Event Archive:

A Sickness No One Can Cure: The 1862 Smallpox Epidemic

Thu. March 20th 2025 Ross Bay Villa Historic House Museum Victoria BC $10

Event Navigation

Event Details
Artists (1)
Presenters (0)
Ticket Outlets (0)
Other Dates (0)
Description
Articles (0)
Video (0)
Photos (0)
Venue
Get involved and submit your listing

Event Info

A Sickness No One Can Cure: The 1862 Smallpox Epidemic

Dr. Lutz will present surprising findings about this catastrophic event.
Event can be attended in person In-Person Event
Cultural / Heritage History / Heritage
Thu. March 20th 2025 + Add to Calendar Ross Bay Villa Historic House Museum
7:30pm - 9:30pm  Doors at: 7:10pm $10

Artists

John Lutz

Event Description

On March 20th at 7:30PM, visit restored 1865 historic house museum Ross Bay Villa for a discussion of a critical event 163 years in the past, with speaker Dr. John Lutz. On Wednesday March 12, 1862, the paddle-wheeler SS Brother Jonathan arrived in Victoria from San Francisco. Along with the disembarking passengers, crew and unloaded cargo, the Brother Jonathan also brought to the city one of the most virulent diseases of the mid nineteenth century; smallpox.

By the end of April, the disease had spread from the settler population into the Indigenous encampments that enveloped the town. From Victoria the disease spread up the coast and into the interior of British Columbia, and by summer of 1863 tens of thousands of Indigenous People had died of the disease.

Was it deliberately spread, or did the settlers do everything possible to arrest its spread? Were there dedicated humanitarian efforts to help the afflicted or were they driven away against their will? New research on the epidemic offers surprising answers to these and other questions.

Dr. John Lutz is a Professor of History at the University of Victoria and has researched the British Columbia smallpox epidemic of 1862-63. In this illustrated lecture, Dr. Lutz will present some of his surprising findings about this catastrophic event in the shared history of European settlers and First Nations residents of pre–Confederation British Columbia.
Tickets are $10 and must be booked ahead of time at https://tinyurl.com/3v7trp23 as seating is limited. All proceeds support the Ross Bay Villa Society, the volunteer based society that runs and owns Ross Bay Villa.

Venue

Ross Bay Villa Historic House Museum
1490 Fairfield Road
Misc / Other
Open / Operational

Event Poster

A Sickness No One Can Cure: The 1862 Smallpox Epidemic - Apr 16th @ Ross Bay Villa Historic House Museum

Other Events

Welcome to your Arts Directory

We are an open, community-owned platform to help artists and arts organizations reach their audiences and each other.

Calendar

Upcoming Events Posters (Upcoming)

Artists

Bands + Ensembles Musicians

Resources

Organizations + Resources Venues

Media

Event Photos Articles Video Poster Archive

About

About Contact
Featured event

Kobo Town, The Capital Collective, La Real del Sonido, Rude City Riot

→ View Profile
Get involved and submit your listing

Search the Directory / Archive

List an Event in the Calendar

List a Physical Single Date or Recurring Event

For physical events that happen at a specific time. For example a concert, or dance performance. If there are multiple shows, you can still duplicate your event to cover them all.

List an Online Livestream Event

For online / livestream events. This will allow you to include a livestream url and have it featured in our livestream listings.

Submit a Profile to the Directory

List a Music Band / Act

Band / Choir / DJ / Orchestra etc.

List an Individual Musician

Guitarist, Singer, etc.

List a Music Resource

Venues, Event Promoters, Support Services etc.

News + Media

Add / Link a Video

Add a video, which will be linked to profiles, and appear in the video feed

Add / Link an Article

Add, or link to an article about content in the directory.

Log In to Your Account

Forgot Your Password?

Create a New Account