Background

CPR in BC

Background

Surveying

Onderdonk Section

CPR Section

Postscript

Listings

People

Bibliography

Places

Main points

• Vancouver and Vancouver Island joined in 1866
• Alaska sold to the US in 1867
• Canada sends lieutant governor to see about joining Canada
• delegation from BC to Ottawa (via US railway)
• an agreement signed on July 7, 1870

"The Government of the Dominion undertake to secure the commencement simultaneously, within two years from the date of the union, of the construction of a railway, from the Pacific towards the Rocky Mountains, and from such point as may be selected, east of the Rocky Mountains towards the Pacific, to connect the seaboard of British Columbia with the railway system of Canada, and further, to secure the completion of such railway within ten years from the date of such union."

• elections in BC approved a union, also voted by Canada parliament
• BC joined on July 20, 1871
• Joseph Trutch was Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia