Overview

This uniquely west-coast take on Canada's origin story focuses on a long-forgotten event that nearly led to British Columbia becoming part of the United States. Long before a certain American president took to social media to express his desire to make Canada the fifty-first state, the west coast of what is today called British Columbia found itself in the crosshairs of two imperial powers, faced with the very real possibility of being ceded to the United States. In the summer of 1789, a political and trade dispute between the Nuu-chah-nulth Nation, imperial Spain, Great Britain, and the USA converged in Nootka Sound, off Vancouver Island. If not for the intervention the King George's Sound Trading Company, Vancouver Island and British Columbia's fate could have turned out very differently, and the concept of a Canada that extended from Atlantic to Pacific would have been finished before it even began. With clear, engaging prose, author Graeme Menzies lays out the setting, intrigue, and dynamic cast of characters that ultimately determined Canada's geographical fate. Released at a time when imperialism, sovereignty, and national identity are more relevant than ever, this book asks us to ponder the events that shaped a nation and established a relationship between neighbouring countries that has once again become precarious.

Full Product Details

9781772035483

Table of Contents

Reviews

Author Information

Graeme Menzies is a writer, researcher, storyteller, and an international marketing and communications professional, whose experience includes serving as the director of communications for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. He is the author of the historical biography Bones: The Life and Adventures of Doctor Archibald Menzies and co-author (with Dave Doroghy) of several books in the 111 Places series of guidebooks, including 111 Places in Victoria That You Must Not Miss, 111 Places in Whistler That You Must Not Miss, and 111 Places in Vancouver That You Must Not Miss. He is the recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal, awarded to those who have made a significant contribution to Canada at home or abroad. Graeme Menzies lives in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Tab Content 6

Countries Available