Conference & AGM

Conference & AGM

Princeton, July 20—23 2023

Hosted by the Princeton & District Museum, the 2023 BCHF conference will be held in beautiful Princeton this summer. The community of Princeton, British Columbia is located on the territory of the Sylix and Nłeʔkepmx Tmíxʷ communities.


graphic banner for the BCHF conference that reads British Columbia Historical Federation Conference Princeton July 20-23
Conference Sponsored by Johnson Insurance

Annual General Meeting

Saturday, June 3, 10am

The BCHF AGM is held separately than our annual conference this year. Members of BCHF are entitled to attend and take part in meetings, proxies are not allowed. The quorum is twenty-five voting delegates. Voting rights are granted to:

  • Board members in attendance
  • Voting delegates accredited by Member Societies 
  • One voting delegate from each Affiliate and Corporate Member

Questions? secretary@bchistory.ca


CONFERENCE Registration & Pricing, July 20-23

>> Register for the conference now

General Admission – Early BirdRegister between May 1 and May 28$175
General AdmissionRegister after May 28$225
Optional: Bus Trip to Keremeos and HedleyAir conditioned bus trip to Keremeos Grist Mill, tour and visit to Hedley, BC$50
Optional: BCHF Gala Awards BanquetFeaturing music, awards, keynote speaker Judith Guichon, meal$45

General Admission includes:

  • 12 historical presentations
  • Wine and cheese welcome at the Princeton Museum (no host bar)
  • Local author book fair and sale
  • Networking opportunities
  • Optional field trip to Granite Creek (participants must provide their own transportation)

Add ons:

  • Chartered bus trip to Keremeos Grist Mill and Hedley 
  • Gala dinner & awards banquet, local music, and keynote speaker 

Schedule

Thursday, July 20
1:00 – 2:00 pmRegistration opensPrinceton & District Community Skills Centre
2:00 – 3:00 pmPresentation – Greg DicksonPrinceton & District Community Skills Centre
3:00 – 3:30 pmNetwork and coffee break, courtesy of Cool BeanzPrinceton & District Community Skills Centre
3:30 – 4:30 pmPresentation – Herman EdwardPrinceton & District Community Skills Centre
7:00 – 9:00 pmWelcome Reception & Tour
– Join us for wine & cheese, and an intimate look at the Princeton Museum. No host bar.
Princeton & District Museum
*schedule is subject to change
Friday, July 21
9:00 – 9:30 amRegistration opensPrinceton & District Community Skills Centre
9:30 – 10:30 amPresentation – Elwin XiePrinceton & District Community Skills Centre
10:30 – 11:00 amNetworking, refreshments & vendors courtesy of Cool BeanzPrinceton & District Community Skills Centre
11:00 – 12:00 pmPresentation – Ron VerzuhPrinceton & District Community Skills Centre
12:00 pmLunch on your ownAround town
1:30 – 2:30 pmPresentation – Jon Barlett & Rika RuebsaatPrinceton & District Community Skills Centre
2:30 – 3:00 pmNetworking, refreshments & vendors courtesy of Cool BeanzPrinceton & District Community Skills Centre
3:00 – 4:00 pmPresentation – TBAPrinceton & District Community Skills Centre
4:00 – 4:30 pmNetworking, refreshments & vendors courtesy of Cool BeanzPrinceton & District Community Skills Centre
4:30 – 5:30 pmPresentation – Quentin WrightPrinceton & District Community Skills Centre
*schedule is subject to change
Saturday, July 22
9:30 – 10:30 amPresentation – George ElliotPrinceton & District Community Skills Centre
10:30 – 11:00 amNetworking, refreshments & vendors courtesy of Cool BeanzPrinceton & District Community Skills Centre
11:00 – 12:00 pmPresentation – Todd DavidsonBus Trip to Keremeos Grist Mill (11 – 2 pm)Princeton & District Community Skills Centre
12:00 pmLunch on your ownAround town
1:30 – 2:30 pmPresentation – Okanagan Women’s Voices (Jeanette Armstrong, Lally Grauer, Janet MacArthur)Princeton & District Community Skills Centre
2:30 – 3:00 pmNetworking, refreshments & vendors courtesy of Cool BeanzBus Trip to Hedley (2:30 – 4:30 pm)Princeton & District Community Skills Centre
3:00 – 4:00 pmPresentation – Lydia KinasewichPrinceton & District Community Skills Centre
4:00 – 4:30 pmNetworking, refreshments & vendors courtesy of Cool BeanzPrinceton & District Community Skills Centre
4:30 – 5:30 pmPresentation – Spencer CoynePrinceton & District Community Skills Centre
6:00 – 9:00 pmGala Awards BanquetRoyal Canadian Legion
*schedule is subject to change
Sunday, July 23
9:00 – 12:00 pmField Trip at Granite Creek (*delegates must provide their own transportation)Granite Creek
*schedule is subject to change

Venues

Princeton & District Museum & Archives
  • Welcome reception & tour
  • 167 Vermillion Avenue, Princeton, BC
Princeton Skills Centre
  • Presentations and book fair
  • 206 Vermilion Avenue, Princeton, BC
Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 56
  • BCHF Gala Awards Banquet
  • 170 Bridge Street, Princeton, BC

Presentations

Here is the list of presenters for conference.

