Amor De Cosmos, BC’s colourful pioneer journalist and politician

$10
November 21
Ross Bay Villa Historic House MuseumView on map

Join us at Ross Bay Villa Historic House Museum on Thursday, November 21, 2024 at 7:30 for a look at a uniquely-named historic figure. Retired contractor/heritage consultant and past president of the Hallmark Heritage Society, Ken Johnson, presents an illustrated lecture focusing on early British Columbia journalist and politician, Amor De Cosmos. Born William Smith in Windsor Nova Scotia, De Cosmos came to Victoria during the Fraser Canyon gold rush in 1858 and founded the British Colonist newspaper.

Casting himself as a liberal reformer and proponent of responsible government, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Vancouver Island and subsequently to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. De Cosmos was a passionate proponent of Confederation. He was elected to the federal House of Commons after British Columbia joined Canada in 1871. After serving as a member of parliament for 11 years, De Cosmo also served concurrently as Premier of BC in the early 1870s.

Occasionally referred to as British Columbia’s Father of Confederation, the sometimes eccentric Amor De Cosmos’s journalistic legacy survives today in the Victoria Times-Colonist newspaper.

Tickets in advance are required and are only available at https://tinyurl.com/ynassz69.

Destination Greater Victoria is honoured to be based on the traditional territory of the Lekwungen-speaking peoples of the Songhees Nation and Xwsepsum Nation, whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day.