When you are either driving or walking down the street, do you ever consider the meaning of their names? Or why certain institutions have a person’s name associated with it? This doesn’t pertain just to Vancouver or British Columbia for that matter, but in your hometown. Chances are that some of those old streets are named after significant leaders in history.

For example, Douglas College in Vancouver. Sounds fairly regular and the name “Douglas” is rather common today. It wouldn’t necessarily pique your interest in discovering the meaning of the name. However, “Douglas” has great depth. Named after Amelia Douglas’ husband. Now that we know this, a little more digging must be ensued…

h_04909Meet Amelia, one of the founding mothers of British Columbia. This formidable woman was once one of the most well-known women in the fur trade industry who, at sixteen married James Douglas (twenty-five). James quickly rose in the fur trade himself. However, one of the contexts that made Amelia successful in her business was when she came to her husband’s rescue.

James had entered a business transaction with some natives, not knowing their proper customs while undergoing fur trading. Because of this, his life was being threatened. Amelia, having a life-long understanding of the fur trade and with her Cree background, used her insights to have her husband released from peril. A woman who was first a business woman, then a wife, had then just become a heroine for her time. To note, quite a feat for any time however. From there, James and Amelia grew a family to thirteen children and became one of the wealthiest and most prominent families in British Columbia.

When considering your business ventures, think of Amelia Douglas. Most often, women ask themselves “Can I have a career, be a supportive wife and have children?” And most often, we feel the need to pick one over the other. Based on Amelia’s history, we think she would say “yes”. It is possible to be ambitious in many facets of your life as it’s certainly possible that a few may give you different kinds of fulfillment. Though, however you chose to handle your ‘battles’ is up to you…