PresenterTopic
Greg DicksonBilly Miner
Herman EdwardCottonwood Canoe Trip
Elwin XieChinese Laundry
Ron VerzuhTrail Social History through a Newspaper Lens
Jon Bartlett and Rika RuebsaatThe 1932/33 Coal Strike
Quentin WrightExploring Mole Hill
George ElliotExperiences in Local Radio
Todd DavidsonCollections Management
Okanagan Women’s VoicesOkanagan Stories of Women
Lydia KinasewichTourism at Harrison Hot Springs, 1920-1930
Spencer CoynePrinceton’s recent flood

Awards Gala Banquet

7-9 pm, Princeton Legion Hall

  • Enjoy a buffet dinner in the Legion Hall while you are entertained by members of the Vancouver Folk Song Society.
  • The keynote speaker will be the Honorable Judith Guichon, former Lieutenant Governor of BC and rancher in the Nicola Valley.
  • The winners of the BCHF historical writing prize will be announced and the recognition awards will be presented.
  • Bid on BC books during the silent auction.
  • No host bar available.

Field Trips

Charter bus trip to Keremeos Grist Mill and the Hedley Museum
  • For an additional fee, an optional field trip is provided to the Keremeos Grist Mill and the Hedley Museum.
  • The air conditioned bus leaves from the Skills Centre at 11:15 am.
  • Enjoy lunch at the Grist Mill, and enjoy a guided tour as you view the gardens and learn about the history of the Grist Mill and reconstructed waterwheel.
  • On the way back, the bus will stop at locations in Hedley, including the Hedley Museum.
  • *Lunch is not provided, but the Grist Mill has a cafe and lunch options for purchase.
Granite Creek
  • Take in the ghost town of Granite Creek, home of a gold rush in 1885.
  • Join Robert and Diane Sterne of the Granite Creek Protection Society, your guides.
  • Corner of Rice Road and Blakeburn FSR, just past Coalmont.
  • *Please note that participants must provide their own transportation. Ride shares may be possible, details on the rural road are forthcoming.

Accommodations

The host committee has blocked off a number of rooms the following hotels close to the conference location. Please let the hotel know that you are with the BC Historical Federation conference when you book:

  • Canada’s Best Value Inn (book by June 30)
  • Cedars Motel (book by May 15)
  • Villager Inn (book by June 30)
NameRoom typeRates*Contact infoWebsite
Ace MotelAssorted from single queen, two queen, and suites.$119-$145130 Bridge Street
250-295-7063
princetonacemotel@gmail.com
LINK
Canada’s Best Value InnAssorted rooms including double, queen, kitchenettes, jacuzzi rooms.$137-$163169 Hwy 3
250-295-3537 ext 0 for desk
princetoninnbc@gmail.com
LINK
Cedars MotelAssorted rooms including single, queen, suite, kitchenettes. $85-$135139 – 3rd Street
250-295-3237
cedarsmotelprinceton@gmail.com
Countryside InnAssorted rooms, please call for pricing. Seniors discount. please call301 Hwy 3 east
250-295-7464
countrysideinn@telus.net
Evergreen MotelAssorted rooms, please call for pricing. Motel has wifi, heated outdoor pool. please call250 Hwy 3 East
250-295-7179
evergreenmotel@persona.ca
LINK
Municipal CampgroundRV and tent sites. Please call to confirm pricing. $40365 Hwy 3 East
250-295-7355
campgroundhost@princeton.ca
LINK
Princeton Castle Resort and CampgroundLodge rooms and chalets available. Kitchenettes, full kitchens, RV sites and tents. Please call for details and pricing. $99-$109375 Rainbow Lake Road
250-295-7988
info@castleresort.com
LINK
Sandman InnAssorted rooms including queen or double. $10 extra per person up to 4 people. $129-$139102 Frontage Road (Hwy 3)
250-295-6923
gm_princeton@sandman.ca
LINK
Villager InnAssorted rooms including single queen rooms, double rooms, kitchenettes. No pets, outdoor pool. $115-135244-4th Street
250-295-6996
villagerinnprinceton.ca
LINK
*Rates are per room before taxes unless otherwise noted. Rates are subject to change from the provider.

Conference Committee

Host Committee:
  • Jon Bartlett (Chair)
  • Rika Ruebsaat
  • Todd Davidson
  • Marjorie Holland
  • Stella Holliday
  • Bob Long
BCHF Liaisons:
  • Shannon Bettles
  • Anna Irwin

Questions:
Conference Registrar: Dyan Kinar, conference@bchistory.ca, 604-817-9749


Past conferences