Research & Essays
The essays and presentations included here try to capture some of the diverse aspects of Rossland’s history, including stories not yet incorporated into the “additional content” pages relating to our indoor exhibits, outdoor exhibits, and downtown heritage tour.
Essays have been written by a variety of Museum volunteers and staff. They reflect the varied perspectives of their respective researchers. Enjoy!
Red Mountain Volunteer Ski Patrol
Recorded on November 30th, 2023 at the Rossland Museum & Discovery Centre, a new round of Speaker Series was kicked off with Gord LePage's presentation of the Red Mountain Volunteer Ski Patrol: Safety on the Face of Red.
An Introductory History of Pride in the West Kootenays
To celebrate Pride 2023 (and the Trail Pride Market), the Rossland Museum & Discovery Centre is exploring the history of Pride in the West Kootenays! Of course, the history of Pride is not complete, but we decided to explore some of the formative events of Pride in the West Kootenays (thus far).
Behind the Curtain: The History of the Rossland Light Opera Players
In 2022, the Rossland Light Opera Players are celebrating their seventy-year anniversary. To celebrate the milestone, the Rossland Museum & Discovery Centre has compiled an extensive history of the organisation, believed to be one of the longest operating amateur musical theatre groups in British Columbia!
James W. Thompson
In honour of Black History Month, the Rossland Museum & Discovery Centre has delved into the history of James W. Thompson, a notable Rossland restaurateur from the 1890s.
Smelter Wars with Ron Verzuh
At a Museum Speaker Series event last spring, Ron Verzuh discussed his most recent book, Smelter Wars, which recounts the historic struggle to establish the Local 480 union in Trail. We filmed the event, which included a presentation, Q&A discussion, and showing of one of Ron's short films - and now you can watch that footage!
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2025
- Feb 12, 2025 Thrills and Spills! A History of Rossland Winter Carnival’s Bobsled Races Feb 12, 2025
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2024
- Dec 2, 2024 The Old Dewdney Trail Dec 2, 2024
- Dec 2, 2024 Lights, Camera, Digitization! Dec 2, 2024
- Nov 5, 2024 Remembering Our Veterans: 2024 Veteran Highlights Nov 5, 2024
- Jun 17, 2024 Learning mxiɬp - Cedar in the Sinixt Homeland Jun 17, 2024
- Jun 5, 2024 Growing Up in Remarkable Times in Rossland Jun 5, 2024
- Jun 2, 2024 Collections Care: Textiles Jun 2, 2024
- Mar 14, 2024 A Legend Carved in the Slopes: The History of the Grey Mountain Grind Mar 14, 2024
- Feb 29, 2024 Speaker Series Replay: “The Ice Man from British Columbia” with Bill Hanlon Feb 29, 2024
- Jan 16, 2024 History of the S.S. Rossland Jan 16, 2024
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2023
- Dec 6, 2023 Red Mountain Volunteer Ski Patrol Dec 6, 2023
- Jul 30, 2023 An Introductory History of Pride in the West Kootenays Jul 30, 2023
- Feb 14, 2023 Behind the Curtain: The History of the Rossland Light Opera Players Feb 14, 2023
- Feb 8, 2023 James W. Thompson Feb 8, 2023
- Jan 18, 2023 Smelter Wars with Ron Verzuh Jan 18, 2023
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2022
- Nov 1, 2022 Rossland Red Cross: Women's Volunteer Service During the Second World War Nov 1, 2022
- Nov 1, 2022 Air Raid Precautions (ARP): Rossland Civilian Defence During the Second World War Nov 1, 2022
- Nov 1, 2022 James "Jimmy" Harper: Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Air Force (WWII) Nov 1, 2022
- Nov 1, 2022 Garth "Bunny" Beley: Flight Officer in the Royal Air Force (WWII) Nov 1, 2022
- Nov 1, 2022 Benjamin "Ben" Allen: Private in Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (WWI) Nov 1, 2022
- Mar 30, 2022 Jessie McQueen Mar 30, 2022
- Mar 30, 2022 The Rossland Club Mar 30, 2022
- Feb 8, 2022 Thor Heyerdahl Feb 8, 2022
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2021
- Dec 14, 2021 Mike Wigley - Tales from a Splitboarder: Walking to Glory Dec 14, 2021
- Nov 9, 2021 Harry Measure: "Mountain Resorts & Resort Communities: Origins & Future Opportunities." Nov 9, 2021
- Nov 5, 2021 William "Spike" Treverton - Signalman for the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division WWII Nov 5, 2021
- Nov 5, 2021 Percival Knight Allen - Trooper for the Lord Strathcona's Horse Boer War Nov 5, 2021
- Oct 26, 2021 Rossland's Historic Cemeteries Oct 26, 2021
- Jul 20, 2021 Adrian Leslie: Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Restoration Jul 20, 2021
- Jul 9, 2021 The Gold Fever Follies: A Rossland Tradition for Over 30 Years! Jul 9, 2021
- May 27, 2021 Cindy Devine: "Ticket to Ride" - Cultivation of a Champion May 27, 2021
- May 13, 2021 Marilyn James: Sinixt Dialect Revitalization, Countermapping, and Resurgence May 13, 2021
- Mar 31, 2021 The Miners’ Union Hall (circa 1898) + The Rossland Provincial Courthouse (circa 1900)" Mar 31, 2021
- Feb 17, 2021 The "Spanish Flu" in Rossland Feb 17, 2021
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2020
- Nov 5, 2020 Pte. Alfred Lindsay - Canadian Infantry 7th Battalion WWI Nov 5, 2020
- Nov 3, 2020 Edmund "Eddie" Thomas Cox - RCAF Pilot Officer (WWII) Nov 3, 2020
- Oct 30, 2020 The Rebekahs Oct 30, 2020
- Oct 28, 2020 Phyllis Gregory Turner Ross Oct 28, 2020
- Oct 27, 2020 Alice Jesse Weber Oct 27, 2020
- Oct 21, 2020 "The Girl" - A Memoir by Susie McClung Inghram (1936) Oct 21, 2020
- Jun 11, 2020 The Flying Steamshovel Jun 11, 2020
- May 22, 2020 Quarantine and Isolation in Early Rossland May 22, 2020
- May 21, 2020 British Columbia Firefighters’ Museum May 21, 2020
- May 5, 2020 The Liberation of the Netherlands and Victory in Europe May 5, 2020
- Mar 30, 2020 #MuseumAlphabet Mar 30, 2020
- Feb 25, 2020 Rossland Range Plane Crash Feb 25, 2020
- Jan 10, 2020 Music City: The Rossland City Band Jan 10, 2020
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2019
- Jul 8, 2019 Historic Geology of the Rossland Region Jul 8, 2019
- Jul 5, 2019 Inventing the Walkie Talkie Jul 5, 2019
- Jan 25, 2019 Agnew & Co. (1879 - 1939) Jan 25, 2019
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2018
- Oct 10, 2018 Some Little Known Incidents And Characters From Rossland's Golden Age Oct 10, 2018
- Aug 14, 2018 The Father of Rossland - Ross Thompson Aug 14, 2018
- Aug 14, 2018 Skiing: Before or After We Built The Chairlift? Aug 14, 2018
- Aug 14, 2018 The Origins of Rossland's Winter Carnival Aug 14, 2018
- Aug 14, 2018 The Chinese History of Rossland Aug 14, 2018
- Aug 14, 2018 Origins of Skiing: Olaus Jeldness Aug 14, 2018