HAPPY CANADA DAY!

Happy Canada Day to you all! I can't help but wonder how our ancestors felt about Confederation 142 years ago. Of course, James Thomas (JT) McIlmoyl (my great-grandfather) would have been aware of the importance of it even though he was likely in the Cariboo, digging for gold. However, as he was from Ontario, it would have meant more to him than to my local (Southern Vancouver Island) ancestors among whom was JT's future wife, Mary Ann Simpson. The Colony of Vancouver's Island had only joined with the mainland Colony to form the Colony of British Columbia the previous year (1866) and wouldn't join with and become a part of Canada for another 4 years. When that event did occur, it followed a period of intense discussion of the pros and cons of British Columbia joining Confederation as a part of Canada. In an interview published in the Victoria Times in 1917, JT was quoted as saying,"......Many persons at the time considered that in joining the union, the colony was dealing itself the final blow of destruction. Such, however, was not the case and the vast majority of those who had come from Eastern Canada recognized what partnership with that section of the Dominion would eventually mean......" JT went on to relate how, when he was elected to the Legislature in 1878, his government informed the Canadian government the following Spring (1879) that if they didn't progress satisfactorily towards completing the agreement (railroad) as promised that BC would petition to separate from the Dominion. Fortunately, this was eventually done and British Columbia has remained a part of the Dominion of Canada and is taking part in celebrating the country's birthday today.

So while you're celebrating our country's 142nd birthday today and, for those of us in BC, the 138th anniversary of joining the Dominion, have a thought for what it must have meant for our McIlmoyl ancestors at the time. Have a safe and happy holiday today and, above all, have fun!