jan 1, 1861 - 800+ Black Californians moved to Canada

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From 1859 to 1861, an estimated 800 Black Californians moved to Victoria, British Columbia, to escape the racism in America. This was possible because a group of black people from California met with Governor James Douglas to find a better settlement. Governor Douglas felt pressure to expand the population of Victoria because of America’s growing population, and he was more sympathetic to the difficulties the Black community faced because his mother had been West Indian. He welcomed the Black Americans into Canada by letting them buy property at a lower price, and other benefits including equal treatment under British law if they had been property owners for 7 years, and if they’d taken an oath of allegiance. Many settled in Saanich on Vancouver Island and on Salt Spring Island, and some went to work in the goldmines.This significantly increased the population of Black people in Canada and made the community stronger, allowing for more human rights later on.

Works Cited
“Black Immigration into the Prairies – Canadian History Ehx.” Wp.com, 2023, i0.wp.com/canadaehx.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/botp-cb-A17552-p-1600.jpeg?resize=526%2C351&ssl=1. Accessed 17 May 2023.
“First Black Settlers Arrive in Victoria.” Www.leg.bc.ca, www.leg.bc.ca/dyl/Pages/First-Black-Settlers-Arrive-in-Victoria.aspx.
Wong, May Q. “Black Colonists: The First Non-British Settlers.” The Orca, 13 June 2020, www.theorca.ca/visitingpod/black-colonists-the-first-non-british-settlers-6399799. Accessed 17 May 2023.

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