Vancouver Island: A Contemporary History

This clear and captivating volume finally tells the full story of Vancouver Island, from its earliest societies to the modern day.

Vancouver Island’s rich and complex past has long deserved a compelling and accessible history—and this book delivers. Award-winning author Katherine Palmer Gordon opens with the vibrant histories of the Nuu-chah-nulth, Kwakwaka’wakw, and Coast Salish peoples, whose societies, laws, and economies were shaped by the island’s distinctive geography and resources.

Gordon traces the impacts of colonization, from the arrival of the Hudson’s Bay Company and British governance to the imposition of reserves, residential schools, and the construction of the Island Rail Corridor. Key historical figures—such as Governor Douglas, Amor de Cosmos, and Joseph Trutch—feature alongside chapters on settlement, industry, and emerging political movements.

The narrative follows the island’s cultural and economic evolution through the rise of resource industries, the counterculture era, and its unexpected role in the birth of Canada’s Green Party. Stories of BC Ferries, Cowichan sweaters, the history of Long Beach, and the 1990s “War in the Woods” illustrate defining moments and regional icons.

Turning to the present, Gordon highlights the resurgence of Indigenous governance, new approaches to conservation, and the individuals shaping Vancouver Island today. Written in an engaging and accessible style, this sweeping account will appeal to history lovers, local residents, and curious visitors alike.