The only current field guide to sharks and rays of the West Coast of British Columbia.

Sharks! The very mention of the word conjures up images of dangerous creatures with a voracious appetite. This public image couldn?t be farther from the truth for a vast majority of shark species: most are cautious and placid, and many inhabit waters that exclude …

"A magnificent journey alongside orcas, bringing these beautiful creatures to life."?Jay Ritchlin, David Suzuki Foundation

Spirits of the Coast brings together the work of marine biologists, Indigenous knowledge keepers, poets, artists, and storytellers, united by their enchantment with the orca.

Long feared in settler cultures as "killer whales," an …

The vivid, personal accounts of four women who lived and travelled as settlers in early British Columbia.

??a cloud passing away from the face of the moon revealed a band of wild horses bearing down upon us at a full gallop. As they came near and saw us they divided into two groups, passing by on either side. Had the moon not come out they would pro …

An intimate portrait of privilege and struggle, scandal and accolade, from the Old World to the new colonies of Vancouver's Island and British Columbia.

At the age of 33, Sarah Crease left her home in England to travel with her young family to a farflung outpost of the British Empire on the Pacific coast of North America. The detailed journals, lett …

On a late summer day, many years ago, a young man set out on a voyage through the mountains. He never reached his destination. When his remains were discovered by three British Columbia hunters, roughly three hundred years after he was caught by a storm or other accident, his story had faded from even the long memory of the region's people. First N …

The authors describe 24 species of brittle stars, 8 sea urchins and 2 feather stars inhabiting the coastal waters of BC, the Alaska Panhandle and Puget Sound. All species described live in the shallow waters to a depth of 200 metres; but the authors include species lists of all known species in the region, even those in deeper water. They discuss a …

In 1899, at age 27, Emily Carr travelled to London to attend art school. She spent almost five years in England, and in this time her life completely changed. She returned to Canada in 1904 a mature woman, eyes widened from living abroad, chastened because of ill health and technically proficient as an artist.

Historian Kathryn Bridge takes a fresh …

Dr. John Ford presents the latest information on 31 species of marine mammals that live in or visit BC waters: 25 whales, dolphins and porpoises, 5 seals and sea lions, and the sea otter. He describes each species and summarizes its distribution, habitat, social organization, feeding habits, conservation status and much more. Marine Mammals of Brit …

Hoofed mammals are the most abundant large mammals in British Columbia. Nine wild native species live here: elk, moose, mule deer, white-tailed deer, caribou, bison, mountain goat, bighorn sheep and thinhorn sheep. One introduced species, European fallow deer, also lives in small populations on some coastal islands. David Shackleton provides a comp …

Victoria, BC, July 11th 191. . . . With red eyes and a body guard of sniffing "faithfuls" attending us, we start on our long trip abroad. . . .

So begins Emily Carr's memoir of her trip to England with her sister Alice. They travel across Canada by rail to board an ocean liner in Quebec City, meeting interesting characters and having many adventure …

In his third book on the adventures of Frank Swannell, historian Jay Sherwood continues his account of one of BC's most famous surveyors. The 1930s was the era of bush planes, packers and riverboats in northern BC. Swannell photographed them and recorded his experiences with some of BC's colourful characters, including Skook Davidson, who worked wi …

"Missus couldn't run the studio without me," says Billie the dog.

This perpetual calendar is much more than 12 pictures with spaces for notes. Join Emily Carr's faithful companion, Studio Billie, on this light-hearted journey through a year in his life. It's 1909 and "the missus" runs a painting studio in Victoria, where she gives lessons to student …

Humans share a long history with carnivores. We fear them as predators, revile them as competitors, exploit them for their fur, or admire them for their grace and beauty. This book, the fifth of six volumes on the mammals of BC, provides comprehensive, up-to-date information on the 21 species of wild terrestrial carnivores in the province. Species …

