over the past eight years I visited 300 ghost towns across British Columbia and
ghost towns across British Columbia and
ghost towns across British Columbia and the entire west coast you might be
the entire west coast you might be
the entire west coast you might be asking why I do to you sometimes in that
asking why I do to you sometimes in that
asking why I do to you sometimes in that time the 300 different towns that I
time the 300 different towns that I
time the 300 different towns that I visited have brought me a lot of stories
visited have brought me a lot of stories
visited have brought me a lot of stories and enlightenment treasures that I share
and enlightenment treasures that I share
and enlightenment treasures that I share not physical treasures I don’t steal
not physical treasures I don’t steal
not physical treasures I don’t steal from the ghost town there’s not a lot of
from the ghost town there’s not a lot of
from the ghost town there’s not a lot of amenities and when I was talking to my
amenities and when I was talking to my
amenities and when I was talking to my sister about why we go to these ghost
sister about why we go to these ghost
sister about why we go to these ghost towns and what we do I asked her why she
towns and what we do I asked her why she
towns and what we do I asked her why she thought that I did and she cackled dand
thought that I did and she cackled dand
thought that I did and she cackled dand said because you’re in too deep and she
said because you’re in too deep and she
said because you’re in too deep and she was right because when you get too deep
was right because when you get too deep
was right because when you get too deep into something it becomes an interest
into something it becomes an interest
into something it becomes an interest and then a passion and then a lifestyle
and then a passion and then a lifestyle
and then a passion and then a lifestyle and it’s a lifestyle worth living for me
and it’s a lifestyle worth living for me
and it’s a lifestyle worth living for me going to ghost towns has offered me the
going to ghost towns has offered me the
going to ghost towns has offered me the ability to see different patterns
ability to see different patterns
ability to see different patterns between those 300 places and I’d also
between those 300 places and I’d also
between those 300 places and I’d also like to tell you that the biggest
like to tell you that the biggest
like to tell you that the biggest pattern have noticed is the historical
pattern have noticed is the historical
pattern have noticed is the historical erasure is real and it’s prevalent I’ve
erasure is real and it’s prevalent I’ve
erasure is real and it’s prevalent I’ve seen it and I’ve touched it
seen it and I’ve touched it
seen it and I’ve touched it and whenever I see and touch historical
and whenever I see and touch historical
and whenever I see and touch historical erasure in those towns it’s hard not to
erasure in those towns it’s hard not to
erasure in those towns it’s hard not to unsee it in my own City
unsee it in my own City
unsee it in my own City but those patterns are a bit more fun
but those patterns are a bit more fun
but those patterns are a bit more fun than that so I’ll tell you a bit about
than that so I’ll tell you a bit about
than that so I’ll tell you a bit about that first a few years ago I was driving
that first a few years ago I was driving
that first a few years ago I was driving through rural Idaho and I looked to my
through rural Idaho and I looked to my
through rural Idaho and I looked to my right and I thought damn that font looks
right and I thought damn that font looks
right and I thought damn that font looks familiar
familiar
familiar on that town sign and so I veered off
on that town sign and so I veered off
on that town sign and so I veered off the highway my friends didn’t like that
the highway my friends didn’t like that
the highway my friends didn’t like that part and then spending a few hours in
part and then spending a few hours in
part and then spending a few hours in the town that we drove into they also
the town that we drove into they also
the town that we drove into they also didn’t love that part because you know
didn’t love that part because you know
didn’t love that part because you know rural Idaho
but I likes that part and I liked that
but I likes that part and I liked that part for a few different reasons but
part for a few different reasons but
part for a few different reasons but specifically because that fought brought
specifically because that fought brought
specifically because that fought brought me into a town that I had seen before I
me into a town that I had seen before I
me into a town that I had seen before I had seen it in British Columbia in the
had seen it in British Columbia in the
had seen it in British Columbia in the middle of the Kootenays I’d seen the
middle of the Kootenays I’d seen the
middle of the Kootenays I’d seen the same buildings and I had seen them
same buildings and I had seen them
same buildings and I had seen them washed away and I had seen them falling
washed away and I had seen them falling
