Print preview Close

Showing 204 results

Archival description
Canadian Pacific Railway Company
Print preview View:

41 results with digital objects Show results with digital objects

Gus Milliken interview

CALL NUMBER: T0658:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1963-03-13 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Gus Milliken tells many stories from many different sources about the area around Yale. The first story takes place during the gold rush about a man who sells another man a claim to a mine which turned out to be a gravel mine, not a gold mine. Several other prospecting stories, some of which are fictitious. Early stories about the sternwheelers, including an argument between an engineer and the captain of a steamship; legends about the packer Cataline (Jean Caux); pack mules near Lytton; March 1858; a man named Hill, who discovered the first gold along the Fraser; the first hotels in the area; Joe MacKenzie, an original '58er; Ned Stout; Dewdney Landing; Bill MacKenzie, orchards, the building of the CPR station at Yale; some historical facts about the town of Yale; the first sawmill, first town council and first white male born in BC, Chinese miners and old timers. TRACK 2: Mr. Milliken describes how Yale got its name; its origins as a fort in 1846; the Hudson's Bay Company; the first buildings in Yale, L.T. Hill as the first person to discover gold in 1858; the relationship between the Hudson's Bay Company and San Francisco; the original Fort Hope, the people who worked in the first gold mines, activity in the area as it was being established, the first post office in 1916, Hope as a gold mining town; prospectors who had to move on to other places because all of the land had been staked; a dynamite plant; other early homes.

CALL NUMBER: T0658:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1963-03-13 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Milliken continues describing Andrew Onderdonk, who was "supposed to have built the railway but who was in fact the engineer". He describes the American company that paid for the building of the railway from Emory to beyond Yale. He discusses the construction of the railway; the first roads in the area; Indian trails in the area, including Douglas Portage and how Mr. Yale named it; he describes Mr. Yale; gold in Rock Creek; the Kettle Valley and the Canadian National Railroad [sic]; mills in the area; the Hope-Nicola trail and other trails.

Annie York and Arthur Urquhart interview

CALL NUMBER: T0678:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-10-25 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Miss Annie York describes her grandfather, Joseph York (1868?-1951), who attended Anglican schools at Jackass Mountain; his lifelong work for the CPR; several anecdotes about things that happened to him during his lifetime; his character; Spuzzum Indians; Indians in Lytton; how Spuzzum got its name; Harry James; events in Spuzzum; Indians of Spuzzum; basket weaving; Spuzzum Indian chiefs; the Chinook language; languages used in church; she recites the Lord's Prayer and some hymns in her native tongue, Thompson Indian. TRACK 2: Miss York sings a bit more and discusses the hymns; Reverend Higgs; anecdotes about family; her great grandmother; her grandmother; her mother; her partner, Mr. Palmer; Chief James; Thompson Village. She tells the story of the Lytton Indians and Simon Fraser as told to her by her grandmother, who was ten years old at the time of the meeting, and sings the song that was sung to Simon Fraser when he left the Indians. More on Simon Fraser; more on hymns and prayers; teaching.

CALL NUMBER: T0678:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-10-25 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Miss York continues by discussing how Indians prepare food. Then Arthur Urquhart, who was born in Yale and moved to Spuzzum, describes his earliest recollections about his family; his father; people in the area; Chinese people; what people wore; what Spuzzum was like. TRACK 2: Miss York comes back on and tells stories that Chief James told her, and describes his life; bridges and settlements in the area; customs of the Indians; more on cooking; more stories about social customs; her father; Indian religion and beliefs; the origins of the river and the moon.

