By Canada History Society, August 2025
This year, the Canada History Society proudly unveils a sweeping 20-part video documentary series, “From Sea to Sea: British Columbia and the Road to Confederation,” chronicling the dramatic, colorful, and often contested history of British Columbia’s journey from remote outpost to integral part of the Canadian federation.
This richly detailed series draws on historical scholarship, political drama, archival imagery, and interviews with historians to bring to life one of the most pivotal transformations in Canadian history. Divided into themed episodes with cinematic storytelling, the series highlights the complex forces—imperial, economic, cultural, and strategic—that led British Columbia to join Confederation on July 20th, 1871.
Episode 1: At the Edge of the World
The story begins on the edge of a continent, where land and sea met empire. In 1793, Alexander Mackenzie reached the Pacific overland, and shortly after, Captain George Vancouver charted the rugged coast by sea. These early British explorers laid claim to territory that would one day become British Columbia.
By 1843, James Douglas of the Hudson’s Bay Company established Fort Camosun—soon renamed Fort Victoria—to secure British claims amidst rising American influence. The Oregon Boundary Treaty of 1846 cemented the 49th parallel as the border, leaving Britain with what is now mainland BC and Vancouver Island. The Colony of Vancouver Island was formally established in 1849, operated under lease by the Hudson’s Bay Company with Douglas playing a dual role as both company officer and colonial governor—an uneasy balance that would define the colony’s early years.
Episode 2: Gold Rush – The World Arrives
In 1858, gold was discovered along the Fraser River—and chaos followed. Thousands of miners, traders, and adventurers flooded into the region, mostly from California. Among them came Black settlers, Chinese laborers, and a wide range of nationalities, reshaping the cultural makeup of the colony overnight.
Douglas, fearing American encroachment, swiftly declared British authority over the mainland. The British Foreign Office responded by establishing a new Colony of British Columbia, with Douglas as Governor of both colonies—despite misgivings about his ties to the Hudson’s Bay Company.
Episode 3: A New Colony
The Colony of British Columbia was born of crisis and named for the Columbia River. New Westminster was chosen as the capital. Douglas, now Governor of both colonies, oversaw an ambitious program of road-building to support mining towns and expand British control. His administration was aided by the Royal Engineers, who brought order and infrastructure, and by Judge Matthew Begbie, who maintained law through a stern but consistent hand.
Yet the rapid influx of settlers displaced and marginalized Indigenous peoples, setting in motion long-term consequences that the series addresses with care and gravity.
Episode 4: Consolidation
By the early 1860s, the Cariboo Gold Rush—sparked by Billy Barker and his legendary discovery at Barkerville—dominated the colony’s economic life. Douglas retired in 1864 and was replaced by Arthur Kennedy and then Frederick Seymour, whose competence varied. The Foreign Office, weary of expense and inefficiency, ordered the amalgamation of Vancouver Island and mainland BC in 1866.
Episode 5: Who Are We?
This episode explores the emerging colonial identity. Victoria, home to a mercantile elite, often clashed politically with the rugged mainlanders whose economy relied on mining and development. The declining gold economy, and tensions with the United States—particularly during the Crimean War and American Civil War—highlighted the strategic fragility of British holdings on the coast.
Episode 6: An Alternative America
The Dominion of Canada was born in 1867, while the U.S. emerged from civil war with continental ambitions intact. British diplomats feared war with the U.S. and were determined to offload costly colonies. In this episode, viewers explore Macdonald and Cartier’s bold vision of a nation stretching “from sea to sea,” as they navigated Charlottetown, Quebec, and London to create Canada.
Episode 7: The Choices
Facing bankruptcy and isolation, British Columbians debated their future. Should they remain a British colony, join the United States, or unite with Canada? The sale of Alaska to the U.S. in 1867 increased American interest in annexing BC. The colony was at a crossroads.
Episode 8: Status Quo or Autonomy
This episode explores the fragile dream of an independent BC. Yet, without military or economic power, the idea never gained widespread support. British officials saw little value in maintaining colonial status without real growth or strategic return.
Episode 9: Manifest Destiny
Fueled by American ambition, annexation movements gained traction. San Francisco businessmen lobbied hard, miners petitioned Washington, and the specter of Manifest Destiny loomed large. In 1869, an official petition for annexation was signed in Victoria—but it failed to shift British resolve.
Episode 10: A British North America
This episode returns to the Canadian option. With Confederation now a reality, Canada was eager to expand westward. A transcontinental vision of railways, trade, and national unity offered British Columbia a chance to join something larger.
Episode 11: Seward’s Visit
William H. Seward, architect of the Alaska purchase, visited Victoria in 1869, promoting U.S. ties. His message was clear: British Columbia should join the United States. Many colonists were intrigued—but history had other plans.
Episode 12: The Yale Convention
At Yale, in the heart of the Fraser Canyon, a political convention brought together colonial leaders who began to draft the terms for union with Canada. Meetings in Barkerville and elsewhere solidified support.
Episode 13: Governor Seymour
Governor Frederick Seymour struggled with the colony’s crisis. Though personally reluctant toward Confederation, he followed instructions from London and worked to preserve the colony’s future. He died suddenly in 1869, clearing the path for change.
Episode 14: A British Strategy
The Foreign Office, still haunted by the Trent Affair and tensions over the San Juan Islands, accelerated pressure to resolve the future of the colony. A new strategy emerged: unite British North America or risk losing it to the Americans.
Episode 15: The Colonial Office Strikes
Governor Anthony Musgrave, a staunch supporter of Confederation, was appointed in 1869. His mandate was clear: get BC into Canada. He pushed for negotiations, facilitated debate, and overcame resistance in the Legislative Assembly.
Episode 16: The Great Debate
On March 9th, 1870, the Birdcages in Victoria hosted a monumental debate. Figures like Helmckin, De Cosmos, Robson, and Crease clashed over BC’s future. Pro-Confederation voices won the day, driven by practical needs and political will.
Episode 17: The Negotiations
A delegation journeyed east to Ottawa, where they met with John A. Macdonald and others. Social diplomacy paved the way for serious negotiations. The final terms were generous: BC would get a transcontinental railway, federal support, and representation in Parliament.
Episode 18: Terms of Union
In a carefully negotiated agreement, British Columbia secured:
- A transcontinental railway to be built within ten years
- Federal assumption of debt
- Annual payments to the province
- Protection of existing Crown lands and Indigenous policy status quo
Episode 19: The Deal is Done
The British Parliament approved the terms. In Canada, the agreement sparked debate but was ultimately accepted. The decision marked the turning point for national unity.
Episode 20: July 20, 1871 – From Sea to Sea
On July 20th, 1871, British Columbia officially became Canada’s sixth province. Church bells rang, cannons fired, and Victoria celebrated its entry into a new Dominion.
In the years that followed, the Canadian Pacific Railway would fulfill its promise—linking east and west in a bond of steel. The series ends by reflecting on the key players and the legacy of British Columbia’s choice to become part of something greater.
Conclusion
“From Sea to Sea” is more than a historical documentary—it’s a national narrative of identity, diplomacy, and destiny. Through nuanced storytelling, the Canada History Society brings clarity and depth to an extraordinary chapter in the formation of the Canadian nation. This series offers Canadians a compelling window into the decisions that shaped a continent.
Watch the full series on the Canada History Society website and streaming platforms nationwide.
