This International Women’s Day there will be a unique opportunity to learn about the iconic, historically important women of early Victoria.
There will be two special tours of Ross Bay Cemetery given by the Old Cemeteries Society and Emily Carr Chronicles that will recognize women’s social, economic, cultural and political contributions to the city we now call home.
The tours will visit the graves of eight women who lived fascinating, storied lives.
Two of the women became artists in their own right.
Many know of Emily Carr, but not as many know of Sophie Pemberton. These two artists took lessons together as children and both grew to be accomplished artists with differing, distinctive styles.
Carr is now known and renowned, but Pemberton was equally as gifted in her own right.
The next two women to be featured on the cemetery tour are Josephine Crease and Hannah Maynard.
They too were artists with Crease working in the traditional medium of watercolour and Maynard forged a path in photography, which was a brand new medium of art in her day.
Jane Anne Nesbitt was a local businesswoman in her day. She first arrived here on a ‘bride ship’ — a vessel used to transport single British women to Canada to address gender imbalances, provide domestic servants and populate new settlements.
Nesbitt found work, met her husband and eventually took over his business after he died. Back in the 19th century, it was rare for women to own businesses.
Next, the tour will explore the life of Neshaki, who was also known as Martha McNeill. She was a chief of the Nisga’a wolf clan, a First Nation along BC’s northern coast.
Neshaki reportedly maintained connections to her homeland throughout her time in Victoria and worked as a fur trader before marrying Captain William McNeill.
Nancy Lester was a member of the first group of Black pioneers who arrived here in 1858.
She was born in Philadelphia, immigrated to Canada via San Francisco, and played a prominent role in the anti-slavery movement of the time.
And the last iconic, important woman who now lays in Ross Bay Cemetery is Lottie Bowron.
She was born in the gold rush town of Barkerville, and later in life, was instrumental in having her hometown designated as a provincial historic site.
The Old Cemeteries Society and Emily Carr Chronicles invites any and all to join them on the tour to find out more about all of these remarkable women on International Women’s Day.
The tours will take place on Sunday, March 8th at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
No reservations are needed and the tour will cost $5 for non-members of the Old Cemeteries Society and $2 for members.
Tickets can be acquired inside the cemetery gate at 1495 Fairfield Road by cash only.