washed away and I had seen them falling over and I had seen them and it seen the
over and I had seen them and it seen the
over and I had seen them and it seen the same landmarks but in this town there
same landmarks but in this town there
same landmarks but in this town there were people living I don’t know if
were people living I don’t know if
were people living I don’t know if you’ve ever seen someone come from the
you’ve ever seen someone come from the
you’ve ever seen someone come from the pec from the dead which probably haven’t
pec from the dead which probably haven’t
pec from the dead which probably haven’t right
right
right but I saw a living town that I had
but I saw a living town that I had
but I saw a living town that I had already seen dead somewhere else and I
already seen dead somewhere else and I
already seen dead somewhere else and I see that a lot these are the ghost towns
see that a lot these are the ghost towns
see that a lot these are the ghost towns I visited in British Columbia and I
I visited in British Columbia and I
I visited in British Columbia and I should probably tell you what it ghost
should probably tell you what it ghost
should probably tell you what it ghost town is I’m not a paranormal researcher
town is I’m not a paranormal researcher
town is I’m not a paranormal researcher despite talking about everything I just
despite talking about everything I just
despite talking about everything I just did but I am an anthropologist I study
did but I am an anthropologist I study
did but I am an anthropologist I study culture ghost towns are places that are
culture ghost towns are places that are
culture ghost towns are places that are either abandoned or very close to
either abandoned or very close to
either abandoned or very close to abandoned I’m gonna let you in on a
abandoned I’m gonna let you in on a
abandoned I’m gonna let you in on a secret that I like the places that are
secret that I like the places that are
secret that I like the places that are close to abandoned a little bit more
close to abandoned a little bit more
close to abandoned a little bit more only because the people are super
only because the people are super
only because the people are super interesting ghost towns in British
interesting ghost towns in British
interesting ghost towns in British Columbia can be a lot of different
Columbia can be a lot of different
Columbia can be a lot of different things they can be mills or company
things they can be mills or company
things they can be mills or company towns some of them are entire cities or
towns some of them are entire cities or
towns some of them are entire cities or villages their indigenous settlements
villages their indigenous settlements
villages their indigenous settlements they’re everything but for me also one
they’re everything but for me also one
they’re everything but for me also one of my favorite types is going into a
of my favorite types is going into a
of my favorite types is going into a town where there’s absolutely nothing
town where there’s absolutely nothing
town where there’s absolutely nothing left and just seeing an open field and
left and just seeing an open field and
left and just seeing an open field and walking a little bit up a hill and you
walking a little bit up a hill and you
walking a little bit up a hill and you can see the perfect outline of the
can see the perfect outline of the
can see the perfect outline of the houses you get a little bit closer and
houses you get a little bit closer and
houses you get a little bit closer and you start looking between the rows and
you start looking between the rows and
you start looking between the rows and you can see their gardens poison ivy
you can see their gardens poison ivy
you can see their gardens poison ivy sometimes English ivy also sometimes you
sometimes English ivy also sometimes you
sometimes English ivy also sometimes you start looking for different types of
start looking for different types of
start looking for different types of gardens you can find Chinese vegetable
gardens you can find Chinese vegetable
gardens you can find Chinese vegetable gardens you can find Japanese vegetable
gardens you can find Japanese vegetable
gardens you can find Japanese vegetable gardens if you go close enough to the
gardens if you go close enough to the
gardens if you go close enough to the ocean you can find different oyster
ocean you can find different oyster
ocean you can find different oyster shells for people who have sat there on
shells for people who have sat there on
shells for people who have sat there on the beach shucking them
I visited one of those company towns
I visited one of those company towns earlier this summer company towns again
earlier this summer company towns again
earlier this summer company towns again are places where an industry moves in
are places where an industry moves in
are places where an industry moves in and then builds up and the people who
and then builds up and the people who
and then builds up and the people who move there their lives in a lot of ways
move there their lives in a lot of ways
move there their lives in a lot of ways are controlled by that company their
