Until this book was made known to me, I'd never heard of Agnes Deans Cameron -- even though I'm an avid reader of books related to the history of British Columbia. I'm happy that author Cathy Converse made Cameron's story known; she was a truly remarkable individual as a public educator, as the first female high school teacher (BTW -- she taught at Vic High) and high school principal in the province, an advocate of women's rights, and an all-around adventurer from Centurion cyclist and Arctic trekker in late nineteenth century Canada.
This book is well-researched, rich with detail and well-written in a professional yet lively style that makes Cameron come alive as an individual, not simply as an accomplished persona. The book also paints a portrait of Victoria during its early years -- the emerging public education system, significant city events such as the Point Ellice Bridge disaster, and of issues of race, class, and gender equity.
The Tragically Hip song "Ahead by a Century" strongly came to mind after reading this book; not only was Cameron forward-thinking in terms of her philosophy and approach to teaching, the battles she fought in the name of these beliefs were certainly prescient of battles fought many decades later in the provincial education system.
An excellent book for those who appreciate B.C. history and enjoy biographies about strong, intelligent individuals.
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