Our speaker on June 6 will be historical non-fiction writer, Lynne Bowen, talking about the history of coal mining on Vancouver Island.

For over one hundred years Scottish, English, Italian, Croatian, Chinese and Japanese miners dug the coal that lies beneath the surface of Vancouver Island from Ladysmith to Port Hardy. Generations of miners worked without the protection of a union; they died in floods, explosions and cave-ins. Their families survived on the strength of the community. One Scottish miner became the wealthiest man in British Columbia – and the most hated.

About Lynne:
When Lynne Bowen enrolled at the University of Victoria to study history for the pleasure of it, she had no intention of becoming a writer. But three weeks after the former public health nurse and mother of three completed a Master of Arts degree in western Canadian history, a group of coal miners approached her with stories to tell. Seven books, many magazine articles and a column later, Lynne continues to write historical non-fiction. In addition, Lynne is well known for her courses offered through the Mid-Island Elder College.