: New Visitors and Mining Excitement in 1897
In the spring of 1897, Harrison Lake was alive with…
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Winter Life in Agassiz, British Columbia
It is winter after the New Year for the Wright…
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New Year’s in Canada in 1897
For the Wright siblings, New Year’s in Canada in 1897…
Archival Letters
British Columbia’s past is full of personal voices—siblings writing home from Agassiz, families navigating change, and community members recording their daily experiences. This section highlights original letters and diaries that reveal what life looked like in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
These handwritten stories offer a rare glimpse into community life, family dynamics, joy, hardship, and the intimate details that rarely appear in official history books.
The Hazeley Letter Series
Follow the Wright siblings- May, Cecil, Harold, and Jack as they farm in Agassiz, British Columbia, Canada in 1896.
BC Historic Places & Road Trips
BC is full of historic landscapes: mountains, canyons, towns, ranches, bridges, and museums that hold generations of stories. This section guides readers through some of the province’s most fascinating heritage sites, including stops along the Fraser Canyon, Vancouver to Yale, Fort Langley, 108 Mile Ranch, Agassiz, and more.
Whether you’re planning a trip or exploring through the screen, these guides blend history with firsthand experience.
Top BC History Guides
About BC History Diary
BC History Diary is created by Jodie Laughlin, a historian, researcher, and writer based in the Fraser Valley.
My work blends archival research, museum collaboration, site visits, and storytelling to uncover and share the history of British Columbia in a way that feels personal, accessible, and meaningful.
I believe local history matters because every community, family, and person has a story worth remembering