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Louis Riel

Colton Map of British North America or Canada
Photo from Wikimedia Commons
Source

Related Guides

Statue of Louis Riel in front of the Manitoba Legislature.

Louis Riel helped to lead two resistance movements against the Canadian government; the Red River Rebellion and the North-West Rebellion. Material on these subjects can be found throughout the Central Library (350 West Georgia Street). Please ask the Information staff if you need help.

Useful Websites

Large collection of historical documents from many periods in Canadian history includes Alexander Begg's Red River journal and Telegrams of the North-West Campaign, 1885.

Includes an introduction, short biographies and a bibliography.

An extensive collection of digitized historical books, newspapers and maps.

Includes an account of the trial as well as images, a chronology, and transcripts.

Digital Library Resources
Culture and History Subject Icon

Brief biographies of notable Canadians from the years 1000 to 1930.

Access:
Everywhere for everyone
Culture and History Subject Icon

NOTE: this online resource will be discontinued as of December 31, 2024. A print copy is available at the Central library.

Online version of the 1999 resource that describes the nation’s 119 different ethnic groups: their process of migration, arrival and settlement, community life, intergroup relations, language and culture.

Access:
Everywhere for VPL cardholders
Newspapers and Magazines Subject Icon

Access the full image of the Globe and Mail newspaper from 1844 to 2018.

Access:
Everywhere for Vancouver residents
Culture and History Subject Icon

Includes the complete text of the Canadian Encyclopedia in English and French, interactive resources and timelines of Canadian and world events.

Access:
Everywhere for everyone

Contact Us

Northwest History Index

This card index in Special Collection provides access to the Northwest History Collection, a heritage collection covering the early history and exploration of British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest.

The collection includes:

  • magazine and newspaper articles
  • pamphlets
  • books
  • chapters in books
  • many other resources

As of August 1998, no new material has been added to the Northwest History Index. It is continued by the British Columbia Index.