Kirjahaku

An engaging contribution to Canadian women's history. --BC Books for BC Schools A fascinating collection of concise stories about seventeen courageous, independent, and diverse women who shaped the history of Vancouver Island. From the lush rainforest of Clayoquot Sound to the bustling city streets of Victoria, Vancouver Island has been home to an astounding number of inspiring women. On Their Own Terms: True Stories of Trailblazing Women of Vancouver Island celebrates the achievements of seventeen amazing heroines working in multiple fields, from world-famous artists to social activists to groundbreaking scientists and quietly defiant labourers. The diverse women in this engaging new collection include: pioneer and midwife Tuwa 'hwiye Tusium Gollelim, Mary Ann Gyves; world-renowned algae botanist Josephine Tilden; undiscovered aviatrix Lilian Bland; Vancouver Island's first African-Canadian teacher, Emma Stark; and entrepreneur and bounty hunter Ada Annie Rae-Arthur, better known as Cougar Annie. On Their Own Terms will delight and empower anyone looking for true stories of nineteenth- and twentieth-century women who confronted uncertainty, challenged gender norms, and excelled in their respective vocations. Whether you are an entrepreneur, an educator, a rebellious spirit, or an armchair adventurer, these incredible women who thrived on Vancouver Island will captivate you.

The inspiring and true life story of Kimiko Murakami, a Japanese-Canadian pioneer and internment camp survivor, beautifully illustrated for a young audience. Ganbaru is a Japanese word that means to keep going during hard times and never give up. This picture book introduces young readers to Kimiko Murakami (1904-1997), a brave and determined woman whose life embodied the ganbaru spirit. Born in the village of Steveston, BC, and raised on Salt Spring Island, Kimiko was part of a long tradition of Japanese-Canadian families who made their livings fishing and farming. During the Second World War, she was among the 22,000 Japanese Canadians who were sent to live in internment camps because they were seen as "enemy aliens." The camps were dirty and crowded, but worst of all, they robbed Japanese Canadians of their basic rights and freedoms. Following the War, Kimiko and her family were allowed to return to Salt Spring Island and had to rebuild their farm and their life from scratch. Through it all, Kimiko--a pioneer and survivor--never lost hope. This book celebrates her achievements, courage, and ganbaru spirit through vivid illustrations and a clear, informative, and inspiring narrative.

A beautifully illustrated children's book chronicling the amazing life story of Lilian Bland, the first woman ever to design, build, and fly her own airplane. Ever since she was a little girl, Lilian Bland (1878-1971) wanted to fly. She loved to watch black gulls soaring through the sky near her England home, and she was fascinated by the mechanics of flight. However, airplanes were still very new when she was growing up, and those who did fly were usually men. Lilian would not give up. When she could not find anyone to teach her to fly, she took matters into her own hands. She designed and built her own plane, and after many tries, she finally got it to fly. This delightful picture book celebrates the life of Lilian Bland, remembered both in England and in her adopted home of Quatsino Sound, on Vancouver Island, for her many achievements--especially her ground-breaking achievements in aviation. Told with beautiful illustrations and a clear, inspiring narrative, Lilian's story of adventure and creativity is sure to enchant young readers.

There was a time when Jennie Butchart (1806-1950) knew nothing about gardening. She knew about chemistry and a little about business, which came in handy when she and her husband ran a cement plant on Vancouver Island. But their business venture turned into an eyesore when the quarry near their house ran out of limestone, leaving a huge, ugly pit in the ground. Every day, Jennie stared at the pit in frustration. She wished there was a way to make it beautiful. Then one day, she had an idea. Little by little, Jennie worked to make her vision a reality. She read books about gardening, gathered seeds from around the world, and hired the best plant experts she could find. Jennie and her team slowly transformed the barren hole into an enchanting public garden, bursting with colour and life The story of Jennie's brilliant idea to transform a barren pit into the world-famous Butchart Gardens is beautifully illustrated for children. Jennie Butchart: Gardener of Dreams inspires young readers to see the potential in the most unlikely of places.

