About this episode

This episode explores the history of Esquimalt Naval Harbour and its significance to Canada's Pacific coast and British imperial interests.

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 was this natural harbour connected to broader British imperial interests in Latin America? And how did it allow the British to project imperial power over the First Nations of the Pacific Northwest? Was this the final key in completing the Canadian project?   "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…

People in this episode

Host: David Borys

Guest: Scott Stephen

Topics covered

• Esquimalt Naval Harbour
• British imperial history
• Indigenous peoples
• naval history
• Canadian history

Keywords

• Esquimalt
• naval history
• British Columbia
• Indigenous peoples
• imperial power
• Vancouver Island
• Canadian history

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: 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: Esquimalt Harbour, Vancouver Island, British Columbia

More episodes of Curious Canadian History

• Summer Reboot - The Pig War of 1859 · July 21, 2026 · 15 min
• S11E21 Canada's Pacific Station - A History of Esquimalt Naval Harbour Part 1 · July 7, 2026 · 37 min
• S11E20 The Fight for Valour: Jess LaRochelle and the Campaign for Canada's Victoria Cross · June 23, 2026 · 37 min

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