are controlled by that company their
are controlled by that company their money their income their fun their
money their income their fun their
money their income their fun their families everything is brought in to
families everything is brought in to
families everything is brought in to that isolated place I visited the town
that isolated place I visited the town
that isolated place I visited the town of Ocean Falls Ocean Falls was built up
of Ocean Falls Ocean Falls was built up
of Ocean Falls Ocean Falls was built up in 1906 and it’s an unseeded health sect
in 1906 and it’s an unseeded health sect
in 1906 and it’s an unseeded health sect territory it’s in the Mid Coast and it’s
territory it’s in the Mid Coast and it’s
territory it’s in the Mid Coast and it’s huge at one point it had about 3500
huge at one point it had about 3500
huge at one point it had about 3500 people living there now has about 8
people living there now has about 8
people living there now has about 8 somewhere they told me that it gets
somewhere they told me that it gets
somewhere they told me that it gets bigger in population but someone went to
bigger in population but someone went to
bigger in population but someone went to me and said 15 when you go to places
me and said 15 when you go to places
me and said 15 when you go to places like this you start having to ask the
like this you start having to ask the
like this you start having to ask the same questions over and over again
same questions over and over again
same questions over and over again especially after doing it 300 times the
especially after doing it 300 times the
especially after doing it 300 times the first question that I like to ask is
first question that I like to ask is
first question that I like to ask is what’s left when I look around what was
what’s left when I look around what was
what’s left when I look around what was here and what’s left so in Ocean Falls
here and what’s left so in Ocean Falls
here and what’s left so in Ocean Falls there’s apartment buildings
there’s apartment buildings
there’s apartment buildings there’s an entire hotel there’s also a
there’s an entire hotel there’s also a
there’s an entire hotel there’s also a new fish hatchery an entire town called
new fish hatchery an entire town called
new fish hatchery an entire town called Marten Valley it’s like a suburb suburbs
Marten Valley it’s like a suburb suburbs
Marten Valley it’s like a suburb suburbs like in ocean folks
like in ocean folks
like in ocean folks all company temps of suburbs because you
all company temps of suburbs because you
all company temps of suburbs because you weren’t allowed to keep living in them
weren’t allowed to keep living in them
weren’t allowed to keep living in them if after you retired from the company so
if after you retired from the company so
if after you retired from the company so people still live there we started out
people still live there we started out
people still live there we started out our time in the town by visiting
our time in the town by visiting
our time in the town by visiting everyone on Canada Day because we
everyone on Canada Day because we
everyone on Canada Day because we thought that it would be a good way to
thought that it would be a good way to
thought that it would be a good way to meet everyone because they’d all be in
meet everyone because they’d all be in
meet everyone because they’d all be in one place and they were there at the
one place and they were there at the
one place and they were there at the ferry terminal there are lighting
ferry terminal there are lighting
ferry terminal there are lighting fireworks and drinking and everyone was
fireworks and drinking and everyone was
fireworks and drinking and everyone was kind of scattered around this one kind
kind of scattered around this one kind
kind of scattered around this one kind of odd bench I later on found out that
of odd bench I later on found out that
of odd bench I later on found out that the bench was from the bowling alley
the bench was from the bowling alley
the bench was from the bowling alley they just hold it outside it looks like
they just hold it outside it looks like
they just hold it outside it looks like a bowling bench if you really think
a bowling bench if you really think
a bowling bench if you really think about it the other thing I started
about it the other thing I started
about it the other thing I started thinking about though in these towns was
thinking about though in these towns was
thinking about though in these towns was with the people who were there how do
with the people who were there how do
with the people who were there how do you keep in contact with them how did
you keep in contact with them how did
you keep in contact with them how did they keep in contact with each other and
they keep in contact with each other and
they keep in contact with each other and I asked and they said Oh our postal code
I asked and they said Oh our postal code
I asked and they said Oh our postal code I was like what’s that and they’re like
I was like what’s that and they’re like
I was like what’s that and they’re like very odd town one pub only vo t 1p oh
