Her Courage Rises: 50 Trailblazing Women of British Columbia & the Yukon
Her Courage Rises: 50 Trailblazing Women of British Columbia & the Yukon
Dorothy Blackmore - Ship Captain
Dorothy Blackmore rescued two loggers stranded for two days on a timber-cruising and oyster-harvesting trip gone wrong. She expertly navigated her boat through gale-force winds and fierce waves before reaching the point of land where the two men awaited rescue.
Dorothy Blackmore was born and raised in Port Alberni, BC. Her father, George Blackmore, owned Blackmore Marine Services, primarily a water taxi service. Her older brother had no interest in boats, so George taught Dorothy the family business. At ten years old, she was driving solo. After high school, she drove full-time. Speed was essential—the first boat there got the job. She qualified for her master ship captain papers at twenty-one years old, but could not get certified. In 1935, many industries still did not consider women to be “persons”, no matter what the law said. Federal laws finally changed, allowing women to earn their papers.
Twenty-three-year-old Dorothy, the first female sea captain in Canada, made history. She was featured in headlines like “Coast Girl Picks Life on Tugboat” and “Madame Captain.” Photos show Dorothy in marine coveralls at the helm, smiling as big as a lottery winner, speeding through the water.
Many of their names in Her Courage Rises may not be familiar, but the 50 women of British Columbia and the Yukon profiled in this small book each stands out for her lifetime achievements. The collection includes writers, photographers, artists, entrepreneurs, miners, adventurers, doctors, scientists, pioneers and homesteaders, helpers and healers, politicians and athletes. As the “Introduction” explains, they came from diverse cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds, and their accomplishments, large and small, left a legacy of inspiration. Each account consists of 1-2 pages of text and a portrait. Sections are color-coded according to vocation type. The author has included a lengthy “Selected Bibliography” that attests to the level of research behind this biographical collection.
The profiles vary in their storytelling style. The necessary details of date and place of birth, education and family history are presented briefly in a straightforward manner at the start or in an early paragraph. The most interesting and engaging accounts are focused on story from the first lines: e.g. “It’s 1898 and you enter a building off Johnson Street in Victoria, BC. You walk through a shoe shop, up a staircase, and pull back a black velvet curtain. Welcome to Hannah Maynard’s Photographic Gallery.” Hannah’s few biographic details are then quickly woven into an explanation of how her studio came into being. The fact that she was self-taught draws out reader admiration, especially since such innovation and technology were unusual at the time. Hannah achieved the notable ‘firsts’ for women of working in photography, running a business and being the official Victoria Police Department photographer.
Read on, and you’ll discover she wasn’t alone in such accomplishments. What stands out in all of these profiles is the ability of the women to transcend the limitations of their lives, no matter how remote their living situation. From Old Crow, Yukon, inaccessible by road, to Victoria, to Masset on Haida Gwaii, from Cape Beale lighthouse near Bamfield to Lillooet, they took on tasks out of necessity to support families and earn a living and their desire to pursue a passion. They overcame challenges with determination and are remembered for their prudent decisions.
The portraits are nicely done, imparting character, and an air of confidence and pride. The illustrator has added symbols of each woman’s field of expertise or special interest.
Young adult readers and adults alike will be able to find figures to respect in this comprehensive collection. Though not always included in history books, their names appear on schools and theatres, they’ve been given to geographical features like mountains and islands, they are honoured on memorial plaques, for commemorative days and awards, in published writing and even heard in indigenous language apps. Find out how they earned such honours in these fascinating sketches.
Gillian Richardson is a freelance writer living in British Columbia.