Elizabeth Quocksister (1925-81) had many roles in her life. She was a cultural teacher, a community leader, a dancer, a nurse, a photographer, a residential school survivor, and a mother of ten. Born on the Da'naxda'xw Nation on Knight Inlet on the central coast of British Columbia, Elizabeth spoke fluent Kwak'wala and proudly celebrated her Kwakwaka'wakw culture at a time when the Canadian government actively discouraged Indigenous traditions and the speaking of Indigenous languages. She cared for community members in need and saved many children from the horrors of residential school. She chronicled the daily lives, important events, and changing times of her community through photography--preserving her people's history and culture for future generations. This inspiring picture book is a beautiful tribute to a proud Indigenous woman whose name deserves to be well-known throughout her community and beyond.

Elizabeth Quocksister (1925-81) had many roles in her life. She was a cultural teacher, a community leader, a dancer, a nurse, a photographer, a residential school survivor, and a mother of ten. Born on the Da'naxda'xw Nation on Knight Inlet on the central coast of British Columbia, Elizabeth spoke fluent Kwak'wala and proudly celebrated her Kwakwaka'wakw culture at a time when the Canadian government actively discouraged Indigenous traditions and the speaking of Indigenous languages. She cared for community members in need and saved many children from the horrors of residential school. She chronicled the daily lives, important events, and changing times of her community through photography--preserving her people's history and culture for future generations. This inspiring picture book is a beautiful tribute to a proud Indigenous woman whose name deserves to be well-known throughout her community and beyond.

Huxley the cat lives on a houseboat with his human companion, Robin. One day, while they are camping, Huxley gets lost. To get home, he must cross an entire island--passing by and through lakes, rivers, rainforest, subalpine and alpine regions, old-growth forest, ocean, highways, and city. Along the way, he meets strange animals and encounters plants he has never seen before. All through this long, hard trip, Huxley never gives up on getting home to Robin. But will he make it home before the winter storm season?Huxley's Island Adventure celebrates the natural environment the Pacific Northwest coast through the eyes of one very adventurous cat. Through vivid illustrations full of fascinating details, this story introduces children the region's plants and animals in a fun, engaging way.

The inspiring true story of Victoria Chung (1897-1966), who pursued her dreams against all odds to become the first Chinese-Canadian doctor.Named for the city in which she was born, Victoria, British Columbia, Victoria Chung was the daughter of Chinese immigrants. Despite racist laws that initially prevented her from attending public school, and sexist attitudes that prevented many women from pursuing careers in the sciences, Victoria had an ambitious dream--to become a doctor and help heal people around the world. Her unrelenting pursuit of education led her to become the first Asian-Canadian to study medicine at her university, where she faced further racism and sexism from some students and professors, and eventually became the first woman resident in her hospital. But Victoria was not done breaking down barriers. She travelled to China, the birthplace of her parents, and worked to give women and children the same medical care as men. She became the head doctor of her hospital and introduced modern technologies and practices to ensure that her patients received the best care possible. Today, more than half a century after her death, her accomplishments, ambition, and compassion are remembered in both Canada and China.

So She Went Ahead introduces young readers to a group of powerful, diverse women who followed their dreams, challenged norms, and lived life on their own terms. This inspiring collection of concise biographies reveals the under-reported history of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba through the stories of female artists, writers, entrepreneurs, adventurers, pioneers, doctors, midwives, activists, politicians, journalists, community leaders, and more The incomparable women in this collection include: war veteran and Indigenous-rights activist Bertha Clark-Jones, prolific northern photographer Geraldine Moody, Anishinaabe inventor Olivia Poole, Canada's first Black female lawyer Violet King Henry, silk merchant and business owner Kimi Wakabayashi, and iconic suffragist and politician Nellie McClung. Although they came from different backgrounds, these women all faced obstacles and inequalities on their path to success. Some broke glass ceilings, rose to fame, or became immortalized in history books and popular culture, while others lived quietly, finding personal fulfillment through meaningful work and creative pursuits. All deserve to be remembered and celebrated in this stunning collection designed for the next generation of trailblazers.

Born in a rustic cabin surrounded by mountains, lakes, and forests, Ruth Masters grew up with a deep love and respect for the natural world. As an avid mountaineer and backcountry guide in the wilderness of Strathcona Provincial Park on Vancouver Island, she knew firsthand how precious the land was and how important it was to protect it. For years, Ruth fought against the harmful practices of logging, damming, mining, and trophy hunting. She was always on the frontlines of protests, raising her voice against those who wanted to exploit the environment for profit. Even when people got angry at her, Ruth never gave up her cause. This inspiring picture book celebrates Ruth's passion for the environment and encourages young readers to find their inner activist