Coal Mining, Vancouver Island

COAL MINING, VANCOUVER ISLAND, began at Beaver Harbour near the north end of the Island, where the HBC and Royal Navy ships traded coal from the local KWAKWAKA'WAKW. The HBC established FORT RUPERT in 1849, installing a party of 7 Scottish miners to put the operation on a more professional footing. The company was ill-prepared for the miners and their families, however. Food was inadequate and housing non-existent. Moreover, the underground coal deposits could not be reached without extensive...

If you are already registered on KnowBC, login now to get access to the full article.

You may already have access to KnowBC through your school, university or library.

• Schools that subscribe to KnowBC
• Colleges and universities that subscribe to KnowBC
• Public libraries that subscribe to KnowBC

If you do not already have access to KnowBC, you can subscribe.