Province of British Columbia

When did the workers first arrive?  William Irvine arrived in BC in April 1906 and stayed less than a week.
In 1907, Jack Carroll and an unknown co-worker went from the Manitoba Convention to pioneer BC, along with Kate Rankin, Jean Houston, May Carroll and Florence May.

Who was the first to profess? 

Who was the first native to go in the work?  

When & Where was the first meeting? 
When & Where was the first baptism?

When & Where was the first convention? Nelson in 1908, and in Vancouver in 1909
Where have subsequent conventions been held?
Where is the convention currently held? 

Who have the Overseers been? Jack Carroll 1907–1956; Ernest Nelson 1956–1989; Paul Sharpe 1990–2008 (also of Asia); Walter Burkinshaw 2008–2016; Merlin Affleck 2017—.

What is the official language? English

The church in BC was mentioned in the book: Through Western Canada  in a Caravan, by F. H. Eva Hasell. See "Two by Twos," page 244.

Additional or corrected information on this country will be very welcome. 

The Beginning of the Gospel on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

In 1907, May Carroll and Florence Mae came to the Island. They started gospel meetings in a little schoolhouse in Saanichton. The schoolhouse is now gone.

Those who professed in that mission were Mrs. Annie Atkinson, her mother Mrs. Bate, Ross Patterson, Mr. and Mrs. Billie Simpson, Mrs. Steinburg and Lydia Perkins, who did not go on. All the rest died in the faith.

The workers stayed in a little hotel called The Old Prairie Inn on the corner of Mt. Newton and East Saanich Roads. It is still there today. The first open home was in the Simpson home. It was on East Saanich Road about a mile up the road from the Inn on the right hand side across from the Saanichton Fair Grounds. It is still there.

The organ in that home that the friends gathered to sing the hymns with is now in the home of Sharon and Bob Schneider in Kelowna. Was given to Annie Atkinson when Mr. Simpson felt he had to give up  the home.  Grandma Atkinson decided she wanted Sharon to have it, so it is still in their home today. Mrs. Steinburg had one of the early-meeting homes across from the airport in Sidney.

Florence Mae in later years married Will Gollan. They lived some time on the Prairies, later moving to Victoria [BC], where they lived until they both passed away.

Source: possibly written by Lou Atkinson

TTT Editor's Note: In the absence of a written account, the above information has been compiled by the TTT Editor from various sources. Corrections or additions are most welcome; as well as other historical accounts for this country Email TTT