Frank Swannell contributed greatly to the shape of British Columbia by surveying and mapping large portions of the province over three decades. He also took thousands of photographs and kept detailed journals of his travels. In his second book on Swannell's adventures, Jay Sherwood presents central BC through the eyes and words of one of BC's most …

Wild Flowers is a collection of Emily Carr's delightfully evocative impressions of native flowers and shrubs. She wrote these short pieces later in life and they rekindled in her strong childhood memories and associations. She delights in the brightness of buttercups that "let Spring's secret out," muses over the hardiness of stonecrop ("How any pl …

This book is the most comprehensive work on alders, birches, oaks, poplars, willows and other catkin-bearing plants in British Columbia. Dr. T.C. Brayshaw describes all 67 species?and many subspecies and varieties?each accompanied by a detailed line drawing and a distribution map. The book also includes diagnostic keys to the families, genera and s …

Snails and slugs have a reputation as slimy, repulsive creatures that are nothing more than garden pests, but they are important components of the ecosystems they live in. In fact, most of the pest slugs and snails are introduced species that have come here with the plants we import for our gardens. Worldwide there are more species of snails and sl …

Rodents are the world's most numerous and diverse group of mammals. British Columbia is home to 45 species, from the tiny western harvest mouse to the large and toothy beaver, and from the ubiquitous rats and squirrels to the endangered Vancouver Island marmot. Just seven species of lagomorphs inhabit BC: five rabbits and hares, and two pikas.

Most …

Nancy Turner and Richard Hebda present the results of many years of working with botanical experts from the Saanich Nation on southern Vancouver Island. Elders Violet Williams, Elsie Claxton, Christopher Paul and Dave Elliott pass on their knowledge of plants and their uses to future generations of Saanich and Coast Salish people, and to anyone int …

The genus Lasiopogon is a widespread group of robber flies (Diptera: Asilidae) inhabiting the north temperate parts of the Earth. This study is the first to examine the genus as a complete entity and clearly define intrageneric relationships. It is also the first to pay special attention to the male and female genitalia, important structures in the …

Birding and butterfly watching have been popular outdoor activities for decades. Now, dragonfly watching is catching on as a fascinating and enjoyable pursuit. Dragonflies are large, colourful insects with amazing and easily observed behaviour. Noted entomologist Dr. Robert Cannings introduces students, naturalists and outdoor enthusiasts to the wo …

The men who worked British Columbia's mines have passed into history. Coal Dust In My Blood is a moving account of one coal miner's life, in plain, evocative language. But this book is much more than a personal memoir. Bill Johnstone's mining career spanned several decades and he worked in a wide variety of positions. His broad insights reveal impo …

In this handbook, Philip Lambert describes 43 species and subspecies of sea stars in the coastal waters of northwestern North America. The sea-star fauna of the region from Glacier Bay, Alaska, to Puget Sound in Washington, is the most diverse of all the temperate waters of the world. The great age of the Pacific Basin, and the varied habitats alon …

This small, comprehensive guide offers practical advice on how to collect, dry and store plant specimens for botanical study. Intended for plant collectors who do not have access to herbarium equipment, this book describes how to use common household items to dry, press and store plants.

In her third ethnobotany handbook, Nancy Turner focuses on the plants that provided heat, shelter, transportation, clothing, tools, nets, ropes, containers—all the necessities of life for First Peoples. She describes more than 100 of these plants, their various uses and their importance in the material cultures of First Nations in British Columbi …

Sea cucumbers have inhabited the world's oceans for about 400 million years. They live in almost any marine habitat, from the fine ooze of the deep ocean to current-swept reefs and rocky shallows. These marine invertebrates are related to sea stars and sea urchins and they are an integral part of our coastal ecosystems.

Philip Lambert describes more …

Trees and Shrubs of British Columbia is the definitive guide to all native and naturalized woody plants in the province. T. Christopher Brayshaw describes almost 300 species of trees and shrubs, as well as many subspecies and varieties. His beautifully detailed illustrations of leaves, flowers, fruits and woody parts are arranged to show the distin …