William Blackman interview

CALL NUMBER: T0692:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], [196-] SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. William Blackman describes his father, a miner who came from Ohio. William was born in Pennsylvania, and he describes how his father went west to Strathcona, Alberta, as a packer. He describes the family as they traveled across Alberta, including time at the Pocahontas Mine, until settling in Mile 49, which was then the end of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad. He describes the area around Cranberry Lake at that time. He describes the family homestead around 1906. He discusses several of the old timers who surveyed the land around that time. Mr. Blackman describes a winter where the temperature got down to 60 degrees below zero in 1915 and 1916. He continues to describes winters and how the weather was tough and working for a lumber company. He describes the now abandoned town of Lucerne; the activities there; the CPR; and the lumber industry. He describes journeys down the Canoe River including the geography. TRACK 2 Mr. Blackman offers anecdotes about the hot springs off the Canoe River and then describes lakes in the area and more on the Canoe River. He describes Swift Creek and the boating activity there. He describes the river from Mile 49 to Golden and how some of it was impassible. He describes several ways to get into the area, mentioning the towns and geography, including trading routes. He describes Athabasca Pass; the CPR; the Yellowhead and general difficulties of passing through the area. He discusses Indian reservations at Tete Jeune. He tells an anecdote of an Indian, Johnny Moullier, who came through the area who walked from Mil;e 49 to Chu Chua in 1916. More anecdotes about people carrying things along the Canoe River in 1908.

CALL NUMBER: T0692:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], [196-] SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Blackman discusses an expedition up north on a survey party to the Peace River Country in great detail, including anecdotes about the experience, people who worked on the survey and the jobs they did, and the geography in detail. TRACK 2: Mrs. E. Blackman describes how her father, Arthur 'Curly' Cochrane, worked as a cook on the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway in 1911. She was born near Montreal and she describes her family, their farming practices and the family homestead. She describes Tete Jeune as it was when she was a child. She discusses the produce on the farm and nearby; farms. She discusses the area between Dunster and McBride. She discusses the variety of berries in the area, which they would sell to the railroaders. She discusses the post-WWII boom in the area.

Joseph Killough interview : [Orchard, 1964]

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-09-15 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Joseph Killough remembers Castlegar and Kinnard. He came to Castlegar in 1913 with his family. He offers his first impressions; school; the importance of the CPR in Castlegar history; Castlegar as it was in 1913; more about the railroad to 1917; the Edgewood Lumber Mill; more about trains; Kinnard in 1913; his father Captain Joseph Arthur Killough; a logging camp at Kinnard; marketing meat; an incident while swimming as a child; the wheat harvest and Doukhobors at Brilliant. TRACK 2: Mr. Killough continues with more on the Doukhobors as seen by an outsider; school; the population increase in 1918; mining and milling economy; the arrival of traction engine for one of the mills; other families; Peter "Lordly" Verigin; the Doukhobor ferry at Waterloo; the route from Castlega;r to Nelson by road; Jimmy Davidson and the Castlegar ferry; Waterloo as a mining community; and the name "Castlegar".

Basil Aylmer interview

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-05-22 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: The Honourable Basil Aylmer describes the Aylmer family history. Then he discusses coming to Queens Bay; building a house; World War I; starting a farm; and his family and neighbours. TRACK 2: The Honourable Basil Aylmer continues with more on social life at Queens Bay before discussing Proctor; more about the farm; marriage; characters; and the CPR.

Doug Abrahamson interview

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-01-29 SUMMARY: TRACKS 1 & 2: Doug Abrahamson recalls Revelstoke at the turn of the century. His family came from Sweden, settled in Revelstoke and built and ran the Central Hotel. He describes the social life and customs in Upper Town and Lower Town, characters from the Revelstoke area and Big Bend region, the steamboat "Revelstoke", and trails in the area. Incidents around town. The local red light district; the various "houses" and their inhabitants. He also discusses the Rogers Pass slide of 1910, Illecillewaet, and the transfer of the CPR divisional point from Donald to Revelstoke.

