S11E21 Canada's Pacific Station - A History of Esquimalt Naval Harbour Part 1
About this episode
The episode explores the history of Esquimalt Naval Harbour and its significance to Canada's Pacific coast.
Picture a quiet harbour on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. Calm waters. Towering forests. It seems peaceful enough—but beneath that surface lies a story that helped shape Canada's Pacific coast. Long before warships lined the docks, Indigenous peoples lived and thrived here. Then came explorers, empires, sailors, and soldiers, each leaving their mark on what would become Esquimalt Harbour. How did this sheltered stretch of water become the birthplace of Canada's Pacific Navy? And why has it remained strategically important for more than 150 years? Scott Stephen is a historian and educator based in North Vancouver, British Columbia. He is currently working in education policy and as a consultant for Trailmark Systems. Scott’s research areas include British imperial history, British Columbia’s history and naval history. His work on the Esquimalt naval base began during his graduate studies at UBC, and he won the Jacques Cartier MA prize for 2024 from the Canadian Nautical Research Society for his thesis. His recent article “Esquimalt and its Latin American Connection: Linking British Concerns in Pacific Latin America to the Establishment of a Naval Base on Vancouver…
People in this episode
Host: David Borys
Guest: Scott Stephen
Topics covered
- naval history
- Indigenous peoples
- British imperial history
- Esquimalt Harbour
- Canada's Pacific Navy
Keywords
- Esquimalt
- naval history
- British Columbia
- Indigenous peoples
- Pacific Navy
- Vancouver Island
- Scott Stephen
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Trailmark Systems, Canadian Nautical Research Society
Books & works: Esquimalt and its Latin American Connection: Linking British Concerns in Pacific Latin America to the Establishment of a Naval Base on Vancouver Island, Canadian Historical Review
Places: Canada, Esquimalt Harbour, Vancouver Island
More episodes of Curious Canadian History
- Summer Reboot - The Pig War of 1859
- S11E22 Canada's Pacific Station - A History of Esquimalt Naval Harbour Part 2
- S11E20 The Fight for Valour: Jess LaRochelle and the Campaign for Canada's Victoria Cross
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