Join award-winning author Mark Zuehlke as he launches the new edition of Scoundrels, Dreamers & Second Sons: British Remittance Men in the Canadian West on Tuesday, May 17 at 7 p.m. in the Courtenay and District Museum.
Beginning in 1880, thousands of young, upper-class British men with few prospects were sent to the Canadian West to distance them from British society.
Still supported by their families, thus earning them the title ‘remittance men,’ these men set out to continue their lives of leisure in this new land.
With education, respectable breeding and the belief “from birth that they were superior beings,” the remittance men descended upon western Canada with expectations of accomplishing something great and increasing their wealth.
In reality, they hunted, played games, courted women, and enjoyed pursuits that squandered their parents’ money and made hard-working Canadians raise their eyebrows.
In Scoundrels, Dreamers & Second Sons, first published 15 years ago, Zuehlke traces the path of the remittance men through western Canada, highlighting their adventures, limited successes and glorious failures.
Zuehlke’s many books include the Canadian Battle Series, the Military Heritage Series and his award-winning Elias McCann Series centred around a modern-day remittance man. In 2014, Zuehlke won the prestigious Governor General’s Award for Excellence in Popular Media, also known as the Pierre Berton Award.
Admission to the evening is $5 for Historical Society members, and $6 for non-members (plus GST).
Advance tickets are recommended and can be purchased by phone at (250) 334-0686, extension 5. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing after the lecture.
The Courtenay and District Museum is located at 207 Fourth St. in downtown Courtenay.