Desmond Vicars interview

CALL NUMBER: T0405:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-06-30 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Colonel Desmond O. Vicars offers details about his father, John Richard Vicars, who came from Dublin to Ontario and became a surveyor; 1878, went to Peace River country; 1890, went to Vancouver; 1896, went to Kamloops area; became warden of the Kamloops jail; married his wife in 1892; discusses old timers and old miners; J.A. Marrow; anecdotes about Indians who died of smallpox; Rose Shubert; transportation along the Fraser River; pack trains; the Fortune's ranch; overlanders; John Tate; mining around Kamloops; some characters in the area who liked to mine; the CPR and its effect on the area. TRACK 2: Colonel Vicars continues with a story about Andrew Onderdonk; an old timer named Antoine Allen; Colonel Vicars discusses Kamloops as it was when he was born; a private school that started in 1893; several stories about Bill Miner and about Miner's partner, Shorty Dunn.

CALL NUMBER: T0405:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-06-30 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Colonel Vicars continues to discuss characters associated with Bill Miner, including Jack Budd; more on his father and the Rocky Mountain Rangers; and militia units. [TRACK 2: blank.]

Cattle ranching in the Nicola

SUMMARY: The story of cattle ranching in the Nicola Valley: its beginnings in the days of the Cariboo gold rush, and the work of ranchers and cowboys at the Douglas Lake Cattle Company. The voices heard are: Bill Brennan; Alex Bulman; Gerald Guichon; Fred Irwin; Doug Palmer; and Martin Starret.

Kamloops and the Bill Miner story

SUMMARY: Stories about the early days of Kamloops, the importance of the CPR and the stockyards, and the hunt for Bill Miner, the legendary train robber. The voices heard are: Colonel D.C. Vicars; F.W. Pinchbeck; Wentworth Wood; Bill Brennan; Alex Bulman; Fred Irwin; and Doug Palmer.

The big train

SUMMARY: A radio documentary about a transcontinental train journey from Montreal to Vancouver on the CPR's crack passenger train "Number 7".

Gwen Hayman and Dorothy and William Robinson : interview

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-05-27 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Land promoter John Moore Robinson is recalled by his daughters Dorothy Robinson and Gwen Hayman, and by a nephew, William Robinson, who also discuss life in the central Okanagan, 1897 to 191;4. The three speakers all speak together so it is not specified who says what. The discussion begins by describing Robinson's background; memories of Summerland; the SS "Okanagan" and Captain Estabrooks; trips on the family houseboat; how Robinson came west and founded Peachland; early days in Peachland and Summerland; James Ritchie; Robinson's companies; CPR interest in Summerland; early days of Naramata, including what life was like there and in Summerland. TRACK 2: The Robinsons offer childhood memories; a discussion about J.M. Robinson and Mrs. Robinson; early church service; first impressions of the Okanagan; the trip out from Brandon; the family house; more on Robinson's background and the founding of Peachland; Robinson's enthusiasm for the Okanagan; Summerland days; visits of CPR; financiers; stories about the Robinson's family Chinese cook; impressions of Penticton and Kelowna; and a westerner's view of eastern Canadians.

Reports of the Assistant Timber Inspector at Nelson

  • GR-1213
  • Series
  • 1912

This series contains reports by the Assistant Timber Inspector at Nelson on timber cut and royalties payable by the Canadian Pacific Railway and the Doukhobor Society.

British Columbia. Dept. of Lands

Correspondence

  • GR-1306
  • Series
  • 1881

This series contains correspondence between Amor De Cosmos, as Special Agent to London, and others, respecting the Petition of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, to the Queen, on the subject of the Canadian Pacific Railway from March 22nd 1881 to August 31st 1881. The series includes a printed copy of B.C. legislature's petition to the Queen, along with a manuscript copy of the Canadian Pacific Railway memorandum on "Vancouver Island Railway," December 1881. De Cosmos' map showing CPR terminus at Port Moody, alienated railway land on Vancouver Island, proposed ferry routes, etc. were transferred to PABC Library & Maps Division under accession M889117.

