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About Masonic Markers

150 Years of History is alive in BC & Yukon

The Masonic Markers Project

A centrepiece of celebrating  the 150th anniversary of Freemasonry in British Columbia and Yukon is an interactive website that shows how the Masonic movement helped to create and shape the Province and Territory we live in today.  

Bronze plaques etched with QR codes are being added to Masonic buildings, linking them to this site.  We want  everyone, Mason and non-Mason , to go on a journey with us to discover the rich history of this centuries old organization of people who dedicate their efforts to self-improvement and service in their communities.

150 Years of Freemasonry

The Grand Lodge of British Columbia was formed in 1871,  just three months after BC became a Province.  Our First Premier was a Freemason as men in our Craft (as we call it) are often involved  in building and furthering civil society. The Yukon Territory was carved out of the Northwest Territories in 1898 and has been a part of our Masonic Jurisdiction ever since.   

Before joining Canada, the Colony of British Columbia was a collection of forts, trading posts and settlements with a population of around 11,000 colonists and around 26,000 first nations peoples. Many of the towns that sprang up along the Railway and the Gold Rush trail had Masonic Halls among their first buildings. In these halls, groups of Freemasons ( called Lodges) promoted in their members deeper moral character and civic responsibility  and provided a place of deep spirituality for men of many different vocations, heritage and faiths.  As BC and Yukon have grown in opportunity, population and diversity, our Craft has grown to reflect the make up of our communities, towns and cities. As Masons, we meet each other on the level and we share a common purpose.  The rich diversity of our Craft is one of the hallmarks of Freemasonry.

Join us on a journey

We invite you to create a profile so you can track your progress on your journey around BC and Yukon.  You can start in your community by clicking on the “Discover” tab in the top right of this and the other pages.  Each page has historical and contemporary information and pictures illuminating the rich history of each building and the groups of Freemasons, or Lodges, that meet there.  

 

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Don't forget to register to track the progress.