HISTORY OF BC Ron Hyde
The Bank of British Columbia in the Gold Rush Days ©iStockphoto.com/ecliff6
O
n Canada’s west coast, the British colony of Vancouver Island (1849 – 1866) and the British colony of British Columbia (1858 – 1866) joined together in 1866 and became the Colony of British Columbia. In 1861, Governor Douglas of Vancouver Island wrote to the Colonial office in London pleading for stable banking facilities in Victoria and the developed areas around BC because miners had no place to deposit their gold or to get cash for their daily needs.
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With the large number of gold miners in British Columbia, there were good investment opportunities. In April 1862, a group of bankers in London received a Royal Charter and a prospectus was issued with the name of “The Chartered Bank of British Columbia and Vancouver
Staff were approved in London and travelled to Victoria, BC. In July 1862, James Walker was appointed Manager with three assistants. The operation of the Bank of British Columbia was very successful and branches were opened in New
With the large number of gold miners in British Columbia, there were good investment opportunities. Island” which was subsequently changed to Bank of British Columbia with their head office in London, England. BC Notaries Association
First Bank of BC in New Westminster
Volume 29 Number 1 Spring 2020