very odd town one pub only vo t 1p oh
very odd town one pub only vo t 1p oh and there is one pub that’s how people
and there is one pub that’s how people
and there is one pub that’s how people keep in contact on Monday Wednesday and
keep in contact on Monday Wednesday and
keep in contact on Monday Wednesday and Friday it’s open from 4:00 till 7:00 the
Friday it’s open from 4:00 till 7:00 the
Friday it’s open from 4:00 till 7:00 the people that I met in Ocean Falls are
people that I met in Ocean Falls are
people that I met in Ocean Falls are some of the best people I’ve ever met
when I start thinking about places like
when I start thinking about places like Ocean Falls it goes from thinking about
Ocean Falls it goes from thinking about
Ocean Falls it goes from thinking about what’s there and who’s there and why
what’s there and who’s there and why
what’s there and who’s there and why they’re sometimes but then it drifts
they’re sometimes but then it drifts
they’re sometimes but then it drifts into another part I’m just a lot harder
into another part I’m just a lot harder
into another part I’m just a lot harder to understand and that’s who’s missing I
to understand and that’s who’s missing I
to understand and that’s who’s missing I can tell you what buildings are missing
can tell you what buildings are missing
can tell you what buildings are missing because I have them on maps but who’s
because I have them on maps but who’s
because I have them on maps but who’s missing is much harder and in the
missing is much harder and in the
missing is much harder and in the research leading up to Ocean Falls you
research leading up to Ocean Falls you
research leading up to Ocean Falls you know I started realizing how many people
know I started realizing how many people
know I started realizing how many people were included in the research but only
were included in the research but only
were included in the research but only in sort of off sites you could see that
in sort of off sites you could see that
in sort of off sites you could see that there was a huge Japanese town at one
there was a huge Japanese town at one
there was a huge Japanese town at one point I knew there was a Chinatown at
point I knew there was a Chinatown at
point I knew there was a Chinatown at one point I knew that there was a
one point I knew that there was a
one point I knew that there was a red-light district at one point but
red-light district at one point but
red-light district at one point but until actually going there there’s no
until actually going there there’s no
until actually going there there’s no way to find those things the places I go
way to find those things the places I go
way to find those things the places I go are ungoogleable that’s the erasure bit
are ungoogleable that’s the erasure bit
are ungoogleable that’s the erasure bit the ungoogleable bed because erasure is
the ungoogleable bed because erasure is
the ungoogleable bed because erasure is a human thing we push out difference
a human thing we push out difference
a human thing we push out difference if you think about every war ever fought
if you think about every war ever fought
if you think about every war ever fought they didn’t just kill people they took
they didn’t just kill people they took
they didn’t just kill people they took down entire towns they were actually
down entire towns they were actually
down entire towns they were actually archives they wrecked the museums they
archives they wrecked the museums they
archives they wrecked the museums they wrecked all the culture and when we
wrecked all the culture and when we
wrecked all the culture and when we destroy our culture there’s nothing to
destroy our culture there’s nothing to
destroy our culture there’s nothing to go back to erasure in ghost towns is
go back to erasure in ghost towns is
go back to erasure in ghost towns is places like Ocean Falls that when you
places like Ocean Falls that when you
places like Ocean Falls that when you walk up the hill on the narrow wooden
walk up the hill on the narrow wooden
walk up the hill on the narrow wooden stilts
stilts
stilts they don’t go anywhere because the
they don’t go anywhere because the
they don’t go anywhere because the Japanese town was destroyed during the
Japanese town was destroyed during the
Japanese town was destroyed during the Second World War because everyone was
Second World War because everyone was
Second World War because everyone was scared and they pushed out difference
scared and they pushed out difference
scared and they pushed out difference keep in mind Japanese internment in
keep in mind Japanese internment in
keep in mind Japanese internment in British Columbia went from 1941 till
British Columbia went from 1941 till
British Columbia went from 1941 till 1949 that’s five years after the war
1949 that’s five years after the war
1949 that’s five years after the war ended and they stayed in the Kootenays
ended and they stayed in the Kootenays
ended and they stayed in the Kootenays in other ghost towns oddly that I go to
in other ghost towns oddly that I go to
in other ghost towns oddly that I go to is where the internment camps were so in