British Columbia. Lieutenant Governor

Wally Huffman interview

CALL NUMBER: T3809:0001 RECORDED: North Vancouver (B.C.), 1980-01-24 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: In an interview with Robert Turner, retired CPR locomotive engineer and fireman W.F. Huffman discusses: wiping and firing out of Grand Forks; learning the trade and operating during the Depression years. TRACK 2: W.F. Huffman discusses: coal firing a locomotive; move to Revelstoke to operate oil burners; operations out of Revelstoke; company pensioners; bidding for jobs; engineering exams and requirements.

CALL NUMBER: T3809:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Railroading in B.C. : W.F. Huffman RECORDED: North Vancouver (B.C.), 1980-01-24 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: W.F. Huffman discusses: operations on Arrowhead branch; helpers out of Beavermouth; comments on 5900s, 2800s, and other power differences with the coming of diesels. (End of interview)

Reid Johnston interview

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Railroading in B.C. : Reid Johnston RECORDED: [location unknown], 1980-01-23 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: In an interview with Robert Turner, Reid Johnston discusses his memories of railroading: background -- born 1893 in Washington state; spent much of his early life in California; became office boy at Nakusp for the CPR at age 16; after a year, he became a station agent at Halcyon Hot Springs for 8 years; then worked in telegraph agency in Kelowna, then Penticton; becoming a brake man; returning to being dispatcher at a number of different stations; retiring in Summerland; becoming magistrate; became president of CPR pioneers association; describes operation at Nakusp, Hotsprings, Penticton braking experience, job at Nicola, night shift in Merritt; his love of telegraphing; living in a box car at Beaverdell; anecdote about mixed-up caskets in Summerland. TRACK 2: Mr. Johnston discusses: working at Coalmont; disaster at Coalmont after he left were 13 men were killed; working at Summerland -- Japanese community, large amounts of fruit being shipped, mostly handled passenger traffic; he had 1200 employees under his jurisdiction at one point; union politics; jobs in railroading dropped severely in later years; opinion of CPR as employer; later life; sale of property; story of a robbery of a safe in Summerland. (End of interview)

J.L. Jamieson interview

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Silk trains PERIOD COVERED: 1900-1914 RECORDED: Victoria (B.C.), 1977-01-08 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: How Mr. Jamieson became a locomotive engineer for the CPR. Description of silk trains: train types, description of bales of raw silk, speed of the trains, bonding and guarding of silk cargoes on ships and trains. [TRACK 2: blank?]

Records relating to Special Constables under the Railway Act

  • GR-2884
  • Series
  • 1903-1996

The series consists of applications, certificates of appointment, oaths, certificates of dismissal and indexes for Special Constables under the Railway Act filed at the Vancouver Court Registry between 1903 and 1996. Appointments were made by a Vancouver Police Magistrate or a Vancouver Stipendiary Magistrate (or Deputy) or the Chief Commissioner of Police for the Dominion of Canada on the recommendation of member of the Department of Investigation for the railway company. Certificates of dismissal were issued by the Superintendent or an Inspector of the Department of Investigation of the railway company. This collection has records for the Canadian Pacific Railway, the Canadian National Railway, the Great Northern Railway and Via Rail Canada.

British Columbia. Court Registry (Vancouver)

[Scenery (North Vancouver, Fraser Valley, etc) ; railway shots]

Stock shots. Sternwheeler arriving at dock. Views from Stamp lookout, and from the Grouse Mountain gondola lift. Lumber trucks on freeway. Fraser River and rapids. CPR and CNR freight trains travelling along the Thompson River. Aerials views of islands, coastline, beaches, etc., near Tofino.

Colonial Office "secret" supplementary correspondence

This series contains extracts from volumes in C.O. 537 series, known as supplementary correspondence. This class of records was made up of records and miscellaneous documents which were not considered suitable for inclusion in other Colonial office series. The records consist mainly of despatches to and from the Secretary of State for the Colonies and the Governor-General of Canada and senior British military officers. Records pertain to all parts of Canada, but include substantial British Columbia-related material.

