When Karen Hoshal attends the Central Saanich United Church (formerly the Shady Creek Church) she experiences more than a spiritual connection; she knows that over 130 years ago her great grandfather, Charles Alexander, built the walls around her.
Alexander and his wife, Nancy, were some of the first Black pioneers to come to B.C. at the invitation of then-Governor James Douglas in 1858. They came up from San Francisco as free people to seek a better life for their family.
B次元官网网址淗e was a carpenter, so he built a lot of Victoria,B次元官网网址� Hoshal said. B次元官网网址淗e built the original Saanich Fairgrounds.B次元官网网址�
| The Shady Creek Church (now known as the Central Saanich Baptist Church) was built by Charles Alexander, one of the first Black Pioneers in B.C. (Central Saanich United Church) |
Alexander and his wife had 12 children and owned farmland in Central Saanich and businesses in Victoria that grew to be prosperous. Nancy Alexander helped form the Lakehill WomenB次元官网网址檚 Institute and was very active in the church community.
When the couple grew older, they bought a final residence at the corner of Quadra Street and McKenzie Avenue in Saanich, which they called the B次元官网网址淩ockabella Gardens.B次元官网网址�
| Charles and Nancy Alexander a were some of the first Black pioneers to come to B.C. in 1858. Together they had 12 children, and helped build Victoria through carpentry and farming (BCBlackHistory.ca) |
Descendants from the duo include BC Sports Hall of Fame lacrosse player Kevin Alexander, and Canadian Sports Hall of Fame Umpire, James Douglas B次元官网网址淒ougB次元官网网址� Hudlin.
For Hoshal, knowing their history is a valuable thing.
EDITORIAL:
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 very hard to go back in Black peopleB次元官网网址檚 families because before my great grandfatherB次元官网网址檚 records there are no records,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淪omewhere in a ledger, it might say B次元官网网址榦ne slave was born.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
Knowing that her great-grandparents were free and prosperous was an important thing for Hoshal to share with her own children, who are of mixed heritage.
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B次元官网网址淲hen I brought my children to Victoria, they saw pictures of them and were confused why they were so dark. I wanted to explain it to themB次元官网网址� thatB次元官网网址檚 the reason I started telling this history,B次元官网网址� Hoshal said.
Hoshal has been working with the BC Black History Society since 1995. She does presentations throughout the year, with an especially busy schedule for Black History Month.
To learn of more B.C. pioneers or upcoming Black History Month events you can visit .
