Douglas Day Dinner

  Pierce Smith, curator at the Fort Langley National Historic Site and a director with the Langley Heritage Society shares stories about the legacy of Sir James Douglas. Our longtime LHS member Glenn Disney was snapping away at the annual Douglas Day Dinner. Looks like he managed to get just about everyone. Thanks Glenn! For more on James Douglas, visit HERE   Fred Pepin and his granddaughter Chelsea, Pierce Smith and founding director Gordon Yusko at the head table. Grant Rawstron with the Fort Langley Legacy Foundation outlines plans to acknowledge the 200th anniversary of the establishment of Fort Langley in 2027. The hope is to involve a broad range of people from Indigenous and settler communities.  

2025-11-23T00:02:52+00:00November 22nd, 2025|

Adventurous Cousins

We're sharing this well-researched (and sometimes humorous) story about two cousins who came west for the gold rush and further adventures. They began new lives in what would become British Columbia and were leaders in Langley and Quesnel. Jeff Brown of Ottawa wrote the story. "I am a descendant of a William Burnette Maxwell and Jane McMillan, who settled in Wakefield, Quebec, north of Ottawa, in 1832. William's siblings also settled in Canada, all but one of them within a few kilometres of one another. Two of his nephews, James Reid (son of his sister, Ann, and her husband James) and John Maxwell (son of his brother, Thomas, and his wife Catherine McVeigh) ultimately settled in British Columbia. James settled in Quesnel (and later Vancouver), where he became a prominent business person, Member of Parliament and Senator. John settled in Langley, where he was one of the settlers to [...]

2025-11-21T19:00:19+00:00November 21st, 2025|

Adventurous Cousins

We're sharing this well-researched (and sometimes humorous) story about two cousins who came west for the gold rush and further adventures. They began new lives in what would become British Columbia. Jeff Brown of Ottawa wrote the story. "I am a descendant of a William Burnette Maxwell and Jane McMillan, who settled in Wakefield, Quebec, north of Ottawa, in 1832. William's siblings also settled in Canada, all but one of them within a few kilometres of one another. Two of his nephews, James Reid (son of his sister, Ann, and her husband James) and John Maxwell (son of his brother, Thomas, and his wife Catherine McVeigh) ultimately settled in British Columbia. James settled in Quesnel (and later Vancouver), where he became a prominent business person, Member of Parliament and Senator. John settled in Langley, where he was one of the settlers to petition for its incorporation and served as Reeve. [...]

2025-11-21T18:44:24+00:00November 21st, 2025|

James Houston: Scottish Adventurer & Langley Pioneer

Above photo of James Houston courtesy of salishan Place by the River James Houston stands out as a remarkable figure in the history of Fort Langley, British Columbia.  Born December 8, 1823 in  Dunfermline Fife, Scotland, to Alexander Houston, a mason,  and Mary Shaw, Houston’s adventurous spirit led him across oceans, shaping not only his own destiny but also in part, the future of our region. Early Life and Epic Journey Houston’s background was marked by privilege — history has it that his brother Robert was an engineer and his nephew, Sir Robert Houston, was a wealthy ship owner, inventor,  Member of Parliament,  and a titled Baron.  James Houston knew a young, 12 year old Andrew Carnegie, also born in Dunfermline and counted him among his friends.  Carnegie was to be of Carnegie Hall fame and noted builder of hundreds of libraries. James chose adventure over comfort, setting out from [...]

2025-11-21T01:01:47+00:00November 21st, 2025|

Brush With Heritage

  Rosemary Genberg is a longtime member of the Langley Heritage Society, a dedicated heritage advocate and talented artist. Here are a few of her paintings of Langley area heritage homes below:  Wark/Dumais House on the campus of Kwantlen Polytechnic University Campus, Cornock House in Glen Valley, Michaud House in Langley City and the Annand/Rowlatt farmhouse in Campbell Valley Regional Park. Thank you for sharing, Rosemary! You can read more about some of these homes HERE.              

2025-11-16T00:26:07+00:00November 16th, 2025|

Douglas Day Dinner: Friday Nov 21st

  The annual Douglas Day Dinner is scheduled for Friday November 21st at the Fort Langley Community Hall. Members, book your ticket now for an excellent meal and conversation by contacting Dave Buckley at [email protected] or calling 778-899-2209. Our society helped prepare new signs at Douglas Park in Langley City to acknowledge the legacy and contributions of Sir James Douglas, HBC fur trader and first governor of British Columbia with a multicultural vision ahead of his time. Pierce Smith, one of our directors and curator at the Fort Langley National Historic Site will share stories and artifacts that connect Sir James Douglas with the Birthplace of BC.    

2025-11-16T00:13:28+00:00November 16th, 2025|

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