San Juan Island dispute, B.C.'s entry into Confederation, the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway, trans-Pacific steamship services, coastal defence, and the Bering Sea sealing negotiations are but some of the issues documented in this series.

The majority of the records were originally classified as "Secret" or "Confidential." The terms "secret" and "confidential" had different meanings at different times. In 1871, when British Columbia joined Confederation, "secret" despatches from London could be shown by the Governor-General to his executive council, and the contents could be relayed to the Lieutenant Governor and his cabinet in B.C. "Confidential" despatches could only be disclosed with the express permission of the Secretary of State for the Colonies. In 1888 the meanings of the terms was exactly reversed.

Great Britain. Colonial Office

Pacific Great Eastern Railways lands survey of resources

  • GR-3084
  • Series
  • [ca. 1926-1968]

The series consists a survey of resources of the Pacific Great Eastern Railway lands undertaken by the Government of British Columbia, the Canadian Pacific Railway Company and the Canadian National Railways. The contents include maps, drawings and photographs.

British Columbia. Dept. of Lands, Forests and Water Resources

Jack Dale interview

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Tofino-Clayoquot : Jack Dale RECORDED: [location unknown], 1979 SUMMARY: In an interview with Bob Bossin, Jack Dale discusses: why people came out from England to Vancouver Island in the early twentieth century (because the CPR was promoting land speculation); Vargas Island was advertised, and 14 families went there; CPR was owned by men who used to be involved in railroading in Great Britain; in Canada, people got land from the government, but CPR was very involved in the process; the steamship "Maquinna"; CPR a very capitalist organization; government repossession of settlers' land if taxes were not paid; story about Fred Tibbs; working class nature of many settlers on Vancouver Island's west coast.

Charles Gibson interview

The item is an audio recording of an interview with Charles Gibson.
T0552:0001 track 1: Mr. Gibson tells story of his grandfather, Charles Henry Gibson, who came to Ashcroft in 1897. Discusses his grandfather's career as an entrepreneur and rancher; he was one of the leading citizens of early Ashcroft. Father was educated in private school in Victoria. Mother's family described. Family ranches sold out in 1951. Relations between Chinese and Indigenous people.
Track 2: Gibson learned Chinese as a child. The Chinese in the agricultural economy of Ashcroft. Chinese life and customs described. Cataline described. Cataline as a businessman. Experiences of Gibson's maternal grandfather, Francis Webb, as a stipendiary magistrate in Ashcroft. (The voice of Dr. John Roberts is also heard.)

T0552:0002 track 1: More on Cataline and Judge Henry Castillou. Gibson family suit against the CPR over water rights. Social life in Ashcroft. Leading citizens of Ashcroft. Fraternal orders.

Across Canada

The item is a video copy of a travelogue film from around 1946. It shows a scenic tour across Canada featuring tourist attractions, provincial capitals, and CP hotel facilities. BC scenes: across the Great Divide to Lake O'Hara; Field; Takakkaw Falls; Emerald Lake; Kicking Horse River; Vancouver (skyline, streets, Lion's Gate Bridge, English Bay, harbour, CP Princess ship departing), and Victoria (aerial view, ship arriving, harbour view).

L.D. Chatham & ? in first ticket office in Victoria located across from W&J Wilson, 1102 Gov't St.

The item is a b&w photograph, probably torn out of an album, showing Leonard D. Chatham (right) and an unknown man in the Canadian Pacific Railway ticket office on Government Street in Victoria.

The title information relating to the location of the ticket office given by the donor is uncertain. The location of the ticket office in this photograph may have been either 75 or 53 Government Street. 75 Government Street was across Trounce Alley from W&J Wilson Clothing, which was at 83 Government Street. If the location of the C.P. ticket office was 53 Government Street, at the corner of Government and Fort, then it was opposite what is now 1102 Government Street.

Results 1 to 30 of 204