Ten of the first residents at the Provincial Home and three members of the staff in 1897.

When a sanctuary becomes a prison

Pioneer workers who spent a lifetime laying the very foundations of BC, earned little and were treated to mean conditions at the province’s first care home where they were called “inmates.”

“Once the men were taken in care the greatest administration concern seemed to be expenses. [Author Wayne] Norton embarked on this informative, telling micro-history after discovering notes from the Home’s superintendent seeking a few extra eggs and a turkey dinner instead of mutton for Christmas Dinner in 1916. The response came immediately from Victoria by telegram: ‘Supply mutton.’” FULL STORY