125 Anniversary Heritage Recognition Awards

125 Anniversary Heritage Recognition Awards

The District of Kent, in collaboration with volunteers of the 125^th Anniversary Committee, is pleased to announce the recipients of the District’s 125^th Anniversary Heritage Recognition Award. 

The Heritage Recognition Award is to honor long-standing heritage families who established themselves in the District of Kent from 1895 (or earlier) up to 1950 and continue to have living descendants residing in the District. 

 View the Heritage Recognition Awards

Over 130 families from Seabird Island Band and the District of Kent will be recognized virtually.  A representative from each family received a commemorative 125^th Anniversary medallion, District Pin and Memories Book.

Thank you to Bev Kennedy, Valerie Edmondson, Marlene Sand and Carol Mackay, a core group of volunteers from the 125^th Anniversary Sub-Committee, who worked tirelessly on researching and gathering the information required to develop the Heritage Recognition Award and the list of recipients. 

Although these volunteers performed extensive research on all heritage families in the District, in some circumstances, it was difficult to validate the information, especially going back over 125 years and further. Any questions regarding the 125^th Anniversary Heritage Recognition Award or if we have inadvertently missed someone, please contact Ms. Jennifer Thornton, Director of Community Services & Projects at Municipal Hall. 

Seabird Island Band Recipients

We begin our Heritage Recognition Award Presentation with Seabird Island Band recipients.  Thank you to Serena Peters, Coordinator of the Genealogy Project at Seabird Island Band.  In alphabetical order:

Pre 1895

We now move onto those families who established themselves prior to 1895, before the District was incorporated as a municipality.   You’ll recognize several of these last names as current street names.

From 1895-1900

The District of Kent was incorporated in 1895 with A. St. George Hammersley as Reeve and Harry Fooks as the Clerk. Fred Whelpton started to operate the first custom thresher and a few years later he introduced the first steam outfit for thresher work. In 1898 a lumber mill was built on Discovery Mountain, later the mill was moved to Green Mountain.

From 1901-1909

From 1901 – 1909, the following families established their roots in Agassiz, Including Duncan Farquhar McRae, whose descendants used to live near the Hammersley Pump Station. The first Agassiz-Rosedale ferry began regular service that operated up until 1956 when the bridge was opened.

From 1910 -1919

Dr. Peter McCaffrey opened the first medical office in Agassiz.  In 1910 the Bank of North America opened the first banking business in the community.  Also in 1910, the B.C. Telephone Co. offered the first commercial telephone service in the District of Kent. 1917 saw the implementation of dehydrated food processing, especially potatoes for Army contracts, commence at the hop yards.

From 1920 – 1929

In 1920 the first commercial supply of electricity from a Delco plant was installed in the district. W. A. Jones opened a much appreciated Drug Store on Pioneer Ave. Motor freight service between Agassiz and Chilliwack was offered by Jack Inkman – in 1926 Arthur Green started a freight service from Agassiz into Vancouver via the newly opened Lougheed Highway. The first municipal hall was built in 1926 with a replacement built in 1956.  The original municipal hall was then moved to the Agricultural fairgrounds to be used for many community based activities.

From 1930 – 1939

1930 featured the first regular bus run to Agassiz from Vancouver and points in between by Pacific Stage Lines. Library service started in November of 1931.

The Limestone quarry was in operation under the management of Maurice Tuyttens. The Agassiz Advance newspaper commenced publication.

From 1940 – 1950

“Canning Corn” as a commercial farm crop was started in 1941. Lyle’s Cycle Shop started operation under the management of Lyle Whelpton. The old Aberdeen Hotel, also known as the Agassiz Hotel and the Travellers’ Inn, was renovated by Jerome Tuyttens. In 1947 the Masonic Lodge started meetings in Agassiz and in 1948 the B.P.O. Elks Lodge also established themselves. Sam Stock was crowned Corn King. The “never to be forgotten” 1948 flood occurred in late May and new dykes were built in 1949 and 1950.

On behalf of Council, the 125^th Anniversary Committee and Seabird Island Band Genealogy Project, congratulations to all heritage families for receiving this special recognition.  Your family has made a historical impact on shaping our community.