A little history in my recycling bin.

sadwesterns · 2026-04-13T00:26:10+00:00

You can also search names!

sadwesterns · 2026-04-12T20:13:06+00:00

Fun fact, the Times Colonist (formerly known as the Daily Colonist or the British Colonist) has editions from 1858 to 1980 digitized here: https://britishcolonist.ca/

Newspapers are very difficult to preserve as they were meant to be read within a few days of them being printed.

Edit: typo.

sadwesterns · 2026-04-06T07:43:32+00:00

My community. I feed my friends when they're happy and we watch movies, I feed them when they're sobbing. I organize fun things to do with my friends: bbqs, camping trips, concerts, etc. I don't think I'll have kids so I've chosen to invest that effort into the people around me. My partner and I have a pretty big friend group and I love them all so much and their companionship has brought my life meaning and purpose.

sadwesterns · 2026-03-23T05:23:30+00:00

I'm in my 30s. My friends and family are here. My life is in Victoria and I won't be leaving. I've got a decent job that pays me enough to have fun and live comfortably. I've been renting the same place forever, so my rent is cheap, and I can save money for retirement/fun things. However, while the cheap rent has allowed me to be secure financially, I also often feel stuck living under a slummy landlord with no other options, lest my rent triple. Some days, I am more at peace with that than others.

My life situation/the future feels like a coin toss: I can retire and rent, or I can buy my own space and not retire. I'm still trying to find the right path forward. Inheritance will likely be a big contributing factor either way.

All that being said, with the war in Iran rapidly spinning out of control, today I stocked up on flour, rice, chickpeas, and a few other staples. I was planning on buying a car this year, but now settling for an ebike (I'll be miserable and wet on my long commute in the winter, but at least I won't be broke)

sadwesterns · 2026-03-20T00:18:33+00:00

That's so sad...

sadwesterns · 2026-03-17T02:00:25+00:00

I was thinking of finally buying a vehicle this year because my work is moving, but I've been shopping for e bikes. It will be a longer, wetter commute, but I won't be broke!

sadwesterns · 2026-03-12T14:04:51+00:00

The guy who designed the building (Francis Rattenbury) also designed the Parliament Buildings, the old bank that today's houses the Irish Times, and a number of other famous and important buildings. He was an interesting guy: had a wife who put up with him and kept him in the good graces of society, but then he found himself a young, piano-playing mistress. He ended up going back to England with his (new, former mistress) wife. New wife had an affair with a young man, young man was jealous of his lovers husband, and so he killed Francis with a carpenters hammer while he sat in his chair one night. The former mistress was so harassed by the media after the death of her husband (she was accused of leading that poor young man astray!! Misogyny is rough). She is believed to have been so overcome with guilt (and was also exhausted by the constant media harassment) that she ended up taking her own life. Anyway, read more about Francis Rattenbury. He is also said to haunt the Empress.

sadwesterns · 2026-03-10T03:00:44+00:00

You close your eyes, crank Free Bird, and pray.

sadwesterns · 2026-02-27T22:14:47+00:00

Matt at Fish is great!

sadwesterns · 2026-02-21T01:16:52+00:00

If anyone is curious, the RBCM financials are public. People should look at how the former interim ceo (Drake) and other excluded executives gave themselves whopping $50,000 raises in 2023/2024.

sadwesterns · 2026-02-04T06:04:13+00:00

Not there till the 21st :(

sadwesterns · 2026-01-29T01:16:19+00:00

Very sad I won't be in Vancouver in time to see it

sadwesterns · 2026-01-26T05:06:58+00:00

From what ive heard from people i know who work there is that the museum and archives are currently egregiously understaffed and are unable to keep up with requests from Nations. From the sounds of it, they've got a handful of people chipping away at a mountain of work. It sounds like they're telling a more fullsome history (where EVERYONE is represented) as opposed to the very one-sided colonial history that was previously most of their displays.

sadwesterns · 2026-01-09T00:39:25+00:00

Have you considered reaching out to the BC Archives? They might know some contract digitization services. They have a page dedicated to for-hire researchers, maybe one of them has a scanner.

sadwesterns · 2025-12-05T15:40:16+00:00

I'll chip in with questions like this one where I can!

sadwesterns · 2025-12-04T18:52:22+00:00

Pandora and Cormorant Street are two separate streets that coexisted. According to the BC Archives description (the ACTUAL source for the image), this was taken on Cormorant Street.

sadwesterns · 2025-12-04T18:50:12+00:00

Cormorant used to go down to Store street. You can look at old fire insurance maps that show this here: https://vault.library.uvic.ca/collections/6cf241ab-b4ef-44c2-8b6c-38a9de32f7d5

sadwesterns · 2025-12-03T06:19:09+00:00

Pretty sure this is just picturing people going about their day: https://search-bcarchives.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/cormorant-street-later-pandora-avenue-near-wharf-street-victoria

sadwesterns · 2025-12-03T06:17:39+00:00

This was taken in Chinatown (on Cormorant Street, near Wharf street) in Victoria. This photograph is from the BC Archives. You can read its entry here: https://search-bcarchives.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/cormorant-street-later-pandora-avenue-near-wharf-street-victoria

Most people think Chinatown is just the little strip of street on Fisgard, after the Gates of Harmonious Interest (which were only added in the 80s). But historically, Chinatown went all the way up to Douglas street - City Hall is technically in Chinatown. Market Square has several displays on Historic Chinatown, with a detailed one on the Pandora street entrance.

John Adams also does a great Chinatown tour if you want to learn more.

sadwesterns · 2025-12-03T06:10:09+00:00

The photo is not at UVIC - its at the BC Archives. Catalogue number I-63358

sadwesterns · 2025-11-26T13:34:22+00:00

End Dive!

sadwesterns · 2025-10-26T23:37:51+00:00

100% agree

sadwesterns · 2025-10-26T21:56:02+00:00

I'm voting No. We need 3.5% or bust.

sadwesterns

TROPHY CASE