is where the internment camps were so in
is where the internment camps were so in knowing this about ghost towns and in
knowing this about ghost towns and in
knowing this about ghost towns and in knowing this about in Falls again it’s
knowing this about in Falls again it’s
knowing this about in Falls again it’s really hard not to see those same
really hard not to see those same
really hard not to see those same patterns in our own cities when I look
patterns in our own cities when I look
patterns in our own cities when I look at Ocean Falls I see a completely gone
at Ocean Falls I see a completely gone
at Ocean Falls I see a completely gone Japan town and I see the stilts where
Japan town and I see the stilts where
Japan town and I see the stilts where Chinatown used to be but I also see
Chinatown used to be but I also see
Chinatown used to be but I also see Hogan’s Alley in Vancouver which was
Hogan’s Alley in Vancouver which was
Hogan’s Alley in Vancouver which was underneath the Georgia Street Viaduct it
underneath the Georgia Street Viaduct it
underneath the Georgia Street Viaduct it was taken out and people were displaced
was taken out and people were displaced
was taken out and people were displaced to build a road and I see the
to build a road and I see the
to build a road and I see the gentrification in Chinatown and let me
gentrification in Chinatown and let me
gentrification in Chinatown and let me tell you the gentrification of a part of
tell you the gentrification of a part of
tell you the gentrification of a part of a city is much scarier when you’ve seen
a city is much scarier when you’ve seen
a city is much scarier when you’ve seen it already in a hundred different places
it already in a hundred different places
it already in a hundred different places I will let you know too that there’s not
I will let you know too that there’s not
I will let you know too that there’s not a lot to do in Ocean Falls so we did
a lot to do in Ocean Falls so we did
a lot to do in Ocean Falls so we did drink a little one night which part took
drink a little one night which part took
drink a little one night which part took with one of the locals a lot of the
with one of the locals a lot of the
with one of the locals a lot of the locals it’s like when you drink with
locals it’s like when you drink with
locals it’s like when you drink with four people you’re drinking with half
four people you’re drinking with half
four people you’re drinking with half the town
the town
the town so by the end of the night we’re
so by the end of the night we’re
so by the end of the night we’re drinking with one-eighth of the town one
drinking with one-eighth of the town one
drinking with one-eighth of the town one person and he convinced us to go into
person and he convinced us to go into
person and he convinced us to go into the abandoned hotel the Martin hotel and
the abandoned hotel the Martin hotel and
the abandoned hotel the Martin hotel and we had gone into the other buildings
we had gone into the other buildings
we had gone into the other buildings that were some reason this hotel was
that were some reason this hotel was
that were some reason this hotel was much scarier and it’s because the floor
much scarier and it’s because the floor
much scarier and it’s because the floor was sunken in that’s the scary part so
was sunken in that’s the scary part so
was sunken in that’s the scary part so we went in it was 1:30 in the morning
we went in it was 1:30 in the morning
we went in it was 1:30 in the morning and he started telling us all of his
and he started telling us all of his
and he started telling us all of his stories there and we went through the
stories there and we went through the
stories there and we went through the secret entrance which is in the bakery
secret entrance which is in the bakery
secret entrance which is in the bakery and we walked through the bowling alley
and we walked through the bowling alley
and we walked through the bowling alley we walked through the three different
we walked through the three different
we walked through the three different bars in the hotel we walked all the way
bars in the hotel we walked all the way
bars in the hotel we walked all the way up to the maybe eighth floor and just
up to the maybe eighth floor and just
up to the maybe eighth floor and just looked out at the ocean together but the
looked out at the ocean together but the
looked out at the ocean together but the thing that took me the most was this one
thing that took me the most was this one
thing that took me the most was this one sign which I’ll read are chibi Martin an
sign which I’ll read are chibi Martin an
sign which I’ll read are chibi Martin an able executive who’s sturdy character
able executive who’s sturdy character
able executive who’s sturdy character and sympathetic understanding of people
and sympathetic understanding of people
and sympathetic understanding of people created the community spirit at Ocean
created the community spirit at Ocean
created the community spirit at Ocean Falls which is a monument to his memory
Falls which is a monument to his memory
