Katherine Bickford

Just a bit more Vancouver Island history thanks to the Esquimalt & Nanaimo rail line road crossing at mile 144.05, McColl Road in Bowser B.C.

Despite having driven past Bowser on countless occasions, and actually stopping there a few times, I had no idea what Bowser was all about or how it got it’s name.

As it turns out, this small community was  named for William John Bowser, B.C. Premier in 1915-1916.

And now I know – and by the way the train don’t run here anymore…

The sad condition of the Esquimalt & Nanaimo line