Viewing Object

Object Description

Object ID

3466

Artist

Province of BC

Title

"See the Fraser Brigade"

Date

1958.

Description

Poster created to advertise the arrival of a group of re-enactors who were recreating Simon Fraser's journey down stɑl̓əw̓/stó:lō (Fraser River). Poster announces the crew will land at the Derby Cairn Site-Allard Crescent, on July 1, 1958, at 10:00 am. It also notes another event taking place that day, the opening of the Centennial Museum in Fort Langley at 11:15 am. The poster bears the official gold crest of the Province of British Columbia's 1958 Centennial events "A Century to Celebrate: BC 1858-1958". This crest includes the provincial flag, two evergreen trees, a sun, land, and water. The poster lettering is white and red with the local details written in black ink. The poster includes an image of five men in a canoe on the river wearing red and brown clothing; rock walls are in the background with rapids in the foreground.

Photo Inscription/Caption

Poster text reads: "See the Fraser Brigade -- Eighteen Voyageurs in Indian War Canoes Tackling Simon Fraser's Courageous Journey of 150 Years Ago. A Spectacular Pageant Re-Enacted in Honour of B.C.'s Centennial Year."

People/Subject

Derby Reach Regional Park

Fraser Brigade, 1958

In the summer of 1958 as part of the provincial centennial celebrations, a re-enactment was held of Simon Fraser's journey down the Fraser river. Dick Corliss played the role of simon Fraser accompanied by voyageurs and native re-enactees. The brigade landed in Derby Reach at Fort Langley the morning of July 1, 1958. Reeve bill Poppy, alex C. Hope and Jack Laing greeted the group, who were piped up the slope to the cairn marking the site of the original Fort Langley.

Fraser River, stɑl̓əw̓, stó:lō

Fraser, Simon

Langley Centennial Committee (1958)

Around 1957 the Langley Centennial Committee was created in order to prepare for celebrations commemorating the 100th anniversary of the proclamation of British Columbia as a Crown Colony in 1958. The committee, chaired by Alexander Campbell Hope (MLA for Delta from 1945-1949), included representatives from both the Corporation of the Township of Langley and the City of Langley. Various public events were organized and the creation of the Langley Centennial Museum was undertaken by the Committee. Committee members (in addition to Hope) included: Clive Rogers - Vice Chair, Derek J. Doubleday - Secretary Treasurer, Miss L. Coates - Corresponding Secretary, and members at large: A.J. Dodd, J.E. Fairholm, J.H. Schatz, H.D. Stafford, Miss Ida Vyse, Miss F.J. Mulligan (Women's Institute), Mrs. Anne Medd, Harry Coates (Native Sons, McMillan Post member), J.H. Conder, Wellwood Johnson, A.E. Roberts, and Reeve Bill Poppy.

Langley Centennial Museum Opening.

On July 1, 1958, the Langley Centennial Museum was officially opened by Mr. C. J. Wallace, chairman of the BC Centennial Committee. During the ceremonies, old and new guards of the Royal Engineers flanked the entrance, joined by ladies in pioneer costumes. Members of the Fraser Brigade also made up close to 1000 people in attendance. Two plaques were unveiled, one commemorating the museum as a centennial project and a second in memory of the first Christian missionaries in the area. Two totem poles were presented by the Native Sons McMillan Post No. 9. Dick Corliss who played the role of Simon Fraser in a re-enactment, presented the museum with a box of polished stone from Yale. The Douglas District Women's Institute presented 21 historic figurines.

Argus v4.4.0.36 - Langley Centennial Museum