Falls which is a monument to his memory that’s a weird sign do you guys have
that’s a weird sign do you guys have
that’s a weird sign do you guys have that over your fireplace at home if you
that over your fireplace at home if you
that over your fireplace at home if you look closely at the top of this picture
look closely at the top of this picture
look closely at the top of this picture you can see that presumably the photo of
you can see that presumably the photo of
you can see that presumably the photo of our chibi Martin has been taken down one
our chibi Martin has been taken down one
our chibi Martin has been taken down one of the locals runs a museum where he
of the locals runs a museum where he
of the locals runs a museum where he takes everything from the town and puts
takes everything from the town and puts
takes everything from the town and puts it in one place I’m assuming it was him
it in one place I’m assuming it was him
it in one place I’m assuming it was him I also found other people who care very
I also found other people who care very
I also found other people who care very deeply about the history of ocean Falls
deeply about the history of ocean Falls
deeply about the history of ocean Falls one door in Martin Valley says over 250
one door in Martin Valley says over 250
one door in Martin Valley says over 250 pounds of ocean Falls history and you
pounds of ocean Falls history and you
pounds of ocean Falls history and you think for a second
think for a second
think for a second does that mean that someone who loves
does that mean that someone who loves
does that mean that someone who loves history and is 250 pounds will charge a
history and is 250 pounds will charge a
history and is 250 pounds will charge a me right now they won’t she has
me right now they won’t she has
me right now they won’t she has scrapbooks and they’re full of ocean
scrapbooks and they’re full of ocean
scrapbooks and they’re full of ocean Falls history and we spend an entire
Falls history and we spend an entire
Falls history and we spend an entire afternoon together flipping through all
afternoon together flipping through all
afternoon together flipping through all the pages and that was the ungoogleable
the pages and that was the ungoogleable
the pages and that was the ungoogleable part everything she had there doesn’t
part everything she had there doesn’t
part everything she had there doesn’t exist anywhere else just in her heart
exist anywhere else just in her heart
exist anywhere else just in her heart and in her mind in her scrapbooks but
and in her mind in her scrapbooks but
and in her mind in her scrapbooks but she didn’t just collect white history
she didn’t just collect white history
she didn’t just collect white history notion follows because she grew up with
notion follows because she grew up with
notion follows because she grew up with everybody she knew about the Japan
everybody she knew about the Japan
everybody she knew about the Japan she knew about the Chinatown she knew
she knew about the Chinatown she knew
she knew about the Chinatown she knew about the red-light district she knew
about the red-light district she knew
about the red-light district she knew about everything and sitting with her I
about everything and sitting with her I
about everything and sitting with her I got to sit with ocean Falls and by not
got to sit with ocean Falls and by not
got to sit with ocean Falls and by not going to these places I don’t get to
going to these places I don’t get to
going to these places I don’t get to learn the patterns from her I don’t get
learn the patterns from her I don’t get
learn the patterns from her I don’t get to learn about the erasure either I’m in
to learn about the erasure either I’m in
to learn about the erasure either I’m in too deep
too deep
too deep on that same trip we walked through
on that same trip we walked through
on that same trip we walked through another town Bella Bella which is health
another town Bella Bella which is health
another town Bella Bella which is health sick nations town it’s not health sick
sick nations town it’s not health sick
sick nations town it’s not health sick territory it’s unseeded we found this
territory it’s unseeded we found this
territory it’s unseeded we found this sign in the local grocery store
sign in the local grocery store
sign in the local grocery store keeping in mind this is right around
keeping in mind this is right around
keeping in mind this is right around Canada Day Canada 150 years health sick
Canada Day Canada 150 years health sick
Canada Day Canada 150 years health sick 14 thousand years well you can’t see
14 thousand years well you can’t see
14 thousand years well you can’t see very easily is the most important part
very easily is the most important part
very easily is the most important part of this sign it’s a little plus sign
of this sign it’s a little plus sign
of this sign it’s a little plus sign that’s drawn right after the zeros it’s
that’s drawn right after the zeros it’s
that’s drawn right after the zeros it’s hand drawn because the hell took no a
hand drawn because the hell took no a
hand drawn because the hell took no a lot more than 14 thousand years so that
