Feeding the Family

In its early days, Victoria was the commercial powerhouse of British Columbiaits largest city and largest market. Nancy Oke and Robert Griffin present a richly illustrated history of the bakers, butchers, grocers, coffee makers and other suppliers of food and drink in Victorias prosperous early days. They begin in 1843 with the building of the Hudsons Bay Company fort and show how the face of Victoria changed as it grew from town to city, and how later it stabilized in the shadow of Vancouvers rising prominence. Feeding the Family tells the stories of Victorias early food and drink suppliers, manufacturers and retailersthe many colourful characters, the businesses that prospered or failed, the inventors, innovators and crooks. It shows how Victorias history is unique yet has many similarities with other towns and cities on the west coast.