lot more than 14 thousand years so that
lot more than 14 thousand years so that 14 thousand is reflecting something else
14 thousand is reflecting something else
14 thousand is reflecting something else that’s happening in that area an
that’s happening in that area an
that’s happening in that area an archaeological dig that’s unearthed
archaeological dig that’s unearthed
archaeological dig that’s unearthed he’ll take everything let me read this
he’ll take everything let me read this
he’ll take everything let me read this with you discovery of 14 thousand year
with you discovery of 14 thousand year
with you discovery of 14 thousand year old settlement in Canada could rewrite
old settlement in Canada could rewrite
old settlement in Canada could rewrite North American history how do you
North American history how do you
North American history how do you rewrite and already rewritten history
IFL science when you start going a
IFL science when you start going a little bit further into the province you
little bit further into the province you
little bit further into the province you find similar stories again again and
find similar stories again again and
find similar stories again again and again same patterns same erasure this is
again same patterns same erasure this is
again same patterns same erasure this is quenelle forks was a gold rush town
quenelle forks was a gold rush town
quenelle forks was a gold rush town established about 1858 in the middle of
established about 1858 in the middle of
established about 1858 in the middle of one of the houses in the town it’s
one of the houses in the town it’s
one of the houses in the town it’s called a tonk house and in this town the
called a tonk house and in this town the
called a tonk house and in this town the entire town is a Chinatown I didn’t read
entire town is a Chinatown I didn’t read
entire town is a Chinatown I didn’t read that anywhere before going nowhere did
that anywhere before going nowhere did
that anywhere before going nowhere did it mention in going to quenelle forks
it mention in going to quenelle forks
it mention in going to quenelle forks I learned the story of shorty Lahaie who
I learned the story of shorty Lahaie who
I learned the story of shorty Lahaie who was the last town member he left the
was the last town member he left the
was the last town member he left the town to about 1955 when the second to
town to about 1955 when the second to
town to about 1955 when the second to last member he found him on the way to
last member he found him on the way to
last member he found him on the way to work
work
work on the trail 17 kilometers real to bully
on the trail 17 kilometers real to bully
on the trail 17 kilometers real to bully Pitts mine and that’s where short Eli
Pitts mine and that’s where short Eli
Pitts mine and that’s where short Eli found his friend shorty llaha is history
found his friend shorty llaha is history
found his friend shorty llaha is history isn’t written anywhere but a single
isn’t written anywhere but a single
isn’t written anywhere but a single hand-painted sign in downtown quenelle
hand-painted sign in downtown quenelle
hand-painted sign in downtown quenelle forks downtown is an overstatement tonk
forks downtown is an overstatement tonk
forks downtown is an overstatement tonk houses aren’t just your average house
houses aren’t just your average house
houses aren’t just your average house they’re associated with Chinese
they’re associated with Chinese
they’re associated with Chinese Benevolent Association societies those
Benevolent Association societies those
Benevolent Association societies those places in Chinatown that are starting
places in Chinatown that are starting
places in Chinatown that are starting just try and stop the gentrification
just try and stop the gentrification
just try and stop the gentrification that’s happening there they hold all the
that’s happening there they hold all the
that’s happening there they hold all the records they hold all the Chinese
records they hold all the Chinese
records they hold all the Chinese records for this area and every other
records for this area and every other
records for this area and every other ghost town every other Chinatown that
ghost town every other Chinatown that
ghost town every other Chinatown that exists in British Columbia it’s all the
exists in British Columbia it’s all the
exists in British Columbia it’s all the social records and everyone there as
social records and everyone there as
social records and everyone there as white people we have access to that
white people we have access to that
white people we have access to that through the community archives don’t
through the community archives don’t
through the community archives don’t forget that when I go back to my own
forget that when I go back to my own
forget that when I go back to my own city here in Vancouver I can’t help but
city here in Vancouver I can’t help but
city here in Vancouver I can’t help but thinking of ghost towns as you can maybe
thinking of ghost towns as you can maybe
thinking of ghost towns as you can maybe tell but specifically my city is New
tell but specifically my city is New
tell but specifically my city is New Westminster which is nearby I can tell
Westminster which is nearby I can tell
Westminster which is nearby I can tell you about every single house on this
you about every single house on this
you about every single house on this hill I can tell you the years that they
hill I can tell you the years that they
hill I can tell you the years that they were built who built them why kind of
were built who built them why kind of
were built who built them why kind of and when I look at them I know them
and when I look at them I know them
and when I look at them I know them because I’ve read their water records
because I’ve read their water records
because I’ve read their water records I’ve read everything about them who I
I’ve read everything about them who I
I’ve read everything about them who I can’t tell you about is in the deeper
can’t tell you about is in the deeper
can’t tell you about is in the deeper picture my City newest Minster is built
picture my City newest Minster is built
picture my City newest Minster is built on the unceded territory of the kite
on the unceded territory of the kite
on the unceded territory of the kite nation I don’t know who that man is and
nation I don’t know who that man is and
nation I don’t know who that man is and I never will so how do we combat
I never will so how do we combat
I never will so how do we combat historical erasure in the fact that we
historical erasure in the fact that we
historical erasure in the fact that we don’t actually get to know the stories
don’t actually get to know the stories
don’t actually get to know the stories of places that we’ve never been to
of places that we’ve never been to
of places that we’ve never been to especially when they’re not online and
especially when they’re not online and
especially when they’re not online and building a map it’s gonna be great
yeah my map is called populace map my
yeah my map is called populace map my idea is that if you have a historic
idea is that if you have a historic
idea is that if you have a historic timeline how do we counter out the
timeline how do we counter out the
timeline how do we counter out the history that we already know so if you
history that we already know so if you
history that we already know so if you know about white pioneers and settlers
know about white pioneers and settlers
know about white pioneers and settlers during the gold rush why not choose a
during the gold rush why not choose a
during the gold rush why not choose a filter that suggests otherwise to know
filter that suggests otherwise to know
filter that suggests otherwise to know more about the eight hundred black
more about the eight hundred black
more about the eight hundred black pioneers or the Chinese pioneers or the
pioneers or the Chinese pioneers or the
pioneers or the Chinese pioneers or the Sikh mills or Sikh pioneers who came up
Sikh mills or Sikh pioneers who came up
Sikh mills or Sikh pioneers who came up here know about more people to know
here know about more people to know
here know about more people to know about the indigenous displacement to
about the indigenous displacement to
about the indigenous displacement to know about all those internment camps to
know about all those internment camps to
know about all those internment camps to know about places like Ocean Falls we
know about places like Ocean Falls we
know about places like Ocean Falls we have to think of more than one timeline
have to think of more than one timeline
have to think of more than one timeline and that’s what I’m trying to offer
and that’s what I’m trying to offer
and that’s what I’m trying to offer populist map is a collaboration between
populist map is a collaboration between
populist map is a collaboration between me and a local design group called rx VP
me and a local design group called rx VP
me and a local design group called rx VP and I’ve loved being able to turn my
and I’ve loved being able to turn my
and I’ve loved being able to turn my ideas into something beautiful and
ideas into something beautiful and
ideas into something beautiful and usable and it’s not ready yet but when
usable and it’s not ready yet but when
usable and it’s not ready yet but when it is I’ll be ready – it took me a
it is I’ll be ready – it took me a
it is I’ll be ready – it took me a hundred ghost towns to look past that
hundred ghost towns to look past that
hundred ghost towns to look past that hill it took me 200 ghost towns to work
hill it took me 200 ghost towns to work
hill it took me 200 ghost towns to work my way into the sandbar and want to know
my way into the sandbar and want to know
my way into the sandbar and want to know more it took me three hundred ghost
more it took me three hundred ghost
more it took me three hundred ghost towns to realize that I’ll never know it
towns to realize that I’ll never know it
towns to realize that I’ll never know it all so I ask you today who’s missing
all so I ask you today who’s missing
all so I ask you today who’s missing thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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